by Eli Hai
“Go on,” she prompted.
“Rivka is a good, decent girl. She’s seventeen and a half, and the sister of a good friend of mine, Ahron. The guy I’ve told you about. Remember?” Jeff inquired and stretched, preparing himself for a long conversation.
“Yeah, I remember, although to tell you the truth, your relationship has always seemed weird to me.”
“I don’t always understand it either. But I’ll have you know that Ahron is very nice and friendly. I have a great time visiting him, and you’d be surprised how often we find common subjects to discuss. Anyway, this evening, a couple of hours before you picked me up, she came to see me,” Jeff paused, trying to think how to continue.
“Why did she come?” Eve asked, troubled.
“She came to ask for my help. Ahron and Rivka belong to a sect of Hasidic Jews. You know, the ones who wear pantyhose and big black hats and grow long sideburns. You know who I mean, right?”
“Sure, you can’t live in New York without encountering them occasionally. There are even a few in the stock market. Boy, those Jews are zealous about their religion and way of life. Once, I walked into the elevator, and one of those guys was in there. The minute I walked in, he covered his eyes and got off the minute the elevator stopped. You’d think he’d seen a leper. They don’t have an easy life.”
“True, their lives aren’t easy. As long as you believe this way is the right way, you’re okay, but when you stop believing, your life becomes ten times harder. Rivka stopped believing, and that’s a problem. She claims she’s sick and tired of the life she lives, and she prefers to lives like other girls. She wants to leave home, and that’s a bit complicated because she can’t just get up and say she’s leaving home and go live on her own. Her parents won’t give her their blessing like yours did when you left home. Their problem is that the minute you abandon your faith, the family severs all ties with you.”
“That bad?”
“Even worse. There are families who mourn those who’ve strayed from their way of life, as though they’re dead. For them, they simply don’t exist anymore. When Ahron told me that, I was totally horrified.”
“But what does all this have to do with you?” She was anxious for him to get to the point of the matter.
“She wants me to help. She says she loves me and asked me to be her accomplice when she runs away from home.” His answer surprised her.
“Love?” she repeated alarmed.
“That’s what she said. She says she’s fallen in love with me and wants to run away with me.”
“And you agreed?” she asked tensely.
“No! I told her a relationship between us is hopeless and if she wants to leave, she should leave. She should do what I did and not be afraid. I told her she had to do it on her own. It seemed as though my answer had disappointed her. She definitely expected more. When she left, she looked so miserable, and I couldn’t help her. During the entire show, I kept thinking how I could help her, and if I should tell Ahron about it. Obviously, I should keep her secret, but I’m still afraid he’ll get mad at me for not telling him about it. What do you think?”
“I don’t know. It seems like you shouldn’t interfere because you can get into trouble. Don’t forget that her parents are the ones renting out their apartment to you. You can find yourself out in the cold, just like that. I’ve already heard awful stories about their chastity squads. Someone told me that their thugs beat the crap out of a guy and a girl, innocent passersby, who weren’t even Jews, for kissing on the street.”
“And the police?”
“Most of the time, the victims don’t press charges, mostly because they’re part of the community. I’m asking you to be very careful. I think you should cut your ties with her, the sooner, the better.”
“That’s very easy to say, but what if she comes to me again? I’m not sure I’ll be able to tell her to leave. I hope she’ll snap out of it and manage on her own,” Jeff concluded, hoping that Rivka’s issues would take a turn for the better without him needing to interfere.
“Is she pretty?” Eve asked meekly.
“Amazingly beautiful,” was his answer and she fell silent.
When Eve pulled over by his apartment, he leaned in, and kissed her longer than usual, as though trying to prove to her and to himself that he had only one love, and it was her. Then he waved good-bye and climbed out of the car. When she drove away, he lingered a bit on the street, following her car until it disappeared. Then he hurried down the stairs, reluctant to let the increasingly heavy snow pile on his clothes. He glanced at his watch. It was half past one in the morning. This time, they finished their outing earlier than usual. Maybe it was better this way, Jeff thought as he stripped his clothes and climbed into bed. Tomorrow, he had an especially busy day, and he wanted to arrive refreshed to work. After several minutes, Jeff disappeared under the covers and fell into a deep sleep.
Loud knocking on his door shattered the tranquility in the dark apartment. Jeff wasn’t sure whether he was dreaming or if someone was actually knocking. When he heard the doorbell ring, he realized he wasn’t dreaming.
Sleep-dazed, he shuffled toward the door. Before opening it, he turned on the light and glanced at his watch. It was three a.m. Who was the nutcase coming to his apartment at this hour? Rivka again? If she was coming here at three in the morning, she had to be in an awful state.
Yet, when he opened the door, a frightening surprise waited for him. Four thugs, their faces masked, burst into the house, and before Jeff had time to realize what was happening, a punch in the face felled him. He tried to drag himself to his feet and fight back, but he was outnumbered by the four thugs. They overpowered him easily, mercilessly pummeling his body and face. Even after he lay on his stomach, groaning with pain, one of them kept on beating him. The brute stopped only when the blood streamed down Jeff’s battered face.
“Don’t lift your head, you son of Belial, Balaam Ben-Beor. Stay where you are. The slightest move and you’re dead, you bastard,” one of them ordered him.
Jeff, who was unfamiliar with the names they flung at him, remained still. Fear paralyzed his painful body.
“Do you know who we are?”
Jeff shook his head, barely. When they burst into the house, he’d realized the trouble he was in. Even though they were masked, their shaved heads, black yarmulkes, and sideburns that curled to their shoulders made it clear enough where they came from and their intentions.
“You should know. We’re not burglars or looters. We’re doing a justice. You’ve hurt us badly. You’ve violated the honor of a daughter of Israel.” The spokesman was probably the leader of the four.
Jeff was silent, still finding it difficult to digest the trouble that he’d landed in.
“Do you understand the significance of your actions?”
“I didn’t do anything,” Jeff struggled to prove his innocence.
“You really don’t understand? You pig-eating bastard, I’ll show you, you fucker,” one of them yelled and kicked Jeff in the ribs.
The impact of the kick rattled his entire body. He couldn’t breathe and felt as though he was going to faint.
“Avraham, stop! Stop beating him! Are you crazy? A kick in the ribs can kill him. From now on, you do only what I tell you to do, understand?” the spokesman addressed the man who kicked Jeff. This time, the voice was clearer. Apparently, the man chose to take off his mask. “It’s late, so we won’t make this long. According to our knowledge, you lured our Rivkel here, thus violating her honor. How could you do such a thing? How could you hurt people who’ve only been kind to you, who gave you a house to live in, huh?”
Jeff raised his eyes. The spokesman’s face was exposed. He didn’t look like a good-for-nothing, rash youth, but a man in his forties. From his words, Jeff realized that everyone knew of his relationship with Rivka.
“Well, let’s hear what you have to say for yourself,” he prompted Jeff to speak.
“She came here of her own f
ree will. I didn’t ask her to come. She came by herself, I swear,” Jeff replied, blood still pouring from his lips.
“Do you know the damage you’ve caused, you Antiochus? You’ve erased an entire holy family from the face of the earth. The marriage of a kosher daughter of Israel with her intended will be null and void, and both she and her intended have lost, and all because of a goy like you,” the man screamed at him, totally ignoring Jeff’s denial.
“But I’ve already told you, she came here of her own free will,” Jeff repeated stubbornly.
“It doesn’t matter at all. You could’ve rejected her. Instead, you chose to welcome her in your house, and the devil knows what you’ve done to her.”
“Nothing happened. I didn’t touch that girl. I swear I didn’t touch her,” Jeff said, hoping to convince the man.
“Then why did she come here? Please explain to me why she came?”
“To talk. She came to talk,” Jeff said briefly, reluctant to expose Rivka’s secret.
“Talk? About what exactly? About what exactly did you and she talk? What can you possibly have in common with her?” he insisted derisively.
“We just chatted! Nothing special,” Jeff lied for lack of any other option.
“We’ll check that out,” the man said, unconvinced. “Anyway, we hope you got the message. Stay away from our Rivkel, and if not, you’ll meet a bitter end. You have forty-eight hours to pack your things and leave the borough. You understand? Not only this apartment but also leave Brooklyn. You also don’t have to pay the remainder of the rent, Moishel already knows you’re leaving. I hope things are clear and that I won’t have to come back here, understand?”
Jeff didn’t answer.
“I asked if you understand.” The man leaned over him, grabbed his hair, and wrenched Jeff’s head toward him.
“Yes, I understand,” Jeff choked out on a painful groan.
“I almost forgot. Don’t come to work either. I’ll send Menachem a message regarding your resignation.”
Jeff nodded.
“That’s it, guys. I think our work is done here. Let’s go,” the man said, and the group hurried out of the house.
Jeff remained on the floor for several long minutes. Then, he picked himself up with the little strength left in him. First, he sat on the sofa, examining his limbs and face. His jaw, lips, and nose were throbbing with pain, and his ribs threatened to fall apart. He tried to stand, but it took him several attempts, and only then, after a great effort. In the end, he dragged himself to the phone and called for help. After several minutes, an ambulance arrived and took him to the hospital.
“Two cracked ribs and a broken nose. Ten days of bed rest, and you’re as good as new. For your own safety, I’d like you to stay the night so we can supervise you. Tomorrow, if nothing unexpected happens, we’ll send you home,” the doctor concluded after studying his X-rays.
In the morning, he called Eve, and she rushed to the hospital.
She was horrified when she saw him. “Who did this to you? Were you in a fight?” she asked in alarm while she stroked his face.
Jeff tried to smile but was unsuccessful. His bruised jaw hurt, and he grimaced from the pain.
“What did the doctors say? Did you get X-rayed? You don’t have any fractures?” she asked anxiously.
“Calm down. I’m fine.” He tried to laugh again. This time, he was more successful.
When she calmed down, he told her at length what had happened during the night after she’d dropped him off.
“Those bastards! Animals! They could’ve killed you. I told you they were incorrigible nut cases, and that you should watch out for them. I warned you,” she said, stroking his hair and forehead. Then, she tenderly kissed his bruised lips.
“It’s not that bad. I’ll survive. I learned something new first hand,” he laughed again and then groaned from the pain that the laughter cost him.
“What are you going to do now?” she asked.
Jeff looked at her, and after thinking it over a bit, said, “In my pants pockets, there are the keys to the apartment. Have someone go there and pick up my stuff. Do not, under absolutely any circumstances, go there yourself. Don’t take a thing but my clothes. I’m not interested in all the rest.”
“Where should I move them to?” she asked and rubbed her hands together with obvious glee, as though she already knew the answer.
“If your offer still stands, bring them to your place,” Jeff said and lifted his eyes to her hopefully.
“Of course, my love, of course.” She leaned over him and kissed him again on his lips. She didn’t even try to hide her satisfaction at the opportunity that had fallen into her hands.
“Don’t you have to go to work?” he asked, hinting that she leave. His sleepless night was starting to catch up with him, and he yearned to sleep.
“Don’t worry, I’ll leave in a few minutes,” she replied, slightly insulted.
“I didn’t mean to make you leave. I thought trading was opening, and it’s important you be there, right?” he apologized.
“Work can wait a bit. The situation with the stock market isn’t great now, and nothing will happen if I’m a bit late.”
“I hope all the bruises disappear by the holiday,” Jeff changed the subject, gently touching the swelling that decorated his face.
“God! Good thing you reminded me. We’re invited to my parents next week for the holiday meal,” she said, tensely waiting for his response.
“I see you love driving in the snow to New Jersey. You’re better off not going alone, right? Driving in the snow is dangerous…” He winked at her.
“I knew you’d agree,” she said happily, kissed him, collected her stuff, and left.
Jeff spent his first days at Eve’s apartment resting and lounging about lazily. Mostly, he watched television and read the newspapers. Once in a while, he turned on the computer, surfed the Internet, and played computer card games such as Solitaire Spider. A month later, after he’d recuperated, he left the apartment to search for a job. Despite his tremendous efforts to find work, nothing came up.
“I have got to find a job,” he thought out loud, one evening. His frustration was evident on his face, due to his extended period of inactivity.
“I can talk to Daddy. I’m sure he can find you something,” Eve offered earnestly.
“Are you crazy? No way! Working with your father would be the height of stupidity. One little fight between you and me, and your dad would kick me out of a job. One little fight between me and him, and you’d kick me out of the house,” he said, then burst into laughter, which she joined.
“You’re right. A logical and amusing thought,” she said after she’d calmed down.
“So what do we do?”
“You know, Jeffie, I have an idea for you,” she said after thinking matters over a bit.
“What is it?”
“You and I can open a business together.”
“What?”
“You heard me. We’ll start a business and be partners.”
“Not on your life! You have a fantastic job. What do you need another business for?”
“I won’t leave my job. Partnership doesn’t necessarily mean that all the partners are active. I’ll be a silent partner. The one who invests the money and doesn’t work,” she explained.
“Nope. No way!” he refused decisively.
“Why not? Sometimes, I don’t understand you, Jeffie, I really don’t. I think it’s an excellent idea. You’ll have a job, and I’ll make some money on the side. What’s wrong with that? I’ve been searching for new investment channels anyway.”
“I’m glad you’re optimistic, but a business is not the stock market. During the first years, almost every business loses money. That’s what happens until the business establishes itself. In the restaurant I worked at in Eloy, the proprietor was constantly complaining that he was losing money. Every week, he whined that he was taking money out of his household account, literally out o
f his children’s mouths, to maintain that goddamn business. So tell me, if there are losses, who’ll cover them?”
“I actually think that if we plan wisely and put together a good business plan, we won’t suffer losses. I’m positive. We just have to think of something that suits your talents,” she said, getting more excited by the minute, as though she’d just started her financial path.
“Eve, cut it out! You can’t be serious. Partnership demands a large financial investment, and as far as I know, you have the required money, but I don’t. And please don’t tell me you’ll invest my share instead of me because if your investment goes down the drain, I’m gonna feel real bad,” he said resolutely.
“Nonsense. Not every partnership needs identical financial investments. There are partnerships where one person brings the money, the second brings the knowledge, and the third brings initiative and work. You and I will build a business in which I’ll bring the required funding, and you’ll do all the work. We’ll split the profits fair and square, fifty-fifty. I think you have undiscovered skills. Trust my instincts on these matters,” she coaxed him.
“And if the partners have disagreements?” he asked while pressing against her body and kissing her.
“I know a place where they can solve all of their disputes.” She winked and pointed at the bed in the bedroom.
“That makes sense. Solving disputes between partners in this method is definitely an alluring solution,” Jeff conceded and carried her to bed.
Chapter 11
Rivka’s visit to Jeff’s apartment was discussed widely among Brooklyn’s Hasidic members. By the next morning, the rumor that a good Jewish orthodox girl had been in a goy’s house spread like wildfire. It wasn’t long before everyone, from young to old, was talking about her. Other matters were pushed aside, and Rivkel became the topic of the day. And when tongues wagged, there was no stopping them. Like a tsunami of lava furiously washing the slopes of the mountain, consuming everything in its way, the gossip reached every house in the Hasidic community, labeling Rivkel a “shiksa.” At first, rumors said that she was seen entering his apartment. Some were willing to swear that Rivka was seen through the window, kissing the goy. Others let their imagination run wild and said that they saw her leaving the scoundrel’s apartment, wearing a dress stained with the blood of her lost virginity. The moment the situation reached that stage, Rivka’s fate was doomed.
