Read the New Short Story "A Priest, a Rabbi, and a Robot Walk Into a Bar"

Each month, Future Tense Fiction--a series of short stories from Future Tense and ASU's Center for Science and the Imagination about how technology and science will change our lives--publishes a story on a theme. Stop me if you've heard this one before." David had heard this one before, but he needed a job. He folded his hands in his lap and summoned the patience he'd learned sitting through Talmudic debates. He waved for Aiden Shure, Town of Our Own's CEO, to continue. "It's a dive bar, lots of rough language from the other patrons, but the bartender says, 'Father, what can I get you?' The priest says: 'Well, I have to lead Mass in the morning, but a wee nip can't hurt. Gimme three fingers of Irish whiskey and cut it with holy water.' So the bartender runs over to the church next door, borrows a bit of holy water, and makes the drink. The priest is satisfied, so the bartender moves on: 'Rabbi, what can I get you?' The rabbi says, 'Well it is the Sabbath day, but if it's not too much work I wouldn't say no to a glass of kosher wine from the vineyards of the Holy Land.' So the bartender finds a bottle of sweet Israeli red, and the rabbi thanks him." Aiden told the joke like he'd practiced it a lot while stuck in traffic. David braced for the punchline he knew was coming. "So the bartender turns to the robot, which has been quietly listening to the other patrons.