Rueben lectured me all the way home, "You are just lucky that Schecem, scum, was there. I do not like the way he looks at you, anything to do with that man is forbidden. ARE YOU LISTENING DINAH?"

I nodded dreamily, ignoring his lecture totally, saying, "Yes Brother," whenever it sounded like it was needed. It was better to let him have his spat and agree with whatever came out of his mouth then argue with him. Though it was a bit much calling Schecem scum when he was the one who rescued me, not once but twice.

We went home and Father sent all my brothers out except for Joseph and Benjamin to take the flocks. It was probably just as well Joseph did not go with them as the cloak father gave him was exceedingly fancy - fancier than the rest of us had ever been given. Honestly, between his clothes and his dreams I am not surprised his brothers wanted to pull him down a peg or 3.

It came to pass that our brothers had gone to graze our father's flocks near Shechem, and Israel said to Joseph, "As you know, your brothers are grazing the flocks near Shechem. Come, I am going to send you to them." 

"Very well," he replied. 

So he said to him, "Go and see if all is well with your brothers and with the flocks, and bring word back to me." Then he sent him off from the Valley of Hebron.(Gen 37;12 -14)

They had all gone sometime when they arrived back bearing Joseph's technicolor dream coat covered in blood. I overheard them saying to father, "We found this. Examine it to see whether it is your son's robe." 

He recognized it and said, "It is my son's robe! Some ferocious animal has devoured him. Joseph has surely been torn to pieces." 

Then Jacob tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and mourned for his son many days. (Gen 37:32-35)

 We, his remaining children, came to comfort Father, but he refused to be comforted. 

"No," he said, "I will continue to mourn until I join my son in the grave." So, father wept for him, and ate very little, almost continuously.

Although, Father was like this, life went on, it was just harder now that Joseph was gone, dealing with the extra responsibilities and sorrow caused by his loss. I certainly did not realise how much Joseph actually did - I honestly thought he was a pretty favored boy who did nothing. It turned out he was the one actually managing the family finances - we had been doing well under his and fathers management. Benjamin decided he would step up and fill the shoes of Father and Joseph in regards to finances, however, he was still a child and much was lost on him.

For a time things were peacefulish, and as father was grieving, I was once more allowed to travel to town on my own to see my friends.

A/N Please vote if you enjoyed this chapter.