Chapter 5 - Cheap

With a little help of those who gathered around, Joseph went out of the deep darkness of the well into the lit sky. He looked around as he was taken into one of the small tents erected near the caravan.

There were many camels carrying a sundry of goods. Varying from pottery, cloth, food, grain, and several other boxes of different sizes. Joseph was used to the stories heard about the trade route to the south-west of his clan's dwelling. Therefore he was not in much awe seeing it for the first time. However, that does not mean he is not a bit fascinated with the sight he is seeing.

A bowl of water was shoved in front of him. Looking up slowly, his eyes met with a young man in his twenties. "Thank you."

The young man was a tradesman who was escorting many other merchants on their way to the southern land of Egypt. The whitish headband blocked the sun's scorching heat from burning the man's head, while his black beard, although unkempt, lined up a handsome face.

The man was carefully gauging Joseph with his eyes, as if his habit of inspecting goods extended to humans as well.

Joseph was young, but he was also smart. He knew what kind of choices to expect in his unfortunate situation. He met the man's eyes bravely, and held his stare while speaking unhurriedly. "Where is the gentleman's convoy heading to?"

The man's lips tilted in a smile, obviously liking the little child's stable state of mind. "To Egypt."

Brief answer to a brief question. Joseph did not ask any more questions, while the man's mind was storming with curiosity.

"Why were you in the well? This well is almost out of the trade's way, so you have to have traveled a great deal of distance away from the closest bedouin tribe near here. What's your story, little child?"

Joseph kept silent for a moment or two, and the man didn't know what he was thinking. Noticing the child's mouth open to give an answer, the man waited to listen to an interesting story. But he was disappointed. "It's enough God knows what happened. Can this gentle man show me where to get a shirt? I lost mine."

It was at that moment that the man realized why he found the boy likable. He was mature, like a grown man. On top of that he is well-behaved, look at his demeanor after being rescued from danger. Who knows how he fell in the first place, or how many days he was confined deep down with no food? facing the frosty nights of the desert and the dark-as-a-grave narrow confinement?

That's a good seed that will definitely grow into a fine young man, the man was upset about the child's circumstances. However, as a merchant who saw many things in his journeys, he knew everyone has a story they are not willing to share.

He feels sorry for this child. The child has a pretty face that speaks loudly about the handsomeness he will hold. Adding the maturity he just showed, this child's future is bright. Alas, he will most definitely be sold a slave.

Sighing, the man thought, "This environment is extremely harsh, this young one's future would have been brilliant in his tribe. Unfortunately, he fell in the hands of a merchant's convoy where no one in the near horizon came looking for him."

The man helped Joseph looking for a shirt amongst the convoy. After finding a tattered one, he watched as Joseph put it on with no change in his face. "Humble, too…" The man shook his head sadly at this before going back to his own business, but not before showing the child the location of his dwelling among the tents.

Cutting his silent thoughts, was a pat on the shoulder that came from the side. "Move along, boy. It's no use longing to your mother, you are now a slave to be sold in the slave market in our next stop. Lingering thoughts are dangerous for small kids like you. Listen to me and be good."

Although he was talking to Joseph, another voice added a little while later, "That's true, kid."

Then he pointed at the faraway skyline, "There. Egypt is a prosperous land, You can be sold a slave in a rich household. If you work hard and show your worth, maybe the lord will let you marry a servant girl. You have a pretty face and many maids will accept you, worry not."

"Aye, work hard, boy! Since you are a child yet your price will only be a few dirhams. Tch, too cheap. You have to work hard boy! You are still young, so you can be taken as a son for some barren couple. Maybe if sold to a wealthy man, and your lord is pleased with you, he may allow you to work for him as a freeman. Who knows?!"

Laughing, both merchants were gone…

After being left on his own, Joseph sat there thinking of his home. What is his father doing right now? Has his brothers already returned back home without him? What will his father do when he doesn't find him amongst the rest?

Frowning, Joseph felt he already knew why he lacked a shirt. They threw him there not without a prepared plan, they planned his death for a time it seemed.

The shirt, even if ripped, is also a part of the plan. They made him take off his shirt before surprising him into the well. Now, with the shirt they can present it as false evidence of his 'death' to father.

His heart almost broke at the thought of father being saddened due to his death while he is still alive and breathing. Only his circumstances does not allow him to run away of this slavery, specially when he is miles away from home, without food and a ride to carry him.

Moreover, even if he went back alive this time, who guarantees he will come home safe the next time?

Looking in the distance thoughtfully, He misses his father already. But his worries kept roaming his heart and bustling in his brain. He thought worrisomely, "Will they come onto Binyameen next?"

Before his worries toppled in his heart, he was led with the other slaves to the camels. They are slaves after all, so working is a must.

No matter what Joseph was asked to do, he will do it. No questions asked. He did as correspond with his status as a slave, however, not once did he lower his head or cower away. He acted as if slavery was a refined proffession, like he is not a slave at all.

What all these merchants didn't realize at that time, is that Joseph's material is that of higher purposes. Not even slavery can hold him down.

Two days later, Joseph saluted his father in the fading horizon with a last look, promising his beloved father that he will do his best to stay alive.

As for his feelings towards his brothers, his heart worked hard these days but after pondering over it he found he could not hate them. Don't get him wrong, he is not forgiving them by any means, nor is he forgetting what they did. But he reached the conclusion that he can't hate them. His father taught him better than that.

One hates the sin, not the sinner.

His father's voice rang in his ears as he followed the caravan further and further away from the home that shielded him.

"Be forever loving even when met with hatred. All bad feelings will become good, only when you overtake it and use it to be an overwhelmingly disciplined man…"

And at that moment, he promised his father…

He will be the fine man his father raised him to be.