"I'm a Camp Host at an Isolated Campground in the Woods that has 3 Rules You Must Follow" | ClancyPasta PRESENTS

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[00:01:24] Visit BotoxChronicMigraine.com or call 1-800-44-BOTOX to learn more. ClancyPasta Presents I'm a camp host at an isolated campground in the woods that has three rules you must follow. By Savannah Gleckler And you're listening to Clancy Pasta

[00:01:52] When I first applied for this job, it seemed like the perfect job for a nomad like myself. Steady pay for six months, a place to hook up my van, and unlimited showers. All I had to do was make sure the bathrooms were cleaned every morning, and the trash cans were emptied every other day. And then, of course, there was the set of rules my boss gave me when I showed up for my first shift.

[00:02:22] Now, I know these rules may seem strange to you at first, but they will eventually become second nature. This campground is pretty isolated and hard to reach, so most of the campers we have here are pretty serious and returnees, so they know the rules themselves pretty well. You have only to be worried about new campers, which is pretty rare.

[00:02:48] But in the off chance it does happen, find them immediately and read them the rules. And do your absolute best to convince them to follow them. There was an incident a couple years back we really don't want a repeat of. With that, he handed me a laminated sheet of paper with three rules on them.

[00:03:18] I expected him to walk off after he handed me the list, but he stood there expectantly, waiting for me to read them. One, never leave your campsite at night. Two, do not hum or sing on the trails. Three, when you need to enter any building on the property, always knock first.

[00:03:50] I couldn't help but chuckle. These seemed so hyper-specific and obscure, I felt like I was being hazed. But glancing up at his face, I could tell he was completely serious. I got the first two. We don't want anybody getting lost on the trails or disturbing others at night, and a lot of people prefer to hike just to the sounds of nature.

[00:04:19] But the third one didn't make sense. And when I asked my boss about it, he simply said, We don't want to surprise anything that's on the other side of the door. It's just good manners. The fact that he said anything, instead of anybody, didn't escape me. But I didn't push it.

[00:04:48] I really needed this job. With a few words of encouragement and a reminder to always keep the list on me, he drove off. It was about 4pm at that time. So I decided to get my van set up, and then start on my chores. Both the bathrooms and trash had to be taken out today.

[00:05:15] As I walked to my van, I noticed how quiet it was. Other than me, there were only two others staying at the campground. We really were isolated. The nearest town was an hour away, and the cell reception was basically non-existent. Except for one measly bar you could get standing at the farthest edge of the campground, near the exit.

[00:05:40] I took way longer than expected on my van, and by the time I was done, night had already fallen. I realized I hadn't taken the trash out or cleaned the bathrooms. As I started walking to the edge of my campsite, I heard a sharp whistle. My head turned towards another campsite, and through the warm glow of their fire, I could make out a figure waving at me.

[00:06:13] Hey, don't leave your campsite. Whatever you need can wait till morning. Oh, okay. It's my first day, and I totally forgot to take the trash out and stuff. The figure sighed, and said with a little more urgency. Don't leave your campsite. Wait till first light and then take it out. We can wait.

[00:06:41] Then they walked off, receding further back into their campsite. I got the feeling they didn't like standing too close to the perimeter. I couldn't help but thinking that they really do take the rules seriously here. I was happy to do it in the morning. I wasn't exactly thrilled to be poking around the campground at night.

[00:07:07] Even though I wasn't necessarily convinced about the rules, they did set me on edge. I stood at the edge of my campsite a little longer before heading back to my van, and as I turned around, I felt a cool breeze tickle at the back of my neck. Almost like someone had blown on it. Which, normally, wouldn't have stood out to me.

[00:07:35] Except for the fact that it was August, and summer was in full swing. I quickened my pace, and slammed the door as soon as I was inside. I scanned my campsite and saw nothing. I made a mental note to light a fire from now on. And too tired to do anything else, I rolled over and fell asleep.

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[00:08:34] I get so many headaches every month. It could be chronic migraine. 15 or more headache days a month, each lasting four hours or more. Botox, on a botulinum toxin A, prevents headaches in adults with chronic migraine. It's not for those who have 14 or fewer headache days a month. Prescription Botox is injected by your doctor. Effects of Botox may spread hours to weeks after injection, causing serious symptoms. Alert your doctor right away as difficulty swallowing, speaking, breathing, eye problems, or muscle weakness can be signs of a life-threatening condition.

[00:09:03] Patients with these conditions before injection are at highest risk. Side effects may include allergic reactions, neck and injection site pain, fatigue, and headache. Allergic reactions can include rash, welts, asthma symptoms, and dizziness. Don't receive Botox if there's a skin infection. Tell your doctor your medical history, muscle or nerve conditions, including ALS Lou Gehrig's disease, myasthenia gravis or Lambert-Eaton syndrome, and medications, including botulinum toxins, as these may increase the risk of serious side effects. Why wait? Ask your doctor.

[00:09:30] Visit BotoxChronicMigraine.com or call 1-800-44-BOTOX to learn more. I was woken up by a timid-sounding knock at the door. It startled me nonetheless, and I shot up. I was met by a young couple who were as equally shocked to see me. The husband stepped forward to greet me as I opened the door.

[00:09:56] Sorry, we didn't mean to startle you, but we were wondering if you had any open campsites? Still drowsy and rubbing sleep out of my eyes, I got up and showed them the sign and board where we had a list of all the sites available that day. The wife thanked me and started to explain that they were taking a spontaneous trip and had made a bet that they would stay the night at the first place they came across,

[00:10:24] and so on and so forth the entire weekend. Finally, my brain started working again, and I had the wherewithal to ask them if they had ever stayed here before. While filling out the paperwork, they both explained that they lived in the town that was an hour away, and they had heard about this place but never actually stayed here.

[00:10:52] We were too scared, too, because of the stories, but this place seems totally normal. Before I could ask them to explain, they rushed off to their campsite, and I realized that I still hadn't done any of the chores I was supposed to do. The posted sign on the shower says that they open every day at 8am. I checked my watch as I headed over to the showers.

[00:11:23] 7.30, just enough time. There were only three showers, so I didn't anticipate it taking that long. Just as I put my hand on the doorknob, I heard a voice from behind me. Did you knock?

[00:11:47] I recognized the voice from last night and realized it was the same camper who had warned me before. Sheesh, you really need to keep the list on you or memorize them. Otherwise, you won't last much longer than the last guy.

[00:12:10] I sheepishly fished the list from my back pocket as they rolled their eyes. They started walking back to their campsite before shouting out to hurry up with the showers. I took one last look at the list before I did in fact knock on the door. To my surprise, instead of being met by silence like I expected, I heard a soft shuffling from behind the door,

[00:12:39] like someone moved out of the way. I slowly turned the knob and opened the door giving a trepidatious, hello? before I stepped inside. I was met with no answer. Maybe I was just hearing things. I didn't have the best sleep last night.

[00:13:06] But I still couldn't shake the feeling that someone had been there, waiting just behind the door, hoping I wouldn't remember to knock. I cleaned the showers and connected bathrooms as fast as I could. It felt suffocating in there, and I welcomed the fresh air as I burst out of the door. Waiting in front of me were the rest of the campers,

[00:13:35] minus the new couple. Two guys, one whom I recognized, and a mother and her daughter. All set, I said, as I walked away, but not before I saw the first set of people walk up to the door, knock, wait, then enter. By this point, I was sufficiently creeped out.

[00:14:06] But I realized I had nothing to base this on, except a stupid set of rules everyone was hell-bent on keeping. The rest of the day passed without incident. I did a few rounds on the provided golf cart, picked up trash here and there, easy stuff. As I passed the new guest campsite, I screeched to a halt. I forgot to tell them about the rules.

[00:14:36] I immediately got nervous, and ran over to their campsite. Thankfully, they were there, and I gave them the same speech my boss gave me. And I was met, by the same looks that I gave my boss. I had done my due diligence, and with one last emphasis on the rules, I gave them a copy, and headed back to the golf cart. I really didn't press as hard as I should have,

[00:15:06] but I wasn't even entirely convinced of the rules myself. As I walked away, I realized they didn't have much stuff, barely anything at all, besides what was on their backs. I didn't even think I saw a tent. Night had fallen, and I realized once again that I had forgotten to take out the trash.

[00:15:37] My boss was coming tomorrow morning to check up on me, and I really didn't want him to see the mountain of garbage in our tiny dumpster. I bit my lip, and pondered whether I should go or not. I couldn't trust myself to wake up early enough. My eyes scanned the campground. No fires tonight. The other campers must have already gone to bed.

[00:16:04] I grabbed a headlamp and headed towards the dumpster. The only sounds in the entire forest were my footsteps and the occasional twig that I happened to tread upon. I couldn't relax. It was too quiet. You couldn't even hear the wind, even though you could see the trees swaying back and forth. The birds that I heard only an hour ago

[00:16:34] had gone silent. I was busy wrangling the trash into the dumpster when I heard footsteps behind me. I whipped around and was met with a new couple from earlier. Sorry, my wife really had to pee and didn't want to go alone. Didn't you read the rules? You aren't supposed to leave your campsite.

[00:17:01] They looked at each other and then back at me. Then why are you out here? Touché! I told them to hurry up and turn back to the dumpster. I wanted to get out of here as fast as possible. I realized after a few minutes. I never heard the couple walk off. Turning back around, I realized they hadn't moved

[00:17:30] and were still behind me. Eerie grins pasted on their faces. You really should have followed the rules. I was frozen to the spot and the same cold breeze passed over me

[00:17:59] that I had felt my first day here. The air filled with static and my heart felt heavy in my chest. The couple seemed to leer and move closer without actually taking a step. Suddenly, I heard a voice from behind me and a warm hand on my wrist back up slowly

[00:18:27] and walked to my campsite with me. Don't take your eyes off of whatever you're looking at. I did exactly that. The couple followed. Each step I took, so did they. Thankfully, I was a few feet ahead of them. They moved in unison now. Looking carefully at them,

[00:18:55] their flesh has started to mold together like they were absorbing one another. We made it back to his campsite and I felt the warmth of the fire behind me. I still hadn't turned around. The couple had now followed us just to the edge of the campsite but wouldn't take a step further.

[00:19:23] They had now fully merged together creating this grotesque fusion of flesh. Whatever's out there won't cross the perimeter as long as you keep looking. That's the price you have to pay for breaking the rules. There is always a price.

[00:19:53] Keeping my eyes on them or it at this point, I asked if he could see what I was seeing. He went on to explain that everyone sees or experiences something different when they break the rules and no one else but them can see it. Have you ever broken a rule?

[00:20:21] The silence was filled with pain and when he finally spoke, I could hear how thick his voice was. Too. Many. The night didn't pass as long as you might have thought. The adrenaline kept me going as well as the fire and company behind me. And as soon as first light crested in the trees,

[00:20:52] it vanished. I turned around to thank the man who I now knew as Matthew but he was asleep by the dwindling fire. I didn't want to wake him. I was wrestling with the fact that there was never any couple and that whatever had checked in the day before was never going to check out. When I heard a truck pulling up

[00:21:21] to the campsite, my boss, it didn't take more than a look for him to realize I'd broken the rules. He listened to the story calmly and when I'd finished, he paused before asking me, So, do you still want the job? He explained that they really couldn't afford

[00:21:51] to leave the campground without a host for long periods of time and I now experienced the consequences for myself. I surprised myself by agreeing to stay on for the rest of the season. just as I saw a family pulling up in a minivan, four kids cramming their faces against the window. My boss saw them too this time and told me, good luck,

[00:22:20] as he hauled off in his truck. I almost wanted to go with him. So, if you happen to be a guest or even find yourself working at an isolated campground with an odd set of rules, take them seriously.

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