[Elsie]

Rather, he reports the common rumor, years later.

I guess you claim there was NO basis for this 'rumor'.

Tom and you are in the same boat:

 

John 20:24-31

 

 ²⁴But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.

 ²⁵So the other disciples were saying to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”

 ²⁶After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.”

 ²⁷Then He said to Thomas, “Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.”

 ²⁸Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”

 ²⁹Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.”

 ³⁰Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book;

 ³¹but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.

[donmeaker]

I would be happy with a few emails or even a text message or two.

Like the old joke-

“He doesn’t call! He doesn’t write!”