2020-12-12 Temple of Zoom

 2020-12-12 Temple of Zoom

Jasper Rogers feels the sunlight warming him through the window of Levi’s bedroom and he stirs towards wakefulness, reaching out and rolling to cuddle his beloved. But Levi’s side of the bed is empty and cold. Jasper frowns and then sits up. He was naked in the bed...they both were and it was a glorious night. A glorious night after a glorious few weeks. He had told Levi last night how happy he was that Miranda was finally opening up to him again. He felt like he had his little girl back and they had even gone to her basketball game...girls against the boys. It was a good game and Miranda had played well and won. But now it was morning and he was here for a bit of bonus alone time with Levi...he just needed Levi. Out of habit he pulled on his underwear at least and then reluctantly a pair of sweats because it was a little chilly. He still had the Otters sweats he wore to the game handy. He walked out of the bedroom to see Levi in front of a screen, shirt and tie on top and boxer briefs under the table? Must be a morning meeting? But he wasn’t talking...maybe the meeting was over or ending soon. He was distracted regardless. Jasper eyed him with adoration and then wandered to make them both coffee and some eggs and toast. He wasn’t even thinking about what day of the week it was. As he came to the table with the offerings Levi did look up, which to Jasper was a cue that the meeting was over...and he couldn’t hear anyone else talking so he leaned over as he set the plate and cup down and kissed Levi passionately, loosening his tie even as he did. “Breakfast first…...and then dessert…..your bed was too cold without you in it my love….”

Levi Samuels had awakened early, despite the glorious late night he’d had with Jasper.  He couldn’t go back to sleep, so he decided to actually go to virtual Shabbat services.  So he put on a shirt and tie, ignoring pants .. he could at least be comfortable in his boxer briefs.  This was part of the ‘new normal’ he truly enjoyed.  He noticed that Rabbi Gavriel Dreyer was as handsome … and as boring … as ever.  But he also noticed Gavriel notice that he was in attendance.  He also noticed a few others he had not seen in a very long time, but he also noticed his father, grandmother and younger siblings on a couch in his father’s living room, plus his other younger brothers in a row from Immanuel’s apartment.  There was no time for chatter.  He could see that there were a good 50 windows open and some of the people he didn’t know really well anyway.  Gavriel spoke .. and spoke and spoke.  Levi caught movement towards the end of the the service and looked up to see his beloved bringing him coffee and food on a small plate.  He participated in the kiss, not really thinking of what meeting he was in.  He innocently patted the chair beside him and pulled out the USB headphone so that Jasper could hear the end of the service.  Sound filled the room as Gavriel stumbled over a few words and quickly recovered, ended the service and people started murmuring, many of the original 50 or so winking out immediately.

Rabbi Gavriel Dreyer was used to his virtual services now and had come to quite like them. He had on his best suit and his matching yamaka and stole that picked up the colours in his tie. Gavriel was an attractive and fashionable man and he worked it. He’d worked it to push his own agendas, he’d worked it to charm himself a wife, the perfect Jewish wife. Deborah Dreyer sat neatly in his view with her hands folded in her lap safely 6 feet but beside his young assistant Jordan Shapiro. There was a 10 person limit of spots for in person worship but the rest were on screen and the screen was also broadcasted at the front of the room. But on his own iPad near where he had his notes Gavriel couldn’t help but keep a more than occasional eye on Levi Samuels. He hadn’t seen Levi at services in awhile and there he was looking handsome as ever…..until a man leaned in on his screen, a shirtless man with greying hair and a freckled muscular back. The man kissed Levi and said something that couldn’t be heard publicly since Gavriel had muted the participants until the service ended...but Levi kissed the man back. This was his lover? Gavriel stuttered and fumbled the next section and forced himself back into composure. He would explain it away later as shock at how inappropriate it was to have such a display during a religious ceremony, especially it being two men. He looked out and saw Deborah’s hand over her mouth after. She would share his sentiment of course. Jordan looked like he was fighting the urge to smile until Gavriel shot him a look that made him stop. His hands together as he ended the service he stood at his iPad trying to decide what to do. Levi was still online. He stepped into an alcove with the iPad and initiated a private message, text only to begin. 

That was completely inappropriate. There are children watching Levi. Whoever you’re bringing home with you, you need to not have them indecent in the virtual Shabbat!

Ira Rothernberg had woken up early on Saturday, early enough that he got an email notification remaining him about virtual synagogue at Shalom Temple. “What the hell…” He shrugged “May as well since I’m up.” He had told Annette he was going online to worship and even invited her to sit with him if she wanted to see what it was all about. Ira didn’t dress up for the occasion and so he was in his usual black t-shirt and jeans sipping coffee as he noticed Levi among the many windows, and then of course Joseph with the younger kids, Esther, the other Samuels boys, even Natalie, although she was sort of absent from her screen a few times. But then on Levi’s screen came the bare back of Jasper Rogers as he leaned in to kiss Levi. Ira’s jaw dropped and then he laughed and clapped. He heard Gavriel stutter and he didn’t even try to hide his amusement on screen and turned sideways to explain, although mured that Gavriel had been a past lover of Levi’s but was so closeted he condemend their connection and hurt Levi with the shame and denial. But here was Levi, not even trying but sticking it to his ex. With a giant grin Ira leaned forward and madly typed a private message to Levi.

That fuckin rocked. I thought Dreyer was gonna shit himself up there. Oh Jasper you sexy thang….LMAO

Then Ira just fell back into the couch still laughing unabashedly with his hand resting on his belly.

Natalie decided to humour her father and try a virtual Shabbat service. It was his attempt to get Natalie and her mother in the same room, even if it was a virtual room care of the Shalom Temple.  She had asked Joseph which one their family went to and been sent a link to Shalom Temple and had emailed Rabbi Dreyer’s assistant Jordan to get set up. So she had gotten online and logged in and clicked the Zoom link. She invited Marcus if he wanted to watch and listen or be her moral support since she really wasn’t very devout anymore and was not totally looking forward to sitting through a long boring service. Sitting through anything was also a challenge these days. She had reached the always feeling like she needed to pee stage even if there was nothing in there. So she was back and forth to her screen a few times and in a casual but nice enough grey and blue maternity dress. She managed to come back from one attempt at a bathroom break just in time to see a shirtless man leaning in to kiss another man on screen and then gasped and laughed when she realized it was Jasper and Levi. “Oh my god Marcus…...look! I wonder if Jasper knows what Levi is up to right now?” She glanced down as they were one floor above where all of it was happening off screen but then she just started to laugh. “Well I picked a hell of a synagogue to go to with the parents this weekend…...that’s hilarious though….oh my god.”

Ruth had dutifully sat through the Saturday morning Shabbat with her father and brother but it was dead boring. She had waved at her other brothers, Natalie and Marcus, even Ira and Annette and Saba at the beginning but now everyone was paying attention like they were all drones. Rabbi Dreyer was not an engaging public speaker in her mind. He recycled the same ideas service after service and towed the line of dogma and ideology until she felt like it was a noose around her neck. She closed her eyes a few times and imagined herself walking through the deepest parts of the North Woods, bare feet on the cold earth with the wind blowing through her striped green sweater and grey corduroy pants. Maybe the forest was her holy place now. As she opened her eyes she saw Levi’s screen obscured….by was that Jasper with no shirt on? Ruth blushed. Should she be seeing him like this? Now they were kissing. Ruth couldn’t help but laugh. Well at least it wasn’t boring anymore. Rabbi Dreyer seemed flustered after and she couldn’t explain why that amused her so much. Served him right for boring them all so much her brother had to make out with his boyfriend? 

Jasper saw Levi pull out his USB headphone….he hadn’t noticed it...and he suddenly felt horribly awkward. Then he heard what sounded like a religious service coming through the computer’s built in speakers and closed his eyes as he backed up “Oh shit….you’re at…” He turned to the screen “Oh my god Levi….I’m so sorry….” He dashed to the bedroom for a shirt and pulled on the first one he found which was actually a t-shirt of Levi’s that Ruth had given him. It had the words Oy Vey on it like their father’s apron. She had found it at the thrift store and it was too funny not to buy for someone in the family but too big for both she and Daniel. The irony of Jasper wearing it to the last part of the Shabbat service escaped him as he just wanted to be covered. He could see various reactions as he sat down beside Levi contritely and listened. He did notice the Rabbi and his name on screen and then raised an eyebrow. He’d just kissed Levi in front of the ex….with no shirt on? There was some odd satisfaction in that given how awful he knew the guy had been to his love. But he hoped it didn’t come back on Levi from other members of the community or his family. He could see Ira practically rolling around on his couch still laughing and when he saw Jasper sit down he gestured to his own shirt and gave him a thumbs up and laughed even harder. Jasper looked down at what he was wearing and face palmed and then pursed his lips at Ira and shook his head. Bloody hell. As it all came to a close and the windows started to blink out he looked at Levi apologetically “Well that happened….”

The mics seemed to get unmuted by the host as chatter could suddenly be heard and Ruth’s voice was clear as the screen became her face from the big Samuel’s house living room “Hi Levi….hi Jasper!” She beamed “Ooooh he’s wearing the shirt…” she giggled.

“Natalia, are you still on?” Pavel Sokal’s voice chimed in “Marcus, where does she keep going? Hello Levi….Levi’s friend…..Joseph…” Pavel knew Natalie’s boss and colleagues of course.

A new face appeared on the screen with the name Jordan Shapiro and he looked oddly similar to Levi but about 10 years younger. “This meeting will be open for about 20 more minutes. You’re of course welcome to start your own for a longer social time. Rabbi Dreyer is not available for questions today but feel free to visit the Shalom Temple website and submit your questions or comments through our online forms there. Good health to everyone.” It sounded like something he’d been instructed to convery.

Lisa Sokal sat properly through the service while Natalia bounced up and down throughout.  She'd already leaned over to Pavel with a harsh smile.  "She'd better not be working." and she blinked when the man appeared in Levi's frame.  Lisa knew that the ws on a probation of sorts, so she said nothing about it, but watched, trying not to look disapproving ... not as much about Levi apparently being gay, but about all of the love and support he was getting.

Marcus watched as Natalie returned ... again.  He was supporting Natalie and was dressed in black corduroy pants and a nice blue shirt to match Nat's dress.  "She's just obeying the orders of the baby, Pavel."  he replied to his father-in-law ... and was still amazed every time he realized that he and Natalie were really married.  Then Natalie returned, sat and pointed.  Marcus scanned the windows and saw Levi's screen with Jasper inside of it.  He also laughed.  "And here I thought this would be boring!"  he laughed along.  "Still not Baptist but ... "

Daniel sat, trying to look awake and interested.  Shabbat was boring and so was Rabbi Dreyer.  At least he didn't have to dress up too much.  He was in a nice enough sweater with a button down shirt on under it.  Their mother would have had him in a full suit and shoes, even virtually for Shabbat.  But it turned out their father didn't make them get really formal, even though he and Levi were.  All of a sudden Jasper appeared in the frame and kissed Levi, which made this officially the most interesting Shabbat ever in life.  Natalie's husband was there and he was black.  It was really integrated now.  He waved at Jasper, enthusiastically and nodded with his sister.  "Hi Jasper.  The shirt looks good on you.  Thanks for spicing things up."  He looks at his father.  “Can I go now?”

Joseph was on his couch with his children dressed in a shirt, slacks, tie and jacket.  He hardly ever wore a complete suit unless he was appearing in court or meeting with a client, even virtually.   He saw Jasper and was amused when they kissed.  Rabbi Dryer being flustered was interesting,  It broke up the monotony of the service and so was welcome.  Once the service was ended and the mikes unmuted, he waved.  "Good morning Jasper.  I'm glad you didnt sleep too late and miss all the fun."  He notes Immanuel, Mordechai and Elazar all looking amused to see Jasper, waving and greeting him like he was just another brother, which made him very happy.  But they were also squirming.  "You boys can go on with your day.  We'll see you later."  a triple chorus of thanks dad love you guys rang out before the middle Samuels brothers winked out.  He looks at Daniel and Ruth with a twinkle in his eyes.  “Yes, you can both go now.  Have fun.”

Annette had never been to a Shabbat service before and decided to follow Ira's lead and dress as if it were any other day of the week.  Of course, for her, that meant a  long skirt and simple blouse.  She would have gone to church in something similar.  She watched the screen with Levi on it and saw Jasper.  Ira explained it and Annette smiled with her own brand of amusement.  Seeing the private message Ira sent, she slapped him on the arm playfully.  "You're evil and I love it."  but because of the Rabbi's reaction, she did nothing to try and make Ira stop literally rolling around laughing.

Levi had been amused at Jasper's reply and the modest way he'd run off to put on a shirt. But when he came back with the Oy Vey shirt, Levi had nearly died laughing.  When Jasper finally looked at him he agreed.  "That did indeed happen, love."  he sees a couple of messages pop up and read them.  "So Ira thinks you're sexy, does he?"  he teases.  "I knew I shouldn't have introduced you two."  and then the smile fades slightly.  "Gavriel sent a message ..."  he will let Jasper look at the message with him and watch as he types his reply.

Oh relax.  He didn't know and he put a shirt on.  Half the kids watching are my own siblings.  And he was absolutely decent.  It was far from pornographic.

Levi sent the message, a little miffed.  He also glanced at the window Jordan Shapiro had been in.  They did not know each other but from Temple and he had made some unfair assumptions.  He had no proof of what he thought and so didn't say anything to him.

Jasper was blushing over all of it but he laughed when Levi said Ira thinks he is sexy “Don’t worry he’s not my type…” He hears about Gavriel and reads the message, sliding his arm across Levi’s shoulders as Levi types his back “He’s quite the piece of work. Are we still muted?” It dawns on him he’s heard all the others….

Ruth hops up from the couch happily and then takes a clipboard and a pen from a  nearby table “I’m almost finished my questionnaire. She’ll be here in about 30 minutes Daddy…..maybe brush your teeth again before she gets here…..and make sure you don’t have any crumbs on your trousers.” She chides and scampers off.

Ira leans his big round face into the screen “Your mic is off Levi!” He practically shouts with delight. “I’ll be back next week for Shabbat makeout……” He tugs Annette a bit closer and plants a kiss on her mouth before turning back “My girlfriend is Catholic…and gorgeous...look at her.....where’s Natalie….we gotta get one more shocker in here? Marcus….hi Marcus!” Ira’s basically trolling now and having way too much fun.

Pavel shakes his head and laughs “Good luck with that Marcus….they’re going to make us find a new temple. You with the Catholic girlfriend...you’re very loud…”

Ira reads the name of the speaker “Pavel...Sokal...oh you’re Nat’s Dad…..good to meetcha Mr. Sokal….and Mrs. Sokal…” He sees a lady beside him. “Hi I’m Ira!”

Natalie comes back again from another pee break to Ira causing a  ruckus and talking to her parents “Oh dear…..hi Ira.” She smiles at Annette. Being that it’s a small town she’s met her in passing “Hi Annette. Is he causing trouble?”

Gavriel can hear Ira as he reads Levi’s message back and gets doubly annoyed. He walks over to Jordan’s screen and ends the meeting abruptly without a word, before the 20 minute mark. Then he replies to Levi with a  personal text hoping his phone number hasn’t changed.

You know what our faith says, and yet you flaunt your little dalliance like he’s confetti you’re throwing at a Bar Mitzvah. 

Lisa smiles, or tries to smile, at Marcus in the Temple.  She waves.  "Hello .. Ira."  she hears his girlfriend is Catholic and her false smile widens a moment.  "I'm going to get brunch going.  Natalie, don't forget to eat.  Marcus .. feed her."  she orders and without another word, she stands and leaves the frame and the room.

Marcus watches Lisa, but then focuses on Pavel.  "You want loud, try the Baptists."  he suggests.  "Seems to me, they're just out to have a little fun."  he grins.  Then the connection dies and he blinks.  "Shit, did we lose wifi?"  he stands to go check the router.

Annette grins and blushes a little at Ira's compliments, but she does eagerly accept the kiss.  "I'll make sure he gets up early enough." she promises, not giving specifics, but Ira will know what it means.  She waves to Natalie.  "He's always causing trouble.  One day I will take him to church ... if I can stomach it any more."  she just doesn't feel the need in her newfound freedoms.  Then the connection is cut.  "Oh, has it been 20 minutes?"  she leans into Ira.  "It's good to meet more of your friends and family."  she tells him and leans into him for a deep kiss, since they didn't get their play for Ira getting up so early.

Joseph watches as Daniel gets up, but doesnt leave the house, as he thought he might.  Then Ruth goes on about the questionnaire and her being there at 2.  He can't help but grin and he chides.  "I'll even shave again, just for you."  he promises.  He watches her go and when he looks back, the connection is gone.  "Guess it's been 20 minutes."  he murmurs and goes to shave and brush his teeth again.

Levi is laughing and hugging Jasper when, out of the corner of his eye, he sees Gavriel on Jordan's screen, and then it all goes off.  He sighs as all the conversations end.  "He cut us all off ..."  he tells Jasper.  Suddenly his personal phone chimes with a text message and he looks at it.  Tightening his jaw, he replies, grumbling something about 'hypocritical bastard' under his breath.

Are you threatening me, Rabbi?  Say that to my face.

He then shows his reply and Gavriel's text to Jasper.

Jasper growls at Gavriel’s text and kisses Levi’s cheek at his reply “You’re picking a fight with crazy…..I’m going to get us some more coffee. Let him stew. And yes he’s a hypocrite for sure.” Jasper gets up to grab the coffee carafe pot and starts to walk back over with it.

A facetime call starts ringing from Gavriel on Levi’s phone.

Levi snorts.  “In my line of work, I face crazy quite often, my love.”  he watches him head for coffee and then a facetime call comes on his computer.  “He’s calling, Jasper.”  he calls out then looks at the phone.  “Alright, Gavriel … let’s dance…” and he makes his face neutral and accepts the call.  “Rabbi Dreyer.”

Jasper mutters “shit…” but can’t help but chuckle at Levi as he pours coffee and then sits out of visual range of the call to watch.

Gavriel sits formally behind his desk in his office with the door closed “Mr. Samuels.” He greets cooly “Can we expect some decorum from you if you choose to attend Shabbat again? We need to set an example. It’s not a brothel after all...or a bath house…” His eyebrow twitches.

Levi looks at Gavriel, who looks older than Levi by several years.  There had to be stress in the life of a closeted rabbi.  Well, I certainly hope you are not expecting me to become a psychic, Rabbi Dreyer.”  he began.  “I had not expected Jasper to wake up before services were over.  You should know that certain decorum was already practiced by HIM as he came out in sweatpants, when he was naked when I got out of bed.”  Levi almost hopes that Gavriel imagines that in his head.  “I have always set a fine example in the Temple.  Certainly no one has implied that I was a prostitute or that I engaged with prostitutes before today.  Or .. anyone at any sort of bath house.”

Now Jasper silently laughs and mimes poking in the air to indicate Levi is definitely poking the bear. But it was amusing to him nonetheless.

Gavriel’s eyebrow twitches faster and he huffs at Levi’s response. He’s about to retort when his office door can be heard opening and a woman’s voice calls in “Gav honey…..are you almost ready to go?” Gavriel immediately puts on a pleasant face “I’ll be with you in just 10 minutes. Please close the door again Deborah….” He flushes a bit and looks at Levi, waiting for the footfalls of his wife to go down the hall “Alright Levi….who is he?” Clearly what Gavriel is upset about is the surprise of a man in Levi’s home, life, and he doesn’t even want to picture the man naked in his bed but since he’s seen him shirtless it’s hard not to.

Levi knows he is aggravating Gavriel and he doesn’t care.  Then Deborah enters and he remembers the invitation to their wedding.  How he had refused it and why he had refused it.  Then Gavriel is asking who ‘he’ is.  “Jasper is a doctor here on the Island.”  he explains.  “He has three incredible teenaged children.  They know all they need to know ..  that I love their father and that he loves me.”  he pauses a moment.  “I am not in the closet anymore, Gavriel.  And yes, I know your position and your beliefs.  So I know you have a decision to make.”  

Gavriel sighs heavily as he listens. This Jasper man, this doctor was not some casual tryst. Levi had fallen in love. He looks at the screen for a long time just studying Levi and then says “I can’t shun you….and we won’t discuss why. But if you’re going to bring this man to Shalom Temple’s online Shabbat I request he adhere to more of a dress code than sweats with no shirt. I realize today’s ….performance…. was accidental.” He chose the word performance like he was assuming Levi wanted to show off Jasper, throw it in his face.

Jasper now stands up and steps into view “Hi there….Gavriel? It wasn’t a performance. And it wasn’t Levi’s fault. I didn’t realize he was live at the service when I came over to him at the computer. I truly mean no disrespect to your faith or your community. My apologies. However if you disrespect Levi or ever make him feel less than for who he is or who we are together then you are the worst form or hypocrite and the worst Rabbi in history.” And with that he turns to Levi and kisses him again, briefly, but on the lips no less.

Levi gives a half a nod at Gavriel saying he won’t shun him.  Of course he knew why.  But then he calls the accident a performance, as if Jasper was some kind of cheap stripper and he inhales slowly.  But before he can say anything, Jasper speaks up and apologizes, then goes off on Gavriel in a way that makes Levi love his doctor even more when he didn’t know that was possible.  He returns the kiss and then gives his attention back to Gavriel.  “And yes.  Jasper knows everything about me, including my past partners.” he says it mildly but it is a stab to the closeted man.

Gavriel is speechless at Jasper's words. He’s humble, yet cutting and he clearly really loves Levi to step up and step in and take this on. It feeds his shame but also makes him glare at Jasper until Levi admits Jasper knows about him. Now he just looks uncomfortable and stews a bit until his door pops open again and he snaps slightly “Deborah...I said I’d be righ….Jordan…..she’s waiting in the car then? No that’ll be all…..” His gaze lingers after Jordan and the door shuts again. Gavriel sighs “I wish you good health Levi….” He says as a final farewell. It was something Gavriel said as a common thing, and curious that Jordan had said it too, like he had adopted the lingo as well.

Jasper stays quiet now but his arm is around Levi and he stays right in view of Gavriel, supporting his love through every last minute of this conversation.

Levi is considering speaking again when Jordan pops in to get Gavriel.  Their time is up.  “If you need to talk, Gavriel, you know where to find me.  Wish your assistant well from me, please.”  he ends the call in a way that hints that he knows or suspects the relationship between Gavriel and the younger Jordan.

Gavriel inhales so quickly his nostrils flair. He knew Levi was onto him about Jordan. Dammit. Now he ended things curtly “Good day gentlemen.” and then clicked the meeting closed. Levi Samuels … too clever as always. The one that got away.