Star of Persia

1

A New Star

Long ago in the ancient kingdom of Persia, a beautiful baby girl was born. Her name was Esther, a word that means star. Esther quickly grew into a bright, happy little girl with dark shining eyes. Her hair was glossy chestnut brown streaked with golden highlights from the sun that blazed down upon Persia.
Esther’s favorite toy was a little cloth doll with black hair and purple eyes. Her name was Basha, a name that means daughter of a promise. Esther took Basha with her everywhere she went.
Esther spent most of her time in the family courtyard, playing with her cousins and her younger brothers, Gabe and Izzy. The children weren’t allowed to play in the street where slave traders could kidnap them.
Friday was Esther’s favorite day of the week because it was the start of the Sabbath, and Esther helped with the cooking. She loved doing grown-up jobs.
One Friday, Esther was perched on a stool at the kitchen table, working her fingers through some spongy bread dough. “Is this ready yet, Mama?” she asked.
“Yes Esther, you did a fine job,” said Mama with a smile. She lifted the dough from the table, formed it into a plump ball, and plopped it into a wooden bowl. “Now, please set this next to the oven to rise.”
Esther jumped down from the stool, slid the heavy bowl off the table, and placed it near the warm clay oven. Then she wiped her hands on her apron, picked up Basha, and sat on the floor. She began braiding tiny ribbons into Basha’s hair. “Mama, will we have grapes for the Sabbath?” she asked.
“Yes, purple grapes and Persian melons—and a special surprise for you!” Esther’s hands dropped to her lap.
“Pomegranates? Oh, Mama, please say pomegranates!” Esther set Basha in a basket and scrambled onto a stool. She peered anxiously about the kitchen.
Just then, Gabe and Izzy sprang through the doorway. “Papa’s home!” shouted Gabe.
“He has gifts!” exclaimed Izzy.
Dashing back to the courtyard, the boys met their father with pleads of, “Please Papa, show us now!” Papa made his way into the house as Izzy leaped and grabbed at his father’s shoulder sack shouting, “Let me see! Let me see!”
“Calm down, you two!” smiled Papa striding toward the kitchen. “Let me greet your mother first.”
“Abe!” beamed Mama, “I’m glad you’re home early.” She hugged her husband, and noticed his bulging shoulder sack. “You must’ve had a good week at the shop!”
“Indeed!” replied Papa. “Since young Mordecai came to work for us, we’ve had a lot more time to keep the shelves stocked. “You know what we say—”
“Yes, dear, we know what you always say—”
Everyone chimed in, “If you don’t have it, you can’t sell it!”
“Now,” teased Papa, turning back to the children, “would this be a good time to open my sack?”
“Yes! Open it now!” chorused the boys. Esther watched wide-eyed as her father slung his treasure sack to the floor.
“First, I thought we could add some music to our Sabbath,” said Papa, handing Gabe and Izzy small wooden flutes with a dancing camel design.
“Thank you, Papa!,” said the boys. They began blowing on the flutes while trying to hum a tune. For Esther, there was a child-sized harp adorned with delicate gold tracings.
“Oh, thank you, Papa!” cried Esther, “It’s beautiful!”
Next, Papa pulled tiny horses and carts for Gabe and Izzy. The boys shouted in delight, and began racing the toys across the floor.
Grinning at Esther, Papa presented a doll-size table and two tiny chairs. “Papa, they’re perfect!” exclaimed Esther. “Thank you.” She picked up Basha and sat her on one of the chairs.
“Now here’s something for all of us,” announced Papa, displaying a wooden game board with animal playing pieces.
“I get the lions!” shouted Gabe, grabbing them up.
“Hah! I wanted the bulls anyway!” countered Izzy.”
“Boys!” scolded Mama. “Where are your manners?”
“Thank you, Papa,” said Gabe.
“Yes, thank you, Papa,” said Izzy.
“And now for my lovely wife.” said Papa. He presented Mama with a small olivewood jewelry box.
“Abe, what have you been up to?” said Mama, admiring the beautiful design on the box.
“It’s from the homeland,” said Papa. Esther watched her mother lift the lid.
“Oh my goodness!” gasped Mama. The box held a silver bracelet set with gold flowers. “It’s lovely!”
“So are you!” beamed Papa.
“Let me see it Mama!” cried Esther, dancing on tiptoes between her parents. She noticed a Hebrew inscription etched on the inside of the bracelet. “What does it say?”
“It’s from King Solomon’s poem,” explained Papa. “It says, ‘Your beauty shows as a flower among thorns!’”
“Oh, Abe, not me!” exclaimed Mama
“Yes, you! You’re still my beauty,” declared Papa. He ended the little ceremony by sliding the bracelet onto Mama’s wrist and giving her a kiss on the cheek.
“Now I think that’s everything I brought,” said Papa. “Wait! There’s something else!” Gabe and Izzy jumped up from their game to see the final surprise. Holding up a net-like bag bulging with large red fruits Papa said, “For the Sabbath!”
“Pomegranates!” shouted Esther. “This is the best Sabbath ever!”