1 00:00:10,800 --> 00:00:14,960 Speaker 1: You want in, he asked me. But what, I replied. 2 00:00:15,640 --> 00:00:17,719 He smiled and pulled back a chair with his cane, 3 00:00:17,839 --> 00:00:20,320 then tapped the seat with it. His thin lips parted, 4 00:00:20,320 --> 00:00:23,559 and he said to the regulars club. His eyebrows went 5 00:00:23,640 --> 00:00:25,359 up and down, like doing a little dance, and the 6 00:00:25,359 --> 00:00:28,879 bespectacled eyes beneath them twinkled. I'd been stopping at Morning 7 00:00:28,920 --> 00:00:31,199 Bell for coffee every morning for a little over a month, 8 00:00:31,320 --> 00:00:34,600 same time every Wednesday. I'd noticed the two tables pushed 9 00:00:34,640 --> 00:00:37,039 together and surrounded by a group of older gentlemen, all 10 00:00:37,039 --> 00:00:40,000 beyond retirement age. They were all there every time I 11 00:00:40,119 --> 00:00:43,119 ordered my sixteen ounce Amrcano, but I'd never really paid 12 00:00:43,159 --> 00:00:46,479 any mind or attention. Apparently they must have noticed me, though. 13 00:00:47,039 --> 00:00:49,560 Oh he'd fit riding with them, said Chrissy the barster, 14 00:00:50,359 --> 00:00:52,719 half joking. I asked her loudly enough for the old 15 00:00:52,759 --> 00:00:55,640 guys to hear. Is this a club or an occupation? Oh, 16 00:00:55,679 --> 00:00:58,479 it's an occupation for sure, Christie replied an equal volume. 17 00:00:58,960 --> 00:01:01,719 The old guys went in to an uproar. Hey, we're 18 00:01:01,759 --> 00:01:05,799 paying customers. I've been coming here since before you were born, sweetheart. 19 00:01:06,359 --> 00:01:09,359 Nobody's ever asked us to leave have they, Christie smiled 20 00:01:09,400 --> 00:01:11,879 at them. All I paid for my coffee and wandered 21 00:01:11,879 --> 00:01:13,840 toward the seat which had been designated from me. I 22 00:01:13,920 --> 00:01:15,719 usually took my coffee out to my car and drove 23 00:01:15,760 --> 00:01:17,400 to work, where I would sit in the parking lot 24 00:01:17,400 --> 00:01:19,120 and listen to the news while I sipped until I 25 00:01:19,159 --> 00:01:21,519 felt properly electric, so I could survive my office, where 26 00:01:21,519 --> 00:01:23,599 the most interesting thing was the contrast between the great 27 00:01:23,599 --> 00:01:26,319 cubicle walls and the fluorescent lights above. Like Kevin and Hel, 28 00:01:26,920 --> 00:01:28,560 I suppose I could stay out of the snow for 29 00:01:28,599 --> 00:01:31,040 a bit longer, I said, sliding into the seat offered me. 30 00:01:31,719 --> 00:01:34,400 So let me guess this is the real city council, right, 31 00:01:35,000 --> 00:01:37,120 don't you know? It? Said? The man hood invited me over. 32 00:01:37,799 --> 00:01:39,319 He patted me in the back with the hand that 33 00:01:39,400 --> 00:01:43,359 had once been very strong. The names stand Cassinger Allen, 34 00:01:43,439 --> 00:01:48,400 I replied, Alan Purcell. Are you already retired? Allan asked 35 00:01:48,400 --> 00:01:51,200 a thin, studious looking man across from me. Oh, get 36 00:01:51,200 --> 00:01:54,439 out of here, Wesley said another. He's not even forty yet, 37 00:01:54,439 --> 00:01:57,760 I bet, I smiled. I'm forty two and no a 38 00:01:57,879 --> 00:02:01,439 Medida analyst. They still need that with all of today's advancements, 39 00:02:01,439 --> 00:02:05,040 asked Wesley, the thin man. I smirked, shrugged, and said, well, 40 00:02:05,120 --> 00:02:07,680 that's sort of up for debate, I guess, but they 41 00:02:07,760 --> 00:02:10,840 keep on paying me. So this professional ambivalence seemed to 42 00:02:10,879 --> 00:02:12,560 resonate with a few of the men, who raised their 43 00:02:12,560 --> 00:02:16,439 coffers and took joevilsips Mine was still too hot. A 44 00:02:16,479 --> 00:02:19,479 man standing outside the group walked away. I felt bad 45 00:02:19,520 --> 00:02:22,360 for a second, thinking maybe I had accidentally stolen his seat. 46 00:02:23,039 --> 00:02:25,159 I expected him to pull up a chair from another table, 47 00:02:25,240 --> 00:02:27,000 but he walked far past the tables near us and 48 00:02:27,039 --> 00:02:29,560 moved out of my line of sight. As others began 49 00:02:29,599 --> 00:02:32,199 to introduce themselves, I began to wonder if the standing 50 00:02:32,199 --> 00:02:35,199 man was just shy. I said, so, you guys come 51 00:02:35,199 --> 00:02:37,919 here just about every day, right, don't you ever run 52 00:02:37,919 --> 00:02:41,520 out of things to talk about? Hot? Laughs? Dan, We've 53 00:02:41,520 --> 00:02:44,319 probably got five hundred years of lived experience between us all. 54 00:02:44,840 --> 00:02:46,840 It's going to be a lawn long time before we 55 00:02:47,000 --> 00:02:49,719 run out of subjects. He or here, said a man 56 00:02:49,759 --> 00:02:53,159 exactly Westley's opposite in size, demeanor, and position at the table. 57 00:02:53,759 --> 00:02:57,319 His name was Trevor. There was also Henry Neil, James Baron, 58 00:02:57,479 --> 00:02:59,960 Johnny Gordon, and a couple of others whose names unform 59 00:03:00,280 --> 00:03:02,840 They escaped me. So what was to day's subject before 60 00:03:02,840 --> 00:03:06,039 I came in? I asked. The jovial group suddenly quitted. 61 00:03:06,639 --> 00:03:08,680 The men all looked amongst each other, but non at me. 62 00:03:09,280 --> 00:03:11,560 My coffee smelled strong and rich, and I wanted so 63 00:03:11,639 --> 00:03:14,120 badly to sip it in that brief, uncomfortable moment, but 64 00:03:14,199 --> 00:03:17,560 alas it was still too hot, you know, looking back, 65 00:03:17,680 --> 00:03:20,759 the awkward silence probably only lasted three seconds, even though 66 00:03:20,759 --> 00:03:24,360 it felt much longer. Stan broke it. How do you 67 00:03:24,439 --> 00:03:30,240 allan feel about ghosts? Ghosts? I asked, surprised, Stan nodded. 68 00:03:30,719 --> 00:03:32,800 I looked round the table at all the expectant faces 69 00:03:32,800 --> 00:03:35,879 looking back at me. Wesley said, telling ghosts stores was 70 00:03:35,919 --> 00:03:39,560 alih friend Bruce's favorite tradition around Christmas time. He passed 71 00:03:39,560 --> 00:03:41,879 away just over a week ago. This will be our 72 00:03:41,919 --> 00:03:44,400 first Christmas without him. But Stan here suggested we tell 73 00:03:44,439 --> 00:03:47,000 some tales of our own. Turns out, some of us 74 00:03:47,000 --> 00:03:49,680 have some good ones, said the men named Johnny. He 75 00:03:49,719 --> 00:03:51,919 looked much worse for where the many of his comrades. 76 00:03:52,039 --> 00:03:54,439 Yet when I studded his face, I believed him to 77 00:03:54,439 --> 00:03:57,240 actually be one of the group's younger members. He either 78 00:03:57,280 --> 00:04:00,759 lived a hard life or live life hard. Stand Before 79 00:04:00,759 --> 00:04:02,960 I interrupted him to invite you into our fall, Johnny 80 00:04:03,000 --> 00:04:05,560 was about to tell a story of his own. That's right, 81 00:04:05,680 --> 00:04:09,120 said Johnny. Now, unless any one else has something to add, 82 00:04:09,199 --> 00:04:12,960 I'll get started. Go ahead, said Stan. Now that the 83 00:04:13,000 --> 00:04:15,680 introductions had ceased, the man standing in the back returned, 84 00:04:15,759 --> 00:04:18,600 crossing his arms and leaning on the wall. I wanted 85 00:04:18,600 --> 00:04:20,839 to say something, offered to get him a chair, but 86 00:04:20,920 --> 00:04:23,839 since Johnnie seemed somewhat irritated about being interrupted before, I 87 00:04:23,920 --> 00:04:26,519 dared not speak up after he began again. You all 88 00:04:26,519 --> 00:04:27,839 know how I used to like to go out in 89 00:04:27,879 --> 00:04:30,480 the water early before dawn. On a good day, I 90 00:04:30,519 --> 00:04:33,000 could catch enough crappy obligal for dinner before heading out 91 00:04:33,000 --> 00:04:35,519 to work for the day. I'm talking about back when 92 00:04:35,560 --> 00:04:38,199 I lived in the lake. Of course, I just wandered 93 00:04:38,199 --> 00:04:40,000 down to the dock first thing in the morning, hop 94 00:04:40,000 --> 00:04:41,319 in the boat, and is about to one of the 95 00:04:41,319 --> 00:04:44,480 good spots. One morning. Back at that time, I might 96 00:04:44,519 --> 00:04:46,759 have been forty, but only barely. I stepped out my 97 00:04:46,800 --> 00:04:49,360 front door into a cloud. It got foggy up there 98 00:04:49,399 --> 00:04:51,240 on the lake all the time. But this day rested 99 00:04:51,279 --> 00:04:53,360 so heavy all around it felt like a cloud had 100 00:04:53,360 --> 00:04:55,759 sunk down from above. It didn't stop me for a 101 00:04:55,800 --> 00:04:59,600 second though. It was eerie, sure, but also beautiful. So 102 00:04:59,680 --> 00:05:01,720 there I I was floating on dead, stale water in 103 00:05:01,759 --> 00:05:04,639 the heavy fog right before summerise. I cast out one 104 00:05:04,680 --> 00:05:06,879 line and actively worked a second to maybe snag a 105 00:05:06,959 --> 00:05:09,879 nice catfish. When the sun began to rise, the fog 106 00:05:09,920 --> 00:05:12,000 around me so thick as it was lit up orange 107 00:05:12,199 --> 00:05:14,680 like fire. The new light bounced around in the cloud 108 00:05:14,720 --> 00:05:16,319 until it felt like I was caught in a still 109 00:05:16,360 --> 00:05:20,040 frame of an explosion. It was absolutely gorgeous. All the 110 00:05:20,079 --> 00:05:22,319 air turned that vivid color, and the smaller wasps of 111 00:05:22,399 --> 00:05:25,920 vapor became shimmering miniature rainbows that flashed before vanishing. I 112 00:05:26,000 --> 00:05:27,759 must have seen Nea light up like that a hundred 113 00:05:27,759 --> 00:05:30,120 times before, but on that day was no less beautiful 114 00:05:30,120 --> 00:05:32,600 than the very first time. I tell Yet, that was 115 00:05:32,639 --> 00:05:34,319 a better way to start the day than any cup 116 00:05:34,319 --> 00:05:38,319 of coffee, No offense, Christie. I looked over at Christie 117 00:05:38,319 --> 00:05:40,759 and saw she was making no effort to disguise her eavesdropping. 118 00:05:41,360 --> 00:05:44,720 She shrugged and sad. None taken that morning was special, 119 00:05:44,800 --> 00:05:46,600 not because the light and the fog alone looked any 120 00:05:46,600 --> 00:05:48,600 more impressive, But because of how the stillness of the 121 00:05:48,600 --> 00:05:52,399 water reflected the fiery fog so perfectly, all I could see, up, down, 122 00:05:52,480 --> 00:05:55,240 and all around me was that brilliant orange haze. That 123 00:05:55,480 --> 00:05:58,839 is until something else broke through, a small, dark shape 124 00:05:58,839 --> 00:06:00,720 that rested on the line between the glowing air and 125 00:06:00,759 --> 00:06:03,639 the slightly dimmer water. It merged in the direction of 126 00:06:03,639 --> 00:06:05,839 the rising sun, so I had to squint to look 127 00:06:05,879 --> 00:06:08,279 at it, and through my eyelids it looked all soft mavy. 128 00:06:08,920 --> 00:06:10,639 I couldn't tell what it was For a few minutes. 129 00:06:11,279 --> 00:06:13,240 It turned out to be a small rowboat, the kind 130 00:06:13,240 --> 00:06:15,879 beilt for no more than a person or two. At first, 131 00:06:15,879 --> 00:06:17,879 I thought a fellow fisherman might be out sitting or 132 00:06:17,959 --> 00:06:20,319 laying low inside the boat, taking everything in. Like me, 133 00:06:21,000 --> 00:06:23,000 Thanks to the stillness of the water, I didn't have 134 00:06:23,120 --> 00:06:26,399 to worry about his colliding, even though I couldn't see anybody. 135 00:06:26,480 --> 00:06:29,079 For the sake of being friendly, I called out, howdy, beautiful, 136 00:06:29,079 --> 00:06:32,839 I've here, isn't it. Nobody answered me back, Here's where 137 00:06:32,839 --> 00:06:35,839 things start to get strange. Hopefully I said it enough 138 00:06:35,839 --> 00:06:37,720 times now that I don't need to remind you. But 139 00:06:37,839 --> 00:06:40,879 just in case. The water was perfectly still, almost no 140 00:06:40,959 --> 00:06:43,959 current whatsoever, and it was most certainly a rowboat. I 141 00:06:44,000 --> 00:06:46,560 saw on the near horizon. I could see two wars 142 00:06:46,560 --> 00:06:49,279 sticking off, dangling motionless in the water. But somehow the 143 00:06:49,279 --> 00:06:52,560 little boat began drifting towards me. Of course, even in 144 00:06:52,600 --> 00:06:54,920 the stillest of waters, there's bound to be some subtle movement, 145 00:06:54,959 --> 00:06:56,759 but not enough to move a boat this fast. I 146 00:06:56,839 --> 00:06:59,360 tell you, it came toward my boat as quickly as 147 00:06:59,360 --> 00:07:01,240 if some one was throwing it toward me. I called 148 00:07:01,240 --> 00:07:03,759 out again again, without receiving an answer, and I started 149 00:07:03,839 --> 00:07:07,600 ruling in my active line. I wanted to get away. Suddenly, 150 00:07:07,639 --> 00:07:10,639 the orange haste feld ominous. I couldn't see beyond ten 151 00:07:10,720 --> 00:07:13,480 yards in any direction. I knew vaguely how far I 152 00:07:13,600 --> 00:07:15,480 ventured out, but with no sight at the shore, I 153 00:07:15,519 --> 00:07:18,399 felt specially nervous about the word situation I'd found myself in. 154 00:07:19,040 --> 00:07:21,879 You might be thinking, so what, it's just a rowboat, Johnny, 155 00:07:22,480 --> 00:07:25,000 Not like I could have hurt you, right, And sure 156 00:07:25,040 --> 00:07:27,319 you're right about that. It could have just proked free 157 00:07:27,319 --> 00:07:30,240 of its tether and drifted off empty. Sure I grant 158 00:07:30,240 --> 00:07:32,639 you that, but that's not the scenario that came to 159 00:07:32,639 --> 00:07:34,759 mind right away. Out there on that glassy at Blowing Lake, 160 00:07:35,439 --> 00:07:37,639 my mind jumped all the terrible reasons a small boat 161 00:07:37,720 --> 00:07:40,319 light that might end up abandoned in the water. After 162 00:07:40,319 --> 00:07:42,439 retrieving the line i'd been working, I set down that 163 00:07:42,480 --> 00:07:44,920 pole and picked up the static line I'd put a 164 00:07:44,920 --> 00:07:47,040 bobber on it, which rippled through the orange water on 165 00:07:47,120 --> 00:07:50,000 its way back to me, until suddenly it dropped below 166 00:07:50,000 --> 00:07:52,839 the surface. The excitement, thinking I'd gotten a bite and 167 00:07:52,879 --> 00:07:55,040 from something bake, jostled my brain and threw out all 168 00:07:55,040 --> 00:07:57,600 of my fear and whorris. But the dragon the line 169 00:07:57,639 --> 00:08:01,240 persisted too consistently to be from any fish. I snagged 170 00:08:01,240 --> 00:08:04,040 something under water, something either very stuck or very heavy. 171 00:08:04,639 --> 00:08:07,120 When I reeled hard enough, I actually pulled my boat 172 00:08:07,120 --> 00:08:09,240 toward the barber and whatever the hoop below he had caught. 173 00:08:09,959 --> 00:08:11,920 I might have just cut the line, but I had 174 00:08:11,920 --> 00:08:13,680 one of my favorite jerk bits down there, so I 175 00:08:13,720 --> 00:08:15,839 had to at least try to get it back. I 176 00:08:15,920 --> 00:08:17,839 felt the object shift a little, which gave me an 177 00:08:17,879 --> 00:08:19,639 ounce of hope, And just as I felt that little 178 00:08:19,639 --> 00:08:22,240 bit of gift, the empty rowboat floated past me. It 179 00:08:22,360 --> 00:08:24,680 cruised right over my trap line. About ten feet away. 180 00:08:25,279 --> 00:08:28,519 I could see into it and saw nobody inside. Nobody 181 00:08:28,560 --> 00:08:31,439 passed out dead or asleep, nobody laying down to take 182 00:08:31,480 --> 00:08:34,840 in the sky. Nobody at all. Except that was about 183 00:08:34,879 --> 00:08:36,840 when the sun reached a high enough elevation to light 184 00:08:36,879 --> 00:08:39,080 up some of the rest of the world, so high 185 00:08:39,080 --> 00:08:41,720 it stopped making the fall glow quite so bright. The 186 00:08:41,759 --> 00:08:44,519 shore line began to appear, and there standing on it 187 00:08:44,639 --> 00:08:46,799 was a man. He waved to me, not in a 188 00:08:46,799 --> 00:08:50,080 friendly sort of way, well not unfriendly either, but not 189 00:08:50,159 --> 00:08:52,559 in greeting, I guess, is what I mean. It sort 190 00:08:52,600 --> 00:08:54,399 of seemed like he was trying to flag me down. 191 00:08:54,960 --> 00:08:57,519 I let my line go slack and wave back to him, 192 00:08:57,559 --> 00:08:59,639 just trying to signal that I had seen him, hoping 193 00:08:59,679 --> 00:09:01,840 he would give me some sort of explanation and quick 194 00:09:02,480 --> 00:09:04,639 finding the empty boat already hit me on edge and 195 00:09:04,679 --> 00:09:07,120 seeing that man there was something I still don't understand 196 00:09:07,120 --> 00:09:09,440 that just felt off about him. But just as I 197 00:09:09,480 --> 00:09:11,480 lowered my hand after waving, the man on the shore 198 00:09:11,519 --> 00:09:14,240 evaporated in the fog. As the sun rose just a 199 00:09:14,240 --> 00:09:16,840 few inches higher, it slight stopped coloring the fog, and 200 00:09:16,919 --> 00:09:19,399 a quick reflecting so brightly off the water at least 201 00:09:19,399 --> 00:09:22,360 from where I was positioned. The glassy water looked almost 202 00:09:22,360 --> 00:09:25,039 black now under the low cloud billowing above it. Just 203 00:09:25,120 --> 00:09:27,519 wanting to get off that water, I started reeling again. 204 00:09:28,080 --> 00:09:31,159 I almost forgot my hook was caught whatever it found 205 00:09:31,159 --> 00:09:33,879 down there, and those murky depths shifted again, ever so slightly, 206 00:09:34,519 --> 00:09:37,679 then came dislodged. I felt its weight drag my line 207 00:09:37,720 --> 00:09:39,320 down a little deeper, as the end of my pole 208 00:09:39,360 --> 00:09:42,120 bent with it. In my mind, a sudden flash of 209 00:09:42,120 --> 00:09:45,279 two images, totally unprompted by my conscious thoughts, nearly made 210 00:09:45,279 --> 00:09:47,960 me lose my grip. One sort of floating in the 211 00:09:47,960 --> 00:09:50,440 background showed my immediate memory of the man on the shore. 212 00:09:51,080 --> 00:09:53,720 The second, more prominent image was of nothing I'd seen 213 00:09:53,720 --> 00:09:56,600 with my two eyes only, the one up here. Johnnie 214 00:09:56,600 --> 00:09:59,120 tapped his forehead with his index finger and looked round. 215 00:09:59,720 --> 00:10:01,240 What I the picture was my hook down there in 216 00:10:01,240 --> 00:10:03,399 those cold, dark waters, stuck in the ribs of a 217 00:10:03,440 --> 00:10:06,120 blow de'cots. Did I have any proof that a dead 218 00:10:06,159 --> 00:10:09,559 man was dragging my line down, bending my pole nose snapping? No, 219 00:10:10,399 --> 00:10:12,360 But I tell you all, I cut that line faster 220 00:10:12,440 --> 00:10:14,200 than I even realized my knife was in my hand. 221 00:10:14,919 --> 00:10:17,000 It snapped into the water, and I watched his ripples 222 00:10:17,000 --> 00:10:19,639 frade away. I never learned whose boat I saw other, 223 00:10:19,759 --> 00:10:22,440 or who that man on the shore was. Nobody ever 224 00:10:22,480 --> 00:10:24,279 came looking for either of them. As far as I know, 225 00:10:25,000 --> 00:10:27,039 I probably just got tricked by the light and spooked 226 00:10:27,039 --> 00:10:30,480 by a log or something. But there you go. That's it, 227 00:10:30,639 --> 00:10:33,559 asked Stan. You're just going to leave us all hanging there. 228 00:10:34,200 --> 00:10:37,320 That's all the closer I ever got, grunted Johnny. During 229 00:10:37,320 --> 00:10:39,559 his story, he seemed to disappear into a trance, but 230 00:10:39,639 --> 00:10:42,559 now he's downd off. Herself free emerged. Oh don't be 231 00:10:42,600 --> 00:10:46,399 so critical, parleyed Wesley. It was a good story, full suspense, 232 00:10:46,840 --> 00:10:50,120 wal told Johnny. Ambivalent. Cheers went up, and a few 233 00:10:50,120 --> 00:10:52,279 old guys took tupers SIPs at the lips of the cops. 234 00:10:52,919 --> 00:10:55,480 It didn't seem like anyone really wanted to go next 235 00:10:55,559 --> 00:10:58,159 except for mebe the guy leaning against the wall. He 236 00:10:58,240 --> 00:11:00,519 didn't look at all uncomfortable without a chair and didn't 237 00:11:00,519 --> 00:11:02,679 bother Christie for anything as she came around to top 238 00:11:02,720 --> 00:11:05,799 everyone off. But Wesley didn't notice the man in the back, 239 00:11:05,840 --> 00:11:08,360 and while Christie refilled every one's mugs, he said I 240 00:11:08,360 --> 00:11:10,360 have a story to offer with just as much mystery, 241 00:11:10,360 --> 00:11:12,200 but Stan might find a conclusion a bit more to 242 00:11:12,279 --> 00:11:16,080 his taste. I'm all ears set. Stan Wesley pushed back 243 00:11:16,080 --> 00:11:18,720 his chair, stood and moved behind it, where he placed 244 00:11:18,720 --> 00:11:20,679 his hands on its back and leaned forward, making the 245 00:11:20,720 --> 00:11:23,360 wood creek. As most of you know, I used to 246 00:11:23,360 --> 00:11:26,840 teach physics variations of yeat and we know what up 247 00:11:26,840 --> 00:11:28,960 all around the table informing me. This was a fact 248 00:11:29,000 --> 00:11:33,039 Wesse mentioned with some frequency. Oh yea yea. He dismissed them. 249 00:11:33,559 --> 00:11:35,919 I worked with many Grudgate students on their the seas. 250 00:11:36,639 --> 00:11:38,320 Some of them even went on to work with many 251 00:11:38,360 --> 00:11:41,519 of the greats in their respective fields. But ironically, the 252 00:11:41,559 --> 00:11:43,960 most memorable student I ever had was one who dropped 253 00:11:43,960 --> 00:11:46,639 out and never became anything. Nothing in the world of 254 00:11:46,639 --> 00:11:49,600 physics anyway. But she was the only student who I 255 00:11:49,600 --> 00:11:52,519 can honestly say taught me something. Her name was Rachel, 256 00:11:52,600 --> 00:11:55,320 and she was pursuing her pH d, focusing on magnetics. 257 00:11:55,960 --> 00:11:57,720 She had a brilliant mind, but thought a bit too 258 00:11:57,759 --> 00:12:03,480 much of her originality and creativity. She frequently brought me designs, schemes, calculations, 259 00:12:03,519 --> 00:12:05,519 behaving as if she had just brought me the solution 260 00:12:05,600 --> 00:12:07,759 to all of the world's energy problems, only for me 261 00:12:07,799 --> 00:12:10,120 to regrettably inform her that whatever breakthrough she did was 262 00:12:10,120 --> 00:12:12,720 already tried by Nicola Tesso or a similarly great mind 263 00:12:12,720 --> 00:12:15,919 of the past. I always told her not to be discouraged, 264 00:12:15,960 --> 00:12:17,799 because as soon as she could just learn to examine 265 00:12:17,799 --> 00:12:19,759 all the work done before her, she could build something 266 00:12:19,759 --> 00:12:22,759 truly remarkable off of it. And then she disappeared for 267 00:12:22,799 --> 00:12:25,600 a while. I eventually learned her mother, who she had 268 00:12:25,639 --> 00:12:27,440 been very close with and had done everything in her 269 00:12:27,480 --> 00:12:29,840 life to impress, passed away after being struck by a 270 00:12:29,919 --> 00:12:32,480 driver who fell asleep at the wheel. I wrote her 271 00:12:32,519 --> 00:12:35,159 a letter, well an e mail, expressing my condolences and 272 00:12:35,200 --> 00:12:37,120 telling her we could easily arrange for her to make 273 00:12:37,200 --> 00:12:39,879 up her labs whenever she felt ready. I didn't hear 274 00:12:39,919 --> 00:12:43,159 back then. One day, it was a Friday, I stayed 275 00:12:43,200 --> 00:12:45,480 late to findal Liza report before the long winter break. 276 00:12:46,120 --> 00:12:48,799 I started an automated process, then went to relieve myself 277 00:12:48,840 --> 00:12:51,559 while it ran its course. I shut my office door 278 00:12:51,559 --> 00:12:54,000 behind me out of habit its latch. I could off 279 00:12:54,000 --> 00:12:56,519 the polished floor in the hallway, every light in the 280 00:12:56,519 --> 00:12:58,960 building had been shut off, so only the red emergency 281 00:12:59,080 --> 00:13:00,879 lights provided any life for me on my way to 282 00:13:00,919 --> 00:13:03,240 the restroom. Only when I opened the door to go 283 00:13:03,320 --> 00:13:05,440 and did I hear someone else's footsteps down the hall. 284 00:13:06,039 --> 00:13:08,840 Not wanting to get arrested in conversation with another late stay, 285 00:13:08,919 --> 00:13:11,320 I quickly ducked into the dark restroom and quietly closed 286 00:13:11,320 --> 00:13:13,559 the door. I needed to turn the light on, and 287 00:13:13,600 --> 00:13:16,480 struggled for a few seconds to find the switch. During 288 00:13:16,519 --> 00:13:18,840 that time, I listened as the gentle footsteps passed by 289 00:13:18,879 --> 00:13:22,159 the door. It struck me as odd I heard only 290 00:13:22,200 --> 00:13:25,399 the person's steps. I didn't hear any swishing of clothes, 291 00:13:25,600 --> 00:13:29,279 no size of eleventh ir exasperation. You don't even notice, 292 00:13:29,360 --> 00:13:31,960 I'd venture to guess how many other noises usually accompany 293 00:13:32,000 --> 00:13:34,960 a sand so simple as a footstep until those other 294 00:13:35,080 --> 00:13:38,240 noises are absent. Well, I still had a task at hand, 295 00:13:38,320 --> 00:13:40,279 so after I finished up in the restroom, I returned 296 00:13:40,279 --> 00:13:43,120 to my office. Along the way, I saw no sign 297 00:13:43,159 --> 00:13:45,879 of another person in the building, heard none either. But 298 00:13:45,960 --> 00:13:47,879 when I again stood at my office door, I found 299 00:13:47,879 --> 00:13:51,120 it partially open. Now you might say, Wesley, you crazy 300 00:13:51,120 --> 00:13:53,799 old man, you just forgot to close the door, But 301 00:13:53,919 --> 00:13:55,879 remember how I told you its latch echoed down the 302 00:13:55,879 --> 00:13:58,720 hall when I closed it. I distinctly remember hearing it 303 00:13:58,759 --> 00:14:01,919 that evening. Because the building was otherwise so quiet, I 304 00:14:01,919 --> 00:14:04,120 would have surely detected any weakenss in a noise which 305 00:14:04,159 --> 00:14:06,360 might have indicated my failure to properly shut the door. 306 00:14:06,960 --> 00:14:08,879 Of course, my first thought went to the footsteps I 307 00:14:08,879 --> 00:14:11,440 had heard on my way into the restroom. My premonition that, 308 00:14:11,480 --> 00:14:13,799 however they belonged to wish to speak with me, therefore 309 00:14:13,799 --> 00:14:16,559 interrupting my last minute work, I thought must have been correct. 310 00:14:17,159 --> 00:14:19,000 I pushed open the door, prepared to me if hooever 311 00:14:19,120 --> 00:14:22,720 come to find me, or so I thought. There, standing 312 00:14:22,759 --> 00:14:24,720 on the other side of my desk, just behind a 313 00:14:24,759 --> 00:14:27,879 tall chair where I usually sat reading writing grading, was 314 00:14:27,919 --> 00:14:30,000 a shimmering translucence which took the vaig form of a 315 00:14:30,000 --> 00:14:32,879 woman bitter back to me. She jumped when I entered, 316 00:14:32,879 --> 00:14:35,679 turning ever so slightly toward me before vanishing into thin air, 317 00:14:36,360 --> 00:14:38,919 at which she left electric with crackling static in her wake. 318 00:14:39,639 --> 00:14:43,159 Now you men all know me, Christie, you too. You 319 00:14:43,279 --> 00:14:46,120 know I'm a man of science. Anything that exists can 320 00:14:46,120 --> 00:14:51,000 be proven given enough time and resources. That's my philosophy well, friends, 321 00:14:51,240 --> 00:14:53,240 admittedly felt too scared to sit in my chair with 322 00:14:53,320 --> 00:14:55,679 my back to the empty place deaparition had left behind. 323 00:14:55,840 --> 00:14:57,840 So while waiting for my nerves to settle, I went 324 00:14:57,919 --> 00:15:00,159 looking for the answer, the logical russianale for how I 325 00:15:00,159 --> 00:15:03,240 had seen what I saw. I retraced the footsteps i'd heard, 326 00:15:03,279 --> 00:15:06,159 walking past the restrooms till from which they first reached 327 00:15:06,159 --> 00:15:08,600 my ears. I stood in a tea in dissection, and 328 00:15:08,600 --> 00:15:11,200 could have turned left or right. White would have taken 329 00:15:11,200 --> 00:15:14,360 me to the lecture halls and more faculty offices. Left 330 00:15:14,399 --> 00:15:17,240 led to the lab. Having just experienced what I would 331 00:15:17,240 --> 00:15:20,000 categorize as a scientific anomaly, of course I chose left. 332 00:15:20,679 --> 00:15:22,879 In our lab, we had a variety of equipment, but 333 00:15:22,919 --> 00:15:25,240 don't fill your mind's eyes with some grand laboratory like 334 00:15:25,240 --> 00:15:27,879 he might see in a Hollywood horror film. We essentially 335 00:15:27,879 --> 00:15:30,559 had rows of desks lined up, each with relatively simple 336 00:15:30,600 --> 00:15:33,960 equipment for a particular field of study. There were no windows, 337 00:15:34,039 --> 00:15:36,679 so we could more easily control light conditions and temperature, 338 00:15:36,720 --> 00:15:38,600 which meant when I first opened the door to the 339 00:15:38,639 --> 00:15:41,600 la it was pitch black inside. But deep inside the 340 00:15:41,679 --> 00:15:44,279 darkness I heard the muffled sobs of a woman. I 341 00:15:44,320 --> 00:15:48,799 called out hello, and a crying immediately stopped. Nobody answered me, 342 00:15:48,879 --> 00:15:52,000 though I stood in the doorway waiting and heard nothing more. 343 00:15:52,639 --> 00:15:55,240 With rising apprehension, I reached into the dark to feel 344 00:15:55,240 --> 00:15:57,559 for the light switch and flipped it on. The rows 345 00:15:57,600 --> 00:16:00,320 of white lights in the ceiling came to life, which 346 00:16:00,360 --> 00:16:03,080 needed to be replaced soon bars than hand. A couple 347 00:16:03,159 --> 00:16:06,000 of lights deeper in the room flickered her radically before stabilizing. 348 00:16:06,600 --> 00:16:08,519 It was beneath one of these flickering lights that I 349 00:16:08,559 --> 00:16:11,679 saw her, Rachel, my student who had vanished Euler in 350 00:16:11,720 --> 00:16:15,120 the semester. She gave me a good fright. Rachel. I 351 00:16:15,120 --> 00:16:16,799 found her curled up with her niece to her chin 352 00:16:16,840 --> 00:16:19,559 in one of the swiveling chairs by desk. In front 353 00:16:19,600 --> 00:16:22,200 of her, enkissed in child glass sat a complex device. 354 00:16:22,200 --> 00:16:23,720 She concoted it on her own out of parts of 355 00:16:23,720 --> 00:16:27,120 the various coodment around her. Rachel, what are you doing here? 356 00:16:27,799 --> 00:16:31,120 I asked her. She seemed surprize to see me, said 357 00:16:31,159 --> 00:16:33,679 she thought the building was empty. I asked if that 358 00:16:33,759 --> 00:16:35,600 was why she chose such a bizarre time to return 359 00:16:35,639 --> 00:16:37,919 to the lap as she told me it was. When 360 00:16:37,960 --> 00:16:40,080 asked if she knew anything about footsteps in the hallway 361 00:16:40,120 --> 00:16:44,159 or in apparition which visited my office. Rachel looked up, dumbstruck. 362 00:16:44,360 --> 00:16:48,039 She was this formerly unshakable student. See, Rachel had just 363 00:16:48,080 --> 00:16:51,519 finished conducting an experiment, an experiment which she thought to 364 00:16:51,559 --> 00:16:55,039 have been a total failure. She built an electrostatic generator 365 00:16:55,039 --> 00:16:57,879 inside of a vacuum tube. Inside the tube, she also 366 00:16:57,879 --> 00:16:59,799 placed a bracelet her mother had been worrying the night 367 00:16:59,799 --> 00:17:03,120 she died, which was stained with blood. Prior to her experiments. 368 00:17:03,159 --> 00:17:05,720 She used an electromagnetic field to charge a bracelet, making 369 00:17:05,759 --> 00:17:08,000 it interact with the electrostatic device in a way she 370 00:17:08,039 --> 00:17:11,039 speculated hope more alike would bring about some ethereal remainder 371 00:17:11,119 --> 00:17:14,200 of her mother. If such a thing existed. Her hypothesis 372 00:17:14,240 --> 00:17:17,039 was convoluted, a mutant offspring of the scientific and spiritual, 373 00:17:17,079 --> 00:17:20,240 clearly bored of a person maddened with grief that somehow, 374 00:17:20,400 --> 00:17:23,480 although not in the manner she expected, it worked. I 375 00:17:23,519 --> 00:17:25,720 told Rachel to go stand by the restroom door and 376 00:17:25,759 --> 00:17:27,880 wait while I reset her experiment and performed it for 377 00:17:27,880 --> 00:17:31,160 a second time. I must say I found the prospect terrifying. 378 00:17:31,799 --> 00:17:33,640 I just wanted to reward my student for hope of 379 00:17:33,720 --> 00:17:36,480 fund discovery and give her the closure she sought. While 380 00:17:36,559 --> 00:17:38,960 she was gone, I did exactly as promised, and when 381 00:17:39,000 --> 00:17:41,319 she returned to me, it was with tears streaming down 382 00:17:41,319 --> 00:17:43,839 her cheeks. I never asked her to tell me what 383 00:17:43,920 --> 00:17:45,480 she saw or what else may have happened at in 384 00:17:45,519 --> 00:17:48,160 that hall way, and she never offered to tell me. However, 385 00:17:48,240 --> 00:17:50,160 as a scientist, I know how much stock to put 386 00:17:50,160 --> 00:17:52,759 in the power of human emotion. Her reaction was all 387 00:17:52,759 --> 00:17:55,880 the evidence I needed. Wesley looked down, then picked up 388 00:17:55,880 --> 00:17:58,559 his coffee and took a long sip. We all knew 389 00:17:58,559 --> 00:18:02,240 he was done. Pango said, Johnny, if you believe this 390 00:18:02,319 --> 00:18:04,960 experiment actually worked a new conjured up a ghost, why 391 00:18:05,000 --> 00:18:07,519 didn't you publish it? How Come we've never heard of 392 00:18:07,559 --> 00:18:11,599 this incredible breakthrough of yours. Because Wesley instantly counted, as 393 00:18:11,599 --> 00:18:14,079 if expecting this question, I was never able to recreate 394 00:18:14,079 --> 00:18:16,599 it without Rachel, or with any item except her mother's bracelet. 395 00:18:17,119 --> 00:18:19,200 If you'll allow me to be briefly and scientific, I 396 00:18:19,240 --> 00:18:22,359 personally believe whatever emotional power Rachel instilled in that piece 397 00:18:22,400 --> 00:18:24,960 of jewy mattered more than any other factor in her experiment. 398 00:18:25,680 --> 00:18:28,200 Perhaps if someone experiencing a similar level of grief and 399 00:18:28,279 --> 00:18:30,799 viewed an object of matching power. We could recreate what 400 00:18:30,920 --> 00:18:33,319 Rachel did in the Physics Love that night. I am 401 00:18:33,359 --> 00:18:35,920 content to have experienced one such separation, though, and I 402 00:18:35,920 --> 00:18:38,599 count myself lucky to have witnessed it. Unlike at the 403 00:18:38,680 --> 00:18:40,839 end of Johnny's story, after which most of the men 404 00:18:40,880 --> 00:18:43,880 had ruminated in silence of a Westless story, nearly everyone 405 00:18:43,920 --> 00:18:47,039 spoke at once, all having something to say. It became 406 00:18:47,079 --> 00:18:49,720 immediately clear to me the character Wesley played in this group. 407 00:18:50,279 --> 00:18:52,680 He was the unwittingly arrogant academic who thought more of 408 00:18:52,720 --> 00:18:55,400 his own intellect than any of his comrades did. Yet 409 00:18:55,440 --> 00:18:57,640 he made up for this spiny personality with his bigart. 410 00:18:58,359 --> 00:19:00,720 I keenly understood that these men appreciated each other for 411 00:19:00,759 --> 00:19:03,279 their differences. For their differences are what made the gatherings 412 00:19:03,279 --> 00:19:06,799 interesting enough to continue for years and in some cases decades. 413 00:19:07,440 --> 00:19:11,119 Amid the upper accusations of exaggeration, friendly denials of credibility, 414 00:19:11,200 --> 00:19:13,880 good nature jeers at Wesley's scholarly pros, I turned to 415 00:19:13,880 --> 00:19:16,039 stamp beside me and whispered, although I'm sure it was 416 00:19:16,119 --> 00:19:18,559 quite loud, I'll need to leave to you. Thanks for 417 00:19:18,599 --> 00:19:22,279 inviting me though this has been really fun. Oh do 418 00:19:22,359 --> 00:19:26,079 you need to leave right this second? Us Stan, I stammer, 419 00:19:26,119 --> 00:19:28,039 afraid of what I might be committing to if I stayed. 420 00:19:28,720 --> 00:19:31,000 Stan said, well, at least stick around for one more 421 00:19:31,039 --> 00:19:33,640 if you can. I've got to tell my story. Yet 422 00:19:34,279 --> 00:19:37,000 it's one some of you won't by I know some 423 00:19:37,039 --> 00:19:39,839 of you will. Though the others quit bagging on Wesley 424 00:19:39,920 --> 00:19:42,680 and gave their attention to Stan. He turned to me again, 425 00:19:42,720 --> 00:19:45,799 with his head cocked and said, maybe even you new friend. 426 00:19:46,480 --> 00:19:48,640 I think he may have forgotten my name, but something 427 00:19:48,680 --> 00:19:51,279 and how he looked at me felt indescribably knowing. He 428 00:19:51,359 --> 00:19:52,720 gave me the sense that we were in on a 429 00:19:52,759 --> 00:19:55,039 secret together, orbeit a secret. I could not pretend to 430 00:19:55,039 --> 00:19:57,880 be aware of the one man standing against the back 431 00:19:57,880 --> 00:20:00,279 wall scene to become very interested. As soon as stam 432 00:20:00,359 --> 00:20:03,160 made to begin his story, and he too, the standing 433 00:20:03,200 --> 00:20:06,319 man watched me like a light hearted co conspirator. I 434 00:20:06,359 --> 00:20:08,599 haven't thought much about how to start this, said Stan, 435 00:20:08,799 --> 00:20:10,440 so I guess I'll just lay out if a groundwork 436 00:20:10,440 --> 00:20:13,240 can go from there. I took Paladin. Oh gosh, how 437 00:20:13,319 --> 00:20:16,039 on it all now? Just about three weeks ago I 438 00:20:16,079 --> 00:20:18,680 bet any who he's a well behaved I'll be eight 439 00:20:18,720 --> 00:20:21,559 feisty golden lab. He's got to be walked at least 440 00:20:21,559 --> 00:20:23,599 twice a day or led out to play, cause otherwise 441 00:20:23,640 --> 00:20:26,240 he gets real auntsy. That boy's not meant to be 442 00:20:26,240 --> 00:20:29,680 cooped up. In fact, just after this I'll be walking him. 443 00:20:30,200 --> 00:20:31,799 To be straight with you, all, I wanted to have 444 00:20:31,839 --> 00:20:34,240 this conversation about ghosts because of something that happened to 445 00:20:34,279 --> 00:20:37,839 me just over the weekend on Saturday morning. It stuck 446 00:20:37,839 --> 00:20:39,519 close to my mind like cheese in the bottom of 447 00:20:39,559 --> 00:20:42,480 a pan. And well, I wanted to run the story 448 00:20:42,480 --> 00:20:45,559 by all of you, but I couldn't go first, No, 449 00:20:45,839 --> 00:20:47,640 not before you'd all let your mind be opened an 450 00:20:47,680 --> 00:20:50,039 inch or two. What I'm about to tell you happened 451 00:20:50,039 --> 00:20:52,079 to me is the one hundred percent no bs, no 452 00:20:52,279 --> 00:20:56,640 lies truth. I promise that Saturday morning, I took Pilot 453 00:20:56,640 --> 00:20:58,440 for a walk, and like I said, he's a real 454 00:20:58,480 --> 00:21:01,200 good boy. But that more he jumped away from me. 455 00:21:01,720 --> 00:21:03,640 He ripped the leash from my hands and nearly pulled 456 00:21:03,640 --> 00:21:06,119 me down. He shot across the street and into the 457 00:21:06,119 --> 00:21:09,079 park with the LEAs swinging and jumping behind him. I looked, 458 00:21:09,119 --> 00:21:11,359 thinking he must have seen a raccuno square, But as 459 00:21:11,359 --> 00:21:13,480 far as I could see, Pilot wasn't chasing a thing. 460 00:21:14,000 --> 00:21:15,680 He ipped and jumped through the park like he'd been 461 00:21:15,720 --> 00:21:18,279 struck mare, and for a minute I thought maybe he had. 462 00:21:19,000 --> 00:21:20,839 I called him back to me, and after a couple 463 00:21:20,839 --> 00:21:22,960 of tries, he listened and came running back with his 464 00:21:23,000 --> 00:21:25,559 tongue flapping out the side of his mouth. He looked 465 00:21:25,559 --> 00:21:29,000 so happy, just rolled with himself. Now, Pilot's been through 466 00:21:29,039 --> 00:21:30,720 a lot, so I didn't want to be too hard 467 00:21:30,759 --> 00:21:32,960 on him. I took up his leeche and tried to 468 00:21:33,039 --> 00:21:36,279 lead him home, but that stubborn dog didn't want to budge. Now. 469 00:21:36,319 --> 00:21:38,559 Instead of running around like a fool, he plunted his 470 00:21:38,599 --> 00:21:40,559 rear on the sidewalk and sat there with the dumbest, 471 00:21:40,720 --> 00:21:43,960 happiest lakif ever seen. I gave his leeche a gentle hug, 472 00:21:44,079 --> 00:21:45,880 but he would not respond to me. I looked up 473 00:21:45,920 --> 00:21:48,039 and said, come on, but it's time to get you home. 474 00:21:48,519 --> 00:21:51,039 You want a treat. That's always a good way to 475 00:21:51,039 --> 00:21:53,279 get him moving, but not that morning, apparently. And what else? 476 00:21:53,279 --> 00:21:54,759 When I looked at him, my eyes were sort of 477 00:21:54,799 --> 00:21:56,799 drawn up, as only there was nothing that were distill. 478 00:21:56,839 --> 00:21:58,960 My eyes got locked they staying into that blank space 479 00:21:58,960 --> 00:22:01,319 beside Pilot, where I felt I sensed someone there. I 480 00:22:01,319 --> 00:22:03,279 can't say how, because I didn't see it here or 481 00:22:03,279 --> 00:22:07,000 smell anybody. I just sort of sensed a person, yes, 482 00:22:07,160 --> 00:22:10,279 a human being, standing near my delk. Philip seemed to 483 00:22:10,279 --> 00:22:13,480 sense them too, and wasn't remotely bothered. In fact, I've 484 00:22:13,519 --> 00:22:16,359 never seen him look so happy. Finally, he let me 485 00:22:16,440 --> 00:22:18,839 lead him back to the house. Well, I guess he 486 00:22:18,920 --> 00:22:21,240 led me. He really didn't seem to pay me any 487 00:22:21,240 --> 00:22:23,519 mind at all as he followed whatever I couldn't see. 488 00:22:23,960 --> 00:22:26,480 At the front door, Pilot sat obediently, but not for me, 489 00:22:26,640 --> 00:22:28,440 and stared at the sky until I unlocked the door. 490 00:22:29,039 --> 00:22:31,079 He walked inside slowly, and for the rest of the 491 00:22:31,160 --> 00:22:33,400 day he moped around the house, looking sad and tired. 492 00:22:34,039 --> 00:22:35,920 I couldn't think of a reason for him to act 493 00:22:36,039 --> 00:22:38,640 like that. I offered him treats, played with him as 494 00:22:38,640 --> 00:22:41,880 well as I could, but nothing I did cheered him up. Strange. 495 00:22:42,680 --> 00:22:44,759 I took him on his evening walk at the usual time, 496 00:22:44,799 --> 00:22:48,000 but we didn't leave the block. He just seemed so depressed. 497 00:22:49,240 --> 00:22:51,720 So the next morning, this is yesterday, I was cooking 498 00:22:51,759 --> 00:22:53,960 some bacon and eating an apple. To keep the doctor away, 499 00:22:54,559 --> 00:22:57,319 I fed a couple strips of Pilot. He already seemed 500 00:22:57,319 --> 00:22:59,119 to be warming back up to his usual self, and 501 00:22:59,160 --> 00:23:01,799 I was glad to see. I always tend to move 502 00:23:01,799 --> 00:23:03,720 a bit slow on Sunday mornings, so we didn't do 503 00:23:03,720 --> 00:23:06,519 our first walk on time. I just finished breakfast and 504 00:23:06,599 --> 00:23:09,000 was tying my shoes when somebody knocked on my front door. 505 00:23:09,640 --> 00:23:12,240 This time of year, you never can know what that means. 506 00:23:12,640 --> 00:23:15,200 Could be a neighbor dropping off some Christmas cookies, could 507 00:23:15,200 --> 00:23:17,960 be somebody whose car got stuck up the road. Either 508 00:23:18,000 --> 00:23:20,960 way you'd better answer. I limped over with one shoe 509 00:23:21,000 --> 00:23:23,119 and opened up the door, but I tell you, nobody 510 00:23:23,160 --> 00:23:26,440 was there. I looked both ways. Then I realized there 511 00:23:26,440 --> 00:23:28,519 were no footprints in the snow which had blown around 512 00:23:28,559 --> 00:23:31,880 over night. I could clearly see mine and Pilots from Saturday, 513 00:23:31,960 --> 00:23:33,880 but not one fitt nor PoID yet to disturb the 514 00:23:33,880 --> 00:23:36,759 fresh layer of snow. Strange ho well. I started to 515 00:23:36,759 --> 00:23:38,519 shut the door, but Pilot dotted through it at the 516 00:23:38,559 --> 00:23:40,480 very last second. I wet the door back open and 517 00:23:40,559 --> 00:23:42,440 yelled after him, but he got out of reach. Quicken 518 00:23:42,480 --> 00:23:44,160 me with just one half lay shoe on. I had 519 00:23:44,160 --> 00:23:46,039 to just watch him go. He ran the same direction 520 00:23:46,079 --> 00:23:48,160 we usually woke, so I estimated he would go to 521 00:23:48,200 --> 00:23:50,000 the park again. In my car, I thought I might 522 00:23:50,000 --> 00:23:51,880 have a chance of catching him. I drove to the park, 523 00:23:52,000 --> 00:23:54,359 didn't see him, so I went to the next place 524 00:23:54,400 --> 00:23:57,039 that kin to mind he might have gone. Stan looked 525 00:23:57,039 --> 00:23:58,759 around the table, as if checking to see if he'd 526 00:23:58,759 --> 00:24:01,519 been understood. One of the men whose name I forget, 527 00:24:01,599 --> 00:24:05,759 asked Bruce's place. Stan looked down and slowly nodded Bruce. 528 00:24:05,920 --> 00:24:09,880 I thought, when did they mention Bruce before Wade. Wasn't 529 00:24:09,880 --> 00:24:11,480 he the one who I should have explained for our 530 00:24:11,519 --> 00:24:15,480 friend here's sake, Stan continued gesturing toward me. Pilot belonged 531 00:24:15,480 --> 00:24:19,039 to Bruce before he passed. I adopted him. We always 532 00:24:19,079 --> 00:24:21,359 got along, Pilot and I, so it seemed like a 533 00:24:21,359 --> 00:24:24,119 good fit. Knots of agreement bobbed all around me. I 534 00:24:24,240 --> 00:24:27,799 noticed one character was suddenly absent. The man standing against 535 00:24:27,799 --> 00:24:30,400 the wall had disappeared without my noticing until that point, 536 00:24:31,079 --> 00:24:33,880 Stan said, so, I naturally considered that Pilot might return 537 00:24:33,920 --> 00:24:36,599 to his long time home. Maybe he wanted to see, 538 00:24:36,599 --> 00:24:39,440 if you know his old master had come back. I 539 00:24:39,480 --> 00:24:42,519 pulled into Bruce's driveway. The sign in his yard still 540 00:24:42,559 --> 00:24:44,720 says it's for sale. I got out to have a 541 00:24:44,759 --> 00:24:47,039 look around, maybe call pilot's name a bit, to see 542 00:24:47,039 --> 00:24:49,319 if I could draw him in. I wouldn't need to, though. 543 00:24:49,960 --> 00:24:52,319 Right as I closed my car door, I heard him barking. 544 00:24:52,880 --> 00:24:54,759 I would have been relieved to hear it, except there 545 00:24:54,799 --> 00:24:57,400 was just one problem. The barking was coming from inside 546 00:24:57,400 --> 00:25:00,359 the house. I hadn't noticed him because of the inflection 547 00:25:00,400 --> 00:25:02,240 on the window all are, but now I could clearly 548 00:25:02,279 --> 00:25:05,319 see his face in Bruce's front window. He was smiling, 549 00:25:05,480 --> 00:25:07,240 eager to see me. I assumed some one must have 550 00:25:07,279 --> 00:25:09,480 been around, maybe the realtor, and let him inside to 551 00:25:09,519 --> 00:25:12,039 keep him until animal control could pick him up. So 552 00:25:12,079 --> 00:25:14,519 I knocked on the front door. Some one had to 553 00:25:14,519 --> 00:25:17,759 be there right. Nobody answered, so I checked her round 554 00:25:17,799 --> 00:25:20,839 back through the patio door. The house looked pretty empty. 555 00:25:20,880 --> 00:25:23,519 Beside the pilot, I found a realtor's hide to key, 556 00:25:23,599 --> 00:25:26,400 but I didn't have the combination. Luckily, it turned out 557 00:25:26,440 --> 00:25:28,759 nobody told the realtor about the keepers kept hidden in 558 00:25:28,799 --> 00:25:31,559 the doorbell. Isn't that crazy though? That the doors were 559 00:25:31,599 --> 00:25:34,759 locked even though Pilot was inside, somebody could have let 560 00:25:34,799 --> 00:25:36,759 him in and left him, but it hadn't been that 561 00:25:36,880 --> 00:25:39,920 lawn yet. Anyhow, Pilot met me at the door, but 562 00:25:40,000 --> 00:25:41,960 was careful not to let me catch him by the collar. 563 00:25:42,559 --> 00:25:44,680 Maybe going in with the Lecian hand wasn't a good idea. 564 00:25:45,359 --> 00:25:47,400 I announced myself to any one who might be around 565 00:25:47,400 --> 00:25:50,599 as I followed Pilot into the house. Bruce's family took 566 00:25:50,640 --> 00:25:53,319 all the pictures and sentimental stuff down, but otherwise his 567 00:25:53,400 --> 00:25:56,000 house is still pretty much how it always was. It 568 00:25:56,079 --> 00:25:59,079 felt strange to be back there. Pilot went into the kitchen, 569 00:25:59,119 --> 00:26:01,519 then around to the stair case going up. I was 570 00:26:01,640 --> 00:26:04,039 right on his tail and till the kitchen. I stopped 571 00:26:04,039 --> 00:26:05,599 there because I was pretty sure I had heard one 572 00:26:05,599 --> 00:26:08,039 of the boards above my head and creek. I told 573 00:26:08,119 --> 00:26:10,240 Pilot to come back, but of course he didn't listen. 574 00:26:10,319 --> 00:26:12,440 He went right up those stairs, straight toward the place 575 00:26:12,440 --> 00:26:15,079 where I now most definitely heard a second creek. It 576 00:26:15,160 --> 00:26:17,599 sounded like a grown man was standing directly above me, 577 00:26:17,880 --> 00:26:19,839 which those of you who've been there might know was 578 00:26:19,839 --> 00:26:22,960 Bruce's bedroom. I listened through the floor as Pilot joined 579 00:26:22,960 --> 00:26:25,319 the person standing above me. I waited to hear a voice, 580 00:26:25,400 --> 00:26:29,799 but no one spoke. Pilot was obediently quiet, not hyperlike 581 00:26:29,839 --> 00:26:33,200 he usually get around strangers. That gave me a little comfort. 582 00:26:33,759 --> 00:26:36,400 Again announcing myself, I went up the stairs as loudly 583 00:26:36,480 --> 00:26:38,960 as I could. I wanted to give forever was up 584 00:26:39,000 --> 00:26:40,880 there as much notice as possible that I would soon 585 00:26:40,960 --> 00:26:43,960 up here. Pilot stuck his head out of the bedroom doorway, 586 00:26:44,000 --> 00:26:47,319 then quickly spun around back inside. I started talking right 587 00:26:47,319 --> 00:26:49,400 away as I got to the room. I think I 588 00:26:49,440 --> 00:26:52,599 said something like sorry for letting him bother you before 589 00:26:52,599 --> 00:26:55,319 I froze there in the doorway. Pilot was in air 590 00:26:55,480 --> 00:26:58,480 all by himself. I heard another footstep down the hole 591 00:26:58,519 --> 00:27:00,920 in one of the other rooms. I called out and 592 00:27:00,960 --> 00:27:04,720 stepped into the hallway, but nobody responded, so I asked Pilot, 593 00:27:04,960 --> 00:27:07,440 where are they? Boy? He stopped in front of me 594 00:27:07,480 --> 00:27:09,599 in a doorway for a second with his tail straight back. 595 00:27:10,359 --> 00:27:13,440 Neither of us breathed. After a time, Pilot braved the 596 00:27:13,440 --> 00:27:15,279 shore trip back to the bedroom down at the corner 597 00:27:15,319 --> 00:27:18,720 of the hall. I decided to keep back. As soon 598 00:27:18,720 --> 00:27:21,200 as Pilot reached that doorway, his tail pointed upwards and 599 00:27:21,240 --> 00:27:24,400 he ran in, watching him disappear startled me into a run. 600 00:27:24,880 --> 00:27:27,680 He barked twice. My heart was fit to burst. You know, 601 00:27:28,319 --> 00:27:30,480 I started to wonder just who or what exactly we 602 00:27:30,599 --> 00:27:35,119 chased into that dark room. A burglar, a squatter. Pilot's 603 00:27:35,160 --> 00:27:37,839 a big boy, but he's no fighting dog. I've reached 604 00:27:37,839 --> 00:27:39,720 the doorward just in time to watch Pilot chase his 605 00:27:39,799 --> 00:27:42,440 own shadow into the corner. He stopped and looked up 606 00:27:42,440 --> 00:27:44,720 about half way to the ceiling, and his tail stopped dragging. 607 00:27:45,240 --> 00:27:47,319 It stuck back at an angle like a warning flag. 608 00:27:48,039 --> 00:27:50,680 When he barked, I recognized the anticipatory tone he always 609 00:27:50,720 --> 00:27:52,519 took if I struggled too long to open his treat 610 00:27:52,599 --> 00:27:54,039 jar or locked the door on our way out of 611 00:27:54,039 --> 00:27:56,960 the house. With each bark, he wriggled backward a bit 612 00:27:57,000 --> 00:27:59,119 and gestured slightly towards the floor in front of him 613 00:27:59,160 --> 00:28:01,680 with his head. I said to him, come on, boy, 614 00:28:01,759 --> 00:28:04,279 let's get you back home, but he wouldn't budge from 615 00:28:04,279 --> 00:28:06,759 that corner. It took me ten minutes to get him 616 00:28:06,759 --> 00:28:09,359 to leave. But once we got out of there, things 617 00:28:09,359 --> 00:28:12,319 have carried on like normal since strange heart. That's what 618 00:28:12,400 --> 00:28:14,279 got me thinking about ghosts, and that's the story I 619 00:28:14,359 --> 00:28:16,319 wanted to share, I've felt stand looking at me, But 620 00:28:16,359 --> 00:28:18,119 I was looking at the big front window into the 621 00:28:18,160 --> 00:28:20,440 fallen snow since morning Belsat and the corner. The window 622 00:28:20,480 --> 00:28:22,079 looked a long way down the next block, although the 623 00:28:22,079 --> 00:28:24,200 blowing snow made it difficult to see indetail passed the 624 00:28:24,240 --> 00:28:26,839 fire hydrant in the corner. People floorid but to oblivist 625 00:28:26,880 --> 00:28:28,759 a toll man passing by them, all bothered by the 626 00:28:28,799 --> 00:28:32,720 coal and blown snow. Somehow, even from behind, I recognized 627 00:28:32,720 --> 00:28:35,319 the man who'd been leaning against the wall. He's still 628 00:28:35,359 --> 00:28:38,279 with us there, friend, Stan asked me. I turned to 629 00:28:38,359 --> 00:28:40,440 him and said, sorry, I guess I'd just got lost 630 00:28:40,440 --> 00:28:42,559 thinking about the sorts of possibilities a story leg that 631 00:28:42,640 --> 00:28:45,559 opens up the Forstan could even take in these words, 632 00:28:45,599 --> 00:28:47,920 I asked, what did you say your friend's name was? Again, 633 00:28:48,519 --> 00:28:54,880 Bruce replied Wesley. Johnny clarified Bruce Edwards. Edward's oh never mind. 634 00:28:55,519 --> 00:28:57,640 I thought it sounded familiar, but I was thinking of 635 00:28:57,640 --> 00:29:01,240 some one else. Stan eyed me, likely realizing along with 636 00:29:01,279 --> 00:29:03,200 me that no one had said Bruce's last name. Allowed 637 00:29:03,240 --> 00:29:07,000 Yet he didn't say anything, though. Instead he got caught 638 00:29:07,039 --> 00:29:10,680 up in the low but lively discussion which his story provoked. Meanwhile, 639 00:29:10,839 --> 00:29:13,000 I pulled out my phone under the table and searched 640 00:29:13,000 --> 00:29:16,039 for Bruce Edward's obituary, as I hoped it included a 641 00:29:16,079 --> 00:29:19,039 recent ford of him, and sure enough, the face staring 642 00:29:19,119 --> 00:29:20,799 up at me was the same which had interacted with 643 00:29:20,799 --> 00:29:24,799 me from the back wall. Excuse me, I interrupted, Sorry, 644 00:29:24,920 --> 00:29:27,640 but I really need to go. Great story is everyone? 645 00:29:28,279 --> 00:29:30,119 Tell you? What? If you'll let me join you to morrow, 646 00:29:30,200 --> 00:29:32,480 I just might have a good ghost story myself. I 647 00:29:32,480 --> 00:29:35,480 think you'll all find it pretty interesting. Stan winked at 648 00:29:35,480 --> 00:29:38,000 me and said, see you tomorrow. Then I hurried out 649 00:29:38,000 --> 00:29:40,319 into the cold, realizing I've forgotten to leave a tip 650 00:29:40,319 --> 00:29:43,279 for Christy in the jaw. Oh well, I would get 651 00:29:43,319 --> 00:29:46,319 her double tomorrow. I couldn't afford the time to turn back. 652 00:29:47,039 --> 00:29:49,559 By the time I confirmed his identity, Bruce's ghost had 653 00:29:49,559 --> 00:29:52,519 already drifted out of sight down the block. Shielding my 654 00:29:52,559 --> 00:29:54,519 eyes against the flurry, I pursued him, but at the 655 00:29:54,559 --> 00:29:56,839 next coroner, with no sign of the tall operation in 656 00:29:56,880 --> 00:29:59,960 any direction, I surrendered. I would not get to ask 657 00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:02,000 Spruce why he chose to appear at his morning club 658 00:30:02,079 --> 00:30:04,599 and watch me alone unless Stan could also see him. 659 00:30:04,640 --> 00:30:07,680 Hence the insinuation and winking. What I told those men 660 00:30:07,720 --> 00:30:10,079 the next morning, after Sherry my story about seeing a 661 00:30:10,119 --> 00:30:12,400 mysterious man standing in the back of the coffee shop 662 00:30:12,559 --> 00:30:14,359 was that I thought Bruce might be making his rounds 663 00:30:14,599 --> 00:30:17,640 saying his good byes. Even those who had seemed skeptical 664 00:30:17,680 --> 00:30:19,920 of the stories told the prior morning appeared to accept 665 00:30:19,920 --> 00:30:23,200 this theory with humble gratitude. From then on, I've always 666 00:30:23,200 --> 00:30:25,160 waved to the regulars when I picked up my coffee, 667 00:30:25,240 --> 00:30:27,880 but I've never sat with them again. They never pushured 668 00:30:27,920 --> 00:30:30,799 me to ada. It isn't my time to join them yet. 669 00:30:31,359 --> 00:30:34,200 Whatever the reason, Bruce and maybe Stan chose me through 670 00:30:34,240 --> 00:30:36,200 which the channel the gift of Bruce's final good bye. 671 00:30:36,240 --> 00:30:38,279 I'm glad he did, because I received a gift from 672 00:30:38,319 --> 00:30:41,039 it myself. I've learned not to hurry so quickly through 673 00:30:41,039 --> 00:30:43,480 each day, always too eager to reach the next stage, 674 00:30:43,559 --> 00:30:47,319 the next chapter. I know I'll get there eventually. Right now, 675 00:30:47,359 --> 00:30:49,559 I need to pay attention to what's happening right around me. 676 00:30:49,799 --> 00:30:53,000 Right now, there are stores happening in every direction, and 677 00:30:53,079 --> 00:30:55,000 ghosts will likely touch every one of them at one 678 00:30:55,000 --> 00:30:55,680 point or another.