Alibi Encyclopedia · sci-fi
My Phone Fell Into a Portal
It is, technically, both lost and not lost. It's in another dimension having a great time.
The scenario
You set your phone down on what you assumed was a normal kitchen counter. It is now in a dimension you cannot access without a very specific arrangement of mirrors.
The portal was small — about the size of a quarter — and it appeared right where you set your phone down. By the time you noticed it, your phone had already slid in, taking with it your calendar, your boarding pass, your group chat, and apparently your dignity.
You waved your hand through the portal experimentally. It was warm in there. You think you heard your own ringtone playing in the distance. The portal closed at 8:47 AM. You will need to file a report. With whom, you do not know.
Why it works
It's a tech-loss excuse with whimsy. The 'I can't access my phone' beat is real and frustrating; the portal is the comedy on top.
How to deliver it
- ★Open with 'this is going to sound insane.'
- ★Specify the quarter-sized portal. Specificity sells it.
- ★Mention the ringtone in the distance. It's haunting.
- ★Pivot quickly to 'sending from my laptop, here in ten.'
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