My Mother is a Transvestite

Mysterious Posts

As the morning sun began to rise, Ana sat in the veranda behind her house, enjoying a cup of warm tea. The cool morning air carries the scent of wet soil and flowers that have just bloomed in the garden. The sound of birds chirping merrily from the trees, complements the peaceful atmosphere of the morning.

Ima, with her distinctive hair pincers and kitchen clothes, was engrossed in the kitchen. His little hands were busy kneading bread dough, while his lips muttered little to the rhythm of the song playing from the kitchen radio. He wanted to create the perfect bread to surprise Joseph.

"Hopefully this time the dough is not too hard," murmured Ima while staring at the dough that was in front of him.

Suddenly, the sound of the front gate creaking softly. Ana turned her head and saw a middle-aged man in a postman uniform standing while holding an old sealed letter. His face was beaming, as usual after finishing his morning routine of delivering letters.

"Good morning, Miss Ana!" greet the postman with enthusiasm. His smile revealed a row of still-groomed teeth.

"Good morning, Mr. Budi. You brought a letter for me?" asked Ana with an expression full of curiosity while putting down her teacup.

"That's right, Mom. This is a letter that seems to have been a long time," Mr. Budi said while giving the letter. His eyes glanced for a moment towards the kitchen, "That's very fragrant, ma'am. Is it baking bread?"

Ana smiled. "Oh, that's Ima. He was practicing making bread. Thank you, Mr. Budi."

Along with her go Mr. Budi, Ana opened the letter slowly, her heart pounding. The letter was written in neat handwriting, making Ana instantly recognize who the sender was. However, before she could read any further, Ima emerged from the kitchen with a bright face.

"Mother, look at this!" he shouted while showing a baking pan filled with bread that had just been baked. "What do you think, Mom? Fragrant, right?"

Ana smiled, though her mind was still fixed on the letter. "It's very fragrant, dear. I'm sure Joseph would have liked it. You are great."

Ima noticed her mother's somewhat different expression. "What do you hold?" ask Ima with a sharp look.

"Oh this? Just an old letter," Ana replied while trying to hide her anxiety.

The look on Ana's face that changed while reading the letter did not go unnoticed by Ima. "Who's the letter from, Mom?" ask him with curiosity.

Ana took a deep breath, "From an old friend, darling. But, we'll talk later, okay? Now let's try your bread!"

Ima nodded, but her heart was still curious about the mystery of the letter her mother was holding.

With trembling fingers, Ana held the letter. The paper is yellowed, indicating that the letter was long written. As the movement slowly unfolded the letter, the morning sun entering the living room highlighted his face, making the shadow of his face appear slightly elongated on the floor.

"Ana," began the letter with a feminine and stylish handwriting, "Somehow did you read this letter. I hope you're okay. We haven't been communicating for a long time."

Ana felt her heart rate go faster. He remembered this handwriting. Dinda. Her old best friend was always there in times of joy and sorrow, when they were both still struggling with their identity as transvestites.

"Do you remember when we promised that no matter what happens, we will always be together? At that time, we were on the beach, staring at the sunset and sharing our dreams. However, I know, things separate us."

A warm crack of morning air that touched Ana's skin, making her feel comfortable. However, the contents of the letter carried mixed feelings. Old memories are raging with the emotions of the moment.

For a moment, the voices of Ima and Joseph distract him. In the kitchen, Joseph, who initially wanted to help Ima, spilled flour all over the floor.

"Yusuf! Look what you're doing!" sergeant Ima with wide eyes, but his distinctive smile still emanated.

Ima laughed heartily as she picked up a pinch of flour and threw it at Joseph, beginning a boisterous and laughter-filled flour war. Their laughter filled the room, creating a warm and cheerful atmosphere.

Ana smiled at the two adopted children, momentarily forgetting the contents of the letter that made her anxious. However, as his eyes returned to the letter, reality again forced him to face the past.

"I want to see you, Ana. There's a lot I want to talk about. I'm in town for a few more days. Can we meet?"

Ana took a deep breath, trying to calm her mind. Meeting with Dinda will certainly bring a lot of memories, and maybe also old unresolved feelings.

Hearing the commotion in the kitchen, Ana decides to join Joseph and Ima. He needed some light entertainment before making any decisions.

"It looks like you two need help here," Ana said as she raised her two flour-filled hands, challenging the two of them.

Joseph and Ima looked at Ana with sparkling eyes, "Challenge accepted, Mother!" exclaim Ima.

In the midst of a war of flour, laughter, and cheerfulness, Ana feels peace. However, the decision to meet with Dinda still haunts his mind.

Wandering in the labyrinth of her mind, Ana is drawn back to the past, when she first meets Dinda. The two young girls were in a small tavern surrounded by vines and chandeliers that produced a gentle glow. The warm night atmosphere is accompanied by the aroma of coffee that spreads throughout the room.

Dinda, with long, jet-black hair always tied up by horses, sat in front of Ana, their eyes meeting each other. "You know, Ana," said Dinda with a solemn expression, "We may be different from the others, but that doesn't make us any less valuable."

Ana looked at Dinda with teary eyes, "Sometimes it feels hard, Dinda. Every day there are glances, taunts, and scorn."

Dinda clasped Ana's hand tightly. "But we have each other. We have to support each other. Don't let the world tear us apart."

The two of them then hugged each other, seeking warmth and strength in their arms against each other in the cold of the night.

Returning to reality, Ana wiped away the tears flowing down her cheeks. How much they have been through together. How precious those memories were for Ana.

Meanwhile, in the garden, Ima and Joseph were sitting under a large shady tree. Next to them, a grandfather with white hair that was thinning and wrinkled skin was sitting while looking at the small birds in his cage. Every bird looked cheerful, chirping merrily, yet remained cooped up behind bars.

Ima, with a peculiar curiosity, approached the grandfather. "Grandfather, why don't you let these birds go? Wouldn't they be happier in the wild?"

The grandfather turned his head, his eyes glaring at Ima, "Sometimes, freedom has a price. I have been caring for these birds since they were babies. They don't yet know how to live in the wild, how to forage or even survive predators."

Joseph added, "But isn't that their natural destiny? To live freely in nature?"

The grandfather smiled, "Sometimes, what we think of as freedom can be a solitary confinement. They are free from danger here, free from hunger. However, they lost the freedom to fly freely in the sky."

Ima and Joseph exchanged glances, reflecting on the meaning of the grandfather's words.

"You two are young" continued the grandfather, "There are many things you will learn about life and freedom. What matters is that you always appreciate what you have."

Along with the wind blowing gently, carrying the scent of garden flowers, Ima and Joseph sat beside the grandfather, listening to his stories of life, love, and freedom.