A couple of teenagers find something on one of their phones that couldn’t possibly be true. Or could it? Enjoy!

Listen to the Audio (17 min):

This audio sci-fi short story is now available exclusively in my audiobook, Listen To The Signal: Short Stories Volume 1, available at Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. The stories will continue right here each month or so, so if you’d like, subscribe below to be notified when a new episode is published:

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Read the Story (2,500 words / 9-minute read):

“Red Parka”

Written and narrated by Rob Dircks

Huh. I don’t remember taking these pictures. They’re from the winter, but it’s the middle of July and they’re showing up at the top of my camera roll. Stupid phone. Been acting weird for a month. Of course if I tell Mom and Dad, they’ll just get pissed off and lecture me about how kids these days don’t take care of anything, and we’re a bunch of entitled brats. So forget that.

“Brandon. We’re eating dinner. No phones.”

“Mom. You and Dad are talking about taxes. I have nothing to contribute. I don’t pay taxes yet. I was just quick checking my-”

“Put it away. And someday, you better believe it, once your generation starts actually contributing…”

…and I tune her out. I put my phone on my lap, under the kitchen table, and try to figure out what the hell is going on with it. These photos are from Rockefeller Center during Christmas. The big tree, the crowds, the ice skating rink, all the lights. It’s at night, it’s beautiful, and there’s almost a magical quality to all the smiling people in the pictures.

But I don’t know any of them.

And we didn’t go to Rockefeller Center this past Christmas. Or the one before that.

Who’s pictures are these?

To read on, check out Listen To The Signal: Short Stories Volume 1 at Amazon.