Mixed Tape Time Machine by Jim Atkisson

Mixed Tape Time Machine.

A nostalgic short story about music, friendship, and second chances.

What if one song could rewind the worst moment of your life?

For Becky, one bad moment in a mall food court could haunt her the rest of her life.

When Becky fails to stand up for her friend Ashley in front of a group of mean girls, the damage is immediate--and unforgettable. Ashley walks away humiliated, and Becky is left with a knot of regret she can't undo.

Later that same night, Becky comes across an obscure wing of the mall and meets a mysterious woman selling blank tapes from a kiosk. Becky didn't recognize this unsettling wing of the mall, nor this eccentric woman hawking tapes from a kiosk she had never seen before.

Despite the strong feeling of deja vu, Becky listens to the stranger as she introduces herself and offers her wares for sale. Once Becky agrees, the stranger reviews the terms of the sale, and warns Becky to never record over "Side B." Always leave Side B blank, because Side B is her only way back to the present.

That night, Becky slides the tape into her boom box and hits play.

The music rewinds more than just a song--it rewinds time itself.

Suddenly Becky is back in the mall earlier, standing in the same food court with one chance to finally do the right thing.

Set against the 80s mall culture and the rise of 90s grunge, Mixed Tape Time Machine is a heartfelt story about:

•the courage to stand up for a friend
•the moments that shape our lives
•and the songs that can take us back

Because sometimes the smallest moment...is the one worth rewinding.