It took him the better part of two days to make certain. He went to the marketplace, where the Slavers stopped to display their wares. With the famine, there were more slaves, and fewer buyers. The prices were dropping, and the ‘merchandise’ was thinner and weaker.
Lapis ignored the market, and the sellers. He was looking for the records. The ledgers were old enough to be barely legible, but Lapis already had some of the information he needed to double-check.
As a young man, Joseph had been purchased legally by Potiphar from a Slavers Caravan in the Marketplace. The Ledgers were light on details of where slaves originally came from. But the records did keep track of the slave traders themselves, so that they could be found if ever they tried to cheat their customers. As Chief of the Guard, Potiphar was highly ranked enough that they kept a record. Selling to men of prestige was good for business. That particular band were Ishmaelites, and had come to Egypt from Canaan.
Canaan. Where Joseph originally came from. Lapis thought darkly. Montu was right. Joseph was sold into slavery by his own brothers, and now he has power over them at last. He’s got his brothers by the throat; and whatever he’s planning for revenge, he wants them all here at once.
Then why did he give them the money back? He argued with himself. He’s setting them up. Why? Why does he have to?
~/*\~
The uncertainty chased him all the way back to the Palace. Lapis found a place to sit in the courtyard, surrounded by the history of conquest and construction, etched and painted on every wall. The story of Joseph wasn’t written on the walls. There would be no point. Joseph wasn’t royalty. All the glory would go to the Pharaoh. And even if it was added to the history, Joseph hadn’t conquered a nation; he’d filled granaries.
Lapis sank into himself. “It’s alright.” He said softly to himself. “Anyone would want revenge. Joseph didn’t take his revenge on Potiphar or his wife. It was because he didn’t blame them. It’s okay. It’s human. This is a special circumstance. That’s all.”
Keep saying it until you believe it. The thought came to him from somewhere. It almost sounded like an attack being made in his head. One day it’ll be you, just like every powerful man you’ve ever worked for.
Lapis pushed it away. What am I going to do? Turn to Potiphera for help? Help with what? Zaphenath-paneah is feeding the world.
Lapis looked around the Palace courtyard. The temple was part of the same structure. He could go and make offerings right now…
And what would that do? All the gods of Egypt were rejected by Joseph. Would one of them really intercede? And even if they did, what would they do? Was Joseph doing a bad thing, or a just one?
Jehovah, God of Joseph… Lapis prayed. This is the second time I’ve approached you, and I still don’t know if I'm doing it right. Joseph says You are not a pacifist God. You take action, and do so decisively. But I don’t know what action is needed-
“Mercy for the poor, my lord?”
Lapis looked up, jarred from his thoughts. There was a Boy there, holding out a chipped earthenware cup. The Boy looked weary, skin browned by too much time in the harsh sun; thin from too much time in hunger. He’d seen a thousand beggars like this in the city. Enough of them that he didn’t realize he’d met this Boy, years before. But unlike other beggars, his eyes were sharp and calm. There was no sense of hostility or danger from this one. Some of the hungry souls who had nothing were ready to kill for food. In fact, now that Lapis thought of it, such beggars were kept out of the courtyard, for exactly that reason.
Even so, Lapis gave him some coins.
“Thank you, sir.” The Boy bowed to him. “May heaven bless you.”
“Times are hard all over.” Lapis excused.
“Better for me.” The Boy said simply. “Zaphenath-paneah is not partial. The wealthiest people in Egypt didn’t bother to spit on the beggars even five years ago. Now, they line up for the same rations as starving children do. When the times of Plenty ended, all the powers of Egypt sought to protect themselves. One man sought to help everyone, instead of saving himself and his own sons beyond all others. Nobody would have challenged him. Nobody in the Court would have noticed.” The Boy settled back into his cross-legged seat, wrapping the dusty rags around himself, warding off the sun. “The poor count themselves very lucky to live in Zaphenath-paneah’s kingdom.”
Lapis blinked, feeling as if he’d had a prayer answered, his thinking realigned instantly. “They do?”
The Boy rubbed two coins between his fingers. “I have lived my life without money. Having enough to see me through the day is all I ask. Everyone in Egypt, the great and small, are certain to eat during seven years of famine. Is there another who would show such charity to those who couldn’t repay him?”
“No.” Lapis admitted. “Not one in Egypt. Certainly no other man of power.”
“It must be a great blessing to work closely with such a man.”
Lapis stared at him for long seconds. “He’s the kindest, most honest man I’ve ever known.” He said simply to the Beggar, and to himself. “Certainly the best one ever to come to power over Egypt.”
The Boy nodded, as if Lapis had just said something very profound. “Indeed. May the name of Joseph and his God be blessed.” He looked past Lapis to the edge of the Courtyard. “The guards don’t like me to beg at this temple.”
Lapis followed his gaze to where the Guards were on patrol. “Well, it’s the Palace Courtyard, too. How did you know his name was-”
The Boy was gone. Lapis scanned around, but he’d vanished. Not dwelling on it, Lapis felt better despite himself. Admitting it to a beggar had reminded him of what was important. Yes, Joseph was acting out of character. In all the time Lapis had known him, Joseph had never had to face a problem so… personal.
And if his brothers did do that to him, then they should be punished. Lapis told himself. There’s no sin in that. Even if he has to make up a charge to make it happen.
~/*\~
Joseph’s brothers returned promptly, just as the note to Simeon predicted. Knowing the truth, Lapis was unsurprised. They clearly weren’t being suspected of espionage. The caravan of Hebrews included more pack mules this time. Whatever they were bringing, they were increasing their offer.
Lapis knew that Joseph wanted to be informed immediately when they returned, so he dispatched an attendant to announce it. But Lapis met them at the steps to the Palace, as if to make sure of them. Even so, he knew there was nothing he could do. He couldn’t hide them from Joseph, nor would he want to. They were guilty. Joseph himself was a witness to their crimes, and he had authority over everything that happened to them now.
The brothers climbed down from their animals, clearly recognizing Lapis.
“Sir.” Reuben spoke for them. “Our father offers your master his blessings, and offers the finest goods of our homeland. We bring you offerings of balsam, honey, labdanum, resinous bark, pistachio nuts and almonds. As well as the payment for the grain of Egypt. Our gratitude to Zaphenath-paneah is without equal, as we owe our lives to his generosity. The grain of Egypt was indeed fine and good to eat; and now we pray that he will help his servants again.”
The speech was well rehearsed. Lapis got the impression that their last visit to Egypt had left them shaken; and they were adapting by showing more deference. Lapis looked at the box with the money in it. “This is quite a bit more than you offered last time.” Lapis said to them in Hebrew.
“It is our hope that offering double the payment this time will convince you of our sincerity.”
Lapis bit his lip. “As I recall, your brother was also requested.”
Reuben looked over his shoulder. Another man came from the caravan. He looked worried, younger than the others, his head turning in every direction. He’d never seen anything like Memphis before, Lapis was sure. “That’s Benjamin?”
“It is.” Reuben confirmed. “Is Simeon… alright?”
“He’s in good health.” Lapis assured him, as the attendant came out of the Palace at a quick march and went straight to Lapis, whispering a message to him. Lapis nodded, and spoke to the foreigners in Hebrew. “My Master has summoned you.”
~/*\~
The whole company was brought before Joseph. Lapis took his place beside the Prime Minister’s chair, and spoke the ritual greetings, as required when a petitioner came before Zaphenath-paneah.
The men were groveling before Joseph, humbling themselves still further than the time before; showing even more deference, even more submission; before the man who decided their very lives. Joseph barely seemed to notice. His eyes had gone straight to Benjamin, and not shifted from him even once.
“My lord, Zaphenath-paneah,” Reuben began his prepared speech again. “Our father offers his blessings, and offers the finest goods of our homeland. We bring you-”
Joseph, eyes still locked on Benjamin, rose and clapped his hands together loudly. “Lapis! Take these men to the house, and have the staff begin making arrangements. Have the best livestock slaughtered, and dressed for a meal. Have my personal chef open the stores for anything he wishes as a menu. Spare no expense, and have everything ready for when I get there. We eat at noon; and these men are my honored guests.”
(Author’s Note: There is little in scripture about the organizational structure of Joseph’s staff. As second to Pharaoh, he would have needed assistants, and as a person of prominence, he would have had a household staff. Genesis 43 says this instruction was given to ‘the man who was over his house’. But none of his servants are named, nor described; save for their job description. For purposes of this story, I gave Lapis both jobs, purely so that we could explore this plotline.)
Lapis translated automatically, but it was the exact opposite of what he had been expecting. A lavish feast? In the middle of a famine that reached across the entire map? It was generous. Bizarrely generous. Unnaturally generous. Looking around their guests, Lapis could see that they were all thinking the same thing.
~/*\~
Lapis led the way out of the Palace, with Joseph’s own household as their destination. As he walked, Lapis gave instructions to various attendants to run ahead of them and prepare food and wine. His orders were in Egyptian, and none of the others knew what he was saying. Their heads were on a swivel, watching for attack any second. They didn’t know what was going on; and didn’t believe the unknown could possibly be something good.
Asenath caught up to the company at the courtyard. “Lapis.” She called. “I’m told we’re to have company for lunch.” She looked over at the men, and if she thought anything was strange about their beards and shaggy hair, or their dusty clothes and sandals, she had grace enough not to show it. “I’ve been instructed to spare no expense. There hasn’t been a party this lavish since the Famine began.”
“Zaphenath-paneah led by example in times of stringency, my lady.” Lapis nodded. “Apparently, this is to be the exception.”
“Indeed.” Asenath agreed. “He very nearly invited the Pharaoh and all the Royal Court, but I managed to talk him down.”
Lapis smothered an hysterical little laugh. “This is madness.” He said flatly.
“Zaphenath-paneah has never been one for excess.” Asenath excused her husband. “If he wants to party with his… countrymen, he’s more than within his rights to do so.” She looked them over again, giving the youngest brother her friendliest smile. “But we will have to set two tables. Egyptians won’t sit at the same table with foreigners. Especially not in front of someone like Zaphenath-paneah.” She nodded, as though coming to a decision. “I’ve already sent Naunet ahead to rearrange our main courtyard so there is room for both. I’ll join you when my husband does.”
The assembly of brothers had no idea what they were talking about. They’d never seen an Egyptian woman at Asenath's station. She’d been raised by a High Priest, and married to the Prime Minister. She knew how to give the appearance of near-godhood in front of commoners.
“Zaphenath-paneah’s wife.” Lapis explained to the brothers. “She has much to prepare for today’s banquet. You are richly honored, sirs. Normally, it would be impossible for Pharaoh’s second-in-command to host foreigners in his own home.”
A statement that did nothing to calm them.
~/*\~
Unobserved by everyone, a Boy and a Merchant watched as Lapis led them through the streets. “Prophecy came true. They even made it happen, in spite of what they intended when they threw him down that well. All of them at Joseph’s feet.” The Boy said quietly. “His Purpose cannot be thwarted, no matter what you try.”
“Are you under the impression we’re upset about this?” The Merchant sneered. “Your God told Abraham that his descendants would become a mighty nation. Joseph can wipe out more than ninety percent of Abraham’s bloodline right now, and nobody would say it was unfair. This is the family you’re betting His Purpose on?”
“I’m not doing anything.” The Boy said calmly. “But I trust the one who is. So did you, once.”
~/*\~
When they made it to Joseph’s house, Reuben could take no more. “Sir, our father begs your master’s mercy on us. For as we returned home last time, with the food you sold us, we found the money had been returned. It was put in the feed bags for our horses. We don’t know how it got there, but we now return it to you in full, as well as the price of the food we’ve come to buy.”
“Fear not.” Lapis told them all soothingly. “We know the money you gave us was not stolen. It was put into my hand, as was proper. There was never any question of wrongdoing on your part. It was Jehovah who returned it to you.”
I’m not lying. Lapis told himself. My master considers his appointment in Egypt to be Jehovah’s purpose to save his people from famine. I did not lie.
The reaction that went through the Hebrew family was swift disbelief. To hear an Egyptian invoke the name of Jehovah so casually was hard enough to comprehend. To hear one in authority over them do so, and speak of His blessings was even stranger. To hear it spoken of a Lord that had already imprisoned, interrogated, and judged them was… impossible.
The courtyard in Joseph’s household was arranged, with two tables and several seats to recline comfortably. One table for the Hebrews, and one for the Egyptians, who had not arrived yet.
There were already people in attendance, though the meal wasn’t ready yet. The brothers got a good look as one load of succulent food after another was carried past to the kitchens. There were musicians in the courtyard, already playing music to welcome their guests. Serving girls brought amphoras of wine and small honey cakes, eagerly serving. They hadn’t had the opportunity to entertain on this scale in at least three years.
The brothers were agog, and Lapis felt worse. They’d been expecting to beg for their lives, and that of Benjamin. Instead they were being treated like dignitaries. Lapis knew it wouldn’t last. Joseph wasn’t giving his brothers a chance to beg for mercy.
They looked so confused and terrified. The lavish generosity was a form of torture, and they couldn’t see it.
~/*\~
The brothers were entertained like Kings for hours, as an excessive banquet was prepared for them. They looked half-catatonic with worry. Simeon told them everything he’d experienced while they were away, and the picture was even more confusing. Lapis noticed that the brothers kept Benjamin surrounded, as if afraid he’d vanish if there weren’t at least three of them in reach at all times.
They were brought water and linens to freshen up, slaves to wash their feet and oil their hair and beards. Such things were not overly common in their homeland; but it was the generosity that worried them more than the acts themselves.
The Egyptian Guests came in as the mealtime approached. Lapis announced them all, in Egyptian and Hebrew. The brothers stood and bowed to each arrival; every one of them a person of wealth and influence, plus their attendants and personal servants.
Joseph arrived last, with Asenath on his arm. Everyone in the gathering bowed deeply, one or two of the Egyptian guests kissing the signet ring on his hand.
Joseph strode to his brothers, who quickly rose from their places and assembled for him, presenting the goods they had brought. They had laid out their offerings along the table, as if showing it off for sale. “My lord.” Reuben began. “From our father, we bring you the finest goods of our land. We have-”
“Your father.” Joseph interrupted, and Lapis hurried to translate. “He is well? Your aged father is still alive?”
Derailed from a presentation he had clearly been rehearsing all morning, Reuben stammered out a response. “Your servant, our father is well. He lives.”
Joseph was rocking on his feet by the time Lapis had needlessly translated.
Reuben began his presentation again, showing the goods they had brought to trade. “He sends you the finest-”
“And this is Benjamin.” Joseph interrupted again, eyes fixed on his youngest sibling. “This fine young man, whom you spoke of last time.” Joseph reached out and laid hands on Benjamin’s shoulders. “May God show you His favor, my son.”
Benjamin was frozen by the attention. Most of the Egyptians in attendance were equally still, staring at the whole strange production. An Egyptian wouldn’t eat with a foreign shepherd, and the Prime Minister was laying hands on him to offer a blessing.
Reuben tried again. “My lord, we present to you-”
Joseph had turned on his heel and nearly ran from the room. Eyes shining with unshed tears of her own, Asenath excused herself and gave chase.
Lapis took in the frozen guests, and clapped his hands. “More wine!” He shouted towards the servers, who scrambled to obey.
Benjamin hadn’t moved. “I really don’t know what’s happening right now.” He confessed helplessly.
Lapis didn’t either. “In case nobody has said it, welcome to Egypt.”
~/*\~
Joseph returned soon after, though it looked like Asenath was unwilling to let go of him. Whatever had happened, he was under control now.
With their host in attendance, the party began in earnest. The food was brought out, one course after another. The Egyptian guests didn’t know what was going on, but they hadn’t seen a feast like this since the famine began, and they weren’t about to argue.
There were multiple interpreters this time, to promote lively conversation, without everything between both tables having to go through Lapis. It was a nice gesture, except the brothers seemed too terrified to speak; and even as Zaphenath-paneah’s guests, the Egyptians weren’t about to eat with foreign shepherds.
Joseph apparently took notice of this, and conversation came to a screeching halt as Joseph picked up his plate, and moved over to the Hebrews, sitting himself at the head of their table with a big smile; Reuben on his right, as the eldest, and Benjamin down the other end of the table as the youngest. Smothering a grin of her own, Asenath came over to sit with her husband. She sent a look at the suddenly silent Egyptian Guests, daring them to comment.
The brothers weren’t any more comfortable with the change. They ate, of course, and were impressed by the variety of meat and vegetables, and the preparation that went into them. Egypt was a trading port for every part of the known world, and with Joseph in charge of their finances, practically the only examples of exotic spices left were in his stores.
Joseph’s eyes flicked back to his original spot at the other table, where the servants were clearing away the silver serving plates, and his face changed for a moment. Joseph waved for Lapis to come over, and he spoke in Egyptian, so that the brothers who gathered around him couldn’t understand. “Take my silver cup, before they can. Put it in Benjamin’s sack. Add it to the grain.”
Lapis' eyes flicked to Benjamin, who was picking at his food. Benjamin saw Lapis make eye contact and asked the question. “Is something wrong?”
“My master hopes you are enjoying your meal.” Lapis said quickly in Hebrew, and Joseph smiled, calling for more food to be brought. As the servers approached, Joseph gestured for them to hold off on adding to his plate, and instead sent the extra cuts of meat down the length of the table, to Benjamin. It was an outrageous move, feeding this young man from the Prime Minister’s plate. The Egyptians were gossiping about it instantly. The Hebrews were almost unwilling to touch their food, even as another course was put down in front of them.
They’re so confused. Lapis thought bleakly, not letting it show on his face. And what can I tell them? To enjoy their last meal?
Lapis made his way to the next table, and snatched up the silver cup. The servants were taking the rest of the utensils into the next room, where the next course was already being prepared. The staff would imagine it had stayed in Joseph’s hand, and the servers wouldn’t even notice, since it never made it to them. They’d serve the next course, and the drinks would come in clay amphora, ready to pour.
Lapis took the cup and made his way out to the street. The food supply was being brought from the Temple Granaries, and loaded into sacks for the Hebrew caravan to carry. The donkeys were gorging themselves as the supply was prepared, fed well from the Palace Stables. As Prime Minister, Joseph had guards in his house, and they surrounded the caravan, keeping the hungry locals from looking too closely at the sacks of grain.
Is this a gift, like with the money? Or just another layer of the game? He argued with himself all the way to the Palace. Benjamin seems to be the family favorite. Or at least their father’s. But if it was a gift, why would he do it in secret? He hasn’t been shy about any other lavish gifts today.
The sacks being loaded onto the donkeys were full to the point of bursting their seams. Nobody noticed or cared when Lapis made his way over, searching the animals for the one Benjamin had been riding. When he found it, he slipped the cup into the sack of grain, burrowing it in like buried treasure in the sands.
When he returned to the party, Benjamin’s plate had been piled high, easily five times the portions of the rest of his brothers.
Lapis couldn’t watch anymore. He excused himself roughly and hurried out of the room.
~/*\~
Asenath came looking for him first, an hour later. She looked worried for him. She came no further than the doorway. The two of them couldn’t meet in private, without gossip. In the Palace, secrets were currency. Lapis didn’t really want the company, but knew her too well to think he could avoid the conversation.
They went to the Courtyard. The Acolytes were already setting out the water and cloth for the next day; though the sun was still fairly high in the afternoon sky. Morning rituals always began with washing the gold statues and icons; and there was time to be saved by being prepared in advance. “Our guests are on their way home. All of them.” Asenath said softly.
Lapis sank back deeper into himself, trying to comprehend this turn. He’d been expecting at least a few of them to be marched into prison, if not directly to the gallows. Lapis wasn’t sure how much she knew, and his duties to Joseph forbade him from speaking openly until he was sure. Nevertheless, they had known each other long enough that he had to tell her something. “I thought I’d finally found that rarest of all creatures: A good man, and a good leader.”
“And now you think he’s not?” Asenath nodded. “You’ve worked it out, right? That the men around that table are Zaphenath-paneah’s brothers?”
“He told you?” Lapis grated.
“I confronted him about it this morning.” Asenath nodded. “He had quite a reaction when he learned they had come back.” She looked a little heartsick herself. “I’ve never seen him so… emotional.”
“And if he wanted to punish them for their sins against him, I would still consider him the finest man I’ve ever known, but this? I’ve seen men of power create huge, elaborate traps for their enemies.” Lapis whispered. “They drag it out for hours, even days, making someone dance for their lives before they’re put to death. A good man wouldn’t linger over the act of killing someone. I never thought…”
“No. That’s not him. It’s just not his way.” Asenath was certain. “Are you so sure his intentions are hostile?”
“I wouldn’t think so either, but they’ve been shaking with fear since the last time they were here, and he’s done nothing to calm them.” Lapis demanded. “If he’s going to bring them to justice for how he was treated, then why won’t he just do it? And if he’s forgiven them, why is he keeping his identity a secret?!”
“I don’t know.” Asenath said simply. “But he told me there was a reason, and I still have faith.”
That caught Lapis off guard. “Faith? You’ve become a follower of Jehovah, then?”
“No. My father would have me killed if I did.” Asenath scoffed. “I have faith in my husband. I remember the night he told me about his past. The dream that promised he would rise to prominence, followed by the years spent in chains. I asked him how he could still believe? Surely, after years and years… the dream would just be a dream.”
“What did he say?”
“That some promises are sure, but may not come to pass as we expect, and that a true God will always be in control of the world enough to see that his Vows would prove true.” Asenath smiled a bit. “I don’t know if I believe that, but I do know that my husband believes it. That certainty that the world is moving towards a good outcome? It’s why he can take setbacks so serenely, and remain a good man. Zaphenath-paneah doesn’t have any spite in him; and takes no pleasure in fear or pain. I’m his wife, and mother to his two children. If there was any desire in him to exercise control in a cruel way, I’m quite sure I would know it before anyone else.”
Lapis felt the strangest urge to weep. Why is my heart so invested in this? I never cared so much about a master before.
“My whole life, I knew that the truth was whatever my superior said it was.” Lapis said softly. “You just live longer that way. If this was any of my old masters, I would know exactly what to do: keep my head down, say nothing, and don’t get noticed until it’s over.” Lapis explained to her. “That’s not cowardice, it’s a survival skill. It’s why a mouse goes still until the cat has moved on.”
She rested a hand on his shoulder. “You’re scared.” She said softly. “Because you’ve been a mouse at the mercy of the cat for all of your life.”
Lapis nodded.
“I’m not sure what he’s trying to do right now either, Lapis. But I have known him this long, and I trust that whatever it is, it’s for a good reason. Not just a wise one. The faith that sustained my husband for years in prison is the same thing that can carry me through one lavish meal with his family.”
Lapis couldn’t help the laugh. “Well, put that way…” He straightened his shoulders, the two of them making their way back to the house. “It all comes back to leadership, doesn’t it? A good leader is the difference between a prosperous kingdom and a bloodthirsty one. Look at the Court. Zaphenath-paneah is the reason we haven’t tried to take half the civilized world as slaves.”
“Egypt only survived because a humble man wants everyone to have enough to go around.” Asenath agreed. “If he wanted revenge on his enemies, wouldn’t he start with Egyptians?”
“He would.” Lapis agreed.
“I have faith.” Asenath summed up.
“So do I.” Lapis agreed.
Almost as soon as they stopped speaking, there was the sound of swift footsteps on stone. There was a very particular sound to a quick march. Soldiers always ran in formation, and were trained to run together. There was no mistaking it.
Sure enough, the Royal Guard were hurrying from the Palace, storming through the courtyard, hurrying to the stables. Wherever they were going, they were riding out. “Wonder what that’s about.” Lapis commented, feeling Montu’s absence again.
Asenath looked around for a moment. “Naunet!” She called quickly, and her attendant came hurrying to answer. “What happened?”
The young woman looked hurried. “Zaphenath-paneah has ordered the guard to run down those foreigners he lunched with. Apparently, one of them has stolen a silver cup from Zaphenath-paneah’s private collection. He’s ordered that they be searched, and if the cup is found, the guilty one is to be brought back for trial.”
Lapis felt the sun go dark for a moment, as though a heavy cloud had passed over them. Asenath dismissed her attendant, and looked at him, the question on her face.
“I put that cup in his sack.” Lapis hissed. “Zaphenath-paneah ordered me to do it personally. He knows exactly where it went.”
Asenath frowned. “The last time they were here, he demanded they all be brought before him. He took a prisoner to make sure of it. This time, he throws them a lavish feast, and… what?”
“He’s making a show of generosity so that he can be ‘outraged at the crime’.” Lapis summed up. “That’s the difference between this time and last time. He’s crafting a story where they are the villains.”
“Why would he do that?” She wondered.
“There’s only one reason I can think of.” Lapis mourned. “What do I do?”
Asenath blinked. “Ask him.” She said simply.
Lapis blanched.
Her gaze was steady. “If this was anyone else in the Court, what would he want us to do?”
Lapis groaned. He would want me to be honest.
“I have faith.” Asenath insisted. “And so do you, even if you have questions right now.”
~/*\~ Ellis ~/*\~
Ellis was finishing up some paperwork, and getting ready for bed; when his cell rang. Ellis let out a groan. His schedule changed fairly often, and the call always came at inconvenient times. But when he picked up the phone, he froze.
It was Debra.
At this hour? He answered the call. “Hello-”
“She’s gone.” Debra said swiftly, almost panicked. “She wanted to go, and I told her no, and she snuck out. I can’t get her to answer her phone!”
“Piper?”
“I asked around about the party she wanted to go to, and I didn’t like the answers I was getting, so I told her no.” She was talking way too fast, nearly hyperventilating. “I told her she had to look after Gigi while I covered a shift, and she flipped out, and I grounded her, and then I got home and she was gone!”
“The Rugrat?”
“Asleep. She doesn’t know her sister is gone.” Debra was terrified. “I checked the phone number she gave me. It’s a fake. Our daughter has gone AWOL!”
“Easy, love. She’s gone to a party you don’t approve of. Which is bad enough, but I doubt she’s decided to leave forever.”
“Ellis, there’s a reason I wouldn’t let her go to this party!”
Ellis was already at his computer. “Hold on, let me ping her phone.” He tapped at the keys for a moment. “She’s got the ‘find my phone’ options turned off.” He sighed. “Hang on, let me check Lyssa’s number. That’s who she’d be going with. Wherever she is, she’d need a ride there.”
“Why do you have access to Lyssa’s phone?”
“She and Piper have each other on the approved list, since Lyssa doesn’t think much of her own father.” The screen shifted, and the map showed where Piper’s best friend was. Or at least her phone. “If she’s anything like Piper, that phone will be welded to her hand.” Ellis said seriously. “I’m closer. I’ll go.”
“I should really-”
“You can’t leave Gigi, and you’ll never get a sitter at this hour. I’ll go.” Ellis told her, already collecting his keys.
~/*\~
The app led him to the right building, which was a huge apartment complex. The app couldn’t give him an apartment number.
There were five levels in the building, and multiple doors on each one. Ellis rode the elevator, floor by floor, until he heard dance music. Four apartments on the same floor. It was the second door he tried. There was no chain on the door, and a cloud of cigarette smoke came out when the door opened.
He scanned the party automatically. Lots of people crowded in the middle of the room, the furniture pushed back to make a dance floor. There was plenty of loud music, lots of empty liquor bottles. Two or three teens passing a joint back and forth, a few couples necking in the doorways; a few others clustered around a videogame. He scanned around, pushing his way through a cloud of teenage perfume and cigarette smoke. He saw a familiar face. “Lyssa!” He shouted. “Where’s Piper?!”
The girl looked up at him, eyes lidded, a sheen of sweat showing how much she’d had to drink already. “Mister Ellis?” She slurred, not sure if he was really there.
I’m not leaving her here like this. “Can you walk? You need to tell me where Piper is.”
“Hey, man; she’s fine where she is-” One of the kids said.
“Is this your place?!” Ellis glowered at him, swinging around to get right in his face. It was mostly bluff. Half the teen males in here were athletes, and they’d been drinking. If it came to violence, Ellis was at a serious disadvantage.
“It’s his party…” Lyssa slurred, trying to stand up slowly.
“Back off, or I’m calling the cops on this whole thing!” Ellis barked violently at him. “One underage girl getting drunk in here will get you arrested.” He pulled Lyssa to her feet. “And since there’s clearly one such girl here already; to say nothing of my daughter-” Lyssa fell into his arms slightly, and he caught her. “And if I have this seventeen year old get a blood test; am I going to find something other than alcohol?”
“What?! No, of course not!” The kid said immediately, so aghast that Ellis actually believed him completely. “We’re not criminals, man. It’s a party. Parties are meant to be fun!”
“I’m gonna be sick.” Lyssa moaned.
Their ‘host’ immediately helped Lyssa over towards the bathroom. “You overdid it, girl. Patty, Vina? Take care of her, will ya? Call her an uber.”
Two of the taller girls, who looked markedly more sober, emerged from the mess of dancing bodies to collect her. They moved to Lyssa with the ease of experience.
“And remember the rules! Make sure you get a picture of the Uber driver before you leave him alone with her.” The host called after them. “Make sure he knows you were watching.”
Ellis found himself rethinking some of what he was looking at. “Do this a lot, huh?” He commented.
“You think I don’t know the horror stories that can happen to people my age?” The boy scoffed.
“So glad to know you’re being responsible with your guests.” He said with biting sarcasm. “How’d she get that loaded then?”
“I’m not a bartender. You telling me you waited until you were legal before you got wasted the first time?” His much younger opponent said easily. “This is life, man. We see the news. The second we turn eighteen we’re stuck in a world that won’t last until we’re your age. We gotta enjoy life sometime.” He waved around. “You think these people come back every week because they’re worried they’ll get their drinks spiked? We caught a guy doing that six months ago and he was begging the cops to arrest him by the time we were done.”
“You’re a real humanitarian.” Ellis grit out. “Now where the hell is my daughter?!”
~/*\~
Outside the building, in an off-street parking area, a small group of teenagers were getting into a car to go to an afterparty. Piper was one of them. From the way she was weaving, and her friends were laughing, they were all drunk.
“Stop!” Ellis shouted after them, running up.
“Dad?” Piper was stunned.
“Ooh, bad sign.” One of the girls giggled.
“Piper, your mother called me.” Ellis said. “I’m taking you home.”
“Gawd! You guys can’t even be in a room together; but any time I want two hours away from you-” Piper turned away from him, and he caught her arm. “Paulie! Stop him!”
The Driver stepped out of the car. “Hey, man; if she doesn’t want to go with you, you can’t force her-”
“I’m her father. I’m not leaving my drunk, underage daughter alone with a guy who is clearly old enough to be breaking at least one law right now.” Ellis snarled. “I’m looking at this car and betting it’s not yours. How would your father feel if you had a drunk driving bust? Or if you total the thing because you think you’re sober enough to drive?” He took a long look at the license plate, as if to make the point. “If the cops checked your wallet right now, would they find a fake ID for that beer?”
His eyes glinted, sober enough to recognize the threat. “I’ll call you tomorrow, babe.” He said to Piper, and got back in the car.
Piper looked outraged that he wasn’t about to get into a fistfight with her father. The other passengers, watching all this with amusement, burst into catcalls.
“All you kids? If you’re smart, you’ll figure out how much he had to drink before you let him start that car.” Ellis said over them. “Anyone who wants a ride home can consider me a designated driver. At least I’m sober.”
“I’m sober enough.” Paulie snapped. “C’mon, guys. Let’s get outta here.”
Piper tried to get back to her friends, but Ellis hauled her back. “No. I’m taking you home.”
“Which one?!” Piper sneered acidly at him, louder than was necessary.
He pulled Piper forcibly towards his car. Nearby, out front of the apartment building, he saw Lyssa being loaded into another car, her two ‘guards’ having a pointed conference with the driver before letting her go. Lyssa was watching Piper plant her feet across the street from them.
“You’re Embarrassing Me!” Piper shouted at her father. “God, what is wrong with y-” Her feet went out from under her and she landed hard on her rear in the street. “Ow.”
Ellis physically pulled her up, unlocked his car and put her in the passenger seat. Then he locked the door on her and went over to the Uber. “Lyssa? You want to come with us? You’re my daughter’s best friend. Better than trusting your way home to a stranger.”
“Hey, man. I’m trying to make a living here.” The driver said lightly.
“You think she’ll make it all the way home before she pukes all over your car? What does that usually do to your expenses?” Ellis shot back.
“It’s okay, mister.” One of the more sober girls promised him, helping Lyssa sit comfortably. “I know this guy. He’s not going to hurt her.”
Ellis glared at them and jerked a thumb after ‘Paulie’, and his car, driving away in the opposite direction. “You were just going to let them go? My daughter arrived with Lyssa. You’re loading her into an Uber; but did you ever think to check on Piper?”
“Someone leaves early when you have friends over? Do you check where they go next?” One of the girls asked him.
Pause.
“I admit, I don’t.” Ellis conceded that.
“It’s a party, man. Some people find a ride home. Some need to sleep it off first. Some want to stay as long as they can. You’re her father, so I get why you came and got her. But it’s not like we go looking for predators to surround ourselves with.” One of the girls said.
“We gotta have nights like this while we’re young.” The other young woman was a third of his age as she spoke so sagely. “We look out for each other. Sure as $#!$% nobody else will.” She glanced back at his car, with Piper slouched inside. “Well, for some of us, anyway.”
~/*\~
Ellis put the seatbelt around his daughter, and slid his key into the ignition. Before he started moving, he pulled out his phone and sent a quick text. Bringing her back to you now.
As they drove, she rocked back and forth in her seat, a little sullen. “You and your mom had a fight?” Ellis said, mostly because it was something to say.
“Like you care.” Piper groaned, resting her forehead on the cool window beside her. “I’m the oldest, which means I got demoted from ‘real person’ to ‘free babysitter’ the second I turned fourteen; even before you split. I feel like I haven’t had fun in three years. I’ve had to ‘be a good example’ for Gigi for as long as I can remember. Even when you’re out picking up cocktail waitresses, I have to do everything right, or Gigi ‘might get the wrong idea’. Don’t I ever get to make my own mistakes? I get all the shame of being a bad surrogate parent, but I still get grounded all by myself.”
Ellis let out a breath between his teeth. “Yeah.”
“Sometimes I think she likes it.” Piper hissed to herself. “I get all the ‘parental’ responsibilities that you’d have if you still lived with us. But unlike you, I can be forced to stay home all night, or punished for missing a meal. Every divorcee’s dream: A co-parent you can control.”
“The separation is hardest on you and Gigi, I know.” Ellis sighed again. “I’m sorry for that.”
“It’s not like I don’t have my own stuff to deal with, y’know. I’m seventeen; what do I know about difficult, complicated choices and hard feelings? Mom’s telling me I have no idea how hard it is to sort out dating while looking after a kid, and then she tells me I can’t go out with a boy because I have to look after Gigi. What would I know about how hard it is to get through life? I’m ‘just a teenager’.” Piper bit out. “But now I gotta deal with your mess all the time.” She rolled her head around her shoulders, slurring a bit. “Honest, dad: Why did you tell her? One time? Four drinks in? If it meant nothing and would never happen again, why did you ever confess?”
Ellis sighed. “‘Getting away with it’ would have been easy. And that would have been the worst part.”
“Guilt?” Piper scoffed. “Sure. Except now we gotta deal with it instead.” She dry-retched loudly, then put a hand over her mouth. “Ohno, pull over!”
~/*\~
It wasn’t the last pause they had to take on the drive to Debra’s place. By the time they got there, she was nearly asleep, feeling wretched.
Debra was waiting at the door, hurrying out to the car as soon as it pulled up. She had to physically lift Piper out of her seat, and start them moving towards the door.
“M’s’rry.” Piper murmured, eyes closed. “S’rry m’m.”
“We’ll talk about it when you’re able to remember.” Debra said, dried tears leaving tracks on her face. “For now, let’s get you into bed. Remember, I still have to be at work in five hours.”
Ellis saw the curtains twitch upstairs. Gigi was watching. What’s she thinking now?
Debra returned to the door. She still looked ashen. “Thank you.” She said emotionally. “I mean… we did some stupid #*!&% when we were that age, but times have changed since then, and… When I think about the sort of things that could have happened to her tonight…”
“I know.” He sighed, exhausted, and they came together in a tight hug, without even thinking about it. He froze when their bodies pressed together. It was so familiar. He’d held her a thousand times, but not for months and months. He shuddered at the sudden memory of something he’d almost forgotten.
She loosened the hug but didn’t pull away from his arms, looking up at him, having a similar reaction. “You, um… You wanna come in? I owe you a coffee, at least.”
He was tempted. With the emotional state she was in, he could have even pushed his luck. “Raincheck?” He said finally, gesturing up at the windows with his chin. “Gigi’s awake, and I don’t want to make it worse.”
She nodded. “Probably a good idea.” She agreed, but she was still hugging him.
I miss holding you too. Did we ever hold each other for the last year of our marriage? Despite himself, he smiled a bit. “Don’t be too hard on her. My dad told me once that your first time getting loaded didn’t require a lecture, since the punishment is built in as soon as you sober up.”
Debra scoffed. “Sounds like something he’d say.” She broke the hug, considered him a minute, and then brushed her lips over his cheek for half a heartbeat. “Drive safe, huh? It’s an unholy hour, and I don’t want to worry about anything else tonight.”
~/*\~ Lapis ~/*\~
Lapis went to Joseph, who was watching out the window with hawk-like intensity. Lapis had seen that look rarely on his face, and wondered if he was seeing something nobody else could. He fought for the nerve to draw attention. Joseph turned to face Lapis, who was bowing as low as he could, forehead to the floor. “Lapis?”
“Your suspicions about the Hebrews being spies were not proven true. I don’t understand what’s happening. But the young man is not a thief. None of them are. You know that. You and I are the only ones who know that.”
Joseph sighed. “Yes.” He said seriously. “Stand up, Lapis. I know I’m not exactly acting like myself right now, but there is a reason.” He took a breath. “The guards will have tracked them soon, and stopped their caravan. I want you to go out personally, and arrest young Benjamin. Take careful note of how each man reacts, and-”
“NO!” Lapis nearly screamed.
The sudden outburst made even Joseph freeze.
Lapis suddenly felt the words come pouring out of his throat. “My lord, before we met, I was a scribe in the Royal Court. One day, Pharaoh and his High Priest were at odds, and I was forced to support one side or another, over a matter of a missing gold cup. I told the truth, and the Priest had me arrested for the embarrassment. I had a golden necklace hidden in my home by the Royal Guards, so that the High Priest could throw me in prison. I didn’t do it. I just… told the truth to power.”
Joseph swiftly understood. “Lapis…”
“When we first met, both in chains, you told me that honesty was hope. But you are being dishonest with those men. With… with your brothers.”
Joseph looked swiftly. “You know?”
“If you want to punish them, you can just do it.” Lapis kept going. “And I know I’ve already said enough to get my tongue cut out; but they sold you into slavery. If you want to punish them, you don’t need to be elaborate, or plant false evidence.”
“You’re right.” Joseph nodded. “So what am I doing, then?”
“I don’t know!” Lapis felt tears on his face. “But you’re not acting like my friend, Joseph, or my Lord, Zaphenath-paneah. What are you trying to do?”
The question hung in the air, almost seeming to echo for a moment.
Joseph looked sadly at him before telling him, straight and simple. “I want to know if they will treat Benjamin the way they treated me… given that of all my brothers, he’s the only one who had the same mother as I did.”
Lapis felt his knees weaken, either with relief or shock. “This is all a test? To see if the years have changed things?” He didn’t believe it. “They’ve had him for many years in your absence. If they haven’t done anything against him-” He caught himself on that thought. “They didn’t bring him to Egypt when they last came for food.”
“He was the only one that didn’t come. I had to make sure he was safe.” Joseph admitted. “I had no idea what to do when I realized they didn’t recognize me.” He measured Lapis’ reaction. “I could have made this whole story a lot easier for you if I’d told you everything from the start. I should have told you right away. But for the first time in my life, I was improvising.” He saw Lapis’ face change. “You’re wondering why I never went home, or at least sent a message.”
“It would not have been difficult for you.” Lapis admitted. “You’ve been running this country for years now.”
He sighed hard. “I did not part with my family on the best of terms. And my father believed in service to God above all. I spent more than a decade in prison, and that road led me here. I felt like my part in God’s Purpose was more important than… than pretending it could be like it used to be. In truth, my brothers made sure that the way ‘things used to be’ wasn’t that good.” Joseph suddenly looked ancient. “A message could be intercepted by them before it reached my father. If I went in person, what would Potiphera do in my absence?” He paused, wiping his eyes. “And maybe I’m just too scared to find out my father has died while I was locked in a cage. Because if he is, I don’t know what I might do to avenge that lost time.”
“And then they showed up, without Benjamin, and a thin story on where he was.” Lapis summed up. “So they came back for him. Does that mean…”
“I hope so.” Joseph admitted. “But I had to be sure.”
Lapis was stuck between his choice of words for several seconds, before he finally dropped to his knees again. “These were… deeply personal trials. Forgive me, my lord.” He begged. “I lost faith.”
Joseph waved a hand over him. “Get up, Lapis. I admit, I was not honest with you. But you were with me. Back when we met, neither of us could have expected this, even with the certainty of prophecy.” He smiled, emotional. “I can’t imagine what’s been going through your mind since you worked it out; let alone the courage it must have taken for you to come in here to push back. You’ve come a long way from the man who told me honesty was the most expensive vice there is.”
Lapis blinked back tears, feeling like he’d run a marathon. “Give me an order, my lord.”
~/*\~
Lapis was swiftly on his way to condemn their guests; and threaten the entire company of innocent people with imprisonment and death. He forced an angry scowl onto his face as he directed his chariot driver to take him as close to them as possible.
He put as much wrath as he could into the accusation of theft. He saw the look traded between the brothers, of feeling the axe swing down on them after half-expecting it all day. Lapis marched to their sacks of grain and found the silver cup in short order, turning to accuse Benjamin with it.
The look of horror and confusion on the young man’s face almost made him feel guilty again, for half a heartbeat. The cries of open horror from the other brothers were the point. Lapis watched them carefully. Are they getting ready to leave him? Simeon’s reaction to the letter from Rueben said ‘no’, but this would be the moment.
Every one of them begged him to spare Benjamin, insisting that it had to be a mistake. They all knew it wasn’t. It was deliberate.
Lapis finally understood the test Joseph was putting them through. Every one of the brothers knew Zaphenath-paneah was toying with them, even if they didn’t know why. They knew the truth wasn’t going to persuade anyone to let Benjamin go. Their only hope now was to force the Vizier’s attention off the youngest brother, and onto someone else. Even if Zaphenath-paneah would accept the trade, at least one of the brothers would have to give their own lives for Benjamin’s.
And every brother was willing. Lapis was surprised at how willing they were. He did his job, and told them that they could make their case to Zaphenath-paneah personally.
They looked terrified, heartsick, and condemned. Doomed by things that were so far beyond their control they had lost all hope of their own survival.
Once he had his back to them, Lapis couldn’t stop smiling as they rode back to the Palace. His whole world made sense again.
~/*\~ Ellis ~/*\~
It was two days after he’d gotten his daughter away from her friends and taken her home, when Ellis came home from work and found Piper waiting on his doorstep. She stood as he came up the path. “I only remember half of it. Mom told me everything.” She said quietly. “I would have called yesterday, but… well…”
“You were still nursing the hangover?” He guessed, unlocking the door.
“Still can’t stand the sunlight.” She admitted. “But I didn’t want to wait another day before I talked to you. I took a bus to get here. And before you ask, I texted mom to tell her.”
Ellis led the way in, and went to change out of his work clothes. While he did so, his daughter looked around the house. It was… neat. There was a thin layer of dust here and there, but he was doing the work. Clean dishes stacked, real food in the fridge, no papers or garbage piling up.
It was her first time there without him expecting her. Nothing was different, beyond keeping Gigi’s toys in her room. In fact, it was as close to the old home as he could keep it. He isn’t living like he’s a bachelor again.
On the kitchen table was a Bible, with a few other books stacked beside it. She picked up the Bible and flicked through the pages. He’d highlighted a few verses, left colored tabs here and there.
Piper looked up as he came to join her in the kitchen. “You think getting religion changes you?”
“People change all the time, Piper.” Ellis said honestly. “We change when we graduate school. We change when we get our own homes. We change when we fall in love. When we have kids of our own. Life changes constantly.”
“It doesn’t though.” She countered. “And a change of job or address doesn’t change what you did.”
“No, it doesn’t.”
“Then why did you do it?!” The words flew out of Piper’s mouth in a rush. It was the first time one of his kids had asked the question. “I don’t want an apology, I want to understand. I get what happened, but I don’t… How did it get to that point? Were you guys unhappy? I know you bickered. Couples always do. Was it that bad? If it was that bad, I feel like I would have noticed.”
Silence.
“Okay.” Ellis said, and gestured for her to sit down. “I don’t know how much you remember. When you were younger, I made a bad investment, and took a huge loss during the Financial Crash. Plenty of people did. We lost less than most, but losing so much of our savings made me scared for the future, and fear made me helpless. I did what I was told, even when it was the wrong thing. I couldn’t be honest with the boss, because I was too scared to risk it. I couldn’t be honest with your mom, because I couldn’t admit how much I screwed up.”
Piper stared. “Okay?”
“Your mom knew the losses changed things for me. She didn’t marry me for the money, but she liked that I was a go-getter. And suddenly I wasn’t willing to show any initiative, take any kind of chance… making the effort was too risky for me. And that was just at my job. It made me cowardly. And your mom knew it. I wasn’t willing to reach. Not for my job, and not for my marriage, so your mom and I became less of a team, and more like an uneasy alliance.” He spread his hands wide. “You want to know why you didn’t notice the problem? It was because it started when you were Gigi’s age. It’s been like that for so long neither of us even noticed anymore.”
Piper took that in. “Lyssa says guys don’t have to be unhappy to cheat. They just need the opportunity. I always figured she was full of it. Half the guys she dates have girlfriends. But now I wonder.”
“Lyssa is seventeen, how many guys…” Ellis shook his head in jaded awe. “Man, the world never gives you kids a chance anymore, does it?”
Piper ducked her head, acknowledging that.
He got back to the point. “It wasn’t that we loved each other less, it’s that your mom couldn’t rely on me. And being a husband and father, you need to be reliable above all else. I used to have a hundred ways to explain my sins away. Just the times, just the economy, just a thoughtless remark… And that night, it was ‘just a rough patch’ or ‘just the four drinks’...”
“That’s not an excuse.” Piper said softly.
“No, it isn’t. I’m not making excuses anymore. But you asked for an explanation. This is the world. People get their heads screwed up. People make mistakes.” Ellis said plainly. “People can do something in an hour that changes their entire lives. Sometimes what’s broken can’t be fixed. Not completely. When that happens, you have to start again.” He gave her a look. “Have you found a single person who doesn’t make mistakes?”
“...No.” She admitted. “So, you apologize, does that mean I have to forgive you now?”
“You don’t have to do anything, kid.” Ellis said honestly. “I can’t make you forgive me, or trust me, or love me. All that is up to you. All I can do is make every effort to prove myself trustworthy, and see if anyone’s willing to trust me again.”
“What about God?” She countered, gesturing back at the Bible on his table. “Isn’t adultery one of those ‘crash landings’? Go directly downstairs, do not pass go?”
Ellis picked up his Bible. “Luke 23. When Jesus was dying, there were two other prisoners with him. One of them felt regret for his sins. ‘Then he said: ‘Jesus, remember me when you get into your kingdom.’ and he said to him: ‘Truly I tell you today, You will be with me in Paradise’.” He looked up at his daughter. “That man couldn’t swear the rest of his life to doing good deeds. He had minutes left. Repentance doesn’t mean ‘serving a sentence’.”
“How convenient.”
“Less so than you think. Being forgiven doesn’t mean I get to escape the consequences. That guy beside Jesus wasn’t miraculously rescued at the last second.” Ellis said darkly. “Kid, I hurt you and your mom. That’s reality, and that can’t be changed. But I’m still your father. And if you hate me forever, then I’ll still be your father. And that means you’re always safer here than you are anywhere else. It means, when your underage friends get you drunk, I come find you. It means when you get into a car with a drunk driver, I get you out of there. It means I keep you safe, even when you hate me for it.”
“Yes sir.” Piper sighed, rubbing her head.
“If you want to rebel against your mom, or punish me for my absence, there are ways to do it without putting yourself in danger.” He reminded her. “You’re a smart girl. Get creative with your rebellion, because getting yourself in trouble is going to be way worse for you than it’s worth.”
“Paulie’s been in two car accidents. Minor ones, but we never let him drive when we go out. That night, our ‘designated driver’ couldn't make it, and none of us realized we had to pick another one until we were ‘four drinks in’ ourselves. I got in the car anyway. I was drunk, and everyone else was…” She caught herself. “No excuses.”
Ellis nodded, saying nothing.
“Lyssa hates her father.” Piper said of her friend. “He’s never been there for her since their divorce. When you and mom split, I asked how she handled it, and she took me out to a party. I’ve been doing that ever since.” She sighed. “I spoke to her yesterday. She was impressed by you, dad. She said her father would never have shown up and done that for her.”
Ellis said nothing to that for a while. “She got home okay? I meant to call and check, but by the time I got home myself, it was 3AM.”
“That’s almost the worst part. Paulie didn’t have an accident, and everyone made it home safe. If you’d gotten me out of there right before my friends crashed into something, I could honestly say you’d saved my life.” Piper said darkly. “What an awful thing for me to think about my friends.”
Ellis actually chuckled and pulled her into a hug. “Love you, kid.”
“Love you too, dad.” She sighed and hugged him back like she’d been waiting to do it for a year. She pulled back enough to look him in the eye. “I’m on mom’s side about this.” She said seriously. “I’m… grateful, for the other night, but it hasn’t changed things. Half my class has divorced parents. Some of them are bitter enemies, some of them are friends. Whatever you and mom become, when you’re okay with each other, you and I will be okay too.”
“Fair enough.” Ellis broke the hug. “It’s good to see you, anyway.” It was the first time she had willingly come to talk to him since the separation.
She turned to go, and he called her back. “Piper? Can I ask you something?” At her nod, he spoke carefully, trying to put it into words. “At the party the other night, the guy who owned the apartment said something that stuck in my ear. He said ‘The second we turn eighteen we’re stuck in a world that won’t last’. It caught my attention, because one of the girls putting Lyssa in a car had the same ‘while we’re young’ attitude.” He spread his hands wide. “You don’t have that view of the future, do you?”
“I can read, dad. The internet doesn’t try to hide it: The world is ending.” Piper said, matter-of-factly. “There are fifteen ways the world can fall apart before I graduate college. To say nothing of the downright cartoonish supervillainy we see every day on the news. But god forbid I party with friends that I know and trust, because I might ‘ruin my future’.”
Ellis let out a breath. “I was afraid of that.”
“We know what can happen, dad. We take precautions. Doesn’t mean we stay home all night. That’s not what life is about.”
“Speaking as your father, this is the hardest thing I’ve ever said: I believe you. The older kids at that party were looking out for their guests. But you still shouldn’t have been there. Having fun is one thing. I want you to be happy. But I don’t want you in danger.”
Piper looked at him sideways. “What’s the alternative?”
And all that before you get to things like high school, your parents splitting up, getting a job… Ellis thought sadly, and his eyes went to his Bible, sitting on his kitchen counter. “And he was moved with pity for them, because they were as sheep without a shepherd.” He quoted.
“Huh?”
“Piper.” Ellis said seriously. “There’s something I’d like to invite you to. You and Gigi. And really, it’s long overdue.”
Piper followed his gaze to the Bible. “Ugh. Why do I feel like I should have stayed in bed another day?”
~/*\~ Lapis ~/*\~
Asenath was waiting outside the Royal Court when he left the room. She saw Lapis, and gestured for him to sit beside her. “He asked me to stay close for a while.” She said softly. “Because if this works out for good, he’ll want me to bring the boys.” She took a breath. “If it works out for evil, I don’t really know what happens.”
“He was a teenager when he arrived in Egypt. Decades have been building to whatever’s going on in that room right now.”
“He’s been carrying the world for years now, Lapis. He has broad shoulders.” Asenath nodded. “Whatever’s going to happen, it will be up to them.” She looked at him sideways, asking the question without speaking.
“I lost faith.” Lapis confessed. “I didn’t know what was happening, and I lost something I didn’t realize had become so important to me.” He bowed his head. “I feel like such a weak fool. If Jehovah was any other god, I would know what to do. I would go straight to his Temple and make an offering, to atone for my weakness. I don’t know how to apologize to Jehovah.”
“My husband would be happy to teach you. Tomorrow.” She smiled. “You didn’t lose faith, you lost your way. It happens to everyone at some point. It’s life. It changes unexpectedly on you. You know that better than most. Certain things are meant to be unshakeable, and when they change on you, you have to alter absolutely everything about yourself to adapt.”
Lapis nodded. “I know. I’ve had to do it twice already. I just… never realized Zaphenath-paneah was one of those absolutely reliable things.” Unable to sit still, he started pacing a bit. “It must be a remarkable family, if Jehovah does for all of them as He does for Zaphenath-paneah.”
“But I don’t think He does, if they cast their own younger brother out.” She murmured.
“Zaphenath-paneah chose Benjamin because he was the only one in that family to be born of the same mother.” Lapis offered. “Did he ever tell you the story of how his parents met? It’s quite a tale.”
Asenath looked back at the doors, still shut tight. “I’m told that Hebrew women consider infertility a curse. It would be a terrible thing, to love a man when you couldn’t give him children.”
Lapis thought of his conversations with Simeon. “Maybe moreso, to know that your ten brothers couldn’t give your father half as much joy as one or two. To live your life knowing that your father had to be tricked into accepting your own mother, when he only really loved someone else. Whatever Joseph’s grandfather did, it turned two sisters into pained rivals, and a woefully lopsided split between twelve sons.” He gestured at the closed doors. “As I understand it, authority in Hebrew families is tied to age. The elder brothers are required to protect the younger. When Joseph was sold into slavery, he had ten older brothers with him, and not one of them did their job in protecting him from others. So he chose the youngest to threaten. His only full-blood brother. To see if even one of them would ‘fall on their sword’ to send him home.”
“Family is complicated.” Asenath said lightly. “I don’t get to judge. My father has made no secret of the fact that he wanted a son to continue in the Priesthood. My destiny was always to marry a man my father could control. In a way, I owe Jehovah as much thanks as you do.” She lowered her voice. “Zaphenath-paneah will not allow our sons to be trained in our traditions. They’re of age to begin schooling, and the only teachers in Egypt are Temple-trained. Even with their bloodline, I wonder if my children will have a future in Egypt; fathered by a man who despises our religion. Depending on how this turns out, the boys may wish to-”
A loud shout of disbelief rang out in the Throne Room, audible even through the closed doors. It was quickly hushed, then started again. They could hear a dozen people speaking over each other in disbelief.
Asenath smiled. “I told you. He’s not spiteful.”
“Maybe a little spiteful.” Lapis smirked. “Whatever else may happen next, at least one of those men has to return home to tell their father that he’s alive and well… and has been all this time.”
The doors opened, and Joseph waved to Asenath, tears on his smiling face. “Bring the boys. I want them to meet their uncles.”
Asenath smiled, and went to fetch their sons. Lapis had little to do until summoned by either of them, and smiled. “One boy, alone, in chains. And Jehovah fashioned him into the salvation of every man, woman and child who asked for so much as a meal.” He remarked to himself in awe, slowly turning his gaze upward. “Doesn’t seem possible, does it?” He said, suddenly aware that he was transitioning into a prayer. “None of Egypt’s priests would ever consider it a possibility. None of their gods would choose a lowly slave to carry out their will.”
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