Speed Dial Malfunction

      My fingers dialed her number. Typically I just tell my brain to dial Yael's number and my fingers do the rest. As I finished dialing I had a fleeting thought that maybe this time it wasn't the right number but I quickly shoved that thought aside. I definitely dialed the right number. It was naturally imprinted in my fingers. Somehow they knew just what to do.

"Hello?" The person answered.

"Hello?" I said, hoping whichever family member had picked up the phone would recognize my voice because I certainly did not recognize their voice.

      There was an awkward pause. Clearly they did not know who I was calling to talk to. "Umm, Ahh." (that was supposed to help them figure out my voice and then it would click, OH! You are calling for Yael! But that did not happen. I realized I needed to quickly ask for Yael because the person on the other line was probably as confused as I was, and perhaps getting a little bit annoyed.

"Is Yael there?" I asked. My mind racing as to who I could possibly be talking to. This didn't sound like any of her brothers, and this most certainly did not sound to me like her husband. I was stumped. I quickly introduced  myself because I know how annoying it is to receive a phone call from someone and the person does not introduce themselves, which I totally should have done.

"Now," I thought, "they will realize who I am."

I was waiting for "Yaaaaeeeeeeeelll phone for you!"

But alas, that did not happen.

In the microsecond that passed I was now even more confused then ever. Then I heard a voice on the other line respond.

"Um, honey, this is your dear husband."

And to that I will say L'chayim.
                                                                                                                                  photos by Mendel

- Matana