Overheard on the Scanner
After Wednesday, today's show just seemed to fall together. And no, yesterday's post was not an exaggeration. I literally had no extra time. I even had to get my anchor to come in early so she could help me finish writing. But let's not dwell, shall we? Instead let's talk about tonight... well, it's really morning but I consider anytime the sun isn't up nighttime.
I've mentioned before that part of my job includes listening to the scanners. We have three - a local channel, state trooper channel, and one that rolls through every single one of our viewing areas. I'm talking the entire tri-state area (that's southwest Alabama, southeast Georgia and the central northern part of the Florida panhandle). For the most part they're just background noise and I listen for specific things.
For example: 10-70 means fire; an engine is not always a fire truck - in fact, more often than not it's an ambulance (that gets confusing sometimes); and they say 10-23 a lot but it's not important.
Most of what I hear amounts to traffic stops or some guy getting chased around town for trying to break in somewhere and tripping an alarm. One night I heard one of our meteorologists get a speeding ticket. Another night I heard one of our reporters get a noise violation for playing Rock Band.
I'm not getting off topic when I say that people joke about our building being haunted all the time. It's actually an old hotel that, to my knowledge, no one has ever died or been killed in. However, at times I think a poltergeist might have moved in. You see, the refrigerator sometimes sounds like it's trying to exorcise some kind of demon and other times, like tonight, the scanner is acting all crazy and possessed.
I swear, I could turn this blog into an "Overheard on the Scanner" site. That is, if I had time to sit and just listen for the funny, interesting or just plain weird stuff that comes out of them. As it is, I have a job to do that monopolizes most of my night. The scanner would not be ignored tonight though, so I scrapped my original post topic (to be used at a later date, of course) in lieu of sharing the midnight scanner experience with you guys.
Last night, and I'm not exaggerating this in the least, one of the scanners went all staticky and this creepy, horror-movie raspy voice comes over it saying: I can see you. I'm not sure if it's possible to hack into the air waves, but if it is I'm officially freaked out to be at work alone all night!
Tonight has been a trip. Here's the conversation that started my journey into the craziness.
Police 1: Why don't you get some gas before you run out?
Police 2: I don't think I will.
Police 1: (sarcastically) Okayyy.
I was hoping I'd hear "Can you come pick me up?" a few minutes later...
Then I got serenaded by The Temptations.
When the night is come
And the land is dark
And the moon is the only light we see.
No, I won't be afraid.
No-o I won't be afraid.
Just as long as you stand, stand by me.
Then I hear:
Please. Uh-huh.
Please. Uh-huh.
Let me ride that donkey, donkey.
Let me ride that donkey.
At this point I'm thinking, Really?! The scanners have never been this retarded, but they weren't finished. Suddenly, out of nowhere, I hear hysterical, almost-maniacal laughter that lasted a good two minutes. Two to three minutes later I hear a single but loud Yah!
I'd like to end this with something witty or a nice pun, but I honestly don't know what to make of this. You never know what's going to happen on this shift, but really? I'm slightly flabbergasted and kind of afraid of what's going to come out of it next! I'd turn it off but I don't know how, and throwing it out the window is out of the question. Unless one of you wants to start sending me a paycheck every two weeks. Any takers?
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5 comments
Unfortunately I can't send you a paycheck...well I can, but you wouldn't be able to bank them :p That sounds like a reeeeeally weird night. first scary then surreal and then, yep, definitely scary again! Hope you're not too freaked! xo
ReplyDeleteThere are people here now! LOL
ReplyDeleteWhoa, that was creepy! How did you react after hearing that?
ReplyDeleteOver here in our office building, there also have been talks about ghosts in the elevator and stuff. I've never really seen one so I don't have problems using the elevators even when I'm alone. Or maybe I'm just THAT forgetful I tend to forget about the supposed ghosts. Haha.
First of all, just because no one's died in the building doesn't mean it's not haunted. Ever seen the movie, Poltergeist? Hm... the land was rotten. And you totally live in Native American country. Lol.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, people scare me sometimes. I mean, I don't know whether to laugh or cry over these stoopid people.
@Gnetch: Then the "I see you" voice came over the scanner I wasn't by myself. One of the night anchors was still up here, but it even creeped him out. I was a little spooked yesterday though. And I was totally alone.
ReplyDelete@Christina: I totally thought I said something about a poltergeist moving in... maybe I didn't actually type it out. Hm. And that movie is really freaky. I don't like it.