I enjoy the idea of sending a small part of oneself causing only a minor ripple instead of an all out catastrophic collapse.

While reviewing the failings of his time travel attempts, Mr. Stankey was reported to have said: “I’m real close to solving the problem. I just can’t put my finger on it.” (sorry couldn’t resist)

You seem to have covered all your bases… Maybe he could sneak back in there at night and use it when no one is looking..

You’ve met the brief AND written a story that makes me want to know what happens next. I think you’re the first to manage both at once.

I like the parody of protocol. Stankey, knowing himself, knows he has to cut his own finger off to have a chance of satisfying his own insistence on protocol.

It would help to know WHY he so urgently needs to return home. I realise you didn’t have the space, but it weakens the parody that the reader doesn’t share in the sense of urgency.

Your entry and Enoxice’s both involve a stranded time traveller who needs to get home, and both use a real person as a character. But they have different strengths and weaknesses.

It’s unclear why you think AT&T is the kind of company likely to develop time travel, nor why you pick on its Chief Strategy Officer & Group President. Unlike Farhi, Stankey isn’t on record as expressing any thoughts on time travel, so it seems arbitrary. Plus there’s a difference between using a real person as a tribute and doing so as a parody.