Chapter 9: A POstable Ghost Story
*Dedicated to Liz Bell, Connie Wang, and Caroline Bird inspiring to write this haunted #POstables tale.*
After long of sorting and cataloging dead letters at the DLO. Norman walked over to Rita her back was face towards he taps her on the her shoulder Rita and screams which put the whole #POstables on alert. Norman intent to do so he just want to ask Rita a question.
"Forgive me, Rita, sorry in frighten you."
"Oh forgive me, Norman, this holiday just gets me jumpy that is all."
"Why is that?"
She whispers to Rita, "because of the legend of this office."
Shane heard the whispers and her curiously was peaked as she asked.
"Sorry to interrupt, but is their a ghost story about this office."
Norman said, "Yes, I believe this story was passed on to Oliver by his grandfather"
Shane yelled, "Oliver, it is true?"
"What is true, Ms. McIenery?"
Rita said, "She wants hear the ghost story that your grandfather told you when you were little."
"Rita, I don't think Ms. McIenery wants to hear a such a horrific tale."
Shane somewhat annoyed that Oliver is talking like she wasn't in the room so she made it clear,
"Listen, you guys I love you all here, but please talk to me as I am here please. Do all know how I love Halloween and especially when listening to ghost stories."
So she grabs a chair sits on it and demands from Oliver,
"Now, Oliver, put me out misery, and tell me your horrific tale."
Oliver sighs "Fine, you win, Ms McIenery but I did warn you"
Oliver instructs Norman and Rita, "Norman and Rita, deem the lights, please have a seat by Ms. McIenery,"
As the lights deem, Oliver turns faces his back towards them begins to unbutton his suit jacket throws it on top of his desk and in a hoarse voice says
"Now, I have the license to make you shrive upon delivery and tell you the horrific tale..."
Oliver then stops turns silent for a minute then makes a loud thud with his hand that made everyone shutter fear, Oliver turns abruptly and covering his face with a flashlight and zooms his face up against Shane and say with hoarse creepy voice add
" The tale of the bloody postal supervisor, Vincent Todd.
Oliver changes his voice back to his original voice to inform Ms. McIenery,
"Ms. McIenery, I have my stern reasons in keeping this office holiday decorative free especially during Halloween."
Shane asked, "And what reasons would that be, Oliver."
"My grandfather, a long time time ago, he was my age working in this very office he worked for this supervisor named, Vincent Todd, "
Rita photographic powers kick in brain as she recited a brief of summary of Vincent Todd, "I remember looking at his file for my Ms. Special Delivery competition, Vincent Todd postal supervisor, for 1930 to 1932 won most professional postal supervisor in 1931."
Oliver thanked Rita for her additional historical information and continue with his story,
"Now, Mr. Todd, he was strict keeping this very office professional and harmonious he hated when postal worker would decorate their offices with decor especially Halloween decor."
Shane interjected, "So he is just like you then right Oliver?"
Norman added, "From what I heard Oliver is teddy bear compare to this guy."
Oliver walks behind Shane and whispers, "Norman is half right, I'm more like a puppy than a teddy bear, Mr Todd was stricter than I."
Then Oliver goes back leans back on his desk and continues with the tale.
"Now where was I, oh yes, Mr. Todd he could took pride in conducting myself Professionally this office meant the world to him, and he want nothing nor one to mess with it especially during Halloween, and my grandfather made no one would come to the mean gulches of Mr. Todd of he saw the slightest pumpkin in his eyesight. That until Henry Connors came into the picture."
Shane asked "Who is Henry Conners?"
"Rita, if you please?"
Rita interjected once more, "Henry Conners, DLO employee for only the year 1932. No accommodations, but the employee with the most infractions in the same year."
"Thank you, Rita" Oliver added, "You see, Ms. McIenery the reason why Henry conners got so many infractions is because Vincent Todd despise him, Henry did respect Vincent like my grandfather did. Henry made sure he expose the postal environment with Holiday decor. Vincent try to compose his anger, but unfortunately that anger boiled over during Halloween. Henry knew how much Vincent despised the holiday. So Henry comes in early decorates this very office just you did. And."
Oliver pause to drink some ya-hoo then he continued,
"And my grandfather he tried to persuade Henry put all the decorations away he going far after he never asked for permission."
As Oliver was telling Shane this story she could that Oliver was given her lesson that she over minding his authority and not asking to put the decorations.
Despite learning and understanding of lesson she would acknowledge it afterwards when Oliver was finished with his ghost story which she had to admit he was pretty good storyteller.
Shane continued on listening to Oliver's ghost story,
"Unfortunately, Henry never listen to my grandfather and let the decorations up for Vincent Todd to see. And when Vincent Todd saw this place decorated with cobwebs and singing pumpkins. That is was made Vincent Todd snap into a twin."
Shane curious and asked, "What made him snap Oliver?"
Oliver walked leaned on the Skelton, "This what Vincent Todd snap one looked he yelled everyone to leave the office. My grandfather beg to stay try to mend bridges make piece but Vincent Todd was so passed making he pushed my grandfather out of the office door but my grandfather was a sneaky and clever man to sneak peak back into office ensure no harm would happen but..."
Oliver paused on the verge of breaking down Shane could tell he was shaken so was she by this and they even reached the climax of the story yet. Oliver taking long gulp of yahoooo once finished he pressed on,
"My grandfather back then he was young he expect what was about to witness that it forever haunt him and I myself if I actually witnessed it. "
"What did witness Oliver?"
Vincent grab on arms of the Skelton, Oliver using all his strength to pull off one the arms of Shane's Skelton, she screamed,
"Oliver!" Shane got out from her chair rushed behind Oliver who suddenly turned waved the skeleton arm in her face yelling.
"Vincent Todd!, attacked Henry Conners with this Skelton arm! , he swung at him ! Missing! " then Oliver grab shane arm and put her hand on arm pushing and pulling her side to side. The lightly pushed shane back into her seat which the push nearly took her breath away then Oliver told her, " Henry grabbed the arm try to pull away from his grasp but Henry pulled and pushed to hard so hard in fact he pushed Vincent far back that his head his on this front of this very desk as blood came out the back of his and Henry conners ran away. My grandfather called the police unfortunately the police never found Henry conners nor solved the murder of Vincent Todd. So some postal workers like my grandfather believed Vincent Todd's ghost haunts this office who decorates this office on Halloween. So that is why Ms. McIenery we will respect the dead who have come to pass in this office and remove the decorations. "
Shane nervously shakes her head in agreement know Oliver's story will give her troubles in sleeping tonight and removal of decorations at least Oliver and rest of the team will be there to help or so she thought
*The Halloween fun for the #POstables team is far from over more to come soon.*