Choose

Fear surged through me, knotting my organs, crashing into bile, making my stomach backflip!

A cousin gleefully cried, “You lost this round! Now you must choose.”

This insane game had equally crazy rules. Choose between two similar shapes with almost identical markings! They had no smell and were rather innocuous looking. On the outside they were smooth with a slightly waxy texture. Unfortunately, I knew only one was harmless. Unless one of my nasty siblings had chosen two deadly ones. 

The other gamers excitedly banged their fists on the table, chanting, “Choose!”

Sickly sweat rivered down my spine.

Eyes closed, I chose, timidly placing one in my mouth. 

“You know the rules. Open your mouth so we know you are chewing, then swallow!” screamed my rotten brother. 

My face collapsed into an ugly grimace as I opened my mouth to display a sticky mess. The boys whooped and the girls screamed with disgust. Then my face rearranged into a smile. Luckily, I had chosen a honey flavoured jelly bean.

The room erupted into hisses at my deceit. I gloated, but then realised that the game was not over.

A few minutes later, I lost yet another round of the game!

Family whooped with joy at my discomfort, longing for me to choose the foul flavoured jelly bean. My sadistic relatives wanted to see me turn lime green and hopefully throw up. My stomach lurched, as my brother reminded everyone that these jelly beans were extra gross! Fouler taste, smell and noise!

My stomach tangoed hearing demands, “Choose barf! Choose earwax! No, choose bogey! Liver! Earthworms!”

Praying fervently, I reached forward indecisively. 

The room bubbled hot lava with annoying family. 

Ominously, everyone fell silent. All eyes stared at me as I tentatively put one of the innocent looking jelly beans on my trembling tongue. Biting down, a noisome smell filled my mouth accompanied by little popguns of hot fire. 

Gagging, the smell, taste and texture of putrefaction catapulted me to the bathroom. Devilish cheers and backslaps echoed.

“He must have chosen rotten eggs with a generous sprinkling of hot pepper!”