When talk takes on an eery tone among officemates, it sure leads to rumors about the existence of a giant shadow of a "non-man" they've come to nickname 'George'. God knows for what reason they call him 'George', but it never fails to bring to mind 'Boy George'. He must be one gay monster.(Nothing against it...)
Stories hound the name. i was told there was one security guard who crossed his way on his way to the comfort room one midnight, and our probably gay fiend glared at him with fiery red eyes. The guard quit his job.
He makes appearances in other parts of the building too, like the canteen. The tindera was closing up one night, when somebody was literally shaking the shack and walking around it.
He was probably complaining non-verbally about all the soggy food that she serves.
And i found that the children monsters love the pantry too, this according to another officemate.
In the three months i've been here, I have not seen any transparent looking children running around, or a dark man named George.
Often, horror stories (true or untrue) are part of a newbie's initiation to his/her new place. it scares the wits out of them, and seeing them pant every time they have to hop from one office to the next is entertainment for the bored seniors. as months move, the paranoia wears out, and they take revenge on the next batch of newbies.
During my first few weeks at work, i kept away from places that lacked people, light or sound. i'd bolt for the door as soon as i had dark un-nameable creatures envisioned, and then pretend to co-employees that everything was perfectly normal, and that my panting is a result of some cureable disease.
This takes me back to one night with a friend while playing in the street in my hometown, when i was eight or nine years old. At the end of the street stands a huge mango tree which has always been believed to house a host of white ladies, agta and sigbins elders effectivively used on us gullible children. "Kung di ko nimo palitan og beer, ibilin tika didto sa mangga..." of course, i had no choice; i'd pass by the same tree on the way to the tindahan anyway. but back to that night...
the light post near the tree was out. suddenly we saw a white figure walking towards us, and out of fear we began tearing at each other's pathetically thin hair. "Kring-kring!!! White lady! White lady!!!" i screamed. "Charisse! White lady! White lady!!!" she screamed.
and then we both sood still.
"Aw, si ate Pipit man na."
Her sister was then taking up nursing. We continued playing Ms. Philippines.
