READERS TALES
Checking In
This story
happened on May 5, 2003.
I am a producer for a local law enforcement show in Montgomery, Al. (think
"COPS", but with the Sheriff's department). During the recent war with Iraq, one
of our local boys was serving with the 101st Airborne and was killed in action.
He is from a small town near Montgomery and most of his family is still in the
area. Anyway, I was asked by the Sheriff's Department to do a memorial piece on
this brave solider to air in an upcoming episode. On Monday, May 5, 2003, I was
at the office working on the editing portion of the memorial. I got to the
office around 6pm (I have another job) and spoke briefly with the owner before
he left for the day.
I don't know when I noticed how cold it had gotten. I really didn't give the
temperature change much thought, because anyone who works with video equipment
knows that an edit bay should stay about 65 degrees so the computers don't
overheat. But this company is in a nice office and they keep the internal temp.
at about 69-70 degrees. I was dressed for my daytime office job and had on
sandals so my feet got cold first. After about an hour of having cold feet, I
wondered "Why is it so cold in here tonight?" I glanced up at the digital clock
above my computer which tells me the time, the temp outside, the temp inside,
and what the thermostat is set at. Well, the time was 8:46, temp outside was 86
degrees (southern springs are sweltering!) and the thermostat was set at 71.
(The owner knows I get cold easily so he turned it up for me) What got my
attention was that the temperature inside the office was 51 degrees! I took a
deep breath and said "Whoa" out loud. I saw my breath.
So, I set the computer to
render what I was working on and quickly went outside the building to smoke a
cigarette. My mind was racing. Who could be visiting me in this new office?
There are only three businesses in the entire building, which was just built
within the last 5 years. I started this part-time job recently (the show I
produce has nothing to do with this other job, but I was working on the memorial
piece there because I wanted to use more advanced editing equipment) and this
was my first time being there by myself. I have a lot of experience with the
paranormal. When something happens while I'm alone, I often wonder if the
experience was my imagination. (I have plenty of good stories where I do have
witnesses)
Well, I decided to go back in and continue to work. When I got back, the office
was normal. The internal temp was at 70 and it seemed like I had just flaked
out. I felt better right away and got back into the groove of working. About an
hour later, I finished up and was watching the playback. The first time I
watched it, my feet started getting cold again. I glanced at the temperature,
which hadn't changed. I rendered the video and watched it again. The piece
starts with a sad country song and fades away into "Taps" while the flag is
folded and presented to the soldier's mom. It ends with mom hugging the coffin
and fades into his picture with the dates of birth and death.
I
used too many edit tricks to describe here, but I will say the video slows down
and turns into black & white as the end of "Taps" plays (there is also the
closing quote from the eulogy playing in the background). The whole effect is
very dramatic and I found myself crying even though I didn't know the boy or his
family. Anyway, the second playback was when my feet where already cold. When
the country song fades and "Taps" comes up, I teared up and exhaled. I didn't
even know I was holding my breath and I would've never noticed if I hadn't seen
my breath again. I glanced up at the clock again. The temperature was dropping
fast. I watched it go from 57 to 54 in a matter of seconds. So I stood up,
turned to face the empty room and I quietly said, "______(soldier's name), I
wanted to do a good job for you and your mom. I hope you like it, but I'm
getting the creeps with you being here and watching me work. I'll finish it up
tomorrow." And I left. I left so quickly that though I remembered to set the
alarm, I didn't turn out the lights because I didn't want to walk out in the
dark.
I sound
brave in writing, but I don't like to confront certain things. On my way home, I
was thinking about this solider. I suddenly felt very proud and lonely all at
once. When I told my husband about what happened, he agreed with my thought that
maybe the solider just wanted to see how the piece turned out. At no time did I
feel threatened. I just felt odd.
As for the
memorial piece, it airs this Saturday night and I'm sure the solider approves of
the final edit. I'm also sure he would have let me know if he didn't.
-Jenifer.