Almost Real
by Toshiya KameiJune 2, 2022
"My dog ate my homework!" Hiroshi blurts out, and his nose grows. Long enough for several birds to perch on it. Dr. Sakai examines his latest invention. Even up close, Hiroshi's synthetic skin looks real.
"If you want to be a real, live boy, you'll have to do better than that," Dr. Sakai says with a frown. To tell a convincing lie. That's the mark of a real human being. "Keep trying," he mumbles. Hiroshi wonders if it would help to cry.
"I love you, Daddy!" As Hiroshi's nose grows longer, Dr. Sakai presses the switch to turn Hiroshi off.
About Toshiya Kamei
Toshiya Kamei's short fiction has appeared in Korad, SmokeLong en Espanol, and several indie anthologies.