NoSleep Podcast S25E07

David Cummings (0:30)

Do you dare explore the unearthly tones, phantom voices and sub-sonic reverberations that trigger your body's instinct to run?

Put on your headphones, Step into the dark and listen closely as you brace yourself for The NoSleep Podcast.

You're listening to The NoSleep Podcast. Thanks for making us part of your horror soundtrack. I'm your host, David Cummings.

Well, we're now in the month of October, and you know what that means. The NoSleep Podcast can now start presenting horror stories for your Halloween, wait, no, no, we do horror 365 around here. For us, the month of Halloween is really the full calendar year of Halloween. Good thing we have a stock of genetically modified pumpkins that resist rot and decay.

If you're like me, it feels like time moves so fast these days that it's hard to believe Halloween was almost a full year ago. There's no escaping the march of time. And it's great when a beloved holiday like Halloween makes us excited when it comes around on its yearly cycle. But time and memories and our own personal experiences can sometimes feel like they're trapped in a sort of inescapable recursive state. It's easy to feel like life is a series of repeated actions, right? Wake up, go to work or school, come home, try to enjoy some personal time and go to bed. Rinse and repeat, as the saying goes. But on our episode this week, we'll meet people who find themselves trapped in cycles where their past, present and future bleed together. Whether they're caught in engineered or supernatural traps, they only know one thing for sure. There is no easy or clean exit. So let's just say that a yearly visit from Mr. Jack O'Lantern can be a good thing. At least we know that nightmare doesn't last year round. Well that is, except for here, at the NoSleep Podcast. Now brace yourself for the frequency of fear.

In our first tale, we meet two young men. They're in a waiting room, but this isn't the doctor's office. As we'll learn in this tale, shared with us by author David Sharpe, this is where young people go to join the war effort. And let's just say the two boys don't share the same level of enthusiasm about it. This tale has been produced by Jeff Clement and features performances by Graham Rowat, Jeff Clement, Elie Hirschman and Mary Murphy. So when you're young, stick to fun things, especially if you were supposed to play Puckball.

Graham Rowat (4:37)

Soft lamplight washed across the waiting room with its plush overstuffed chairs. Framed posters hung on the walls, printed in bright colors. They proclaimed in large, loud letters, Help the war effort and donate today and give it your all.

James gazed around the room and his hands twitched with glee. He wasn't alone. In one large plush chair sat a boy.

Bounding across the room, James dove into the chair next to the boy. Wood under the soft stuffing creaked and springs groaned. Hi. The boy shrunk in terror from him.

Jeff Clement (5:21)

I'm James. Why are you here?

You can call me Jimmy if you want.

Graham Rowat (5:30)

The boy's eyes were wide, tears threatening to spill over.

Jeff Clement (5:34)

It's okay. You don't have to be scared.

Graham Rowat (5:38)

James tried to cross his arms, but it didn't work right for some reason.

Jeff Clement (5:43)

I know.

Graham Rowat (5:44)

I'm a lot.

Jeff Clement (5:45)

That's what mom says. She says I'm loud, too.

My dad...

Elie Hirschman (5:50)

well, he died.

Jeff Clement (5:52)

But he used to say that I was like an elephant. But I won't bite. Elephants don't bite.

At least, I don't think so.

Graham Rowat (6:01)

The boy wiped his eyes and sat a little straighter in his seat.

Elie Hirschman (6:05)

I'm Thomas. I don't have a mom or dad.

The man said I was here for a simi...

Jeff Clement (6:16)

Assimilation?

Graham Rowat (6:21)

James felt his eyes get big.

Jeff Clement (6:24)

You don't have a mom or dad?

Did somebody grab you off the street and bring you here? My mom says bad guys will snatch kids off the street and sell them to be assimilated. She said it just like that. Assimilated.

Graham Rowat (6:38)

Tom shook his head.

Elie Hirschman (6:41)

No, the home was too full, and the sister said it was time to do my duty.

Jeff Clement (6:48)

You said duty.

Graham Rowat (6:50)

He leaned closer and Tom shrunk away again, but only a little bit.

Jeff Clement (6:56)

Assimilation is so cool though.

Graham Rowat (6:59)

James's voice came out low with a growl he'd never heard before.