Beads of perspiration dripped down Lydia’s tanned face as she cut the dry brown straw needed for the bricks being made over in the work lot. She hated the color; it was the color of the earth beneath her tired, callused feet, the color of the mud used for the heavy bricks, the color of bondage and everything that it meant. She felt like that sticky mud, stuck in the place with no way out. Despite the fact that Aaron’s Brother Moses had come back and was trying to tell Pharaoh to let all the Hebrew slaves go and all those terrible plagues that Jehovah had sent. There was still no freedom. Pharaoh had just kept saying no then asking Moses to get Jehovah to take away the plagues.

Back and forth with each swing of the sharp scythe another heap of the dry grass few Lydia wished she could just fall over onto the ground and lay there. Just as she was getting so depressed she could scream she heard a familiar voice greeting her. “Hello Lydia.” Looking up she saw her friend Ahkmet’s smiling face. “Hello to you too”, She replied in a slightly annoyed tone. Ahkmet walked closer and reached out to take the scythe from her hands. “Here you rest for a while and we can talk.” Lydia squinted her eyes against the sun and looked at her friend in slight apprehension. “I don’t want you to get into trouble.” She said reaching to take the scythe back. “O you worry too much Lydia; I won’t get in trouble so just sit!” She stepped backwards and plopped to the ground. “Okay.” Ahkmet Worked effortlessly talking as he did. “My father says all you Hebrews might be leaving soon.” He paused a moment, “Do you want to go?” his voice sounded sad, but the question he had just asked seemed ridiculous to Lydia. “Of course I want to go. You don’t know what it’s like to be a slave and to have to work like a man every day, from down till duck. Never having enough food to satisfy, going to bed every night knowing that tomorrow may be the last day of your life if you don’t work hard enough. Or that you could be beaten if you make the slightest wrong move.” Ahkmet bit his lip. “I’m sorry, I know it’s hard. I just don’t want you to go.” Lydia looked up at her tall Egyptian friend. “Well,” she said, “I really don’t know if we are going. It all seems like a lot of talk.” She thought about all the fun times they had had growing up and pondered a moment what it would be like to leave Egypt. Tilting her head Lydia stared past Ahkmet, The pyramids rose in the distance and she could see the market and people shopping, that palace toot stood out there its large marble pillars shining in the afternoon sun. “I didn’t know you felt that way” she finally said looking back up at him. Getting to her feet Lydia walked to where Ahkmet stood. “Here, I’m okay now.”She took the Scythe. I’m Sorry I spoke that way, I don’t know, sometimes I just-” She stopped. “Thanks.” She ended meekly. Ahkmet smiled back. “That’s alright I always win.” He laughed and brushed back his thick sweaty hair. “So I guess we’re still friends?” Lydia Asked. Ahkmet Threw his head back laughing. “Of course we were never not friends. I better get going I’ll see you tomorrow.” Turning he walked away still laughing slightly. “Good-Bye” he called over his shoulder. “Bye” said Lydia waving. She turned when he left and went back to her work.

Dusk had finely come and the day’s work was dome. Lydia’s aching shoulders sagged as she walked home. The Sun was setting and a light breeze floated through the humid air. It blew through the weary girl’s disheveled hair sending a lose strand across her dirty face. As she neared home she noticed uneasiness about her. She looked away when she saw several lambs being killed. People were rushing back and forth. A few men were standing of stools spreading blood on the door posts of their houses with hyssop. She stopped in front of their own house when she saw her father doing the same thing. “Father what is happening? Why are you doing that? Everyone is acting very strange.” As Lydia’s father stepped down he set aside the dish of blood and put his large hands on the top of her head and sighed. “Tonight all of the first born of the land will be put to death if the blood is not applied to the door of their home. Jehovah has spoken to Moses and told him these things. I believe we will not be in Egypt much longer my child.” A sickening feeling overtook the girl as she stood before her father. She shut her eyes hard and nearly vomited. Her mind stopped and all she saw was blackness. “Is Ben going to Die?” She asked in a faint whisper. A picture of her oldest brother flashed suddenly in her mind. “No” Her father said with a shaking sigh. He released her and walked away.

Lydia walked slowly to the house all around her were people rushing to and fro. Before she even entered the door she remembered Ahkmet, He was the first born in his family. Without even thinking Lydia turned on her heel and ran toward the Egyptian village. Darkness was settling in and it was becoming hard to see. As she ran Lydia tripped over something she didn’t stop to see what it was, she just kept running. By the time she reached Ahkmet’s house her heart felt like it would pop out of her chest. Pounding on the door with all her might Lydia screamed. “Ahkmet! Ahkmet! Hurry open the Door, hurry!” Unable to hear anything above her own yells she was startled when she found she was banging on air. Ahkmet’s father stood in the door. The only light to be seen was the light of several small oil lamps burning inside the house; they only slightly illuminated the tall man’s face. “What is the matter is you Lydia; do you know what time it is?” Lydia spoke between gasps. “Sir please- tonight all the first born-in the land of Egypt- will die. Jehovah spoke to Moses and told him. “Whoever puts the blood of a lamb over the doorpost of their house- the death angel will pass over. Please, Ahkmet will die if you don’t but blood over your door.” By now tears were streaming down the girls still dirty face. “Come inside child, you will find Ahkmet very will I assure you. “ The Egyptian man let Lydia into the house. Seated at the small stone table in the corner of the room was her tall, strong and yet boyish friend. Looking up a smile crossed his face, than as soon as it had come it was gone. He stood to his feet and rushed toward his father and weeping friend. “What’s wrong?” Because Lydia was crying so Hard Ahkmet’s father proceeded to tell his son of Lydia’s concern.

After Ahkmet heard his he bowed his head, silent. Looking up he said, “Lydia, you know my Father does not believe in your God, we are Egyptians.” Lydia shook her head. “But you saw all of the other things that have happened, the frogs, the lace, and the water to blood. You really do not think that Jehovah will-will just not…” she paused a moment and looked desperately at her friend. “Ahkmet,” she said shaking in between sobs. “You- you will die. Please, please put the blood over your door.” Ahkmet placed his hand on the girl’s arm. “Lydia, God home now, it’s late. I’ll come over and see you tomorrow alright?” “No! She cried in response. “Were leaving Egypt tonight, Father told me. Please listen to me.” “You’re leaving? I thought…” A shadow fell over Ahkmet’s face. “Your really are going away? You, you… “Son, you need to let Lydia leave now, you know how many times they said they would leave and never did. Run along now child. All will be well in the morning.” The man walked to the door and started to close it on Lydia. “Ahkmet will see you in the morning. Good night.” Lydia tried to protest but as soon as the door closed she heard it being locked. She leaned her head against the door and pounded her fists against it. “I’ll never see you again.” She sobbed and fell to the ground.

The night seemed unusually dark, the air felt thick. In every Hebrew home there was quietness. The people sat waiting. They knew that soon they would be leaving Egypt. Silent Prayers ascended from each home. Lydia sat very still, listening to the silence. She thought of all the Egyptians who would never see the light of tomorrow. She thought of all the others who would be crying in the morning when their child did not wake in the morning. She felt like praying only she did not know what to say. A single tear slid down her cheek. The night passed in continued silence, babies fell asleep in their mother’s arms and young children slept with their heads in their father’s laps. All around them were baskets of food, crates filed with bedding and clothes, all in preparation for their flight for Egypt. Suddenly, piercing through the silent night was a blood curdling screams that made Lydia jump than cringe in terror. It sounded as though people were being eaten alive. The shrieking sent chills through Lydia’s body, a sob caught in her throat and she knew Ahkmet was dead.

Not long after the terrifying incident all of the Hebrews gathered together their belongings in preparation to leave Egypt. Lydia and Ben went out to the sheep yard to herd the sheep. The Cries of the Egyptians Still filled the night air. Lydia put her hands over her ears trying to block the hideous laments; it did not work, no matter how hard she pushed her palms into her ears. After they had gotten the sheep together Ben yelled for her to go get their three cows and the donkey from the stable. Walking into the barn she could see that the cows were upset by the noise. Walking toward one she reached out her hand. “Shhh, your fine.” She whispered to it. “Where leaving now to go on a long walk,” She paused as she spoke to the frightened animal. She wrapped her arms around the Cow’s neck and laid her head on the cow’s head, tears came once again to her eyes. She cried for her friend, for all the people who had died even if some of them were their slave drivers, for all the little children who would never grow up. She cried for herself and all of her people who were finely going to be free. She cried because she was angry and she wondered how Jehovah could let this happen, but mostly she cried because she knew that this was all a part of His plan. As if the cow understood, it mooed softly. She lifted her head and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. “well they will all leave without us if I don’t get you all moving.” taking a deep breath Lydia, with the four ropes in her hand that lead the livestock, stepped for the last time out of the little shack that had served as a barn nearly seven years now. Her family stood outside of the house loading their belongings into the small wooden cart that was to be harnessed to the donkey. Before they left Lydia’s father lifted his hands toward the sky and prayed. Than they were on their way, out of Egypt.

As they walked through the street, others joined them, with their belongings piled into carts, flung over an animal’s back or heaped in their own arms. There were many familiar faces, friends, relatives, and neighbors, all crowding into the dirt-covered road. Even if they had wanted to speak, not many did, the never-ending screams rang continued steadily. Lydia knew that they were walking now to freedom leaving the hardships, bondage, and drudgery of slavery behind them, yet within her a war still raged, the anger had not yet left and she felt torn p and unsatisfied inside. She knew that nothing could be done about the lies that had been lost, about Ahkmet, that she would still mourn their deaths, but she knew that she could choose to forgive Jehovah, He had protected them through all these many years of slavery and was not leading them to freedom, he had kept all the plagues away from the Israelites. Deep in her heart she knew that ultimately Jehovah had a great plan and that she was part of it. She did not have to understand why Jehovah acted the way he did, nor the reasons behind his doing the things he did. She needed to thrust that he had everything under control and that he would take care of everything. So beneath the darkness of the Egyptian sky she lifted her eyes toward Jehovah and said, “I will trust in you.”