Crock’s Thoughts

Okay, I know this is going to sound weird—and frankly, it gives me the willies to even write—but WordPress asked, so here it is…

Cotton!

Yeah, you heard me… not heights, not public speaking, not even running out of pizza. Nope! It’s that fluffy little menace masquerading as soft and natural.

I’m talking about the feel of cotton—specifically, that dry, squeaky, soul-shivering texture. You know the kind—the cotton ball! That innocent-looking fluff stuffed in every medicine bottle like some FDA-approved torture device.

For most people, it’s just packaging. For me? It’s a tactical assault on my nerves.

The moment I pop open a bottle of aspirin and see that white puff glaring at me, I know I’m about to engage in psychological warfare. My fingers inch closer, already recoiling at the thought of that awful texture squeaking against my skin. It’s like nails on a chalkboard… if the chalkboard were plotting against you with soft, fibrous evil.

I don’t just remove cotton—I perform an exorcism.

There’s pacing. There’s mental prep. I’ve considered tongs, chopsticks, and even asking family members to remove this fluffy menace from medicine bottles; however, I’ve since learned to avoid this request—as they take joy in tormenting me with this evil puff ball!

Honestly, just responding to this writing prompt is giving me goosebumps. I can practically feel that dreadful squeak in my fingertips. If I break out in a cold sweat before finishing this post, you’ll know why.

People often discuss irrational fears—like spiders and clowns, which I also find unsettling. However, let me tell you, none of those have ever ambushed me at 7 AM when I’m just trying to grab some ibuprofen for a headache. Cotton, on the other hand? It gets me every single time.

So yeah, if you ever see me opening a medicine bottle with the precision of a bomb squad technician, now you know why. It’s not the pills I’m worried about—it’s the cotton booby trap waiting inside.