My Mother is a Transvestite

Beginning of Story

The sun began to approach the western horizon, giving a tinge of orange color radiating in the sky. Under the giant banyan tree, two figures of children stood face to face. The dried leaves fell slowly, playing with the light wind blowing.

Yusuf, a 9-year-old boy with black curls and ripe brown skin, with his sturdy body and disheveled curly hair, looked at the kite that had fallen on the ground. While Ima, her 7-year-old sister, long-haired shoulder-length, hugged her notebook tightly to her chest. His facial expression showed fear but also decisiveness.

"What are you doing, Ima?" yusuf asked in a high tone, his face flushed red in frustration.

Ima tried to hold back her tears, "I just want to write under this tree, Brother. You know this is my favorite place. Why do you always have to play here?"

Before Joseph could answer, a voice called out from a distance, "Joseph! Ima! You two, stop fighting!"

Ana, their resolute and always domineering mother, walks up to them at a quick pace. The long dress she wore blew in the wind, revealing her elegant side, but her eyes were sharp and cold. His face showed displeasure.

The two children lowered their heads, avoiding eye contact with Ana. Joseph said in a hoarse voice, "Sorry, Mom. I'm just frustrated because my kite fell."

Ana took a deep breath, then said in a low but firm tone, "You both know my rules. There are no quarrels on this page. It's a place for us to relax and enjoy nature, not to fight."

Ima, boldly, looked at Ana and said, "But Mom, why do the rules always have to be followed? I just want to write here. This is my place."

Ana pointed to a wooden bench located in the other corner of the courtyard, "You can write there, Ima. Why is it under this tree?"

Ima clenched her hands, "Because here I can feel the wind and hear the sound of leaves whispering. This is my inspiration, ma'am."

Joseph, trying to defuse the situation, said, "I'm wrong, ma'am. I should have checked before playing my kite."

Ana sighed, "It doesn't matter who's wrong. You must learn to respect each other and respect my rules."

The two children exchanged looks. They know how stubborn and determined their mother is, but they also know that behind all these rules, there is love and care.

"In the future, you have to learn to share space" Ana said, "Yusuf, you can play kites here on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Ima, the other day is yours to write."

Both nodded, albeit with a heavy heart.

As the sun set, the three sat together under a banyan tree, contemplating and enjoying the beauty of nature. Although there are often conflicts, but between them there is a strong bond, which always brings them back together as one family.

"Have you seen, Ima? My sky is the highest!" yusuf with a bright face.

Ima frowned, showing her competitive sense, "Wait a minute, Brother. I'll make my kite fly higher!"

As the two were competing, a soft but authoritative voice suddenly sounded, "Yusuf! Ima! It's lunch time!"

The two turned their heads and saw the figure of Ana, their adoptive mother, who was standing in the doorway of the house with an apron bearing a picture of a sunflower. Ana's face looks youthful despite her age of 40 years. His light brown eyes sparkled as he looked at his two adopted children. Ana has a sturdy body and a firm posture, describing her strength and fortitude in the face of various trials of life.

Joseph approached Ana with a guilty face, "I'm sorry, Mom. We're too busy playing."

Ima ran up to Ana and hugged her waist, "Thank you, Mom. The smell of your cooking always makes my stomach rumble."

Ana laughs loosely, gently patting Ima's head, "Ha-ha, you can always make me smile. Come on in, I've made your favorite vegetable lodeh and fried chicken."

The three walked into the house. From inside the house there is a tasteful aroma of spices. In the dining room, there is a teak table that has been arranged neatly with plates, glasses, and cutlery. On the table, there is a large bowl of vegetable lodeh and a plate containing pieces of fried chicken that still emit hot smoke.

While eating, Joseph looked at Ana seriously, "Mom, why are you always strong? Even after everything that's happened?"

Ana looked deeply into Joseph's eyes, taking a deep breath before replying, "When you have something precious to fight for, like the two of you, that power comes by itself."

They ate in silence for a moment, permeating the meaning of Ana's words. Only the gurgling sound of water from the fish pond in the backyard accompanied their lunch.

The afternoon Eve was rather cold, with cloudy clouds lingering in the sky. The sound of splashing water from the channel next to the house adds freshness in the surrounding environment. The rambutan tree beside the house moved slowly in the wind, with its red and tantalizing fruit hanging.

Joseph and Ima were trying to shift the old wooden cabinet in their room. The cupboard was large and sturdy, with flower carvings at each corner. The two children exerted all their energy, but the closet did not budge in the slightest.

"Well, why is it so heavy?" lamented Ima, with a flushed face and a forehead drenched in sweat. Ima's eyes looked exhausted, and her cheeks paled as if they were exhausted.

Joseph wiped the sweat off his forehead, "I think we need help. This cupboard's like it's on the floor!"

As they discussed, suddenly the door of the room opened. Ana stood in the doorway, with her hair neatly pigtailed and the pink dress she was wearing. His eyes were sharp, but behind it was the warmth that always made Joseph and Ima feel comfortable.

"What's this about? Why do you two look like you've run a marathon?" asked Ana, frowning her forehead.

Ima pointed at the closet with trembling hands, "We tried to shift this closet, Mom. But, it feels heavy."

Ana looked at the cupboard for a moment, then in a quick motion she approached the closet and easily lifted one of the corners. Ana's movements were so smooth and light, like lifting a piece of paper. His face remained calm and there was no visible burden, but his eyes showed a strong focus.

"Mom... Can you lift it?!" yusuf cried with wide eyes, amazed by the power his mother had.

Ana smiled, "This finger is heavy, but that doesn't mean it can't be lifted. You just need to know the right technique."

Ima looked at Ana curiously, "How can you be that strong, Mom?"

Ana put the cupboard back into place carefully. "When I was young, I used to work in a warehouse. There I learned a lot about how to lift heavy objects the right way. That technique helped me up until now."

Joseph stepped closer to Ana, "I want to learn, Mom. I want to be as strong as you."

Ana stroked Joseph's head lovingly, "Strength is not just from muscles, son. But also from heart and determination. If you have a strong determination, you can overcome all obstacles."

Ima nodded in agreement, "Thank you, Mom. We're lucky to have a mother like you."