Step 17
Enosh watched Avishag storm out of the room, leaving him with Nuria and Timur in strained silence.
“Well,” he mumbled, “that could have gone better.”
“Can I have something to eat now,” Nuria asked?
“What, oh, yes of course,” he replied. He looked around the kitchen, spied the small bag of almonds sitting where he’d left them, and handed them to her. She took the proffered bag and started munching them rapidly, small pieces of almond dribbling out of her mouth as she ate. He had to think of some way to get through to Avishag. He’d already spent the money and Nuria could help around the house. He would take Timur out to Bethlehem when he went out to oversee the shearing in the next day or two. You two can also eat some of the fruit and a piece of bread apiece. Leaving Timur and Nuria, he followed Avishag out to the terrace.
“Avishag?”
“What,” she replied, waves of anger emanating from her.
“I want you to take care of Nuria. You can do that can’t you?”
“You know that I do not approve of slavery.”
“Why not? They give us more time to enjoy ourselves.”
“But to own a person, it’s heartless.”
“You would not be heartless. You’re kind.”
“That’s beside the point. Owning a person seems so wrong.”
Enosh sighed, “The law allows it, and as I said, they will help us by giving us more free time.”
Avishag finally turned around, “We don’t need more free time.”
Enosh sighed, “Look I’ve spent the money. The boy is needed with the flocks and I think the girl will be useful around the house, especially after the shearing. You’ll have a lot to do. You can train her to help prepare the wool. That way, we can get our wool to market early and get the best price.”
“I still don’t see why we need them,” Avishag pouted.
“Well, we have them. Let’s make the best use of them possible,” Enosh replied doggedly. Perhaps this was the best result he could get. At least Avishag had not stormed off, though her glare could kill.
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