Having trust in technology is something that, over the past decade or so, we've grown more reliant on. To the generation growing up with it, learning the smart phone ways has become second nature. The older generations are less fortunate, falling victim to misunderstandings and simple mistakes. But what happens when the worst thing happens to an elder with a smart phone, without any sort of assistance to guide them through to being okay once again?
I watched, and tried my best to help, as my granddaughter packed her things to leave for college. She lived with me ever since she first started high school, and she's been helping me out by doing things around the house for me when I was unable to. Her living with me has truly been a blessing.
I tried my best not to cry as I gave her a hug. She had the last of her things packed in a bag that was draped over her shoulder. It was difficult for me to see her go, but at the same time, I was glad to see her doing things with her life.
"I'll be back to visit whenever I can," she said, pulling back from the hug, a reassuring smile on her face. I smiled back to her, a tear welling up in my eye.
She turned from me and walked through the front door. I followed her out, patting her back. It was difficult to let her go, but I wanted to wave her goodbye. And so I did, as she pulled away from the driveway. She got out onto the street, waved back at me, and drove off, ready to take on whatever challenges life has to throw at her.
I made my way back inside and sat down on the couch before the television. I wasn't sure what was on, it was some show I had playing in the background as I helped her pack. I missed her already.
I grabbed my phone from the coffee table before me with the intent to message her. I wanted to say something sweet for her to read when she got to the college campus and got all settled in.
As I opened my phone, I saw a message on there, some kind of a notification from the social media site I'm on, telling me I have a virus. I was alarmed, how did I get a virus on my phone, I hadn't been on the internet in a while. Unless someone is trying to get into my account. I opened the message and saw it was from a guy called 'TechSupport137'. I sent him a message back, asking them how I got the virus on my phone.
In reply, he told me to give him my password so he can go in and take care of it. I wasn't dumb, there was no way I'd let this guy get into my account. I gave him a fake password. He went silent. I hope I scared him off.
I went back to message my granddaughter, wishing her a happy school year, telling her she'll go far, that she was the smartest girl I know. I was about to hit send when I got a notification, it was from my son. I got another one right after, from my best friend. Another and another from other people I know. What was happening?
I backed out of my message with her and saw a bunch of messages popping up, my texting screen shifting and changing around with every new message added. I had no idea what was going on. I tapped on the message with my son. At the top of the screen, it showed that I sent him the message, "I hate you." I was at a loss for words, I never said that. And I went to tell him that, only my phone wouldn't let me.
I tried time and time again to send him a message but they wouldn't go through. Then I noticed a little box at the top of the screen that said, 'Blocked'. What, I never blocked him!
I tried going to other messages. Each one had the same, "I hate you" message at the top and a box that read, 'Blocked'. How do I get rid of this? I was never good at figuring out how phones worked. All I could do was cry.
I went to message my granddaughter and ask her if she could help me, but she was blocked as well, with the same "I hate you" message. That was the final straw. I went over to the person that asked for my fake password to have a strong word with him, telling him I was going to turn him over to the police. Only thing, the message from him was no longer there.
I watched, and tried my best to help, as my granddaughter packed her things to leave for college. She lived with me ever since she first started high school, and she's been helping me out by doing things around the house for me when I was unable to. Her living with me has truly been a blessing.
I tried my best not to cry as I gave her a hug. She had the last of her things packed in a bag that was draped over her shoulder. It was difficult for me to see her go, but at the same time, I was glad to see her doing things with her life.
"I'll be back to visit whenever I can," she said, pulling back from the hug, a reassuring smile on her face. I smiled back to her, a tear welling up in my eye.
She turned from me and walked through the front door. I followed her out, patting her back. It was difficult to let her go, but I wanted to wave her goodbye. And so I did, as she pulled away from the driveway. She got out onto the street, waved back at me, and drove off, ready to take on whatever challenges life has to throw at her.
I made my way back inside and sat down on the couch before the television. I wasn't sure what was on, it was some show I had playing in the background as I helped her pack. I missed her already.
I grabbed my phone from the coffee table before me with the intent to message her. I wanted to say something sweet for her to read when she got to the college campus and got all settled in.
As I opened my phone, I saw a message on there, some kind of a notification from the social media site I'm on, telling me I have a virus. I was alarmed, how did I get a virus on my phone, I hadn't been on the internet in a while. Unless someone is trying to get into my account. I opened the message and saw it was from a guy called 'TechSupport137'. I sent him a message back, asking them how I got the virus on my phone.
In reply, he told me to give him my password so he can go in and take care of it. I wasn't dumb, there was no way I'd let this guy get into my account. I gave him a fake password. He went silent. I hope I scared him off.
I went back to message my granddaughter, wishing her a happy school year, telling her she'll go far, that she was the smartest girl I know. I was about to hit send when I got a notification, it was from my son. I got another one right after, from my best friend. Another and another from other people I know. What was happening?
I backed out of my message with her and saw a bunch of messages popping up, my texting screen shifting and changing around with every new message added. I had no idea what was going on. I tapped on the message with my son. At the top of the screen, it showed that I sent him the message, "I hate you." I was at a loss for words, I never said that. And I went to tell him that, only my phone wouldn't let me.
I tried time and time again to send him a message but they wouldn't go through. Then I noticed a little box at the top of the screen that said, 'Blocked'. What, I never blocked him!
I tried going to other messages. Each one had the same, "I hate you" message at the top and a box that read, 'Blocked'. How do I get rid of this? I was never good at figuring out how phones worked. All I could do was cry.
I went to message my granddaughter and ask her if she could help me, but she was blocked as well, with the same "I hate you" message. That was the final straw. I went over to the person that asked for my fake password to have a strong word with him, telling him I was going to turn him over to the police. Only thing, the message from him was no longer there.
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