Episode 49 One Lost, Many Found

Thanks for Hitting Play and then listening to Hit Play. This episode: found text (and one lost book)! Some of the plays in this episode may contain sensitive topics. For more specific content warnings, check out the timecodes below.

We’re wrapping up Season 1 with episode 50 next week! We’ll be back towards the end of the year with some special episodes of Hit Play, so stay tuned and stay subscribed. Take care of yourself, download the stop-motion studio app and make a little movie, and share it with us on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook.

2:06 - Found Poetry December 8th, 2016: Was this written on a typewriter? It looks like it was written on a typewriter by Anthony Sertel Dean

5:53 - Found Writing: Fantasy Novel circa 11 or 9 years old by Julia Melfi

10:15 - Found Fanfiction: Lord of the Rings, 14 years old by Lee LeBreton and read by Kyra Sims

12:04 - Found in the purple 70-page spiral notebook several phrases on several pages around the turn of the century 1999-2000 by Rob Neill

15:11 - Found Poems circa 2014: Freshman Year Slam Poetry Club Angst by Léah Miller

17:20 - Found Notes App Note circa 2020: Case #0200701 with apologies to Jonathan Sims by Hadley Todoran

18:15 - Lost Text circa 1996: Dinosaur Time Warp by Max Zemlin-Thornton

19:21 [CW: brief moment of fatphobic bullying] - Reimaginings of 2020: A Dramatic Reading of a Speculative Fiction story I wrote in 1991 at the age of 12 by Annie Levin featuring Michaela Farrell, Robin Virginie, Yael Haskal, Anooj Bhandari, Kyra Sims, Lee LeBreton, Michael John Improta, and Katharine Heller

Our logo was designed by Shelton Lindsay

Our sound is designed by Anthony Sertel Dean

Hit Play is produced by Anthony Sertel Dean, Julia Melfi, and Léah Miller

Take care!

Transcript 

Episode 49 One Lost, Many Found

Show Intro

Angelic chill electronic instrumental music plays underneath.

Julia: 49. One Lost, Many Found. I’m Julia Melfi—a New York Neo-Futurist. While our on-going, ever-changing, late-night show, The Infinite Wrench, is on hold for the foreseeable future, we wanted a place to keep making art for you. And so we made this podcast!  

If you’re already a fan of The New York Neo-Futurists, or any of our sibling companies, hello! We can’t wait to compliment your new pandemic moustache. If this is totally new to you—welcome to it!

We play by four rules: We are who we are, we’re doing what we’re doing, we are where we are, and the time is now. Simply put: we tell stories, and those stories are our own. Everything that you hear is actually happening. So if we tell you we're recording this part while fluffing our pillows, we are really recording this part while fluffing our pillows. Like I am right now. 

Julia smacks and fluffs pillows.

It's the little things. 

We’re wrapping up season one of Hit Play with our next episode, episode 50, that comes out next week. We’ll be back at the end of the year with some special Best Of episodes, which will be decided on by our Patreon members! So join our Patreon at Patreon.com/NYNF to stay connected. 

All of the plays in this episode were inspired by a piece of found text. And now, Hadley will Run the Numbers!

Hadley: Hi there, I’m Hadley, and I'm a tech with the New York Neo-Futurists. 

In this episode we’re bringing you 9 plays by 

Anthony Sertel Dean; Julia Melfi; Lee LeBreton, read by Kyra Sims; Rob Neill; Léah Miller; Hadley Todoran (that's me!); Max Zemlin-Thornton; and the last one's by Annie Levin featuring Michaela Farrell, Robin Virginie, Yael Haskal, Anooj Bhandari, Kyra Sims, Lee LeBreton, Michael John Improta, and Katharine Heller. 

That brings us to 193 audio experiments on Hit Play. Enjoy!

Music winds down.

Play 1: Found Poetry (2:06)

Anthony: Found Poetry December 8th, 2016: Was this written on a typewriter? It looks like it was written on a typewriter. GO!

Electronic underscore

Anthony: I know there's not much time, but I want to tell you all about what I'm finding here. It sounds like nothing else I have ever heard before. I tried to walk over to the cemetery to see what I could find there, but when I got to the gate, there were these hooded figures standing by it. 

Did you walk the dog?

How long did that take?

Weren't you exhausted?

Last night -- when I got home -- I couldn't sleep. Does that ever happen to you? That you're lying in bed and you look up at the ceiling and all you see is the ceiling, but there is a spot on it, and you focus on the spot, and the spot becomes the thing you are looking up at, the ceiling is all but gone from your field of vision, and without the ceiling in your way, you can see the trees above your head and above those the stars, and you see them shining in your eyes -- the only thing there to shield you is that one spot on the ceiling -- and then you remember that the ceiling is still there, and you're in bed staring up at it, and the stars won't blind you from this distance. But if you listen closely enough, you can hear them shining their little "twinkle twinkle" sounds, like they're whispering in your ear. 

When I got home last night, lying in bed, that's all I could hear. So I decided to go for a walk. I walked the dog, around the block a few times… then a few more times… then we walked around the block until we lost count of how many times we walked around the block. I fell asleep then. Did you ever find out why we don't walk on the east side of the park anymore?

I've just been waiting it out in here. I'm not sure when it will be done. When do you think they will repave the sidewalk out in front of the house?

I was waiting on line for the pretzel cart outside of the Home Depot, and a woman came up to me and complimented my dress. She said that her mother had made her a dress like mine when she was a child.

I can wait. 

No worries.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes. 

Zero.

One, seven, eight, five, nine. 

Products.

One, seven, eight, five, nine. 

Hello? Is this the right number?

Hi. Dianne here. 

I'm… just give me a second.

You know what movie I've been wanting to see for a while? I hear that it's--

I'm just going to hang on for a minute and see if anyone picks up, y'know how these things go. It shouldn't be going on for too much longer. I mean, everyone's out there. Don't want to "miss out on life" like they say. "The time in there is not the time out there." Yes?

Music fades out

Play 2: Found Writing: Fantasy Novel (5:53)

Julia: Found Writing: Fantasy Novel circa 11 or 9 years old. GO!

Upbeat chill underscore

Julia: I knew that I had to face whatever may come my way, so I rolled over and lifted myself up. I stretched and yawned. I tried to look around myself to see if there was anyone up, but the light was so bright, it shone through the shades. It took me a bit to get adjusted to the new lighting, but after I did, the world came back into focus and I could see my surroundings. 

Hawk was sitting up in his bed, hunched over a book like he was guarding it with his life. His hair was exactly the same as it was yesterday, as if he hadn't slept a wink. When I stood up, he flinched over to the left just a tad, and I could tell he knew I was there. I felt like saying "good morning" or "I'm hungry, how 'bout you?" Something to break the dead silence. 

Silence? That was weird, I thought Leena snored. I looked around to find that Leena and Freya were out of sight. And as if Hawk could read my mind, he answered in the same voice, no yawns or mumbles, but the same precise voice as yesterday.

"They're out at the port. Trying to find us a paragopta. We don't need one of those, it just wastes the love. That love could be used for so many other things, like illumination. Will they ever learn?"

He was looking at me now, as if I knew the answer.

"Sorry, you won't know. Who am I kidding, only an illuminator could answer that."

I was a bit confused by what he was saying. A conversation with Leena popped up into my head. We were in the paragopta coming here. And she said that the paragoptas run on love, and that they actually bottle the love from your sneezes. So I knew that Hawk did not like the idea of using the love to fuel a paragopta, but to use it for illumination? What is illumination, or illuminators?

I felt like I didn't have a right to ask Hawk what was illumination. He was just so wise, that he made me feel like I was walking in his shadow. But I thought, in order to walk tall, I would have to stand up first, so I mustered up some courage and spoke. 

"Hawk," my voice trembled a bit. I felt out of place almost, it was a weird sensation. 

"Hawk, what is illumination? I-I know it means lighting something, but you talk about it as if it were something more."

I said that all in one short breath and my voice trailed off a bit at the end as if I was reconsidering actually talking to him. 

Hawk gave me a short smile and replied softly, "Coltie, you don't have to feel like you can't talk to me. Feel free to ask me anything at any time." It was like he was reading my mind. It mystified me, but yet scared me. Could he read whatever he wanted to?

He ushered me over and patted the bed. So I sat down and he stared at me. A blank stare. A lifeless stare. But there were hints of a genital and caring expression (that's a typo for gentle). "An illuminator," he began, "is a person who gives up their life to light the world with love. The same love that paragoptas run off of. The love is in the form of a candle. You light it, and it reminds people of what they have, and what is real." He paused and looked down as if searching in the blankets for an explanation.

"Love isn't the right word. Illumination--it's complicated and twisted. Love isn't the right word at all. I don't think illumination can be summed up in one word, or even a long essay. There's no way to explain it, it just is what it is. The only way you can know, is to have illuminated yourself. But not very many illuminators are left."

He looked at me and I gave him a blank stare. I didn't understand. He sighed and spoke again. 

Sigh. "When you illuminate, a strange emotion fills your body. You're satisfied and yet you're wanting something more. You're happy, and yet you're feeling droopy and useless. You're feeling immensely brave and proud, and yet, you're terrified as hell and you want nothing to do with Illumination. It's a hard job, but someone has to do it. So I volunteered.

Illumination sounded familiar to me, like a math problem. If Steve the Snail is climbing up the well and he climbs three inches every five minutes, but falls down two inches every second minute, how long will it take Steve to get out of a two-thousand foot well? I could keep going up and down for the rest of my life. Why does everything seem to lead to math?

Music plays out. 

Play 3: Found Fanfiction: LOTR, Lee (10:15)

Kyra: Found Fanfiction: Lord of the Rings, Lee, 14 years old. GO!

Epic fantasy underscore

Kyra: Try as he might, Faramir could not help but notice the Marchwarden's comeliness. It did not seem that Haldir was uncommonly fair among his own people, but by Faramir's standards, he was beautiful. Even knowing what he did about the fair-faced Elven race, he hadn't been prepared for the sight that met his eyes. A crown of mithril-tinged gold framed the placid face, its features conveying a certain hardness, as if sculpted from ivory. Faramir, who usually possessed a knack for reading the emotions of others, could not tell yet whether that ivory visage would yield warmth or chill.

Not that he would ever act on his feelings, of course. He was, after all, the thinker, while Boromir had always been the doer.

Faramir had long since passed his adolescence, but as he walked through the peculiar, dreamlike woods he could not help but feel like a small child who has wandered too far from home. The giant mallorn trees were daunting, to say the least.

And it wasn't merely the trees that awed him, apparently. It was also the people who dwelt in their branches. Majestic, sage...and beautiful.

Music crescendos and plays out

Play 4: Found in the purple 70-page spiral notebook (12:04)

Rob: Found in the purple 70-page spiral notebook several phrases on several pages around the turn of the century 1999-2000. GO!

Alternating lines with a different audio quality. Piano bar style underscore begins after the first line. Occasional page turn

Rob: I look for signs of you in what I read. You gave it to me and I know I miss you.

There's a bar in Chinatown, that if you just say the word "justice", your drinks are free.

You may not believe that I met my future wife at the 99 cent store. 

I've got a pocket full of those

When we are together, she calls me her boyfriend, as if we tumbled into familiarity, about once a week. 

This, this is my will, and in four minutes, my laundry will be dry. So we will have to move quickly. The dollar fifty in my pocket goes to the guy behind me with the big bottle of bleach in his blue cart. This wash is on me, buddy. 

When it's this sunny, this much, it's hard to get emotional enough to have to write something that's good. Or even important. 

My car is so hot, I can't even touch the steering wheel. So damn hot.

And I… Am… Baking.

I could sit at Sharkey's on Cahuenga for hours listening to salsa, sipping tea with lemonade and watching the Hollywood entertainment walk on by, drive on by.

I don't have cable at home 

And this is what I see as fun right now. 

I've got a pocket full of those. 

Find the still point of the turning world

Airport taco bar.

Airport. 

Taco 

Bar

I don't think I could handle being Shania Twain's lover

I wrote that on a plane on my way leaving LA

I just got Coppertone all over my bag.

You know, you just have to soak the toast.

I did not.

I'm getting my hair cut

Again tomorrow

I really want to meet the lady by dryer #4…

I've got a pocket full of those

There's a run on dryers at the goddamn laundromat in Silverlake.

This is all about my day off, but these days it seems like I'm having more and more, days off, off days.

In this city where you can walk sidewalks paved with stars, and get fish tacos and sad stories of failed celebrity on several corners.

Image rules, rain or Sunday afternoons 

and riding the bus. It just isn't cool. 

I think there was more to that

Boom pool shooter

Blow small bills into nothing's changed.

I think there was more to that. 

Find the still point, of the turning world

Music and sound effects fade out 

Play 5: Found Poems circa 2014: Freshman Year (15:11)

Léah: Found Poems circa 2014: Freshman Year Slam Poetry Club Angst. GO!

Mellow groovy underscore. Subtle variation between poems.

Léah: Day 1. October 21st.

My insides are screaming and 

My outsides are frozen

I’m paralyzed in the contradiction

There is nothing to do

But feel

And that’s too dangerous

So I stand on a precipice

Contemplating

The feeling of feelings 

Never actually taking a step

I should sleep

Before my heart leaps out through my throat

And sputters and flops

Like Nemo on the dentist tray

Gute nacht

Day 11. October 31st.

There’s magic in the air tonight.

Late night triple feature with delicious snugs on the side.

Spilling secrets like the rum on my pants.

Dancing and shouting and holding hands.

Everything’s queer and nothing could be happier.

Thank you NYC for being a twinkly place.

Happy Halloween, y'all.

Day 18. November 7th.

Literally

What is gender

What is art

What is attraction

What is love

What is sexuality

What is any assumption any social construct any fact

What is truth

What is history

What is life

#college

Day 33. December 9th.

Words are stopped up in my burning throat.

I don’t want to write a poem.

But I don’t want to NOT write a poem more.

So here.

Playing with the balance between

Wanting to feel feelings and not bottle up

And not wanting to spiral into dwelling on the negative, adopting a positive.

Time is rushing, racing.

But I feel pretty swell.

Swell enough.

Music plays out

Play 6: Found Notes App Note circa 2020 (17:20)

Hadley: Found Notes App Note circa 2020: Case #0200701 with apologies to Jonathan Sims. GO! 

Cassette tape button pushed. Tonal underscore

Hadley: What follows is the complete text of an iPhone notes app note updated by myself, on January 7th, 2020. Note begins.

Spooky tonal underscore

Train thoughts. Bullet point. "Going over the bridge, and I've been doing just bridge." Note ends.

Soundscape fades out. Cassette tape button pushed.

Play 7: Lost Text circa 1996: Dinosaur Time Warp (18:15)

Max: Lost Text circa 1996: Dinosaur Time Warp. GO!

Bouncy fun underscore

Max: The spring I was 7, my family spent three months living in the Netherlands and we spent a lot of time in the English language section of the local library. At that age, my favorite authors were Beverly Cleary and Enid Blyton. But the book I remember most vividly from that library  involved a little boy traveling back in time and befriending some dinosaurs, in particular a mother stegosaurus and her baby. One of whom might have been named Joanna. After assorted prehistoric adventures, the boy narrowly escapes the meteor extinction event by returning to his own time. 

Time travel whoosh sound effect

At the very end of the book, he visits a paleontological dig and sees the fossils of his stegosaurus friends being dug up. Needless to say, this emotionally DESTROYED me. And yet I cannot remember the title or the author, and I have never been able to track the book down. If you have any idea what this book might be, please contact hitplay@nynf.org. 

Music ends

Play 8: Reimaginings of 2020: A Dramatic Reading (19:21)

Annie: Reimaginings of 2020: A Dramatic Reading of a Speculative Fiction Short Story I wrote in 1991 at the age of 12. GO!

Annie: Shari's New Pal. 

High-pitched tone

The high-pitched wail suddenly jolted Shari back to her senses. 

Michaela: I hate that bell

Annie: she muttered to herself. 

Whirring moving floor

Shari stepped onto the moving floor and slipped into class just as the metal doors were closing. Her best friend, Lola, smiled at her and pointed to the earring lying on her desk. Shari had left it at Lola's house the week before. 

Electronic underscore fades in, with metallic sound effects paired to the text.

It was March 23, 2020, at Edgewood Middle School. The students were all wearing silver metallic clothes and jewelry. The room was air-conditioned and everything was computerized. Shari quickly looked up at her desk computer to see what today's lesson was about. She hit the "L" key, and her computer said, 

Anooj: Today we will talk about commas and quotation marks.

Annie: Shari turned around and made a face at Lola, who giggled quietly to herself 

Michaela: Gosh, she's pretty

Annie: Shari thought to herself. She studied Lola's straight auburn hair and deep blue eyes, silently cringing at her own curly brown hair and green eyes. The only thing she could honestly say she liked about herself was the fact that she was thin. Except for that, she felt like a piece of galactic rubble next to Lola. Shari listened to the rest of the lesson with a bored expression and sighed with relief as the bell rang. 

Tonal gong

She stopped by Lola's desk to grab her earring and then stood waiting for her. They rode down the hall together on the moving sidewalk when Shari spotted Mora Mars, the fattest girl in the school. 

Michaela: Hey, Mora, cut down on the Space-Dogs!

Michaela laughs aggressively 

Annie: she screamed, laughing. Lola looked at Shari critically and said

Yael: That wasn't very nice, Shari.

Annie: Shari made a face and said

Michaela: Shut up, Lola! You're not my mother! You don't need to discipline me!

Yael: I was just saying that it wasn't very nice to say 

Annie: whined Lola. 

Michaela: Well I'm sick and tired of your stupid commentaries, Lola!

Annie: screamed Shari.

Michaela: You always pick fights with me and we always make up, but not this time! This time I'm not gonna forgive you!

Annie: Shari stalked off fuming, with Lola standing there confused. 

Yael: Why does she always do that to me when I just state my opinion?

Annie: Lola cried. She ran into the bathroom just before the tears poured down her cheeks. 

Michaela: Hi, Mom! I'm home!

Annie: Shari called as she walked through the white sliding doors to her house. She quickly ran up the stairs before her mother got to her. Shari was still furious at Lola and had already made a decision. She went over to her dresser and picked up a coupon she had cut out of a magazine a few weeks earlier. It read: 

Kyra: Need a new companion? Do your old ones let you down? Have we got the deal for you! 

Just dial 1-800-NEWPALS to order your robotic friend. He or she will look and be like a real 

person, but with none of the hassles or fighting! Also, if your order doesn't reach your home within one minute of your call, then we will throw in an extra set of clothes for your NEWPAL free!

"Free" echoes robotically

Annie: Shari walked over to her self-dialing phone and said loudly into the neon speaker, Michaela: 1-800-NEWPALS, please.

Phone rings

Annie: She heard ringing, and a computerized voice said,

Computerized effect on Lee's voice

Lee: You have reached NEWPALS. How may I help you?

Michaela: I would like a new best friend, please

Annie: Shari said. 

Lee: I will need a description

Annie: said the voice. Shari hesitated for a moment and then replied

Michaela: Mm, a twelve-year-old girl with blonde curly hair, blue eyes, and freckles. I want her to be thin and have a height of 4'11

Lee: That would be our 'M' model

Annie: said the voice. 

The M names echo around and sound like they're coming from different places

Lee: Would you like Marcia, Marianne, Marlene, Mary, Maxine, Melanie, Melissa, Michelle, Mindy, Molly, Monica, or Myrna?

Michaela: A Marlene, please

Annie: said Shari. 

Michaela: And don't be late

Annie: she added. 

Lee: That will be 45 Galaxy coins

Annie: said the voice as Shari winced slightly. 

Michaela: OK

Annie: she said. She gathered up her money and fifty-eight seconds later she was paying the delivery boy in exchange for a tiny box. Shari looked at him quizzically but he simply laughed and replied

Mike: Don't worry, she's in there.

Annie: Shari sprinted to her room and locked the door behind her. She opened the box and inside there was a peach-colored square with a small green button in the center. She pressed the button and moved away. 

Abstract noise of robot appearing from box

She only turned away for a split second, when standing before her was the girl she had described to the robot on the phone. 

Robin: Hello

Annie: said the robot. 

Robin: I'm Marlene. I am programmed to be your best friend and to consent to whatever you wish. I need to know more about you to live up to my full potential, but you don't need to reprogram me to do so. Simply talk, and I will record.

Annie: Shari spent the rest of the afternoon talking to her new best friend, although Marlene never did any of the talking. Shari went to bed with a glint in her eye and a smile on her face. To sneak Mariene into school, Shari had to again press the button, 

Same button push sound effect

and Marlene would collapse to the size of the box. She did so, and when they got to school 

Same button push sound effect 

Shari pressed the button when nobody was looking and up popped Marlene. The only problem was that Marlene wasn't registered. Shari had foreseen this problem and had already told Mariene what to do. Marlene waltzed into the office, and, when nobody was looking, she put a magnetic finger on the computer disk drive and programmed a fake identification into the disk. When the secretary punched up the name, "Marlene Eartha", the address appeared. Shari then told the secretary that she was the only girl that Marlene knew. The secretary understood right away and gave them the same schedules. 

They left the office together, with Shari wearing a triumphant smile, and Marlene walking expressionless next to her. Twenty minutes later, the first bell wailed through the halls, and Shari stepped through the door with Marlene. Lola looked up pathetically and Shari shot her a glance as if to say, 

Michaela: Look how easy it was to replace you!

Annie: Lola looked away and Shari felt a twinge of guilt, but only a slight twinge. There was an empty seat next to Shari, and Marlene sat down. They punched in the lesson and started working. About twenty seconds later Marlene leaned over and said

Robin: I'm done!

Michaela: You can't finish so fast or people will know you are a robot

Annie: Shari hissed. 

Robin: I'm sorry, Shari

Annie: said Marlene as she punched up the lesson again.

Robin: I'll know for next time.

Michaela: Good

Annie: said Shari. When the bell rang again, Shari deliberately walked past Lola's desk and whispered to Marlene

Michaela: That girl is such a galactic moron!

Annie: Marlene looked confused for a moment and replied

Robin: Galactic moron (robot dial-up) does not compute. What is a galactic moron?

Michaela: Someone who is very stupid!

Annie: said Shari, exasperated. 

Robot sound effect

Robin: A person who has lost the function of using their brain?

Annie: Marlene asked. 

Michaela: Yes! 

Annie: Shari screamed. 

Robin: That is truly a shame, isn't it, Shari?

Annie: said Marlene. 

Michaela: Ughhhh. This is a mess!

Annie: moaned Shari. 

Robot dial-up

Robin: I see no mess…

Annie: said Marlene, turning her head in different directions. 

Michaela: Marlene, you make me sick!

Annie: Shari screamed at the top of her lungs. 

Robin: I didn't mean to. Of course... We must immediately find bathroom facilities!

Annie: cried Marlene. 

Michaela: Shut up! 

Annie: Shari said, angrily punching the green button on Marlene's neck. 

Button push soundscape

In an instant, Marlene was again a small, peach-colored square. Shari stayed angry the rest of the day. The next morning, she decided to leave Marlene at home. As usual, she walked through the door as the bell was ringing, but this time she looked unhappy. 

Michaela: Maybe I should have brought Marlene

Annie: she thought. School went by for her in a haze, but she vaguely remembered having a test that she didn't do very well on. On the way home, something bad happened: Mora Mars came over with a bunch of the most popular girls in school. 

Katharine: I'm with them now

Annie: Mora said, gesturing to the girls standing near her, popping their multi-flavor gum

Katharine: and we don't like what you said about me!

Michaela: I....didn't mean it

Annie: Shari said meekly. 

Katharine: It's a little late for that!

Annie: screamed Mora. Shari stood there for a moment, but when she noticed the menacing looks they had on their faces, she ran away sobbing. She could still hear them laughing at her when she got home. She ran up the stairs into her room. She was still sobbing uncontrollably, but she got hold of herself long enough to get Marlene out of the box and tell her the 

whole story. When she finished she asked

Michaela: What should I do Marlene?

Annie: Marlene sat there with a strange look and said

Robin: What are you asking of me?

Michaela: I need your opinion about what I should do!

Sniff sniff.

Annie: cried Shari pathetically. 

Robin: Does not compute

Annie: said Marlene. 

Michaela: What are you talking about?

Annie: asked Shari. 

Michaela: You're supposed to be my best friend! 

Robin: I am programmed to be a companion to any person who needs one

Annie: said Marlene. 

Robin: I agree with whatever they say, and do as they wish me to. I am not programmed to give an opinion. I am not capable of making decisions.

Annie: They sat for a long time when Shari said

Michaela: Thank you, Marlene.

Robin: For what?

Annie: Marlene asked. 

Michaela: For helping me make the right decision

Annie: said Shari. 

Robin: I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about

Annie: said Marlene

Robin: but you're welcome.

Annie: Shari grabbed her new silver sweater and walked slowly to Lola's house. Lola answered the knock on the door and her cheerful mood disappeared. 

Yael: Hi, Shari

Annie: she said. 

Michaela: I'm really sorry, Lola!

Annie: Shari sobbed.

Michaela: I didn't mean to get mad at you and hurt your feelings!

Annie: Lola got a surprised expression on her face and said slowly

Yael: Why don't we go up to my room and talk about it, OK Shari?

Michaela: OK

Annie: Shari said quietly. They ended up talking for three hours, about fighting, making up, staying friends, and also about the problem with Mora. Lola gave her opinion, but this time Shari didn't yell. When Shari was about to leave, she turned around and hugged Lola. 

Michaela: A model 'M' is no replacement for a best friend

Annie: Shari whispered. 

Yael: What?

Annie: asked Lola. 

Michaela: Never mind

Annie: said Shari

Michaela: Never mind.

Music plays out

Show Outro

Groovy angelic electronic instrumental music plays underneath.

Julia: Thanks for Hitting Play and then listening to Hit Play. If you liked what you heard, subscribe to the show and tell a friend! If you want to support the New York Neo-Futurists in other ways, consider making a donation at nynf.org, or joining our Patreon–Patreon.com/NYNF. And if this episode gets over 1,000 downloads, we'll order one of our Patreon supporters a pizza on us. We’d really appreciate any support in these strange times. Contributing to our Patreon helps us continue to pay our artists. 

Take care of yourself, download the stop-motion studio app and make a little movie, and share it with us on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook. Truly, I'm obsessed with that app. 

This episode featured work by: Anthony Sertel Dean; Julia Melfi; Lee LeBreton and Kyra Sims; Rob Neill; Léah Miller; Hadley Todoran; Max Zemlin-Thornton; and Annie Levin featuring Michaela Farrell, Robin Virginie, Yael Haskal, Anooj Bhandari, Kyra Sims, Lee LeBreton, Michael John Improta, and Katharine Heller. Our logo was designed by Shelton Lindsay. And our sound is designed by Anthony Sertel Dean. Hit Play is produced by Anthony Sertel Dean, Léah Miller, and me, Julia Melfi. Take Care!

Music plays out!