Twenty-Five Pounds of old Golden Flesh

Another from the archive, this one was quite vivid and I recalled quite a few details. The ending was... well... just read it:

I was auditioning for a vocal part in a college choral group. I’d been talked into it by my friends and I decided to try out at the last minute. One of my friends was going before me and doing a terrible job, but at least the two of them had brought sheet music for the accompanist/judge to read for piano. I decided to use the song I’d used for concert choir. It was swing low sweet chariot, a jazz version, I was going to sing it sans piano. I started to hum the tune to get it cued up in my head. As I hummed the judge began to hum with me, even though she was in the middle of my friends audition. At first I’d thought my friend picked the same song, then I realized what was happening. The judge looked me in the eyes and gave a smile. If I remember correctly she was an older amiable black woman, much like my Tai-Chi instructor. We began to talk about the song and how we each knew it. She was really impressed with my performance background. She told me that I was all set, and that I should wait outside (even though I hadn’t sung for her). I was moving to wait in the other room but then my other firend entered the room and began asking me questions and practicing, and the vibe felt like I should wait in this room now. My friend who was currently auditioning was completely bombing and looking really nervous. After his audition completed he pleaded “How was that? Do you want me to sing it again for you? Do you think I’ll get a spot for sure?”

Both friends were so invested in this group, both really wanted a spot. A new pianist/judge walked into the room and took over. My other friend auditioned and bombed and pleaded. As the pianist wrapped things up I was trying to elaborate about how I felt about performing, but the more I talked the more everyone seemed confused. At one point I said something about the “performance world.” And the judge furrowed her brow and mouthed “performance world?”

Just to be sure I had everything straight I asked the judge “so you’re sure I’m all set? The other instructor said I was good to go, but I’d be more than happy to sing for you.”

She cast a stern look, as if to say I shouldn’t be saying this sort of thing while my friends were still around. Then she began to talk to me on a more personal level. By the way, she was attractive. As she packed up her bag she said, “walk out with me.”

As we walked she ranted, “3 days of non stop auditioning, it’ll really wear a person down. Then someone like you comes along and doesn’t even need to sing, it’s such a godsend… keep walking with me.”

We’d already walked a little ways, and I was starting to see people I recognized. Among them were JU and BC. Everyone was going to some sort of meeting. The judge took a few steps down a small flight of stairs, turned, and said with a smile, “we’re here… go in”

I walked through a set of double doors and entered a large auditorium; people were mostly flocking through another set of doors just past the lectern. As we walked people started picking up wooden sticks, about the size you’d use to play swords as a child. I realized that everything was being filmed, and this was all part of a new James Bond movie. I was really happy that a lot of my friends got a part in the new movie, but surprised at the same time. One of the people who looked as if they were in charge began to fight the person next to them in a very passive/theatrical way. They were clanking sticks more as a game than an actual fight. This triggered everyone else to begin fighting. We continued to walk until we filled around a central fire pit. We all lit our sticks on fire and continued fighting. Everyone subtly beckoned me to push forward and fight the leaders. As I worked my way forward the clanking got more intense. I finally found myself fighting between two elders, and at that point (I believe It was…) the woman who’d told me to follow shouted and everyone stopped. She placed her stick in the glowing embers in front of her and we all followed suit. My stick lit ablaze almost instantly. Everyone took a seat and the meeting began.

I realized this was some sort of secret society. At some point it was disclosed that this was the priory of scion. The beginning of the meeting is a bit blurry in my mind, but there was some general discussion going on. The second phase was one in which people were called on to say things in front of the group. If you were bringing in a new member, or knew the new member, you’d have to tell them something in front of the group that you normally wouldn’t say to their face (or at least make something public). If you had no connection to the new person you had to say something to a group member. One of the elders of the group was called on, and he addressed me, he stood up and shouted “goofy looking 6’1’’ tall guy, SIT DOWN!”

I was confused, as I was already sitting. Someone next to me leaned in and whispered “I can’t believe you were acknowledged on your first day.” I guess the ‘sit down’ part meant something like ‘join our group,’ JU was called on and he said “Rob, I’m going to have something to say to you after the meeting, it’s not something you’re going to want to hear. We’re going to have a rough patch, but I think we’ll get through it.”

I was completely taken aback by this, my mind immediately went to a large project we’re working on together, I was almost certain he was going to kick me off the team. My mind began reeling on what I was going to say, the future of the project, and all the work I’d put in thus far.

The final phase of the meeting involved giving out direct orders to individual members of the group. My buddy MW, was called to move to a certain area. I recognized this as a command to move his Everquest (online videogame) character to a certain zone. A few other orders were given out and everyone disseminated.

I began looking for JU to hear whatever it was he was going to tell me. I had to wind my way back out to the auditorium, and I spotted him on the far side. There were children playing here (even though it was 2:00 in the morning?). I approached John and he asked me to take a seat with him. He walked up past a couple of children who were sitting at the end of a row. They were both girls. As I passed I smiled, the atmosphere here was very light and playful. The blond girl on the end looked up at me, her eyes glowed incandescent blue. She said “Hi Rob!” I was taken aback, and she proceeded to ask “How do you know me?”

I thought for a moment and replied “Well... I’m a friend of JU’s, and I’m guessing he must be a friend of your parents.”

The girls mother walked over, it was one of the leaders of the group. The little girl smiled and said, “I knew it mommy! I was right!”

Her mother knelt down in front of her and replied “You’re getting so much smarter every day, I’m so proud of you.” At this point I was in the row behind the children, still following JU, preparing to sit next to him. The little girl’s mother suddenly took on a completely different aura, she looked at her child lovingly and said in a very melodic but serious tone, “Twenty-Five pounds of old golden flesh, that’s all I’ve ever loved or will love.” She then shifter her gaze upwards, looked me directly in the eye and repeated with the exact same phrasing, “Twenty-Five pounds of old golden flesh, that’s all I’ve ever loved or will love.”

And I awoke.