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Holiday Indulgence – Purim

By on March 18, 2014
Vashti Refuses the King's Summons by Edwin Long

Vashti Refuses the King’s Summons by Edwin Long

Written by Dirty Di. Dirty Di is the author of Astray, Deborah and Aviva and the Holiday Indulgence series.

A note from the author: This is the fifth part of a series called Holiday Indulgence. The series followings the adventures and misadventures of our heroine Malka Berkovich throughout the Jewish calendar, a fictional character that simply can’t resist celebrating and cherishing her Judaism. Each installment can be read as a separate piece, although because of the character and the story’s development, I wouldn’t advise it.

I mean no disrespect to Jewish history and customs, this is meant to be recreational. I had a hard time writing this; we are taught to view the story of Esther as a light, celebratory one, but there are a few issues I don’t think I completely agree with. Anyway, without further ado…

*******

Rated PG-13

HAPPINESS IS…

Happiness is getting up and looking at the sky, to see winter become spring as the snow slowly melts and gives way to the flowers to flourish. To realize we live in a free world and we are allowed to do as we please; a world where I don’t have to hide what I am or how I feel, where I’m free of the constraints that at some point may have come with the way I was born.

—

But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s commandment by his chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him.

Then the king said to the wise men, which knew the times, (…) What shall we do unto the queen Vashti according to law, because she hath not performed the commandment of the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains?

And Memucan answered before the king and the princes, Vashti the queen hath not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the people that are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus.

For this deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women, so that they shall despise their husbands in their eyes, when it shall be reported, The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she came not.

Likewise shall the ladies of Persia and Media say this day unto all the king’s princes, which have heard of the deed of the queen. Thus shall there arise too much contempt and wrath.

If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, That Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she. And when the king’s decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his empire, (for it is great,) all the wives shall give to their husbands honour, both to great and small.

—

Happiness is a new beginning. For me, it came when I met you, when I saw you frown upon my unwanted presence and when, eventually, you let your walls down to succub to the irresistible force of our attraction. Happiness was seeing you smile after a silly joke I told or indulging me into my religious silliness.

—

After these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was appeased, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed against her.

Then said the king’s servants that ministered unto him, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king:
And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair young virgins unto Shushan the palace, to the house of the women, unto the custody of Hege the king’s chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their things for purification be given them:
And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti.

And the thing pleased the king; and he did so.

—

Happiness is hope. Hope that one day you’ll completely open up to me, that we’ll have a future together and that, even through the shady times, you’ll be there for me and you’ll know you can count on me. Hope that the sacrifices we’re making are worth it, that you’ll see me for who I am, no masks, no pretenses, and you’ll still say yes to me.

—

Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king’s house, more than all the Jews.

For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer,
Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.

—

Continue reading…

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Dirty Di has the stuff that you want; she is the thing that you need. So if you're feeling devious, and looking glamorous, let’s get mischievous and polyamorous, because you live only once, so be sure you got it right. And if you don't, try again.
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