IAIN KELLY

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. Mister Bump UK Avatar
    Mister Bump UK

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

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

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

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  2. ceayr Avatar
    ceayr

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

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

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

      Like

      Reply
  3. Tannille Avatar
    Tannille

    Modern technology – fries at the best of times!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      🙂

      Like

      Reply
  4. J Hardy Carroll Avatar
    J Hardy Carroll

    Gremlins! No, wait…

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

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

      Like

      Reply
  5. neilmacdon Avatar
    neilmacdon

    I don’t think Ben is fooled for a minute

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      No, but would you say anything to your Rabbi?

      Like

      Reply
  6. Rowena Avatar
    Rowena

    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

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      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

      Reply
  7. magickmermaid Avatar
    magickmermaid

    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

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      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

      Reply
  8. rochellewisoff Avatar
    rochellewisoff

    Dear Iain,

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

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      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

      Reply
  9. Keith's Ramblings Avatar
    Keith’s Ramblings

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

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Ben knows what’s best for himself!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  10. liz young Avatar
    liz young

    Accidents happen, even in the houses of God!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Liz

      Like

      Reply
  11. Mason Bushell Avatar
    Mason Bushell

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

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Mason 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  12. pensitivity101 Avatar
    pensitivity101

    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

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      A bit like ‘is it plugged in?’ 🙂

      Like

      Reply
      1. pensitivity101 Avatar
        pensitivity101

        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

  13. msjadeli Avatar
    msjadeli

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

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

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

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. msjadeli Avatar
        msjadeli

        lol

        Liked by 1 person

  14. granonine Avatar
    granonine

    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

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

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

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  15. justjoyfulness Avatar
    justjoyfulness

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

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      It’s between him and his God 😉

      Like

      Reply
  16. Nobbinmaug Avatar
    Nobbinmaug

    I guess drinking and sermonizing only works for Catholics.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

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

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  17. Sascha Darlington Avatar
    Sascha Darlington

    Oops, hitting the bottle (of water) again.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Haha, indeed! 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  18. draliman Avatar
    draliman

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

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Like a naughty school boy 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  19. Russell Gayer Avatar
    Russell Gayer

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

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

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

      Like

      Reply
  20. Na'ama Yehuda Avatar
    Na’ama Yehuda

    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

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      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

      Reply
      1. Na'ama Yehuda Avatar
        Na’ama Yehuda

        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

  21. oneta hayes Avatar
    oneta hayes

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

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Oneta

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  22. Dora Avatar
    Dora

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

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

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

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  23. plaridel Avatar
    plaridel

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

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Even the Rabbis! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  24. Danny James Avatar
    Danny James

    Busted!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Totally! 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  25. Michael Humphris Avatar
    Michael Humphris

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

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

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

      Like

      Reply
  26. Sandra Avatar
    Sandra

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

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks Sandra 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  27. Laurie Bell Avatar
    Laurie Bell

    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

    Reply
  28. ahtdoucette Avatar
    ahtdoucette

    LOL. Great vignette of a story!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      Thanks

      Like

      Reply
  29. Fatima Fakier Avatar
    Fatima Fakier

    The challenges of the digital era!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
      Iain Kelly

      It’s hard to keep up!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

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