This a story for anyone who has ever had computer problems, so that’s all of us. My computer went pop earlier this week and had to go to the computer hospital. It is now back, restored to health. What a relief.
Feely (pictured on the chair at which I sit to use my computer) is a male cat, so obviously not the one in the story!
This a safe attachment, trust me
I clicked on the attachment to the e-mail. Next thing there were multiple windows opening and reopening again as fast as I closed them. The screen was pulsating with the speed of it but I didn’t panic, just turned the computer off and went to make myself a cup of coffee. It was a shame that the cat got under my feet and hot coffee spilt on her, but I still didn’t panic.
Rebooted, the computer seemed fine. But as I started typing a document a little dog strayed onto the screen.
“Woof,” it went.
“Woof to you,” I said, “go away.”
“Won’t,” it said. I turned off the sound. I was not going to be dictated to by an animation.
“Be careful,” said the cat, from her seat behind me.
I whirled round. The cat was curled up like a cinnamon whirl, apparently dead to the world. I turned back to the computer. The dog on the screen had started eating my text and spewing it out of its backside in a mangled heap of letters.
This was too much. I started banging the desk, remembering too late what this would do to my collarbone.
“Ow!” I yelled, as pain shot up my arm.
“You should be more careful,” mewed the cat gleefully.
I’m thinking of selling the computer. Pen and paper have a safe track record, and no attachments with hidden secrets to trip you up. Perhaps I’d better ask the cat. She’s offering opinions on everything now.
Shortlisted in Helen Yendall’s blog about writing comp April 2013
Published on PostcardShorts (www.postcardshorts.com) on 26.05.13
Cath Barton 