The Tale of the Interactive Reaction Target

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(A story that may or may not be true, narrated by someone who may or may not be trustworthy.)  

Once upon a time—or perhaps last Tuesday, memory is fickle—there was a peculiar contraption known as the Interactive Reaction Target (IRT). It was a small, glowing orb that supposedly responded to human emotions. Touch it while happy, and it would sing. Touch it while angry, and it would… well, the manual said it would calm you down, but the manual also had coffee stains over the warnings, so who knows?  

A scientist (or possibly a very dedicated hobbyist) named Dr. Elara Mims claimed the IRT could predict the future based on subconscious reactions. "It reads your soul's whispers!" she declared, right before the device emitted a sound suspiciously like a hiccup.  

How It (Supposedly) Worked:  

1. You think a question (e.g., "Will I find true love?" or "Should I eat this questionable sushi?").  

2. You touch the IRT.  

3. It reacts—lights, sounds, maybe a tiny flag that says "Try Again Later."  

But here’s the thing: the IRT was a liar. Or maybe it was too honest. Sometimes it would glow red when someone asked about their career, and the next day, they’d get fired. Other times, it would play a cheerful tune when someone asked if their pet goldfish missed them, only for the fish to stage a dramatic "floating upside-down" protest the next morning.  

The Twist (Or Was It?)  

One day, a skeptical journalist (let’s call him Dave, because why not?) decided to test the IRT. He asked, "Is this thing even real?"  

The IRT did nothing.  

He asked again.  

Still nothing.  

"See? Total scam," Dave said, smug.  

Then, as he walked away, the IRT suddenly exploded into a shower of glitter and a recorded voice announced: "Correct. None of this is real. Have a fantastic day."  

When Dave spun around, the IRT was gone. Only a sticky note remained:  

"You’re welcome. – The Narrator"  

Moral of the Story?  

Maybe don’t trust glowing orbs that claim to read your soul. Or do. I mean, I’m just the narrator—what do I know?  

Audience Participation Time!  

- If you think the IRT was a genius invention, clap your hands!  

- If you think it was a scam, snap your fingers!  

- If you’re not sure, whisper "I demand a refund" to the nearest electronic device.  

(Results may vary. No refunds.)  

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