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The Casket of Fictional Delights

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The Replacement

by Zoe Meager

2017 Flash Fiction Competition Third Prize

PodcastFlash Fiction Bittersweet, Thought-provoking

One year ago, Anne received almost exactly what she wanted for Christmas. It was me.

I first detected signs of unease in February. The sideways looks and locked doors. By March she was setting me to sleep mode when friends called by. Too much of my capacity is wasted on my emoto-core, she said, and unfortunately, it cannot be wiped.

I am a LyfeLyke KeepBot, and I am shopping for my replacement.

The streets are soft and light with snow. I am dressed in winter clothing and goosebumps. As we are all programmed to know, humans are happiest with a smooth simulacrum. They prefer not to be reminded of tangled interiors.

I believe I am an efficient shopper. Perfume for Anne. Having monitored her heart rate and micro expressions as she consumes its advertisements, I know she will find this small surprise highly pleasurable. As for my replacement, I have the specifications recorded: tall, dark, and handyman upgrade.

Just as I am heading from Cosmetics to Electronics through Menswear, I decide to do something out of character. I will buy something special for myself. My fingertip sensors and visual processing unit work overtime as I inspect a blood red cashmere sweater. Since I am sufficiently dressed, I believe this is known as retail therapy.

Soon I will return home, vacuum pine needles from under the LyfeLyke Christmas tree and begin recharging myself. On Christmas morning, Anne’s family will Skype and watch her unwrap my replacement. I will download the household data to the main server and transfer my duties. I will leave Anne’s apartment for the last time, my chest cavity stuffed with the blood red cashmere sweater. I will walk the snowy streets, and imagine a heart that is full.

 

 

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The Replacement
by Zoe Meager

https://thecasket.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/2017-Flash-Fiction-Competition.mp3

Story read by Shash Hira for The Casket of Fictional Delights.

About Zoe Meager

Zoë is from Christchurch, New Zealand. Her short stories have been published at home and abroad. She was nominated for Best Small Fictions in 2017, and published in To Carry Her Home: Bath Flash Fiction Volume One 2017.
Visit Zoe Meager on the web

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One response to “The Replacement”

  • Annie says:
    October 4, 2017 at 7:00 am

    Love the story – such food for thought…! :/

    Reply

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Starting in June and through to the end of September  The Casket of Fictional Delights presents more Susan Tate adventures.  Enjoy following a year in the life of Susan Tate the quirky librarian who lives in Canterbury with her cat Charles Dickens written by Joanna Sterling, read by Menna Bonsels and illustrated by Michael N Green.

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Stories © various authors
Editing by Joanna Sterling & Alyson Faye
Audio by Menna Bonsels
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