My Mother is a Transvestite

Photos of the Past

The morning sunlight shines through the corners of the kitchen through large windows, creating warm and soothing golden reflections. The cold morning breeze that blew in carried the scent of flowers from the outside garden. The sound of birds chirping in the distance, adds to the impression of peace.

Yusuf, with a curious look on his face, took a photo album from the drawer and opened it slowly. Page after page, he looked at old photos depicting precious moments. He showed one of the photos to Ima. "Look at this," he said, his voice softly, "This man looks a lot like me."

Ima approached and checked the photo. With widened eyes and a look of disbelief, he said, "And the woman next to him looks like me." Both of his hands shook lightly while holding the album.

"Who are they, Mom?" yusuf asked, looking at Ana who seemed silent, a little surprised to see the photo.

Ana took a deep breath, seemingly trying to gather the words. His eyes glazed over, and he walked slowly closer to his two adopted children. "It was a picture of your father, Joseph, and your mother, Ima," he said in a bitter voice.

Ima looked confused. "But why are they on your album, Mom? What does this have to do with us?"

Ana sits in the kitchen chair, pulling Joseph and Ima to sit next to her. "Before I adopted you, me and your parents were best friends. We often spend time together, sharing laughter and stories."

Yusuf, with his eyes looking sad, asked, "So, why are we staying with you, Mom? Why did they leave us?"

Ana took both of her children's hands, looking at them lovingly. "No, they never leave you. They love you guys so much. However, a tragic accident took their lives when you were very young."

Ima lowered her head, trying to hold back the tears. "Why haven't you told us before?"

Ana stroked Ima's hair gently. "I want to protect you from the pain of those memories. But maybe it's time you knew about your past."

Joseph hugged Ana tightly, "Thank you, Mom. For it has taken care of us and given us a loving life."

Ima added, "We may have lost our parents, but we got an amazing mother." She hugged Ana.

The three figures hugged in the middle of the kitchen, surrounded by memories of the past and the warm sunlight. Outside the window, the leaves moved slowly in the wind, as if paying homage to this precious moment.

As the sun sets, the sky turns into a beautiful pink and orange color palette. Outside the house, the sound of crickets begins to sound, creating a soothing harmony of nature. Light from inside the house shone on the lawn, creating a soft, moving shadow with leaves blown by the night breeze.

In the silence of the living room, there was only the sound of a clock of a rhythmic beating wall. The three sat on the sofa, surrounded by photos of the past scattered on the coffee table. Ana, with teary eyes, started talking. "I know you may be confused, you may also be angry because I never told you sooner."

Joseph looked at Ana, his hands squeezing a picture of his biological father. "Mom, we just want to know more. Why did you choose to keep it a secret?"

Ana took a breath, trying to find the right words. "When I first adopted you, doctors and psychologists advised me to wait for the right time before telling you. They're worried that past traumas could haunt you."

Ima clasped Ana's hand, "But, Mom, we're strong. We want to know about our parents, about their stories."

Ana smiled gently, "I know. And tonight I'll tell you everything." He pointed to Joseph's father's picture, "His name is Adi, he's been a close friend of mine since we were in school. She's smart, full of humor, and always knows how to make people laugh."

Ima holds a picture of her mother, "And her, Mom?"

Ana sighed, "That's Rina, my best friend since college. She was a gentle, loving woman, and had a beautiful voice. She used to sing to you when you were babies."

The eyes of Joseph and Ima glazed over when they heard Ana's story. "Then, what happened to them, ma'am?" joseph asked in a loud voice.

Ana lowered her head, "There was a car accident. They both died on the spot. At that time, you two were at your grandmother's house. I. I don't know what to do. But I know I have to look after you."

Joseph joined in that embrace, "We may have lost our parents, but we got a wonderful mother."

Ana hugs the two tightly, "I love you, more than anything in the world."

Their warm embrace bore a silent witness to the warmth and affection that lay between them. That night, though full of memories and sadness, was also filled with hope, love, and gratitude.

That morning the sky looked so bright with white clouds fluttering framing the blue sky. From a distance, the clattering of children's voices could be heard, creating a bustling and feisty atmosphere. School looks different than usual. There were small tents set up in the courtyard, with the tempting aroma of cooking spreading to every corner.

Joseph and Ima arrived at the location with radiant faces. Yusuf wore a white shirt with jeans, while Ima chose a light green dress. They both seem so confident. Ima's hand carried a bag of cooking ingredients, while Joseph carried cooking utensils.

"They look so professional, huh?" one of the students commented when they saw them.

"Are you ready?" ''inma asked, looking at Joseph with vigor.

Joseph nodded, "Of course! With Bu Ana's recipe and the spirit of yesterday's story, we can definitely!"

Quickly, they prepared everything. All eyes are on them. From a distance, Ana seemed to be watching with eyes full of hope.

"Remember, we must cook with heart" whispered Ima as they began.

Joseph smiled, "Always."

The cooking process begins. Ima deftly sliced through the ingredients, while Joseph focused on serving. Each of their movements seemed so coordinated, like a dance that had been well trained. The aroma of their cooking began to spread, attracting the attention of many people.

"Wow, the scent came from Joseph and Ima's tent!" comment from a jury.

However, in the middle of the process, there was something that did not go as expected. The sauce that Joseph was cooking suddenly spilled, leaving some of their ingredients broken.

"Oh no!" yelp, his face looks panicked.

Joseph looked startled, but immediately tried to calm down, "It's okay, Ima. We can handle this."

Quickly, the two of them coordinated to correct the mistake. A few minutes left before the race time ended, but with good cooperation, they managed to finish their cooking on time.

When the results were announced, although Yusuf and Ima did not win the first place, they were praised for their cooperation and taste of cuisine.

"They cook with heart" said one of the judges, "That's the most important."

Amidst the disappointment, Ana approached them, her face beaming, "For me, you guys are winners. You have shown the meaning of cooperation and compassion."

Ima hugged Ana, "Thank you, Mom. For teaching us the meaning of life and love."

Joseph joined in that embrace, "Today is not about winning or losing. It's about how we face challenges and stay together as a family."

The three walked home with hearts full of gratitude and love. They know that life may be full of challenges, but with each other's support, they can get through it.