By Ife J. Ibitayo
My short story “Fragile Kiyomi” has been published in Issue 1, Volume 2 of Free Bundle Magazine. This short story was one of the first pieces I finished and has gone through many iterations. The heart of the story lies in answering this question: Is programed perfection as valuable as messy humanity? A free copy of it and many other wonderful stories can be found by clicking here.
Story Excerpt
The iDoll cashier waved at them. Meiko waved back enthusiastically, almost like they were long-lost relatives. Contrary to what Kiyomi had said, Hottokōrudo was a wonderful place to shop. It had underpriced gems and overpriced trash. You just had to have an eye for which was which.
Shinji spent some time looking through flannel shirts. “Should I get cream or eggshell?” he asked himself. Something jabbed him in the rear. He grimaced and tried to transform it into a grin as he turned around to face Kiyomi. Her arms were overloaded with clothes.
“Can I buy this? What about this? Or, this?” Each skirt or dress she showed him was expensive and provocative, with windows and slits in places no adult, much less a child, should reveal.
“No,” Shinji said.
“To which one?”
“All of them.”
Kiyomi threw the clothes to the ground and stomped off. Shinji was about to follow her when a hand tugged at his sleeve. “Yes, Meiko?” he asked, turning around and smiling down at her.
“Can I get this, Uncle Shinji?” Meiko showed him a bright, polka-dot dress with little flowers on the shoulders. He checked the price tag and smiled wider. “Of course.”
He felt a sharp pain as two objects bounced off his back. He spun around, and Kiyomi was glaring at him. “That’s not fair!” she yelled and sprinted out of the store.
Shinji bent down and picked up the decorative chopsticks. He grinned sheepishly at the other customers who were gawking at him. He ran to the front of the store and asked the cashier, “Can you hold on to these?” She nodded, taking the chopsticks from his hands. Shinji turned to call Meiko, but she had followed him to the front of the store. He asked the cashier, “Can you watch her–it too?”