ON DIGNITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY

I remember that Dad often remarked that I was very handsome. He told me that he loved my mum at first sight because she was very beautiful. I did not totally agree with him because I had hardly beheld the reflection of my face perfectly via any means, but I did not disagree with him either because I have learnt that old men don’t talk nonsense. Besides, due to constant physical labour, my body build had fledged.

Now, because of my facial attractiveness, physique and responsibility within and outside of the house, my boss’ wife began to eye me. I did not notice initially until she began to create an atmosphere between us by ensuring that I served her personally; she even went as far as bringing me into her room to work there as though her female workers were not competent enough.

Perhaps, she had despised her husband because of me, seeing that I embodied all that she wanted in a man whereas he often carried his military life into his home, commanding everybody without doing anything himself; he wouldn’t even lift to finger to help her do something when she needed him to. She often felt starved of love.

At some point, I noticed something strange about how she even glanced at me. Her eyes were somewhat inviting. I sensed something wrong, and I began to avoid her. One day, Mrs Potiphar grew tired of communicating with her eyes because I was not responding. She wanted real feedback to know if I was interested so she confronted me directly with words. She made an affectionate, yet urgent request for me to rub a cream on her back. I was shocked, but I gathered courage and did it.

As if that was not enough, she then requested that I kissed and even do a quickie with her. I was perplexed beyond comprehension; I just couldn’t process the thought in my mind. So I hastened to remind her of one of my core values that has been entrenched deep within the fibre of my being: accountability to God and man! At that point, I felt offended and excused myself. She knew she had gone overboard, so she did not come after me.

However, Mrs Potiphar however persisted, in hope of breaking my resolve with consistent efforts like a snake penetrates a rock. She often cornered me at different times and different places in the house, requesting for just a single kiss but I turned her down always.

Sincerely, at some point, I began to process the very thoughts I initially took for thrash. I considered some of the benefits that I could enjoy by yielding to her for this top secret affair: she would ensure she looks after my welfare, give me a 'Man of the House' treatment in absence of her husband, and probably even process my freedom from slavery. Besides, I will release myself from this burden of sexual pressure that seems to overwhelm me when I gazed at some beautiful ladies in our environs. Her proposal was indeed promising!

But I lost my peace midst amidst those monstrous meditations when I recalled the lessons my Dad taught me about the fear of God from his experience of swindling Uncle Esau. I knew that I was not half as smart as my father who could not escape God's judgement. Also, I recalled that he mentioned that no matter how blessed a man is, short cuts can cut the man short off his blessings. So I discarded the evil relish and focused on my job. So as her urge grew stronger, I strengthened my resolve within me. From then, my madam knew that I would rather die right than live wrong regardless of any pleasant reward in view.

One day, while Mr Potiphar was away at the office, she threw in her joker. She ensured that everyone was outside. In fact, she deliberately sent some of the domestic officials on crazy errands and ordered others to leave the premises for no tangible reason. She also demanded that I remained with her for a private discussion. The entire scene appeared strange to me so I became suspicious.

As soon as we were left alone, she began to loosen her clothes and unwrap herself gently, exposing her sensitive parts. I could not believe what I was seeing. I quickly took off my eyes and faced another direction, but my trousers knew no rest as I struggled with my erection. This time, her eyes and words were not enough; she reached for my shoulders and caressed me a little on my back, gently inviting me to the luxurious bed. I reluctantly turned down her request so she caught me by my clothes and urged me to have raw sexual intercourse with her.

Before I could say Jack Robinson, she cornered me again and began kissing me all over the face while also pressing my chest hard on her breasts. So I knew that she was in for business; I did not even attempt to negotiate a contract. Taking advantage of my manly strength, I quickly slipped my body off the clothes and sped off through the nearest door.

It was the second time I lost my clothes after my brothers seized my coat of many colours, but I never gave a damn. I had a better garment upon my soul – a garment so pure I couldn’t afford to defile.

Culled from the forthcoming book, 'RISE TO RELEVANCE; Lessons from the Rise and Rise of Joseph' by Bright Ukwenga.