Oy Vey

[Zippy]

"What's it to you!" Zippy demanded, crossing her arms over her chest and reaching for a box of graham crackers. "Who are you?"

[Riddle]

She finally remembered the beans and dug into them again. In response to the question, she shrugged. From the moment that door stuck, everything had seemed to matter less and less. So for the first time in a good long time, she didn't lie. "Name's Lena. Used to come here with my family. What's it to you? I'm just making conversation, since it looks like we're gonna be here a damn good while."

[Zippy]

Zippy sighed, throwing her head back against the door. "Erin. I used to work here, before I broke off my engagement with the rabbi's son and was banned from the place. I brought shame to their family."

[Riddle]

At this, Riddle stared at her a moment and then burst into hysterical giggles. She laughed so hard she choked on the beans, coughed until her eyes watered, and then went right on laughing. "Oh, honey," she finally gasped out, wiping her eyes, "you ain't the only one."

[Zippy]

Zippy stared at Lena like she was a crazy person and eventually sort of chuckled along with her. "You, my friend, must elaborate."

[Riddle]

By now, it was fairly obvious even to Riddle that she had, in fact, gone at least somewhat around the bend. But this was it, wasn't it? They would find her here, she'd go right back to jail, and she was stuck spending her last night of freedom bonding with this girl over a bottle of shabbos wine and a can of cold beans.

"They're my family," she admitted, still smirking. "My father's the rabbi here. Joseph's my oldest brother. And you were almost my sister-in-law." Another peal of laughter burst out, but she got it under control soon enough. "I was arrested," she barreled on recklessly. "A year ago. And that's exactly what my mother said at my trial. 'You've brought shame to our family, Lena.'"

[Zippy]

The box of graham crackers fell on the floor, and Zippy's jaw went with it. "Holy shit!" She exclaimed, looking at the girl closer. "I know EXACTLY who you are. I stayed in your room!"
She shook her head, her hand to her chest, and gulped down part of the wine. "It's why I agreed to marry Joe in the first place- your mom guilted me into it!"

[Riddle]

Riddle snorted. "She'll do that." She polished off the beans and played absently with the empty can. "So he hit you, huh?" She gave Erin a look. "He ain't changed much, then."

[Zippy]

Zippy stared at her for a second and, to hell with it, reached into her bag and pulled out a cigarette, offering one to her new- friend?

"Did he always run a Jewish mafia as well? And, did your father and mother always turn a blind eye to it?"

[Riddle]

Riddle started before she accepted the cigarette, lighting it with a match from the shelf and giving Erin a long, thoughtful look. "You know a lot."

[Zippy]

"Too much," Erin agreed, taking a long drag of the cigarette. "Which is why I need to get the fuck out of here. Should I burn the shul down or do you wanna do the honors?" Zippy asked, holding her matches.

[Riddle]

Riddle's eyes widened. She'd practically grown up in this place--known every inch of it ever since she could walk. She stared at the matches, and then her face split into a rather maniacal grin. It was so...fitting. On so many levels. Burning her childhood, her family, her faith, her past. All of it, everything. Starting fresh.

"I'll do it," she said, and she started assembling a pile of kindling by the door--paper bags, blankets, clothing, anything flammable. It would be quite a gamble, hoping they'd burn through the door and make it out before the smoke filled their lungs or the building started coming down around them, but, well...desperate times.

[Zippy]

God, this girl was...completely insane. Just the kinda girl to have around in a mess like this.

"Wait, how do we know we'll get out?" Zippy asked, touching the door. This food and clothes pantry did help many starving Jews in this area. Including herself. So what if the Rabbi's son headed a Jewish mafia that killed Anti-Semitic gangs, collected loads of money, and ran the Upper East Side?

At least they shared.

"Usually Benny, the shabbos goy and janitor, is here first in the mornings. It's Sunday tomorrow, so the Rabbi- um, your father- probably won't be in. Benny could let us out and we'll be long gone before he says anything to Joe."

[Riddle]

She slowly turned away from the pile, looking quite disappointed, and played with a lock of hair, considering. "And what are we gonna do for the rest of the night?"

[Zippy]

Zippy shrugged and handed her the matches, noticing her disappointment. "If you wanna start a fire, go ahead....or we can scheme a way to get back at your asshole brother."