I wrote this story as part of an esbat ritual which fell on Purim. Purim is a Jewish holiday which celebrates the story of the Jews’ victory over the evil Haman and his plot to have them murdered. If you want to read the story it is in the old testament somewhere...the book of Esther. Anyway, here is a retelling of it from a more feminist perspective.

Note: This is all from my imagination; I am not presenting this as at all historically accurate.

)O(

Long ago, a queen dwelt in a palace with her husband, the king. He ruled over all the lands of Persia, and she ruled the women’s quarters. Her name was Vashti, and she was a strong woman, and handsome. While it would be a lie to say she loved the king, it would be equally wrong to say she despised him. In truth, she cared for him as her provider and ruler, and otherwise he did not enter her thoughts.

It happened, when the king had ruled for nearly nine years, that a bustle filled the palace. Invitations went out to courtiers and nobles, rich men and landed, for a party to be held on the occasion of the ninth anniversary of the king’s reign. It was to be a grand ball a full week in length, and no extravagance was spared. Every hall was polished until it glowed and decked out in bright ribbons and banners. Sculptures of ice were brought in from the north, and towers of fresh fruit. Musicians and acrobats arrived daily. The kitchens were in constant commotion. The celebration was to be splendid, and the palace could talk of little else.

When there were four weeks yet until the party was held, Vashti left her rooms to beg favor before the king. He admitted her, and she knelt, saying: “If I have found favor in the king’s eyes, may it please him that I hold a women’s ball, parallel to the men’s, that we might share the king’s celebration.”

The king smiled upon her and raised her up, and said: “As you wish, it shall be granted.” So Vashti left the king’s chamber with his favor.