Asenath:Tears on the Sand Chapter 28

XXVIII

Tomorrow came. Joseph helped Ephraim with his bow, but his brothers stayed in their cell.

The sun rose and fell on the second day, nothing changed. Asenath tried to bring up the topic again, but Joseph successfully avoided the conversation.

Third day. While helping her sons get dressed, Asenath tried to get her mind off the men in her basement.

It’s really not that big of a deal. Joseph is a man. He can handle his own problems. But his problems used to be our problems.

Joseph entered the room midway through her contemplations. “Asenath, we need to talk.”

Talk!

She stepped outside the room with him. “Yes?”

“I am bringing my br…the prisoners up today. I can tell that you feel left out so I want you to be there when we speak.”

She hugged him tightly. “Thank you! You don’t know hw important this is to me!”

Everything will be fine.

He hastily returned the lab and pried her off. “But there’s a catch. We must seem to be a normal Egyptian family. The children cannot be seen, especially Ephraim. He looks too much like a Hebrew. And, well, remember what you were like what you were like before you fell in love with me, before you met Elohim?”

Asenath shuddered. “They are stains too painful to totally wash away.”

“You have to be like that. High, proud, and…I hate to do this.”

“What? High, proud, and what?”

“You’ll have to wear some of your old clothes, the ones that…show too much.”

Maybe it won’t be fine.

“Joseph! I would be extremely humiliated! I used to do that, not now.”

Joseph took her hand. “I know. Thay won’t look long, I promise. They can’t have any idea that we are…different. Trust me?”

“I suppose if I want to be there…I’ll have to trust you.” She sighed. “If you insist, but I’ll hate every minute of it.”

“I’d be concerned if you didn’t. Joseph gave her hand one more squeeze and turned to leave.

“Joseph?”

“Mmm.”

“You were only going to send one of them back to get Benjamin?”

“Yes, that’s the plan.”

“I was thinking…maybe you should just keep one here and send the rest back? One would not be able to carry enough food for your family. Only one here will give you the same security as keeping all of them, right?”

Joseph tapped his finger on his thigh. “Good point. I’ll think about it. Thanks, love.”

Asenath went back into the room where Manasseh and Ephraim were fighting-again.

“Boys! Elohim does not want us to fight. He wants us to live in peace as a family!” she exclaimed.

The boys stared at the ground in shame. “I’m sorry, momma.” Manasseh answered.

If only things were that easy with Joseph and his brothers.

“Now, go to Uncle Amnon’s study for your lessons. Can I trust you to deliver a note to him for me?”

Manasseh stuck out his chest. “I can do it, mother.”

She hastily wrote Amnon about what was happening and asked him to keep the boys occupied until after the heat of the day.” She kissed the tops of their heads. “Thank you. Have fun at lessons!”

“Bye, momma,” both exclaimed, running off.

“Now to find Oni,” she said to herself.

She headed down the back path towards Oni’s house at the back corner of the estate. Actually, it was like a mini estate inside the main estate.

Oni met her on the path, carrying a woven basket of dirty laundry. Little Asenath and Nena followed close behind, bearing smaller loads on their shoulders. “Asenath! What are you doing on the way to my house? We were just off to what’s left of the river to get some washing done with the rest of the servants.”

“Oh, well…continue on your way.”

“Unless, there was something you wanted?”

“Actually…I know you aren’t a maidservant anymore. You are more like a close sister. But…can you…I mean, will you?”

Oni gasped teasingly. “Asenath, at a loss for words! Call a physician!”

“Alright. Could you help me get ready for some important guests? I have to look like, like I did in the old days.”

“Before you had children? I know I’m good, but I’m not that good!”

“Please? It could be fun?”

Oni set down her basket of laundry. “You know that I am always there for you.” She turned to her daughter. “Asenath, darling? Can you be a big helper by doing the washing without me today? Aunt Asenath needs me.”

“She’ll be back before lunch,” Asenath included.

Nena bit her lip. “We have to do it all alone?”

Little Asenath looked at the basket in her arms. “There’s not much today, and I’m sure someone will help us if we need it. We can do it, mother.”

“There’s my girls! You are growing up fast.”

Asenath and Oni walked side by side back to the main house.

“Who are the special guests?” Oni asked.

“Some people Joseph wants to impress with our ‘Egyptianess’.”

Oni smirked. “This is the least Egyptian family in Egypt. How is she planning on doing that?”

“I’m going to wear some of my old clothes, the…more Egyptian ones.”

“I know what you mean. The enticing ones. But why? Elohim wants us to be modest before Him.”

“I know. This is what Joseph wants so I’m going to trust that he has a good reason.”

#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#

Asenath slid her hand down her hip and sighed. “This used to fit better,” she said as she stared at her profile in a long mirror.

Oni chuckled. “That was eight years and two children ago.”

“Still, I wish I looked younger.”

“You look barely a year past twenty,” Oni insisted.

Asenath wore a long straight wig and more makeup than felt comfortable. Her thin white tunic was offset by a gold and red carnelian belt as well as matching collar and headpiece.

A glass lioness head shaped ring on her finger sparkled in the light. Her father had given it to her for her tenth birthday. “The lioness is a symbol of Neith, the mother of Ra,” Potipherah had explained. “You were named Asenath because it means “follower of Neith.”

She rubbed the smooth face of the lioness, amazed that Oni had found it buried in one of her old chests.

I thought I had gotten rid of this.

Her cleavage was showing, and the tunic hugged her skin. Just looking at herself made her feel uncomfortable.

I thought I had gotten rid of this part of myself too.

“Almost perfect,” Oni said. “All you need is this.” She placed a red shawl on Asenath’s shoulders.

“What’s this for?”

“You can wear this before and after ‘impressing’ Joseph’s visitors.”

Asenath pulled it close around her, covering her chest. “Better. Thank you.”

“At your service. I must prepare lunch for my children.” Oni left, still as confused as she was when she came.

Asenath wandered down the halls toward the main room, where she assumed the meeting would be held. Shame filled her as some of the servants stared.

I can pretend like I am one of the characters from Joseph’s stories. Like…Lot’s wife, the beauty of Sodom. It will just be acting. Acting.

She lifted her chin in haughty annoyance, playing her new role. More servants stared, but she tried to ignore them. The main room opened before her. The dining table and benches were all gone. A long cobalt rug ran down the middle of the room to a platform where two of their most expensive chairs had been set. She assumed the smaller one was for her and sat down.

This is quite a charade.

Joseph walked in. wearing full royal garb and makeup. “You look good for the part,” he remarked. “But you’ll have to take that shawl off.”

“I will once they enter.”

Joseph bristled at her coldness. “Are you angry with me?”

Only a bit.

“I’m just a good actor.”

“Well, then, let me play along.” He bowed. “Noble lady, take my arm. We will be escorted into the room like the Pharaoh, may he live long, himself.”

Asenath glided out of the room.

Fun wasn’t the right word for their game. But she did find it interesting and even distracting.

Joseph leaned close. “Please don’t say anything while they are in the room.”

Msrah arrived.

“We are all here and the men are in the room. Begin the procession.”

Musicians led the group, playing a lively tune on tambourines and flutes. They were followed by half a dozen armed guards, then six lady courtiers, all dressed in matching tunics and orange beaded glass collars and yellow plumed fans. Asenath recognized some of them as kitchen girls. Joseph must have dressed them up since he did not have concubines to bring in as courtiers. Two slaves carrying plates laden with dates, honey, and bread came next.

Asenath slipped off her shawl and handed it to her three favorite attendants behind her. She strode confidently into the room.

Joseph’s brothers gave her a glance and lowered their heads. Though they were in chains, they were better taken care of than regular prisoners.

One looked a longer than the others in wonder with a hint of lust. The leader (Joseph had told her earlier that his name was Judah) elbowed the bold one who bowed his head quickly.

Asenath responded by bringing her fan close to her face to hide a rising hot blush.

A guard blew a bronze trumpet for silence. Joseph entered as Zaphenath-paneah, vizier of Egypt. His gold chain of office gleamed, and his striped blue and gold cloth headdress, called a khat, was held by a gold and emerald band. The men bowed to the ground in awe. Asenath and he sat down in their chairs as Msrah entered as the interpreter.

Joseph began in slow deliberate tones, “Do one thing for me and you will live for I fear Elohim.”

What? I thought he was trying to stay a secret!

The brothers did not move other than to shake in fear. Joseph continued, “If you are honest men, let one of your brothers stay here in a cell and let the rest take grain for your household then bring back this youngest brother. So I will see that you spoke truth, and I will not kill you.”

Judah asked to confer with his brothers, and Joseph agreed. They spoke to each other in Hebrew, guttural and confusing to Asenath’s ears. Though Joseph sat back, she knew that he was still listening. The oldest brother with red-gray hair and beard quieted his brothers and spoke harshly to them.

I wish I knew what they were saying.

She watched Joseph out of the corner of her eye. His eyes widened and moistened as his brother spoke. One lone tear escaped his eye. Joseph hastily wiped it off and abruptly stood, walking out. She wanted to comfort him, but she had to stay. The man who was speaking watched in alarm.

“Msrah,” she whispered. “What was said?”

Msrah answered quietly, “Reuben blamed what is happening on what they did to the master years ago. They are very afraid, but oblivious about whom our lord truly is.”

While she waited for Joseph to return, she awkwardly munched on dates. One brother shifted from side to side, another wrung his hands. All were nervous.

Joseph reentered; his eyes were still a bit puffy. “You have made a decision?”

“Your servants will accept your gracious chance for us to prove ourselves,” Judah said.

“Good choice. The one that will stay is…” he glanced over the faces of his brothers. “…he.” He pointed at a strong man, with a short brown beard, fiery eyes, and a red band tied around his head.

“Simeon!” one cried.

Three guards advanced and roughly grabbed Simeon. He balled his fists to fight back, but stopped when he saw the vizier’s stern eye. They dragged him out, and the others were unchained.

Why him?

“Go to my grain storage where your animals are waiting. My steward Msrah will sell you the grain.”

They bowed profusely, thanking him for another chance.

Oblivious. That is the perfect word.

When they were gone, Joseph called Msrah to his side. “Thank you, my friend. Now I would like you to fill all their bags with grain and replace their money in the sacks. Also, give them all the provisions they need for the long journey.”

Msrah did not even question the strange commands.

Joseph gave a few last instructions to the slaves and rose to leave.

Asenath threw her shawl back on and followed him. “Joseph!”

“Oh, thank you for helping me. You played your part well.”

“What are you going to do with Simeon?”

“Put him in the cell downstairs. That’s what I said, correct?”

“For how long?”

“Until they bring Benjamin back.”

“That could be months!”

“Yes. And?” He didn’t seem to understand the significance.

“Why are you giving their money back?”

“They are family. I have to be back at the palace soon. I will see you at the evening meal.”

She shook her head.

He is so confusing sometimes! We used to be able to tell each other everything, to totally understand each other. I know I’m a woman, but I am also his wife! What happened?

#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#

She passed the door for the third time that day. It was only a door. But what lay behind the door compelled her to stop. The cells downstairs.

She stared at it, remembering the first day she went down there. She was exploring the house as a newlywed. It was so dark and quiet down there. She got a peek then ran back up the stairs, away from the stifling loneliness and the walls that seemed ready to close in on her.

Simeon has been down there for three months. How is he doing it? He must be so bored!

She placed her hand on the rough wood, ready to push it in and give the man some company.

I can’t. Joseph wouldn’t like it.

Hesitantly, she back away and continued down the hall.

#*#*#*#*#*#*

Joseph quickly undressed and got into bed, eager to done with the long day.

We used to talk until all hours of the night. Now he just wants to sleep.

She sat on the edge of the bed and pulled her knees to her chest. “Joseph, will you tell me a story? About your brothers and Canaan?”

He rolled over and groaned. “Why do you have to keep bringing them up?”

“Another story then? Please?”

“I’m tired. Maybe another night.” He blew out the candle, leaving Asenath in the dark.

She got into bed, wanting to be held, but he was already snoring. The jackals howled in the distance, looking for food, any food.

Alone. This is how Simeon must feel. I’m sure I could give him something to do. But Joseph doesn’t want me to interfere.

Joseph continued snoring, unaware that he was being thought about.

Who says he has to know?