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125 · 8 panels

Starting Again with One Scarf

When Jin couldn’t remember the move, he went back to one apricot-colored scarf.

Inspired by a source · Creative adaptationNo sign-up · All stories free
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Back at juggling practice, Jin picked up an apricot-colored scarf from the table.
Jin

This is where we started last time.

Back at juggling practice, Jin picked up an apricot-colored scarf from the table.

Holding the scarf, Jin began to switch the position of his hands, then stopped.
Jin

Which hand did I start with?

Holding the scarf, Jin began to switch the position of his hands, then stopped.

Jin nodded and handed Ara the scarf he was holding.
Ara

Want to try again with one scarf? I can show you once.

Jin nodded and handed Ara the scarf he was holding.

The apricot scarf rose to about shoulder height. Jin watched it move.
Story

Ara gave the scarf a light toss.

The apricot scarf rose to about shoulder height. Jin watched it move.

Ara caught the scarf and handed it back to Jin.
Ara

Here. Would you like to try?

Ara caught the scarf and handed it back to Jin.

Jin lightly tossed the scarf from his right hand.
Jin

Yeah. I’ll give it a go.

Jin lightly tossed the scarf from his right hand.

The apricot fabric gathered in his hand. Ara smiled.
Story

Jin caught the falling scarf with his left hand.

The apricot fabric gathered in his hand. Ara smiled.

Jin looked at Ara, still holding the scarf. The spare scarves stayed folded.
Jin

I’d like one more go with just this one.

Jin looked at Ara, still holding the scarf. The spare scarves stayed folded.

A thought from the Talmud

The passage that begins with Rabbi Samlai’s teaching tells of a person learning the Torah before birth and forgetting it upon entering the world.

The source idea in our own words · Not a direct quotation

Niddah 30b:21–23 · Read the source ↗

A lesson for today

Jin paused when he couldn’t remember the move from last time. Ara showed him again with one scarf, and he watched before giving it a try himself. When we go back to something we’ve learned, we can choose which part to see again and how much to try. That day, Jin decided to have one more go with the same scarf.

A modern interpretation for this story

A question to take with you

When a skill you learned slips your mind, what is one small step you could try again?

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About the source and this adaptation

This passage in Niddah 30b begins with a teaching by Rabbi Samlai. It is a religious account of birth and the responsibility of the soul. Sections 21–23 describe learning the whole Torah before birth, then forgetting it when an angel strikes the newborn on the mouth. Sections 24–25 go on to describe an oath to live righteously and keep the soul pure. The wisdom line paraphrases the learning and forgetting in sections 21–23. Jin and Ara’s scarf juggling practice is modern fiction created with the help of AI.

Read the source ↗

AI-generated artwork · Creative adaptation

For your next little pause

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