Cassette

Who are you?

Who do I look like, kid?

You look like me.

Yeah. With few more miles, but yeah.

How'd you get here? How is-

Kid, that doesn't matter. I'm here to take you somewhere. I think I undershot the landing, I was aiming for a younger us.

How old are you?

You know we've always felt older than our age, not more mature, just older. So say I'm in my 60s.

Wow, so I made it to my 50s?

Yeah, 50.

I never thought I'd-

I know.

Where are you taking me? Can we change the past? Can we stop... You know.

Not exactly, but I thought we can make some things smoother. Come on.

Put this in your hand, close it tight. And think of when and where. You know when.

I know fucking when and where.

Open your eyes.

...

It doesn't work the way you think. But we're here.

I don't understand. I remember every place we've lived. There's nothing here.

Are you sure? Theres someone behind you that might need you.

Who's the kid? Is he...

I'll let you talk to him.

Hey there little man. What's wrong?

I can't open this door. And he's hurting her. Please mister just help me...

I don't think that's a good idea, you shouldn't have to see in there. Maybe we can get a parent or please call the police.

PLEASE MISTER! I CAN HEAR THEM CRYING!

Stand aside, fuck this!

...CRASH!...

What the... Hey kid I thought- Where's the kid?

You were right. The kid shouldn't have to see what was happening in here.

But there's nothing here. But I can still hear it-

On the floor there. See the cassette player? Press STOP and take out the tape.

But I thought we could change things. Why come back at all?

I said smooth things over. We can't change what happened, no more than that little boy could have changed. He was too young, he couldn't even reach the door knob. And you, well you made short work of that door. I've even knocked down a few.

But why give me this tape? Why does this recording exist, with such horrible noises.

Many recordings exist of so many things. Good, bad, every imaginable thing in between. They just exist. Even ones we don't know about.

Can I break this one?

No.

Old man, I don't understand the point of why you even came back.

All these cassettes, the bad ones. Like the one that still haunts this old man. You don't have to play them. Press STOP. Sit in silence because it happened. But then put in a good one, and press PLAY. Press it like you're trying to break that goddamn button.

But the bad ones will always exist?

Yes. But kicking down doors, hurting yourself, hurting others. Just makes more bad tapes.

Can I listen to one of me crying?

You're recording one now.

When you're done. Remember to play a happy one next. It makes all the difference.

I... I'll try. Thank you.

Thank you for listening.

Did an older us come back and show you this?

No. I just sat on a bench and recorded a few.

Do you want this thing back? To keep going around, helping us out?

You keep that one. I vaguely remember we had a kid in us that needed a new a pair of shoes.

Yeah. I remember him. What even is this thing anyway-

...

A mirror?
Hello?
Ah, right.