I was sitting on a chair in front of a tall mirror, while mama stood at my back. She was combing my hair repeatedly as if wishing for it to grow long.821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMnFMyRZT1
"You are so beautiful, my sweet Judy," she said, smiling. "When you grow up, you will make a good mistress of our home."821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7WRYCuEI4F
I closed my eyes and nodded in response.821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlglnX73M0F
Whatever caused mama to be firm in raising me the way mothers bring up women confused me. She's been very vocal about her faith in God at home, in school, and most especially in the church, but she was also actively taking part in something that she knew was against His standards.821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMuBLqmsav0
Her children, including yours truly, happened to be all-male, but instead of being thankful for His wonderful gifts, she was still wishing for something impossible.821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMq6mojZIod
When papa had not yet stepped on the ship, he once told us that Mama had always desired a daughter so that she could have someone to help her with the chores and bond with by combing and braiding hair, putting on make-up, dressing up, and other girly stuff.821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1LszfRSUeC
He even said that when I was born, I looked—you know, like that girly type of angelic the media portrayed angelic to be: soft, white skin, pinkish lips, and round eyes covered in thick, curly lashes. So she raised me as a girl. Of course, papa was against it, but the last thing he wanted for himself was to endure Mama’s unbridled bombardment of snide remarks. So this angelic-looking twelfth grader suffered the consequences.821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZ2v8izw0i
My eyes flew open when something cold and hard buried itself in the strands of my hair. I fought the urge to raise an eyebrow as her butterfly hairpin sparkled above my right ear.821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ292Z1JshG6
"There, beautiful." She appreciated before lacing her fingers through my hair for the last time. "I hope your hair grows longer. Let your beauty shine."821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ23WaSBihSp
She held out her arm.821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmUqV01iS6D
"Come, dear, we have to go to the market. We are running out of supplies."821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiEDk1nS9ws
I took her hand and allowed her to help me up.821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡecm7UC6ss4
 821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXOytSh6jr
We were about to leave for the market when one of my brothers arrived, carrying loads of supplies. It was our eldest. He placed the bags on the table when he reached the kitchen. Upon doing so, the band that kept his hair in a neat bun snapped, causing the black, wavy strands on his head to tumble about his broad shoulders.821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDmQeEFyjKc
"Oh, thank you so much, Joe, we didn't have to go to the market," said mama. "I hope we haven't taken up your time."821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXpKVGH0eeq
"Nah," he answered in a deep voice.821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXYOi5NKyR1
I immediately arranged the supplies in our pantry, watching him sit by the head of the table and take off his damp, white shirt.821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ92MQUAupqC
My lips tightened at the sight of it. I wish I was more like him. I wish I had his lean yet perfectly sculpted muscles, his hard, square face, his thin mustache, and his low, husky voice. But mama’s dream of having a daughter has wound me into becoming the keeper of the house. Me looking more like a girl must have added to it.821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCy2seoL3m
She sat on the right side and handed him a glass of water.821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGPcHgMasAA
"Won't you miss work?" she asked.821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHyE1XmtaW
He downed the water in one swallow. "No, I'm on a day off," Joe replied. "I could do the laundry."821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZTuPyDeFr
"But you don't need to, my son. You are a man." She placed her hand on the ripped arm of my brother. "Besides, Judy is here. She can take care of everything."821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFROn9ToQZW
Joe's eyes darted on me as my hands mindlessly brushed my nearly skinny bicep. He smirked and chuckled.821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkRWsY7zw9u
"Dude, you look like a plant. Can you take it off?" he said.821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSr4UjbVbO
He was talking about that golden butterfly clip Mama planted in my hair. I sighed but in relief. Finally, somebody realized just how awkward that looked.821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXfeMVGcfrt
My brother stood and walked toward me, reaching out his fingers to remove that embarrassing piece from my head.821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5kbThj0NAI
"There," he said, grinning like a dog. "Better."821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9lNSlEPqHf
He went back to his seat.821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVnvzwWICJ
Mama's eyes widened in horror. "Joseph! Why did you do that? Don't you see how pretty your sister looks?"821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOiSCC7PNqn
Joe turned his attention on mama.821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJ4YLP8xtL
"Ma, Judah is my brother." He allowed the clip to twist between his thumb and forefinger.821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡenherRf1qI
Mama gently took the clip from him and enclosed his big hands in her brown fingers.821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqY1nSaXn9w
She explained in a soft voice, "My dear boy, I understand where you are coming from, but you do remember my dream, right?"821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy0QAIsjBTk
Joe did not answer, so she gave him a nudge.821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhFD2IUo0va
"Right, anak?” Mama insisted.821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡROjbhChWIb
His eyes rolled upward and he chuckled. "Judy."821Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz73GN02yoX
Then he rose from his seat and headed to his room.1234 copyright protection817ＰＥＮＡＮＡcLclZ8t0MB 尼

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