Full Body Chills - Family Matters

Episode Date: October 1, 2021

A story about a selfish teen who makes a sacrifice for family.Family MattersWritten by David FlowersYou can read the original story at http://fullbodychillspodcast.com/ Looking for more chills? Follow Full Body Chills on Instagram @fullbodychillspod. Full Body Chills is an audiochuck production. Instagram: @audiochuckTwitter: @audiochuckFacebook: /audiochuckllcTikTok: @audiochuck

Hi listeners, I'm Ashley Flowers, and I have a story I want to tell you. A story about a selfish teen who makes a sacrifice for family. So gather round and listen close. God, I hate my mom so much. She's always breathing down my neck like she's some freaking life coach. Wear this, do this, say this, smile like this. I mean, for real, give me some freaking room to breathe. But I listen to her anyway. Not to please her though, God no. If I could light the match that sets fire to her perfect little dolly world, I would douse it in lighter fluid. No, I do what she asks because it's easier than turning everything

into another fight. Everyone in mom's little social group all act the same and it's just expected of me to follow their example. In this case, I would rather endure their egotistical BS than have little miss self-righteous

bite my ear off over some crap about my attitude. I mean, come on. I think if I planned to see my girlfriends this weekend three weeks ago, I've got every right to be freaking pissed when mom tells me last minute that I have to stay home and help prepare for another one of their spontaneous social gatherings. I mean, it's not like they don't meet enough as it is. And what makes their plans so much more important than mine? Mom tries feeding me the same crap saying, they're more than just friends. They're family.

But it's bull. They're not an actual family, and you're a damn well loser if you consider them friends. But if she wants to be an old hag with no life, then she can join whatever stupid club she wants, but that gives her no right to drag me into it. I'm 16 now, and I'm more than capable of making my own damn decisions. Maybe when I was like 12, it was cool to be with the grown-ups,

but now that's just pathetic and boring as hell. And whatever, I should feel blessed to have such a kind and giving family. That's the biggest load of crap. They're just as selfish as my best friend Emily with her globby mascara. They would probably murder or steal from each other if it wasn't against the rules. I'm pretty sure the only reason they still have their stupid get-togethers is for a freaking head count. Mom gets a kick out of following orders like the good little girl she is, but she's a joke. When she's shouting at me, she pretends to be so big and tough, but all her social group has to do is snap their fingers and she's on her knees like a dog spit-shining some jerk's shoes.

Some role model that is, Mom. Damn it. Damn it. I should be at the jumps down by the river getting blasted with my friends not cooking for these has-beens preparing some appetizers that just bleed all over me. God, this raw stuff smells awful. I wish Mom never told me where she gets it. I bet that loser Meg or whatever her name is from Craps Hill is at the jumps right now. And I bet with me gone, she's going to be stealing all the hot guys. Like that boy Mark. Honestly, I don't know what he sees in her. Emily says I should try being friends with her, that we have a lot in common. No, just because we both hate our moms and both our schools hang out at the same spot doesn't make us friends.

As if I would forget the time she took my beer without asking. Like, learn to share much? Seriously, like, I wish she would jump off a cliff and kill herself. Oh, I broke a nail. None of them understand everyone in this stupid social group are all just a bunch of wealthy old creeps in their late 40s who won't grow out of their midlife crises i mean of course there was that one cute college boy i'm pretty sure he goes to college anyway i mean it's against the rules to talk about your personal life in the social group meetings but i have seen the color of his shirt

nearly a dozen times and I've been to enough Mount 8 at the tailgates to know a Mountaineer's jersey when I see one. When I asked him about it, though, he got all embarrassed. It was, honestly, it was kind of cute. I could tell he was a lot like me and didn't really, like, care for any of this religious crap. He just never really seemed like he fit in. I mean, he always looked like he wanted to leave. Someone probably forced him to come. I mean, if he's like me, it was probably his parents. I could tell that he was totally into me, but he was also afraid to make the first move. So one day when the rest were busy with one of their sermons, I pulled him into the kitchen where we could be alone. He was kind of slow to start

the conversation, so I went first. I told him a lot about me, my friends, how much of a loser my mom was, and even my name. I lied and said I went to the same college as him because I didn't want him thinking I was in high school. Like, what kind of loser would I look like then? And I think he was really nervous because he didn't really say much. But, I mean, this boy was shy. And I mean, like, shy, shy. When I went to kiss him, I tried to take off his mask, but he freaked out. In his sort of like hot but nervous voice, he said, against the rules. I tried to take off my mask to show him it was okay, but before I could, he just ran away. I wonder if he's going to be here tonight. I haven't actually seen him in like a few meetings now. Oh my god, that's the code. Is it him? Crap, I've still got blood all over me. I'll just hide in the kitchen.

Ugh, mom's going for the door. God, those red robes look awful on her. I wonder if I look like that. Ugh, no, it's the mayor. A disguise is kind of pointless when you're as fat as him and spew that obnoxiously loud voice on TV all the time. Great. Now Mom and the mayor are discussing the awesome magnificence of our Lord the Shepherd. I feel like cringing. I just wish I was with my friends. Or at least I wish one of my girlfriends could be here with me. That way I wouldn't have to endure this crap alone. Too bad it's against the rules to allow anyone to the social group who hasn't been baptized in the black. I still shiver when I think about my baptism. But it's not like we can just baptize anyone. Mom says that only the marked

can be baptized and survive. When I turned 13 and found out the blind shepherd had marked me, mom was so happy. She was like ugly crying and everything. I don't think she ever hugged me as hard as she did that day. Great, more of them are starting to show up now. It's hard to see out of this door, but there's no sign of the cute boy. Or maybe... Ugh, gross. No, that's the sheriff from Cops Hill. Damn it. Between the school dress codes and these stupid social gatherings, everyone has to dress the exact same.

At least in school, I can spot Emily's dorky hair ties across the hall. No red hoods and white masks covering everything. Crap, mom's coming. I haven't even put on my robes yet. Okay, there. Ohrap, mom's coming. I haven't even put on my robes yet. Okay, there. Oh shit, the mask.

There she is. Little Miss Perfect. Yes. Understood. Of course. Right away, sister. Whatever BS I need to say to get her to leave. Better not call her mom now that she's in costume. That

would really drive her nuts. Go away, go away, go away, go away, go away, go away, go away. Finally. What is that smell? Shoot, the appetizers. Oh, damn it. Mom's actually going to kill me for this. Oh, maybe if I just drowned it in some seasoning. I mean, the food all tastes like crap anyway, so no one should really notice. Huh? Yes, it's done. Okay, yeah, I'm coming. I said okay, Mom.

Uh-oh. If I could see her face right now, I'm sure it would be red hot. She's going to kill me when this is done. Alright, this has to be the part I hate the most. Just going around, person to person, offering appetizers on a tray like I'm some kind of butler. Flesh for the flesh, may we be made whole. Flesh for the flesh, may we be made whole. Blah, blah, blah.

It's so stupid. I look stupid. God, I hope that cute boy dies so he doesn't see me acting like such a loser. Where is he? Oh, I hope that coffee is coming from the girl with lung cancer and not whoever I just handed the appetizer to. Nope, yep, nope.

That's the person I handed the appetizer to. Damn it. Maybe I should just... There. Appetizer's all gone. Oh, the sermon's starting. It's always the same broken record. Bless the blind shepherd who guides the way.

Come on, just skip to the end already. God, I would kill somebody just to be drunk by the river right now. I bet Heather is talking by the river right now. I bet Heather is talking behind my back right now. Like, screw her. We used to be best friends, but that was before I found out that she was copying my makeup a month back. And then she had to go spread a rumor that I was cheating with Emily's boyfriend. All because I went around telling boys she had an STD. Like, take a freaking joke, Heather.

And it wasn't cheating. We just kissed a little bit behind the bleegers. That's it. Huh? What's going on? I kind of zoned out. A tribute? Today?

We haven't had a tribute in over three months. Who could it be? Oh, my God. Can you imagine if it was Heather? I can't tell, but it looks like a guy. Damn. Well, at least this will be a good stress cleanse for me. I wonder who it is, though.

They always keep the hood and robes on the tribute until it's time. I can tell some of these losers are anxious to get their cut. We've already swarmed Mom's dinner table. Or, excuse me, the altar. Let me see if... Hey, um, excuse me. Come on, make a line. God, I gotta make my way to the front so I can get some action first.

I've learned that those in the back of the line usually just get the scraps because by the time it's their turn, the tribute is either dead or nearly there because some loser got too carried away. Yes, third in line. This is good. I think I'm getting a little excited. Hey, save some for the rest of us. That was a pretty rough cut. Don't shrug at me. Man, what a piece of work.

Yeah, give me the knife already. Jeez. And I gotta keep the knife short. That way no one's at risk of accidentally killing the tribute too quickly. I mean, I could just go straight for the eye. I'm sure that would do it. But it would probably look bad if I finished him off too fast. See, that's the tough part.

Finding that perfect spot. Somewhere where it will hurt, but not outright kill them. Oh, crap. That's the sports jersey from Mount Adith. Maybe it's not him. I mean, it could just be some college loser. I've never seen his face before, so who knows? Oh, man, this sucks.

Is that why he wasn't at the last few meetings? Like, did he try... Oh, my God, I bet he tried running away or something. Oh, it looks like the first two guys got him pretty good. He would still survive if he got out now. Oh, his eyes look so sad. I think he knows it... Does he know it's me?

God, I've got my mask on, right? Yeah, okay. Okay, oh my god. Am I betraying him? Oh, man. Think, think, think, think. God, I don't have a lot of time. There's a literal line of people waiting on me. Everyone's watching me. What do I do? What do I do? What do I do?

I know what mom would want me to do. I know what everyone here would want me to do. But they don't make my decisions for me. I am a goddamn adult. I decide. I decide. I have to do what's right. God, that crying is so unattractive. Maybe I should leave the knife in there for a few seconds. Take it out nice and slow so the others don't think I chickened out. Maybe I'll even twist it a little bit too.

I'm not about to become the next tribute over a sloppy job. There we go. That should be good. The others look eager to take their turn. Too bad about college, boy. I guess he just wasn't cut out for it all. But who knows? Maybe a few new guys will join. The family's always getting bigger.

This series was produced by Ashley Flowers and David Flowers. This episode was written by David Flowers and read by Ashley Flowers. This story was modified slightly for audio retelling, but you can find the original in full on our website. Full Body Chills is an AudioChuck production. So what do you think, Chuck? Do you approve?