Happy holidays, audings. This is the Something Scary podcast. I am your Ate Sapphire. Today's episode is all about Christmas. First, we'll learn about a popular new toy that you might think twice about before asking for it as a gift. Then we'll hear about a young girl's perfect Christmas, followed by another girl's close encounter with Santa, and end

with the reveal of an old family secret.

I receive hundreds of amazing story submissions every single week.

As always, the first story you hear is one that I've chosen to animate and post over at

YouTube.com slash snarled.

Then I read a few more stories for the podcast. If you

have a tale that you're dying to share, send me an email at something scary at snarled.com.

So, want to hear something scary?

This is an original holiday tale that was inspired by a post on the no sleep subreddit

written by username Hayong.

Every year, there's that one popular toy that every kid wants and every parent is fighting to find.

Tickle Me Elmo's, Furbies, Hatchamels.

This year, it's the best friend.

They come in a variety of animal shapes and they walk and talk and interact with your kid as if it were a real living thing.

It's all my son Rex would talk about in the months leading up to Christmas.

He would show me videos on YouTube of other kids playing with their best friends.

The technology was actually incredibly impressive and justified the hefty price

tag. It would ask the kids questions like how old they were, where they lived, and it would

give realistic responses when the kids answered. It could even walk next to you and follow

you around the house. Rex even explained to me that it used cameras and sensors to do so. It's crazy how knowledgeable and comfortable kids are around the house. Rex even explained to me that it used cameras and sensors to do so. It's crazy how

knowledgeable and comfortable kids are around tech these days. When I was his age, I could

barely operate a TV. I told him that if he was really good, Santa would definitely get it for him.

...