Throughout my years, I've encountered unusual and oftentimes unexpected situations that definitely have fallen under the category of “other worldly!” Over time, I’ve become increasingly more comfortable with sharing my stories, having been encouraged by those I’ve dared to tell of my experiences.
To that end, I offer the story of the Colonel, who made himself known to me quite unexpectedly one morning at my place of work.
His is not so much a creepy tale. In truth, I was happy to acknowledge this encounter as you will see.
My first day of work at this new office was both exciting and fraught with a bit of anxiety. I arrived a bit early. My colleagues were already engaged in setting up the office space for the day. We greeted each other and I asked about a place that I could change into my professional attire from my street clothes.
I think it’s important logistically for you, the reader, to imagine the setting of this particular office as it was not a typical one. This was a beautiful, very classically designed old home set deep in the woods in a small town on Eastern Long Island where early settlers had resided.
The space on the first floor upon entering was formerly a very large living room and sitting area.
Professional chairs and desks were now set up with computers for the other employees to seat patients and to conduct the professional work for the day in a more modern open setting.
I believe most might know that I am a dental professional and so that is how I happened upon this office in the first place.
Honestly, I was a bit curious when I had initially inquired about the parameters of this position during the interview process as I had been told that many had applied but none had chosen to stay on after a day or so. That seemed to have been stated as though it were a bit of a warning to me. Nevertheless, I chose to move forward and did indeed accept the position.
So to continue with the start of my day at my new place of employment…
I was then directed to a center hall stairway that would lead me to the upstairs rooms that were previously bedrooms. I was told that I could change in one of the rooms and the other space was used as simply as a meeting room. Perfect, or so I thought.
I began to ascend the stairway, when an image caught my eye at the very top of the steps. I thought I had seen someone but the image was only a mere brief glimpse and I chose to ignore it. Old homes with oddly positioned windows that allowed in light from various directions could cast shadows that might be misconstrued. I was neither concerned by the shadows or thought more of it until…
I took another step on the next tread and there again my eye caught someone that I now thought resembled a gentleman.
I immediately stepped back down the stairs and looked over to the space where the others were beginning their day with patients. It’s then that I was met with smirks and stares. It was as though my co-workers were conducting some weird test to see if I’d make it up to the top floor.
I quickly inquired as to who that man was at the top of the stairs.
To which “they” said…”you can see him?”
Well, of course I saw him. I replied very impatiently, thinking I was becoming the butt of this joke that they were playing on the “new” person in the office.
They asked me to describe this person…and so I did.
This is what I shared with them.
I saw an older gentleman, in what appeared to be a very dated style of military uniform from perhaps another era. I heard a jingle as he walked and saw something in his hands that resembled a set of keys. He wore boots, a long coat with embroidery and he looked at me for just a second with a blank expression and then continued on in that hallway looking ahead as though he had misplaced something. He wasn’t walking so much as I’d say he literally was “gliding” across the floor. Of this I am certain.
That description was then met with some snickering and I began to suspect that they all were well aware of the ghostly figure that occupied the second floor.
Apparently, the test or should I say the test I had passed, was having “seen” the Colonel as many had only felt an eerie presence without visual confirmation. I proceeded up to the top floor, changed into my uniform and I talked out loud to the gentlemen asking for his graciousness of me as he went about searching for the keyhole to further unlock the mystery of his presence in that house.
Apparently, as the story then unfolded, some of the eldest of the neighbors knew of the presence of the Colonel. There had been a story handed down over time before the last of the family who knew him had finally passed away. That’s when the home was sold to the present owner with no knowledge of the Colonel's existence except for his ghostly presence until this very day as I am told.
I always silently prayed that he would find what he was looking for…embellishing that it might’ve been to know the whereabouts of his beloved written in an old journal.
I am a romantic at heart.
I continued working in this office for only a brief period more.
I didn’t leave because of the Colonel…I left because my ability to visually see him surely had to be interrupting his search and I knew I had to leave him to it.
As for my fellow colleagues…they finally admitted that they steered clear of the upstairs area and ate in their cars.
Cowards…!
Pat Larsen is a syndicated columnist and author. She lives, works, plays and prays in Greene County, NY. Have a ghost story of your own?…give her a call to chat #518-275-8686. She’ll write about your story next.
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