Loading summary
Transcript34 lines
- [00:00]
A
Hey, this is Dane and this is Scary Stories in Rain. Please join my family and follow this podcast on Spotify or Apple. And if you want the ultimate experience, you can get rid of all of the ads and be entered to win all of my giveaways every month by subscribing for just 299amonth. All of the ads gone, every single giveaway automatically entered. And starting now today, every Sunday, I'm going to release the ultimate episode. 6 to 12 hours long ultimate Scary Stories for a Rainy Night. Subscriber Exclusive and as a reminder, we are now four months away from my first movie release in theaters. Gale Yellow Brick Road A dark and terrifying reimagining of the wizard of Oz. If you want to check out the first trailer, click the link in the description to this episode and if you're not following my other two podcasts, please go check them out. Scary Stories and Fire and Scary Stories After Dark. The links are in the description. Thank you so much for being here and I really hope you enjoy this episode.
- [01:04]
B
Eczema is unpredictable, but you can flare less with epglis, a once monthly treatment for moderate to severe eczema. After an initial four month or longer dosing phase. About four in ten people taking ECGLIS achieved itch relief and clear or almost clear skin at 16 weeks, and most of those people maintain skin that's still more clear at one year with monthly dosing.
- [01:23]
C
Emplas Lebricizumab LBKZ, a 250mg 2ml injection, is a prescription medicine used to treat adults and children 12 years of age and older who weigh at least 88 pounds or 40 kilograms with moderate to severe eczema, also called atopic dermatitis, that is not well controlled with prescription therapies used on the skin or topicals or who cannot use topical therapies. EBGLIS can be used with or without topical corticosteroids. Don't use if you're allergic to ebglis. Allergic reactions can occur that can be severe. Eye problems can occur. Tell your doctor if you have new or worsening eye problems. You should not receive a live vaccine when treated with ebglis. Before starting ebglis, tell your doctor if you have a parasitic infection.
- [01:57]
B
Ask your doctor about fglis and visit fgliss.lily.com or call 1-800-lilyrx or 1-800-545-5979. Wayfair's big sale is returning. Get ready for way day for four days only. Score up to 80% off all things home with free shipping on everything from October 26th through 29th. Score Wayfair's best deals like up to 80% off area rugs, up to 60% off mattresses, up to 60% off bedroom furniture and more exclusive doorbuster deals. So mark your Calendar and shop Wayday starting October 26th at Wayfair.com Wayfair Every style, every home we all love A legendary comeback and Degree Original Cool Rush is back and better than ever Cool Rush isn't just a scent, it's a movement, a fan favorite that delivers bold, fresh vibes and all day sweat protection. Whether you have a man that spends hours in the gym, heads into the office early, or is just trying to stay fresh on a long day, Cool Rush has their back. Head to your local Walmart or Target and grab Degree Cool Rush, the fan favorite scent from the world's number one antiperspirant brand.
- [03:09]
A
I began working weekly at my local bar about six months ago. It's an old cozy little pub. Think carpeted floor, that old pub scent, little Irish trinkets everywhere, and a few Guinness drinkers lining the bar. Every night there is an older clientele in the bar. I get to control the music on my shift and there is always a pleasant, friendly atmosphere. It also pays very well and I enjoy the banter with the locals and the odd tourists who might wander in from a nearby hotel. Being such an old building, when you are closing up on your own at the end of a shift, a deep sense of unease tends to creep in. What was a fun place to be with music and lively chatter swiftly became full of shadows and creepiness. First the lights are switched off in the beer garden and the customer bathrooms. No big deal. Then the lights in the lounge behind the main bar are to be switched off right before you leave the building. Last night this is the part of the closing shift where it all started to go downhill. I lifted the used beer mats from the tables before wiping them down. I had already switched the music off and the silence was unnatural to my ears after eight solid hours of 70s and 80s tunes being played at a decent volume. Gathering the beer mats and my cleaning supplies, I turned to head to the main bar. I flicked the light switch to off and on and in the time it took for me to walk down the two steps, I heard someone behind me. Someone very clearly and very definitely cleared their throat. Immediately I was frozen. My legs refused to work. I knew the bar was completely empty and had been for the last 15 minutes. Or so I also knew that I had checked the bathrooms and it had been raining profusely all evening, so the beer garden didn't have a single patron all night, so there was zero chance of someone still lurking around after hours. I knew I had to turn to take a look, but I really, really felt as though my heart had fallen directly into my stomach. My skin felt as though it was crawling with nerves and I just knew that whatever made that sound from behind me had bad intentions. Still, I put down the spray bottle of disinfectant and slowly turned to face the lounge. There in the dark in a chair was a lady who absolutely had not been a customer of mine all evening. Even in the dark and in the shadows of the room I could make out that she was extremely thin and gaunt in her advancing years. Her eyes seemed to glow at me with all I can describe as absolute hatred. I could sense the anger radiating from her and it terrified me. I began to shake with fear and the beer mats in my hand landed on the floor. I managed to squeak out a very shaky hello. In response I got an irate sounding moan and grunt, not like the moans and groans from someone who had perhaps taken a little bit too much from the top shelf and wanted to be left to sleep it off in the corner of the bar. Rather, this was the sound of someone who couldn't speak but wanted to convey their outrage. Hello. I'm sorry but it's time to go home. Do you have a ride? Or I can call someone for you. This was a silly thing for me to say, but I didn't know else what to say. I began to doubt myself. Did I miss this person somewhere? Had she been passed out in the corner by chance and I never noticed, but deep down I knew. I knew that this was Mrs. Taylor. Mrs. Taylor had been the pub landlady a long, long time ago. About 50 years ago, and she was a hard line lady by all accounts. If she didn't like or trust you, she didn't want you anywhere near the place. She hated other women with a burning passion and she wouldn't allow any females into the bar without a male chaperone. Me, a single 20 something year old who enjoyed the odd glass of wine and a shot of tequila and was into hard rock music most assuredly wouldn't have been allowed to set foot into this bar. There had been stories of the place being haunted and previous barmaids being scared out of their wits by ghostly movements, but I had always shrugged it off as nonsense. I took a step back When I got no response, the person I assumed to be Mrs. Taylor began to move. She placed a bony hand on the arm of the chair and rose up in a surprisingly speedy and youthful way. She began towards me, letting out the most foul, high pitched and intense scream I had ever heard. Like the sound one would imagine the banshee gave out. I lost it. I turned on my heels and ran for the main door. I left my bag on the counter and ran for my life, completely forgetting about anything else. The only good thing is that the main door locks behind you so there was no need to lock it up. I don't know why she appeared to me and I don't know how I will face going back there for my shift in three days time. How do I explain all this to the boss without sounding absolutely crazy? Wish me luck. This happened like two and a half years ago. For context, I was in the military and lived in the barracks at the time. The barracks used to be a hospital way back when and many people have had paranormal experiences, including my roommate and I on more than one occasion. Ironically, all of this happened on Friday the 13th. The whole day was wild. So I'll just start with the first weird thing that happened. My roommates and I had this tradition of always going out to eat on Friday. This Friday it was pouring rain and we went to eat downtown at a regular random restaurant. The second we walked in we just felt so out of place. We were sitting waiting a long time for a waiter to talk to us until finally he came and he was beyond creepy. He seemed almost non human. He grinned very creepily the whole time, moved around and talked like a robot. Halfway through our meal I noticed every single person in the restaurant was wearing the same exact shade of blue. All the men had a blue button up and every woman had on the same blue dress. I pointed this out to my roommate while she also pointed out to me that all the waiters were standing in the corner of the restaurant staring and smiling at us. I had tears in my eyes. I was so creeped out. We didn't finish our food and we paid and left. We also double checked on the website and outside the restaurant to make sure there wasn't some event going on or a dress code. We got back home to the barracks, I called my boyfriend to tell him what happened when in the middle of my conversation, our ironing board fell off the door from the hangar. It was hanging on in the laundry room. It's never done this before and nothing had happened for it to do it. This night the way our room was set up is when you walk through the door. You have the living room in the middle with the laundry room on the right, the bathroom on the left, and our two separate rooms straight in front, Mines on the left and hers is on the right. Me and my roommate were both sitting in the chairs on the wall near the bathroom. It startled us, but we didn't think too much of it. My roommates and I decided to head off to bed when about 30 minutes later, I heard her open her door and whisper my name. Sarah, she whispered softly. Sarah, she said a little louder. I'm sitting in my room thinking, why is she whispering like this? I got out of my bed and opened my door and she screamed, dropped to the floor and just started crying. Hannah, Hannah, what is wrong? I yelled at her. I saw you in the mirror of the bathroom. She cried. What? I was very confused. She said it again. I just saw you fixing your hair in the bathroom. You know how you usually do. And smiling at me in the mirror of the bathroom. I looked at the bathroom. Sure enough, the light was on with the door cracked enough so you could see the mirror inside. Shivers went down my spine. The room was full freezing and something felt very off. We never left the lights on or the bathroom door opened. Neither of us had even gone into the bathroom since coming home from dinner. I wrapped us up in a blanket and we just left the room and sat in the hallway for about 30 minutes talking about what had happened from Hannah's perspective. She thought I knocked on her door and that's why she opened her door and when she didn't see me, she whispered and then she looked in the bathroom because the light was on and saw me smiling at her through the mirror when I was fixing my hair. She said that there was something about the way I looked. I looked off and that's why she said my name a second time and then freaked out when I opened my bedroom door.
- [13:30]
C
Monster Energy. Everybody knows White Monster Zero Ultra. That's the OG it kicked off this whole Zero Sugar energy drink thing. But Ultra is a whole lineup now. You've got Strawberry Dreams, Blue Hawaiian Sunrise and Vice Guava. And they all bring the Monster Energy punch. So if you've been living in the White can, branch out. Ultra's got a flavor for every vibe and every single one is Zero Sugar. Tap the banner to learn more.
- [13:59]
B
Hi, I'm here to pick up my son, Milo.
- [14:02]
A
There's no Milo here who picked up my son from school.
- [14:05]
C
Streaming only on Peacock.
- [14:09]
A
I'm gonna need the name of everyone that could have a connection. You don't understand. It was just the five of us.
- [14:15]
B
So this was all planned? What are you gonna do?
- [14:17]
A
I will do whatever it takes to get my son back. I honestly didn't see this coming. These nice people killing each other.
- [14:25]
C
All her fault. A new series streaming now only on Peacock.
- [14:30]
B
Think your lashes have hit their limit? Discover limitless length and full volume with Maybelline's Sky High Mascara. The Flex Tower Brush bends to volumize and extend every single lash from root to tip. And the lightweight bamboo infused formula makes lashes feel weightless. Now in eight bold shades so you can take your lashes to new heights every day. Visit maybelline.com to shop Skyhigh Mascara Now.
- [15:03]
A
I don't usually write a lot, but there's something that has been weighing heavily on my mind and I feel the need to share. Happened when I was just 13 years old, and although it occurred fairly recently, certain details of that incident still remain a hazy memory. Nevertheless, I'll do my best to recount the night that forever changed my life. The amusement park, the only renowned one in our state, had recently opened its gate gates as the seasons transitioned into summer. For privacy reasons, I won't disclose the park's name or the ride where this unsettling event occurred. Typically, I visited the park once or twice a year with my friends, my family, and occasionally my parents. We would roam around, indulge in tasty treats and experience the thrill of the rides. Just regular kid stuff. However, this particular visit was destined to make me swear off amusement parks for the rest of my days. It was a chilly night, that mix of cold and warm. However, the sky remained clear, which was all the confirmation that my friends Nick, Caden, and I needed to ask our parents if we could go. Miraculously, they agreed, and in no time we found ourselves being dropped off at the park's entrance, brimming with excitement, ready to immerse ourselves in the vibrant, thrilling attractions. Among them, there was one ride that stood out as my personal favorite, and I'm certain my friends felt the same way. Housed inside a dome shaped building, this exhilarating ride dazzled us with a whirlwind of spinning lights and adrenaline pumping speeds. It seemed like the perfect choice, except for one the dreaded line. Not only was it a claustrophobic person's worst nightmare, but it almost always guaranteed an agonizing weight of at least an hour. On that particular occasion, the line stretched so far that it reached one of the neighboring rides about a hundred yards away. Seeing this we all let out exasperated sighs, realizing that we had no choice but to endure the line. Before we could move on, we figured we might as well get it out of the way early. As the line snaked its way forward, we noticed that on the left side, where the line extended towards the forest, there were shrubs and bushes. My friends and I didn't pay much attention to them at first, which is why we failed to notice something peculiar until we reached the large sign bearing the ride's name. It was Kadan who first spoke up, excitement laced with a hint of concern evident in his voice. Did you guys see that? He exclaimed, pointing in the direction of the forest. No, what? Nick replied, glancing over at the bushes. Curiosity piqued, I looked in the same direction. There, crouched down among the foliage, was a person wearing a Jason Voorhees mask. Initially, we found it amusing, thinking it was a part of some Halloween themed event or party that the amusement park occasionally hosted in October. However, it was July, a fact that should have raised more suspicion. Whether it was ignorance or just us being naive kids, we chuckled, assuming it was some kid playing a harmless prank, Our attention quickly returned to the ride, and we dismissed the incident as an inconsequential oddity. We endured the line for a grueling two hours, and despite the relatively brief five minute ride itself, it was undeniably worth the wait. Afterward, we decided to grab a bite to eat and enjoy a few more attractions. Time flew by, and before we knew it, it was time to head back to the parking lot where our parents would be waiting. Unlike other kids who would typically complain, we welcomed the idea of leaving as exhaustion started to creep in. Amusement parks can be quite demanding. Navigating through the throngs of people also making their way towards the exit, I noticed something out of the corner of my eye, a glimpse of that very same Jason Voorhees mask. This time I managed to catch a glimpse of the full figure behind it. The person was massive, towering at least 6 foot 6, with a build reminiscent of a freight train. This man was a behemoth, and it became glaringly evident that it wasn't just some kid playing a childish prank. Subtly urging my friends to quicken their pace, we hustled toward the exit. As we reached the dark expanse of the parking lot, I finally gathered the courage to share what I had seen. I told them what I saw and how big the guy was, my voice trembling with a mix of fear and disbelief. Yeah, right, Nick responded, who was always the skeptic, especially when it came to this Sort of stuff. Kadan, however, remained silent, his gaze fixated on the park behind us, an uneasiness apparent in his eyes. No, seriously. I insisted, my voice growing more urgent as Nick and I engaged in a brief back and forth. Kaden's next words cut through our heated exchange, causing us to pause and snap our heads back in the direction of the park. Little did I know that his revelation would unleash an unprecedented terror, leaving an indelible mark on my childhood memories. Guys. Guys. Look. Kaiden screamed, his voice tinged with terror as he began sprinting toward the parking lot. At first all I could see were the masses of people flooding out of the park. I didn't understand what had spooked him so profoundly, and Nick appeared equally confused. Then I saw it. The Jason Voorhees mask once again. This time the significance of its presence registered in our minds and we bolted in sheer panic. The colossal figure adorned with the mask was hurtling towards us at an alarming speed, clutching something in his hand, a mysterious cloth that I never had a chance to examine closely. We ran as if our lives depended on it, eventually catching up to Kadan in the vast expanse of the parking lot. Together, we gasped for breath, scanning our surroundings in a frenzied state until we spotted my parents car. Without wasting a second, we scrambled inside, screaming at them to floor it. Although they wore expressions of bewilderment and concern. My dad pressed down on the accelerator, propelling us away from that nightmare as swiftly as possible. Interrogation became the theme of our one hour ride back home, and it was Nick who mustered the courage to offer brief, one word answers to our parents relentless questions. In truth, all of us were still reeling from the shock, struggling to process the enormity of what had just occurred. To this day, I remain baffled by the man's intentions. What was he doing? Why did he single us out? Why did he do this with a ton of people around? And what horrors awaited us if he had managed to close the distance between us? I vowed never to return to that specific amusement park, although I have visited a few others since then. Nevertheless, you can bet your bottom dollar that I always keep a vigilant eye forever wary of the lurking shadows, for you never know who might be hiding in the darkness waiting to pounce.
- [23:46]
D
This episode is brought to you by State Farm. Listening to this podcast Smart move being financially savvy. Smart move. Another smart move having State Farm help you create a competitive price when you choose to bundle home and auto bundling. Just another way to save with a personal price plan. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. Prices are based on rating plans that vary by state. Coverage options are selected by the customer. Availability, amount of discounts and savings and eligibility vary by state.
- [24:16]
C
Extra value Meals are back. That means 10 tender juicy McNuggets and medium fries and a drink are just eight dol only at McDonald's for a limited time only.
- [24:26]
A
Prices and participation may vary. Prices may be higher in Hawaii, Alaska and California.
- [24:30]
B
And for delivery, Experience a membership that backs what you're building with American Express Business platinum unlock over $3,500 in business and travel value annually with statement credits on select purchases from brands like Dell, Hilton and Adobe and other benefits. American Express Business Platinum there's nothing like it. Based on total potential value of statement credits on select purchases and other benefits. Enrollments required, monthly and other limits and terms apply. Learn more@americanexpress.com Business Platinum.
- [25:08]
A
This was a handful of years ago. I was a new mother and home with my firstborn child. He was a couple of weeks old and it came time for me to get an oil change and a tire rotation from my car instead of sitting in the dealership waiting room for an hour. Plus, I figured this would be a good opportunity to walk around this arboretum that wasn't too far away. I have been to the arboretum a handful of times before, but this time I noticed a sign for Patriots Path. This is a paved trail that extends 35 miles throughout the county. The trails are broken down into segments as they are separated by roadways or neighborhoods. I would frequent other parts of the path and never felt uncomfortable. In fact, it was a nice way to feel connected to nature while sometimes encountering other people exercising and doing the same. Without hesitation, I decided to walk the path to kill time. I was excited to explore this new to me trail. First the path cut through the tall grasses. Then it curved and increasingly became more of a wooded area. This wasn't concerning to me as all the other parts of the trail that I have walked on were exclusively in the woods. As I was pushing my newborn in a stroller and enjoying my time in nature, I came to a fork in the path. The other parts of the trail I have been on was always one path, no forks. The right path was on higher ground, so I headed that way. As I was going, the path was getting increasingly difficult for the stroller. Tree roots broke through the path and it was a rough ride for my baby. I wasn't able to keep the pace I was going since I was going significantly slower. I looked on my map to see if it included the path and where it would bring us on the map. The left side of the fork traveled along a waterway, so I decided to try that route. As I was turning around, I saw a man, well dressed, slowly strolling towards us. I got the stroller free from the tree roots and started towards him. He had his phone up to his face as if he was on a phone call, but he wasn't talking. We got closer. I looked at him to give a friendly nod, as I usually do when passing other people. He just looked straight ahead, expressionless. When I was processing that interaction, my gut told me something was wrong. He was wearing an outfit that I could best describe as business casual. Most people on the trails are in exercise clothes. He wasn't talking at all on his phone that he was holding up to his ear and the other hand. He was concealing it. He had it in a rigid position behind his back, as if he was carrying something that he didn't want me to see. I turned to walk the other path of the fork and convinced myself I was just imagining things. After some more walking, I heard the sound of babbling water. According to my map app on my phone, I thought I should be able to see the waterway by now and the path should open up to a parking lot. I felt like I should see the parking lot by now. When I tried opening the map again, my phone wasn't working. I was in the woods alone with my baby, with no phone access, and I just had a strange interaction. It was time to turn around and head out of these woods. Much to my dismay, there was the man again. His face still expressionless, his phone still up to his ear. He was still not talking, and his other hand was still hiding behind his back. I felt my heart sink into my stomach and my stomach jump into my throat. Why did he turn around on the first part of the path? Why didn't he turn at the fork? He was close enough to us for me to realize that he must have turned around soon after we did. He must have seen us turn down the other path at the fork. All the alarms in my body were ringing. Get out of here. When we needed to pass him, I started to jog. Hey, I'm wearing the appropriate outfit for a trail that most people used for exercise, right? Maybe my intention was to jog this whole time. I didn't stop jogging until I was out of the woods and into the tall grass. I turned to look behind me, and luckily my son and I were alone again. I jogged some more until there was a large distance between between us and the trail. We waited in the dealership waiting room for the rest of the time they were working on my car. I did go back to the arboretum after that, but I haven't ventured down that section of the trail ever again. Now, maybe this was just a regular businessman. Nothing happened between me and this man, and maybe nothing was going to happen. But personally, I would rather go for an unplanned jog than ignore my gut instinct and find out.
- [30:43]
C
And Doug Here we have the Limu emu in its natural habitat, helping people customize their car insurance and save hundreds with Liberty Mutual. Fascinating. It's accompanied by his natural ally, Doug. Uh, Limu is that guy with the binoculars watching us.
- [31:01]
A
Cut the camera.
- [31:02]
C
They see us.
- [31:02]
A
Only pay for what you need@libertymutual.com Liberty.
- [31:05]
C
Liberty Liberty Liberty Savings vary unwritten by.
- [31:09]
A
Liberty Mutual Insurance Co. And affiliates excludes Massachusetts hablas espanol spries to joy Nosk.
- [31:13]
B
If you used Babbel, you would Babbel's Conversation based techniques teaches you useful words and phrases to get you speaking quickly about the things you actually talk about in the real world. With lessons handcrafted by over 200 language experts and voiced by real native speakers. Speakers Babbel is like having a private tutor in your pocket. Start speaking with Babbel today. Get up to 55% off your Babbel subscription right now at Babbel.com Spotify spelled B A B-B-E-L.com Spotify rules and restrictions may apply. Chronic spontaneous urticaria or chronic hives with no known cause. It's so unpredictable. It's like playing pinball. Itchy red bumps start on my arm, then my back, sometimes my legs. Hives come out of nowhere and it comes and goes. But I just found out about a treatment option@treatmyhives.com Take that, chronic hives. Learn more at treatmyhives.com.
- [32:13]
A
I work at a gas station in the Deep South, a part of Louisiana that most people have never even heard of. I'm talking about dirt roads with no name, thick trees that seem be to to swallow darkness, and you might be lucky enough to see a street light every other mile. The little gas station that I work at is located in the trifecta of all these elements. I of course, work the overnight shifts. The gas station doesn't see much excitement. There are either the 10 customers that come in between the hours of 10pm to 6am or the random opossums that decide to make make the trash cans outside Their personal drum set. But I digress. The night started as any other night. Make sure all of the snacks, cold drinks, and beer were all properly stocked. Check. Now all that is left for me to do is, well, wait. I stood behind the counter looking at inventory, listening to music, and just pacing around for the first couple of hours. You know the thing that people say, time flies? Yeah. That did not apply to that shift. As I got bored, I decided to leave the register and check out the items on the shelf to, you know, make sure nothing majestically sold itself. As I was on one of the aisles, I heard a man call out, hey, y' all open? I turned around to see that I had two customers standing at the checkout. Now, I should mention, this gas station does not have that fancy system that makes the door go ding when somebody comes in. Top line security, am I right? So I was caught off guard that two customers had come in without my knowledge. I quickly walked up to the register and apologized for the wait. As we were making the usual conversation of, hey, how are you doing? And man, it's dark out here in this area, the customer asked another question that is usually always asked, how long is it until I get to the city from here? I answer with the same answer that seems to automatically live in my mind rent free. It's a good couple of hours from here. Just go towards the lights, Corny. I know, but that's my thing. Anyway, after scanning the customer's items, which literally were a candy bar and a bottle of water, I told them, be careful out there, y'. All. There's a tornado warning in this area until 7am and the rain's starting to pick up, I think in this area, Even on a clear night, it is hard to see what is ahead of you on these dark, desolate roads. As I went to look, look at the second customer, I realized there was no second customer anymore. I chalked it up to the guy not wanting to wait any longer and just deciding to leave. I mean, from what I saw, he didn't have any items with him and probably only needed some cigarettes or something that was behind the counter. I told the customer farewell and was ready to grind out the rest of these hours. But just like a psychic, my own words had foreshadowed my fate for the night. Not long after the customer left, might have been an hour or so, the sky could no longer hold its sorrow and weeped gallons of tears from above. Now, to me, this is not a big deal. Bad weather, rain, opossums. Yeah, I still have it out for those little buggers. All of these things happen a lot in my area. So much so that I call the experience hwa, which stands for humid, wet and annoying. As the rain and wind picked up, I was starting to feel a little uneasy. Mostly because, honestly, I would rather be at my house when the rain and wind decides to battle for dominance. Mostly because honestly, honestly, I would rather be at my house when the rain and wind decide to battle for dominance. With that being said, the inevitable happened. The power lines were no match for the relentless punishment from the elements. And then. Darkness. Silence. Aggravation. The power had gone and there was no backup generator for me. I was just there, standing in a blanket of darkness so thick that it seemed to cover everyone in its embrace. I called my manager to let him know that the power had gone out and also asked him what I should do. Now, of course, with it being so late or early, I guess, whatever, 4:00am, whatever it means to you. There was no response from him. I thought about locking up and just buckling down at the gas station. And until the storm passed, I was getting paid after all. But that's when I heard it. Between the thunder, between the rain, between the wind, I heard a slight crunch coming from one of the aisles that was further away from the entrance of the station. At first I paid no mind. I believed it to just be the store items shifting with all of this sorrowful weather. Darkness has a way of bending your mind into seeing and hearing things that your mind usually tells you. Ah, that's just the wind. But after sitting there for a while, upset of course, but getting paid, I called my manager again. To no avail. Then, right after the light of my phone faded and my eyes were trying to accommodate the darkness, I heard it again. Movement. But this time closer and right in between my phone call and a thunderstrike. Like I said, I have listened to scary stories for years. So now I'm on high alert. Someone is in here with me. I'm not alone. I just knew it. I tried to calm my nerves, not wanting to be that guy that overreacts. But I asked myself, can you ever really be too safe? I made a potentially dangerous and thoughtless move. I stood up and yelled, is anybody still in here? I got no response. But that didn't mean that there was no one there. The air felt thick from the humidity. Not just that, though. The feeling you get when you are not alone. The feeling of being, you guessed it. Watched. As cliche as it sounds. Then I remembered something that I knew all along. There is no ding on the door to let me know when customers enter nor exit. That, and the thought of the second customer came to mind. I never saw him leave. I just knew that he was there and then gone. I automatically, without a doubt, felt that something was strange, something was not right. So I did what any gas station worker would do in the pitch black. Pretended to be a ninja so that I could slowly make my way to the source of the noise without being caught. As it turns out, I'm not a ninja. The moment I stepped out from behind the counter that I had been sitting behind, a voice stopped me in my tracks. Give me what you got, was all. The void softly spoke to me. I froze, scared, too scared to say a word nor move an inch. When I called out, I wasn't truly expecting a response. Soon I heard foot footsteps, slow but getting closer. My mind yelled, do something. Run. Charge at the sound and hope for the best. After all of that, I did nothing. Then his face appeared. A face hard to make out in the dark. A face that I would not have seen if my manager hadn't called, called me back at that moment. That allowed my phone to light up. The second customer, it turns out he never left. I pretended not to see nor know that I recognized him. Again, he repeated, come on, give me what you got. Now, still in a calm and calculating way, I spoke for the first time after noticing that I was holding my breath this whole time. All I have is $250 in the register. He was quiet for a while and then told me, give it over. I wish that I could say that I pulled out some special move that brought the guy down, that allowed me to hold him until the police showed up. But this is real life. I gave him the money and luckily for me, he accepted it. He knew that police would not be out here in these parts at this time and with this weather. Even if I called, it would take them at least 30 minutes to get there. A local, I assumed had to be to be so confident. I talked to the manager and the police. After all was said and done, my manager apologies, apologized that I had to go through that, and also was sorry that he didn't answer the phone sooner. I told him, it's no worries, everyone deserves sleep. I got to leave early and the manager closed the store for a couple of hours until the next employee came in. I was so lost in a trance after the situation that I truly believed that it still couldn't be real. That couldn't have just happened to me. After the couple of years working there. And that was that, I thought. A funny plot twist. Two weeks later, a man was caught trying to hold up a gas station close to where my job was located. A man that I remembered from that flash of light on my phone. The only difference is he didn't get away this time. The only thing I can really say that I've learned from all of this. No matter how comfortable or how much you think you know each day will play out. Always be on your guard.
- [43:03]
B
Every holiday shopper's got a list, but Ross shoppers? You've got a mission like a gift run that turns into a disco snow globe, throw pillows and PJs for the whole family, dog included. At Ross, Holiday magic isn't about spending more, it's about giving more for less. Ross, work your magic. Toast the holidays in a new way and raise a glass of Rumchata, a delicious creamy blend of horchata with rum. Enjoy it over ice or in your coffee. Rumchata. Your holiday cocktails just got sweeter. Tap or click the banner for more. Drink responsibly. Caribbean rum with real dairy cream Natural and artificial flavors. Alcohol 13.75% by volume 27.5 proof. Copyright 2025 Agave Loco Brands, Pojoque, Wisconsin. All rights reserved. So good, so good, so good.
- [43:50]
D
Give Big Save big with Rack Friday Deals at Nordstrom Rack For a limited time, take an extra 40% off red tac clearance for a total savings up to 75% off. Save on gifts for everyone on your list from brands like Vince Cole, Haan, Sam Edelman and more. All sales final and restrictions apply. The best stuff goes fast, so bring your gift list and your wish list to your nearest Nordstrom rack today.
- [44:15]
C
If we knew more about our sleep, what would we do differently? Would we go to bed at a consistent time or take steps to reduce interruptions to our sleep? With the all new Sleep Score, Apple Watch measures your bedtime consistency, interruptions and sleep duration. Then every morning it combines these factors into an easy to Understand score from 1 to to 100 so you'll know how to take the quality of your sleep from good to excellent. Introducing the new Sleep Score on Apple Watch iPhone 11 or later required.
- [44:46]
A
This episode is brought to you by Amazon.
- [44:49]
C
Prime Black Friday Game Day on Prime.
- [44:51]
A
Is an epic day of live sports. It all starts at 9am Eastern with the Capital One skins game. Then Black Friday football returns when the Bears take on the Eagles at 3pm and it culminates with the final night of Emirates NBA Cub Group play with bucks Knicks at 7pm and Mavs Lakers at 10pm Black Friday Gameday only on Prime. I was about eight years old when this happened, so that would make my brother 15. He was supposed to be babysitting me, but instead went over to his friend's house who lived about a mile away. I was okay with this. About an hour after he's gone, the phone rings. I go into the kitchen to answer it. On the other line, a deep and raspy voice says, nolan, this is the devil and I'm coming to get you. And then hangs up. I wasn't a complete idiot. My brother always tormented me. And he wasn't home. I put two and two together and I knew that it was him just being a jerk. About 30 seconds pass and the phone rings again. Nolan, this is the devil. I see you. I said something like, yeah, Jack, I know it's you. Looking back at it now, what transpired feels like a real life version of the opening of scream. This was 1991, so well before that movie came out. Over the course of about 20 minutes, the same thing keeps happening. Nolan, this is the devil. I'm coming for you. And I would reply, saying that I knew that it was my brother. The intensity picked up and a tiny sliver of doubt began to creep over me that maybe, just maybe, it wasn't my brother. So I called Mike's house to yell at my brother. I got a hold of Jack and told him to stop it. He downplayed what I was saying and told me not to worry about it, just a prank. Then he tells me that to call him back if it happens again. It felt sincere. Now I'm getting a little worried, but was still pretty confident Jack was just being an a hole. Sure enough, a minute or two later, this is the devil. I don't know why I kept answering the phone, but my mom was a busy realtor and I was trained to always answer and take a message. She even had one of those mobile phones, even prior to those thick gray brick ones. It was corded and built into her car. I say all this because we had two lines at home. This being a few years before the AOL boom, so it was pretty rare for other households to have a second line. I knew this because none of my other friends had a second line. Call waiting, sure, but not a second line. Again, the phone rings and the devil starts saying his thing. And I just burst out. It's not even funny, Jack, just stop. Just cut it. Then a beep on the line. Someone else was calling. I answered the other line. And my blood ran cold. It was my brother Jack checking on me. Mike didn't have a second line. I suddenly became a blubbering mess. The next part is a blur. This was in Minnesota during the middle of a heavy blizzard. The next thing I know I'm running down the street with no jacket on and snow in my boots because I was too panicked to lace them up. It's not easy running in the snow, but I didn't stop until I was about a block away from Mike's house. There I see my brother and Mike leaving the house looking a little confused to see me. Then an evil grin broke out on his face. As it turns out, Mike's family did have a second line. The whole thing was so stupid. I knew it was Jack the whole time, it had to be. But I assumed it was Jack doing the stupid voice, not his friend. So that second line calling in while I was talking to the devil Suddenly threw my 8 year old sensibilities into the blender. The whole thing went down into the lore of some of the top tier torment that my brother inflicted on me growing up. Right up there with hanging me by my underwear from the windowsill just high enough so the tips of my toes couldn't touch the floor or burrito wrapping me in the gym mat and duct taping it so I could not get out. Thanks, Jack. My wife is a real estate agent and a few years back things changed drastically for her. She landed her first client that would have her list their house and it was also someone that we knew. We didn't know them that well, but we knew them through the church that we were going to at the time. And so when it came up that my wife was doing real estate, this person asked her if she could sell her house for her. The home owner needed to move as her husband had recently passed away. It took a little bit, but my wife was at the point of hosting the first open house on the listing. She would have two back to back open houses. The first on Saturday and the next the following day to give potential buyers more opportunity to view the house. The first day went well with a good showing from prospective shoppers. It was this second day that things took a turn. It was nearly the end of the scheduled period for open house visitors and so my wife began doing the rounds to turn off the lights and check over the house. However, two men entered the home and my wife went to greet them as she heard the door. The two men said they lived on the street and came to look at the house as they had never been inside before, for my wife was willing to let as many potential buyers look around as it was her first listing and she was appropriately eager. The men said they were friends, but only offered their first names. One of them didn't engage much and quickly went into another room while the other man got closer to my wife, asking questions that finally started to make her realize something was off. She was alone in the house now with these two men, one of them continuing to get closer and closer to her, asking her questions like, how long have you been doing real estate? I never met the owners of the house. Were they nice? Do you live close to here? My wife was trying her best not to display her nervousness and gave short answers to these questions. She knew that these men were obviously not here because they were interested in purchasing the home. So she let them know that the open house was over and she's locking up because the owner is coming back any minute. This was not actually true. The owner wasn't staying here anymore, but she had to say something to get these men to leave. At this point, she was backed into a corner of the kitchen with this six foot man in her way, deflating any hope of being able to run out of the house. To make things worse, she didn't even have her phone on her. It was on the dining room table with her bag and listing sheets, which for all she knew was now in the possession of the other man who had walked off. At first the man didn't seem to care about what she said about needing to lock up and the owner coming home. He responded, it's okay if we just take another minute to look around, right? But he was never looking around in the first place. At this time, the other man came into the kitchen and joined his friend. My wife's anxiety is so high she's about to start screaming. And she gives one more request. I'm sorry, but we have to leave. As the owner is coming home. The two men don't respond initially, but then exchange a look and say, okay, thanks for your time and leave the house. My wife bolts to the door and locks it and then goes into the dining room to watch them through the window. All of her belongings were still there, so when she saw that they walked far enough away and she could run to a her car, she grabbed her things and did just that. She even left the lights on, but she didn't care. In her car, she had no idea where these men went. She couldn't see them and didn't care to stick around long enough to find them. She just drove away after hearing about this. We always made sure there was another person at viewings with her. To this day, I still go with her when she's meeting new clients. Looking back, it was a reckless thing to do, hosting an open house all alone in a neighborhood you are not that familiar with. She told the owner about the situation and the owner, after hearing a description of these men, stated that she had never seen them before and had no idea who they were. Take care when you are doing your job, whatever it may be. After that situation, I made sure my wife's phone was set up to do emergency alerts and she now never leaves her phone out of reach, even if she has to hold it. If possible, have someone there to watch your back. You never know when some creeps are going to scare the life out of you or God forbid, something worse.