#scarsdale

"App-le-cake! App-le-cake!" Zara tugs Earl by the hand, leading him to her childhood home where, yes, apple cake awaits.

Earl grins widely and is dragged along, "I'm sorry, what kind of cake?" Light teasing but love in his eyes, "Was it chocolate?"

"Feh! Knowest thou!"

"Aaaaaaaaaahhhhh-pple-cake."

"oh," He grins down on his petite lady, woflish smile, "Is this some... special Apple cake event? A state fair perhaps?"

She presses against his side, fingers twined with his. "Nay."

Earl beams down on her and gives her hand a soft squeeze, "Happy New Year, my hind. Rosh Hashanah is always a delight, especially with you and your family."

"Tzipporah said she would be home. Jacob and Miriam too. Vashti may. In troth, a'times even I am uncertain what she intends with her words."

"My love, even a moth pooka is still a pooka. Did Clem allow Chayse to come? I meant to ask her."

Grey gums revealed by a bright grin - a rare thing for her. "They should already be inside. Mama was most excited."

"WONDERFUL" he smiles "Your family has really been so kind in helping Clem and Buck out."

They approach the House that has changed so much, and yet so little. It bustles more than ever now with guests and family, but somehow it seems to always have room. It may not be a freehold, but it has a magic of its own.

"Chayse is mischpocha." An easy shrug. The little girl is family.

An eyeball peeks through the peephole. Jacob's eyeball, she's recognize it anywhere

She mimes poking the eyeball!

Inside, of course, there is "spirited" discussion which can be heard - mostly about last nights Mets/Nationals game.

They eyeball vanishes, a muttered whisper about big sisters ... and the door opens.

"And that's why that umpire should get his eyes checked!!!" can now easily be heard.

"Fee-fi-foe-fum!" Zara whispers as she scoops Jacob up into a hug - or tries to! When did he get so BIG?

"Ugh, my dignity" He laments, in a choked whisper but returns the hug with more strength than she recalls. Oh he's no troll but.. again, when did he get so big?

Earl grins, "Family gatherings eat dignity like Zara eats Apple-Cake."

"Hey, they're here! Hi Earl," Tziporah waves before giving Zara a quick hug herself.

"For someone with flicker flash, the boy dawdles," One of her Uncles points out.

"A witch is never early, nor late, she arrives exactly when she means to."

"And I learned trying to rush or slow Zara down just has her kick her heels in or take off faster," Earl tells the nocker collective. Miriam cackles a laugh.

"Besides, I made a kugel." An exaggerated nose-wrinkle. "Fresh. For the heathens."

That also gets a few chuckles, and at least one cry of 'yay heathens'.

"Welcome home, sweetie," Aaron says, as ever somehow an isle of serenity in the holiday turbulence.

Hannah calls out from the kitchen, "Is that Zara?"

Zara hugs her father, and tilts her face to offer up a cheek for kisses. As is tradition.

Kisses she shall have, as is tradition!

"It's her, Hannah," Earl speaks up, not too loudly "And me too." He knows Zara's whisper might get lost on the way to the kitchen. / Hannah says with delight "Earl, how wonderful. Chase is in here with me, she wanted to see how cooking is done on this holiday. She loves my clayware."

"Mama, kugel. Only half has raisins." She holds up the casserole dish, the ceramic swaddled in a quilted fabric carrier.

Hannah comes right out, along with Chase. Chase almost tackles Earl, "Uncle Earl!" / But Hannah, she takes that Casserole dish as if Zara had delivered to her the tablets of Moses, first edition, "Oh Zara, this looks wonderful, and you're so kind. Guess what's waiting for you?"

"Apple cake?" BIG, big, Dickensian-urchin, velvet-painting eyes.

Hannah nods and gives her daughter kiss right on the forehead , then says "yes, Apple Cake. It wouldn't be right if I didn't have apple cake for my little Zee Zee."

"Mama!" Oh, Zara might not be a teenager anymore, but that tone is universal.

"Old habits, old habits" Her mother retreats to the shelter of that excuse, and very likely WILL get away with it, "Now, you want to help me in the kitchen, or want to teach your uncles a thing or two about baseball? Or just enjoy the place with your father and your handsome fellow?"

"Cooking."

"Wonderful, I could use the help," Hanna smiles "Chase, you want to learn how we do things here, you watch. You stack those clay dishes while you do." /Chayse beams "Yes ma'am." The dishes she's been given aren't her mom's fanciest, which probably IS insurance in case of an accident. Mother and daughter go into the kitchen, but of course, Zara hears things from the dining and living areas with ease, able to zoom in on one conversation or another even between walls.

Poor Earl is 100% going to get dragged into Mets-vs-Yankees. Jacob and Miriam against Hirim and Ratchet. (Aaron is remarkable skilled at dodging conversational volleys)

Earl wistfully things that Aaron has much wisdom to pass on. Of course, he himself is no fool, and as he is oathed to Zara, sides with the Mets and let the fire from Miriam come!

And this is why Zara chose right! ⚾

As Miriam's scathing rebuke can be heard in the kitchen even by non sluagh, Hannah observes "You picked a loyal one." As mother and daughter work in the kitchen like practiced pitcher and catcher themselves.

"I had a good model to aim for."

"And remind me, how many Major League teams does 'EYE O Way' have?" Yeah, Miriam is gonna give it to him, but Earl takes it gracefully. Now Clem might have gotten riled.

Hannah looks towards the doorway where, beyond, Aaron is, and nods "That you did. That you did. We've both got good taste."

Tziporah eggs the fight on a bit, then hears the door and says "Somone knocking, I'll get it."

Zara chuffs, quite content.

"Hey guys, it's Vashti..." /A familar voice says "Courtly duties did keep my poled cat caged, I hath harangued him as is proper."