Last week had gone so well. Seeing all the regular faces, some on grainy webcams, some in the synagogue. It felt good to preach again.
Now, the loudspeaker wouldn’t switch on, he’d forgotten the login for his Zoom account and the wi-fi kept dropping out.
‘I think I’ve found your problem.’ Ben got up from his knees where he had been fiddling with the router and held out a damp cloth. ‘Everything is soaking wet.’
‘How strange. Where could that have come from?’ Rabbi Loeb shuffled in front of the half empty bottle of water and hoped the damp patch of evidence on his kittel had dried in.
Written for Friday Fictioneers hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields (more details HERE). The idea is to write a short story of 100 words based on the photo prompt (above).
To read stories of 100 words based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.
Also linking to Fandango’s One-Word Challenge for today: Issue.
yup, denial required. And who would not believe a rabbi
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Holy Water perhaps? An act of God – that’s always a good get out! 😉
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Can’t blame the water for his Zoom login!
But it doesn’t tend to mix well with electrical doodahs.
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Water on the brain, perhaps? I have heard the two shouldn’t mix.
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Modern technology – fries at the best of times!
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🙂
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Gremlins! No, wait…
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If the Rabbi says it’s Gremlins, who are we to question him!
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I don’t think Ben is fooled for a minute
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No, but would you say anything to your Rabbi?
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Iain,
We have a great deal of empathy for Rabbi Loeb around here. A few weeks ago, our family went down to Sydney to watch my Great Aunt’s funeral online with my parents. However, our teenage son stayed home. That night when Geoff got into bed, he found out the bed was wet. Indeed, it was like someone had dumped a bucket of water on our bed and it had even made it through to the mattress protector. Of course, the dogs initially got the blame but it was definitely water. I think our son’s to blame somehow and I’ll probably have to wait until I’m nearly in the grave to get a confession.
I can testify that water in the brain isn’t a good mix but hadn’t thought of it in electrical terms before. I found out when I was 26 that I had hydrocephalus or fluid in the brain, most likely due to my difficult birth. Since then, I’ve had a shunt which maintains the pressure although I still have a harbour in my head, just no harbour views.
Hope you’re keeping safe and okay. Restrictions are easing up for us on Friday. We’re being very careful anyway but it will be nice to be able to have more than 5 visitors. It’s difficult with having friends pop over and the kids friends etc but I know this is a 1st world problem. We’re barely dealing with the virus, just the restrictions but it’s worked.
Best wishes,
Rowena
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I can’t wait to hear your son’s excuse, if you ever find out the truth do let us know! We just passed 100,000 UK deaths and no end in sight for lockdown. Pretty grim. More angering is the politicians in charge who still won’t accept it is their response that has been flawed. Still haven’t closed the borders. From where we are we look at Australia and New Zealand and can only wish the same resolve had been shown here. It will forever be the biggest scandal of my lifetime, I’m sure of that, Stay safe, and cautiously enjoy your new freedoms!
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I spilled tea on my keyboard a few years ago and some of the keys still stick. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it regarding my faulty typing. (no pun intended) 🙂
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Haha! Quite right. My laptop has developed a dodgy ‘G’ and ‘H’. so if they are ever missing from my typing, that’s why!! 🙂
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Dear Iain,
Sounds like Rabbi Luddite. 😉 Love the story. ZOOM can be a bit vexing, can’t it?
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks Rochelle. I’ve had to use a lot of Zoom for work, as well as social contact, and it can be the most infuriating part of the day!
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I’m sure Ben will realise what’s happened and equally sure he’ll keep it to himself!
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Ben knows what’s best for himself!
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Accidents happen, even in the houses of God!
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Thanks Liz
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Oops! well done, Rabbi. Nice story, Iain.
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Thanks Mason 🙂
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ha! One of the first questions Hubby ever asked if someone was having a problem with their computer ‘Did you spill something on it?’ Good post Iain.
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A bit like ‘is it plugged in?’ 🙂
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yep!! or switched on. I have a list of simple fixes, and that’s before taking the plug apart to check the fuse!!!
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Very believable story. If only the rabbi realized the havoc his simple spill caused…
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I think he does, but no one else needs to know that. Sssh! 😉
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lol
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Poor Rabbi, he suffers the same as everyone else when age starts to eat the brain! I had to look up “kittel.” It was what I thought, but now I’m sure 🙂
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I had to look it up too when I was writing it 😉
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I hope the Rabbi was honest enough to own up to his mistake. 😉
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It’s between him and his God 😉
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I guess drinking and sermonizing only works for Catholics.
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I’m not getting involved in the inter-faith rivalries!! 🙂
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Oops, hitting the bottle (of water) again.
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Haha, indeed! 🙂
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I can see him, shuffling guiltily across the room until he’s obscuring the water bottle 🙂
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Like a naughty school boy 🙂
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Let’s hope it was water and not a bladder control issue. 🙂
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Oh , you’re the only one brave enough to suggest that about a Rabbi so far! 🙂
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as someone who was up before dawn to teach a class in a graduate course across the globe … on zoom … I can relate (though thankfully it went well this time, the zoom-universe isn’t always quite so technically kind …). Well portrayed!
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I have had a few zoom meetings that have gone wrong – fortunately in my job I only have to log in and listen, not present!
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Ah, I have to teach and do clinical work, which is always a moving target with a zoom world. 🙂 been a learning curve, that’s for sure, and keeps me on my toes!
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Water is not always what water appears to be. Good story.
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Thanks Oneta
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What the rabbi’s assistant doesn’t know, can’t hurt him (the rabbi, mean). 😉
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Yes, this is one secret that can stay between them!
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accidents happen. after all, we’re all human. 🙂
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Even the Rabbis! 🙂
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Busted!
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Totally! 🙂
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How old is the Rabbi, damp patches may have other causes. 🙂
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And you may be in a lot of trouble with the Rabbi later with that suggestion!
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Water and technology – a brief but memorable encounter on most occasions.
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Thanks Sandra 🙂
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Hahaha I like this. Great humour!
Using zoom and the internet must be a steep learning curve for the older generation
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LOL. Great vignette of a story!
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Thanks
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The challenges of the digital era!
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It’s hard to keep up!
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