Chapter Text
“Joseph? I have a gift for you!”
The youth turned at his father's call as the older man entered the tent, bright brown eyes alighted upon the bundle held under Jacob's arm with interest. “What is it?” he asked eagerly, scrambling to his feet and rushing over to him. “What is it?”
Jacob chuckled fondly at the teen's eager impatience and held out the package to him. Joseph's eyes glowed as he took it, studying the simple cloth and braided cord wrapping. He untied the knot holding it all together and unfolded the wrappings with eager hands. An awed gasp escaped him at what was revealed. Colors. Such colors he had never seen before. It seemed like every color that had ever existed had been woven into the cloth, vibrant bold. It was red and yellow and green and brown and blue and scarlet and black and ochre and peach and ruby and olive and violet and fawn. God's own rainbow did not hold so many beautiful colors. Joseph raised one hand hesitantly and cautiously ran his fingers over it. His breath caught and began to stroke it in earnest. It was so soft and smooth to the touch. He had never felt anything like it and nothing to compare it to. “It is beautiful, father.” he praised, gushing in gratitude. He then blinked, suddenly uncertain. “What is it?”
Jacob chuckled again and reached out to gently slide it out of his son's hands. “It is a coat, Joseph.” he said, shaking the rich fabric out. It flowed like a waterfall, unfolding, and Jacob held it up so his son could see it fully.
Joseph stared at the multi-colored coat with wonder. It was a textile masterpiece. The sleeves were full and the ends were decorated with small beaded tassels. The design on the front of the fitted bodice, stiff from the exquisite embroidery, shone with – was that gold thread?!
He stepped forward at his father's gesture and let Jacob slid the coat onto him. Oh, but it felt divine! The short stiff collar brushed his neck like a caress. Jacob's strong hands buttoned it into place, fingers round wooden beads through the snug loops of cord. The structured bodice wrapped around him like a hug, fitted to the waist and then flowing out in great pleats of cloth, the multiple panels each a different color and separated by a thick embroidered band wider then his hand. He knew that his days of wearing not but plain white sheepskin pants and tunic were over. He even suspected the coat would go with his favorite vest.
Jacob stepped back and smiled to himself, admiring how his son looked in his new coat. It was elegant, the cut was fine. A king would stop and stare and the grand figure his son made. Joseph grabbed the edges of his new coat and spun, joyous laughter rising the way the skirt of the coat twirled about his hips and legs.
Jacob's heart felt like his heart was a full of warmth to the point of bursting, watching his spin and dance in his new coat, pausing every now and then to run his hands reverently over the heavy cuffs circling his wrists. It was a bit big yet, the hem trailing in the sand like a train and the cuffs falling over Joseph's hands. The bodice wasn't really fitted snugly, the bottom cutting off a little lower then style would demand. But his dear son was not yet fully grown. It would fit him perfectly in time. The sight of Joseph's wide smile and laughter as he spun about, the twirl of his coat, oh how he looked liked his mother. Rachel had danced for him in a similar manner, when they were both young and newly joined, before the strain of her seemingly barren womb and her sister's rampant fertility had put such a painful strain between them.
How he did miss her! But she lived still, in his dearest son.
Now, with this coat, the whole world would know that Joseph was the special one.
“I look handsome! I look smart! I am a walking work of art!” Joseph sang out, spinning and throwing up his hands with a bright exuberance that made Jacob laugh.
“What is going on here?”
The low voice drew both of their attentions to the ten figures crowded around in the entrance of the tent.
Jacob smiled at the sight of his other sons, barely half as bright as the one he had given Joseph earlier.
“Rueben! Naphtali! Dan!” Joseph sprang towards his brother with a brilliant smile, holding out the ends of his coat to them, eager to show off his wonderful dream coat. “Look what Dad gave me! Isn't it amazing?” he shoved fistfuls of cloth into their hands, wanting them to feel its glorious softness.
Their features seemed to twist as one, smiles that seemed to be more like grimaces spreading over their faces.
“Why, your faces have all turned green!” Joseph exclaimed, voice a mix of concern and amusement. It was a rather funny look on them, after all. “Are you all unwell?” he tilted his head, giving them a scolding look. “Did you leave that cheese in the sun even after Dad told you not to? He warned you it would make you ill?”
“Yes, it was . . .the cheese.” Judah confirmed, drawing the last word out in a long hiss. His white teeth were gritted, dark fingers flexing on the bunched bit of blue cloth that had been pressed into his hand. The luxuriant smoothness of the cloth filled him with fury, a fury he could tell his brothers shared. This was too much, this multi-colored coat had got their goat. They had always known their father favored Joseph over them but to dress the boy up as a prince while leaving them in simple wools? That went beyond the pale. They would have to do something about him soon, lest their father disinherit the lot of them for the sake of his precious Joseph.
Neither Joseph or Jacob were aware of their dark thoughts, they did not notice any danger. Jacob could never have imagined any danger. These were his sons, not a host of enemies.
Joseph smiled brightly at them, ignorant of the evil stirrings turned against him. “You should sit and rest.” he directed, gesturing to the cushions scatted about the tent. “I will get you some water.”
“Joseph.”
The teen stopped, coat swishing about his legs as he looked back in surprise at his father's hard tone, brows rising in silent question.
“If your brothers will not listen to my wisdom, let them learn the consequences of ignoring it.” Jacob said, shooting a hard look of reprimand at his ten eldest sons as he sat down in his usual place. “Their discomfort will be a good teacher.” His features softened and he gestured for Joseph to come closer. The teen complied, moving to sit down beside his father.
Jacob smiled with adoration and cupped his beloved son's cheek gently. “Now, why don't you tell me about your day, my darling boy?” he requested.
The other brothers scowled as Joseph began to speak, jealously burning through them fiercely. It made the sweet sound of their half-brother's voice sound foul to their ears. Hate settled into each of their hearts, twisting like a living thing inside them that whispered evil thoughts.
One thing was certain, each thought with scathing contempt, the dreamer had to go.