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The Father's Nakedness
And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent. And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without. GENESIS 9:21-22
"No!" cried his father, cutting short the answer, threw the blankets off with a strength that sent them all flying in a moment and sprang erect in bed… "You wanted to cover me up, I know, my young sprig, but I'm far from being covered up yet." FRANZ KAFKA, "THE JUDGMENT"
I thought the vineyard idea was a good one, the old man had to be kept busy somehow. Then he started drinking. Steadily. After all we had been through. The pity of it. And would lie in his tent uncovered, naked and sweating. Father, how could I turn my back. I wanted to cover your pathetic flabby body.
I told my brothers: our father is lying naked in the tent, dead drunk. They said no. That doesn't happen in families like ours. Only gentiles are alcoholics. Shut up, they said, and quickly turned their backs. Then our father woke up and began scream-ing, cursing me.
You'll be black, he screamed. Che sweat stood out on his forehead. You'll never gel any where. Your children will be slaves and servants. He retched and flung himself backward shivering. That ought to teach you respect, he screamed
