"Content?" she smirked. "I'm quite distressed by this whole sorry situation, Yeshua."
“Evening, Yeshua.”
She spoke with a smile. An absence of any acknowledgement of the bars between them, or of how he sat on the floor as she stood proud.
was now sound asleep.
She waited until his snores were heavy before slipping out of bed, the stone tiles cold in the moonlight glow underfoot. She slipped on a silk nightgown, and made her way to their house of incarceration.
To see her Yeshua.
Many hours passed in the busy house, all the while she knew Yeshua was contained beneath them.
That evening, she appeased her husband's desires. It was important she perform her role: dutiful wife. Resistant to the temptation of others.
But she had known that would tire the old man out, and he +
Watching from the window, she feels no pleasure in seeing the man who stayed so composed and steady during their meeting be treated as worse than a common criminal.
She reminds herself that didn't have to be this way.
He could have chosen the nicer path.
This was what he'd chosen.
“Well, that is disappointing,” she said, straightening her posture. “The only person happy with your decision is my husband, I‘d expect.”
She turned her head just enough to see those behind her.
“Farewell Yeshua,” she said with bright shining eyes. “Don’t forget to enjoy life. That’s important.”
“But you have no curiosity to find out? To see the woman beyond the stall? To know all of me?“ she asked, leaning forward. She was calm but passionate in her asking.
‘Yes,’ she said, accepting his assumptions. ‘And yet there’s so much missing from your picture. Who am I when I leave your stall? When I’m not in the presence of the kind, beautiful man?’
‘Hmm? That’s a lot of… consideration for an invitation to dinner. When you do not know my life or my intentions. Tell me, sweet Yeshua. Who do you think I am?”
“A line? You are speaking in riddles Yeshua!”
“Why?” she asked directly. “Already have a lady friend, do you?”
and I choose not to argue with you, for I am satisfied? Well then, I think we should go for dinner. A glass of wine, perhaps?”
She slowly but surely pockets each of the coins into her purse, a smile spreading across her face.
“If that is your wish, how can I deny you?”
She studied him for a moment, and knew she was quite enraptured.
“How about you make a deal with me as well though? If I give to those I see in need, +
She smiled back at him.
“Giving to you doesn’t stop me *also* giving to those people in need as well…”
She cast her eye over the stall.
“Why don’t you offer me something else? For the value of the coins left unspent?”
She purses her lips, surprised.
“A fair and honest tradesman… You really are quite something, you know.”
She doesn’t take the coins back instantly. She lets them sit on the table between them.
“You could not use these for your benefit?”
“I’m sure you’re right,” she said, reaching for her coin purse. She didn’t ask the price, instead taking out enough coins to pay for a plain but pretty pendant three times over. “Here you are, my payment.”
She felt her breath catch in her chest at the sincerity of his generous words.
Slowly, she ran her finger along the pendant, admiring it.
“I don’t know what’s smoother, Yeshua. The olivewood or… you.”
She tilted her chin, impressed.
'You made these?'
When he nodded to confirm, she murmured her approval.
'A pretty face *and* he makes pretty things... Impressive. I like it all. What do *you* think would suit me?'
'My,' she chuckles at his warm grasp, enjoying the moment extending as she lets her fingers brush against his.
She rests her eyes on his face.
'What brings you to the market today, Yeshua?'
'A pleasure.'
She held out her hand for him to kiss.
'You're most welcome,' she smiled. 'Beauty is my speciality. I'm Zuleika...'
'I said, "You're pretty". Quite the perfect face."
“…Pretty…”
“A slave likes what their owner tells them to like. And I’m telling you that you like me. You like serving me.”
“Such a polite, handsome slave,” she cooed, stroking his arm with her long, gloved fingers.
“Come and lie with me, love…”
Tao nervously blustered on, ‘He’s not well, I’m afraid Sir. Not leaving the house anytime soon so… I’ll be delivering the honey for now. I… I hope that will be acceptable for you and your Master…’
‘I am,’ he said, surprised this important slave remembered his name. ‘You received the note from my Pa then?’
Tao’s father had been providing Potiphar’s estate with the finest honey for over twenty years. He always delivered it by hand himself to their most important customer. But now he was ill.
@alandofmyown.bsky.social
Tao had been walking round Potiphar's estate for a good 10 minutes, marvelling at the incredible wealth on display. He was not a rich man, wearing simple burlap garments. Finally, he stumbled on a man.
'Excuse me, Sir? I'm looking for the Leader of the Household? Yosef?'
Zuli screamed out "No! No you can't!"
He fell to his knees, clawing at his husband's hands, but to no avail.
