Best Friend or Worst Nightmare

Hear Hannah's Story

The home is haunted by “murder mom.” That’s what Hannah’s classmates at school told her about the house her mother and new partner bought — a move they believe was a blessing. Jade had struggled as a single mother for years until she met Jonathan, who tries his best to be a dad to Hannah. She’s not buying it.

“Is everything fine at home?” her teacher wonders when she falls asleep in class. Her peers pick on her and she’s lying to everyone: her teacher, mother and classmates.

Funny her teacher should ask. The home’s history is upsetting Hannah, too. Then one day when Jonathan is cleaning out the attic, he finds an old jack-in-the-box called Laughing Jack. He fixes it and shows it to Hannah. The two get a surprise visitor who is looking for a best friend.

Is this a blessing to Hannah, a bullied pre-teen — or is it a curse?

In the horror podcast Smile, It’ll Be Over Soon, the Laughing Jack horrors continue as a so-called imaginary friend presents a real danger. The podcast is by Harpy Productions’ Noga Flaishon and Katie Pratten, whose motto is: “Wicked women telling weird tales.” Their goal is to bring women to the forefront as directors, producers, actors, writers and artists.

The episode, “Best Friends,” on Evergreen Podcasts is based on the classic creepypasta by Steve Aikins. Laughing Jack is the most popular character in the series, created by a guardian angel to serve as an imaginary friend to a young boy. Over the years, Laughing Jack moved on to several other children, pretending to be their imaginary friend. Now it’s Hannah’s turn.

Check out Smile, It’ll Be Over Soon and find out if everything is fine at home.