"Why’re your friends lookin’ so sad? Maybe I should let them have turns to push the dollies"

 

Characters:

• ARON, a slow-moving fellow who likes to take life easy
• BORUCH, trying to cope with a big sister who always knows better
• NOSSON, clever and articulate, often talks in italics to make a point
• GERSHON, creative and quick to think of new ideas

GERSHON: Three cheers for the B.A.N.G. Gang! You know, Mr. Langsam called my father to tell him what an amazing job we did the other day. My dad was beaming!

NOSSON: Good old Mr. Langsam! Aron, you were spot-on in realizing that Mr. Langsam wanted to give as well as to receive. Yum, that lekach was really delicious, huh?

[silence]

NOSSON: Aron? You there? [mutters to himself in surprise] He was there a minute ago.

ARON: Just went to cut myself a piece of chocolate cake. A fella’s gotta eat, you know. Hang on while I make myself comfy on the couch.

[An unfamiliar voice is heard, complaining bitterly.]

BORUCH: Who’s that?

GERSHON: It’s our Polish cleaner, Zofia. She turned up again out of the blue. She’s annoyed that we’ve run low on cleaning supplies.

NOSSON: What’re you gonna do?

GERSHON: Dunno. My father’s at work, and my mother can’t get out now.

BORUCH: Hey, why don’t we go to the store, on a B.A.N.G. Gang helping mission?

GERSHON: [long pause] I was hoping you wouldn’t suggest that.

NOSSON: Why not? We’re super shoppers! Just ask Mr. Langsam.

GERSHON: [lowers his voice to a whisper] You see, Dobra Baila is hanging around the door. If she sees me going out she’ll insist on coming along — with her pink tricycle.