A FEW TECHNOLOGICAL ISSUES

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.


Copyright Marie Gail Stratford

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.


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60 responses to “A FEW TECHNOLOGICAL ISSUES”

  1. yup, denial required. And who would not believe a rabbi

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Holy Water perhaps? An act of God – that’s always a good get out! 😉

      Liked by 1 person

  2. Can’t blame the water for his Zoom login!
    But it doesn’t tend to mix well with electrical doodahs.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Water on the brain, perhaps? I have heard the two shouldn’t mix.

      Like

  3. Modern technology – fries at the best of times!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. If the Rabbi says it’s Gremlins, who are we to question him!

      Like

  4. I don’t think Ben is fooled for a minute

    Liked by 1 person

    1. No, but would you say anything to your Rabbi?

      Like

  5. 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

    Liked by 1 person

    1. 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!

      Liked by 1 person

  6. 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) 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Haha! Quite right. My laptop has developed a dodgy ‘G’ and ‘H’. so if they are ever missing from my typing, that’s why!! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  7. Dear Iain,

    Sounds like Rabbi Luddite. 😉 Love the story. ZOOM can be a bit vexing, can’t it?

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 1 person

    1. 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!

      Liked by 1 person

  8. I’m sure Ben will realise what’s happened and equally sure he’ll keep it to himself!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Ben knows what’s best for himself!

      Liked by 1 person

  9. Accidents happen, even in the houses of God!

    Liked by 1 person

  10. Oops! well done, Rabbi. Nice story, Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

  11. 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.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. A bit like ‘is it plugged in?’ 🙂

      Like

      1. yep!! or switched on. I have a list of simple fixes, and that’s before taking the plug apart to check the fuse!!!

        Liked by 1 person

  12. Very believable story. If only the rabbi realized the havoc his simple spill caused…

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I think he does, but no one else needs to know that. Sssh! 😉

      Liked by 1 person

  13. 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 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I had to look it up too when I was writing it 😉

      Liked by 1 person

  14. I hope the Rabbi was honest enough to own up to his mistake. 😉

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It’s between him and his God 😉

      Like

  15. I guess drinking and sermonizing only works for Catholics.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I’m not getting involved in the inter-faith rivalries!! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  16. Oops, hitting the bottle (of water) again.

    Liked by 1 person

  17. I can see him, shuffling guiltily across the room until he’s obscuring the water bottle 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Like a naughty school boy 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  18. Let’s hope it was water and not a bladder control issue. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Oh , you’re the only one brave enough to suggest that about a Rabbi so far! 🙂

      Like

  19. 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!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. 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!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. 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!

        Liked by 1 person

  20. Water is not always what water appears to be. Good story.

    Liked by 1 person

  21. What the rabbi’s assistant doesn’t know, can’t hurt him (the rabbi, mean). 😉

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Yes, this is one secret that can stay between them!

      Liked by 1 person

  22. accidents happen. after all, we’re all human. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Even the Rabbis! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  23. Michael Humphris Avatar
    Michael Humphris

    How old is the Rabbi, damp patches may have other causes. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. And you may be in a lot of trouble with the Rabbi later with that suggestion!

      Like

  24. Water and technology – a brief but memorable encounter on most occasions.

    Liked by 1 person

  25. Hahaha I like this. Great humour!
    Using zoom and the internet must be a steep learning curve for the older generation

    Liked by 1 person

  26. LOL. Great vignette of a story!

    Liked by 1 person

  27. The challenges of the digital era!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It’s hard to keep up!

      Liked by 1 person

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