Zebina thought she had heard Seth crying out, but when she heard Joash’s voice yelling, “Papa, Papa,” she knew something was wrong. She rushed out the door and saw Joash racing to the far corner of the field, yelling “Papa, Papa!” But Zebina could not see Seth anywhere.

“Joash, what’s wrong?” she yelled, as she ran toward him. But Joash would not stop, could not answer. He darted all the faster toward his father, yelling as he sprinted.

Suddenly he stopped and disappeared into the wheat. “Oh, no.” His voice became softer, but frantic. Then a loud, gut-wrenching cry poured out of him. “No, no,” he sobbed. “Oh, Papa. No, no. God, don’t take my Papa away!” More screaming sobs.

Zebina could hardly breathe from the running. Fear came over her as she heard the cries of agony from Joash. Tears almost blinded her as she raced to get to him.

She found Joash in the wheat, holding his father’s head in his lap. “He’s gone, Mama.” Tears streamed down his face, as he moaned and rocked back and forth. “Papa’s gone.”

Zebina fell down beside her husband. She touched Seth’s chest and stroked his red face, hot with sweat. “Seth, Seth can you hear me?” She felt his chest again. Absolutely no movement. The shocking, wretched truth pierced her heart. “No, Seth, no, don’t leave us.” She buried her forehead in cupped hands, sobbing, her shoulders shaking uncontrollably. She looked up to the heavens. “No, God, don’t take him from us. Don’t take him . . .” She buried her head in her hands again. Agony pouring out from deep within.

Joash gently lowered his father’s head from his lap. With tears streaming down his face, he moved to his mother’s side and held her tenderly. Both of their bodies shaking in anguish.

As their bodies slowly came to a resting place, Zebina asked, “What do you think happened, Joash?”

“I don’t know, mama. I was working at the other end of the field when I heard him scream out. He called my name and I saw him bent over, holding on to his rake. He called out again and I started running to him. Then he let out a strange noise and fell to the ground. He was clutching his heart with moans, but before I knelt down, his body went limp.” Tears began steaming down his face again.

Zebina realized she had been no help to her son with being so caught up in her own emotions. “I’m grateful you were here for him in his last moments, Joash.” She touched his wet cheek lovingly and embraced him again.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t do anything to help him.” Joash hung his head. “It all happened so fast.”

“It must have come on him quickly. He has mentioned lately that he gets a little pain now and then and he rubs his chest. If it was a heart problem, this heat could have been what brought on more than he could manage.”

‘What should we do, Mama?”

Zebina gazed out over their wheatfield, her mind spinning. The wheat will need harvesting. Neighbors need to know what’s happened. Why didn’t Seth come inside to rest? We will need a coffin, a funeral. Mary, oh Mary. I need you now.

Joash touched her shoulders. “Mama, what should we do?”

“Run over to our neighbor Jacob’s field. Tell him what has happened. He’ll tell his wife.”

When Joash ran off to do his duty, Zebina sat there, still stunned. She picked up Seth’s limp hand and wept all the more.

~ Joyce ~