Welcome

Ron shook the manager’s hand as he smiled. The interviewing manager greeted him with a similar gesture. The man introduced himself as Justin Keller and had worked for the Alias hardware for over twenty years. Although recently, they had gone global and had lost several warehouse operators due to retirement and workflow. Ron sat when the man offered, and they started talking. The manager was impressed by his former vocation, having the added experience of warehouse management. He only took on ghost hunting and writing after the paper plant closed down.

“I heard it was difficult keeping things running there. I mean, the mill in Auburn must have been something. Too bad it closed.” Justin remarked.

Ron nodded, agreeing with the man, but the realization that his former employer had been out of business for some time. The only other experience Ron had was working on his own for the last few years. And that was not much of an existence. He was beginning to feel that the interview was nothing more than motions until the man across the desk said, “Do you remember how you kept up at the mill? I know it’s been a while.” Ron watched as the man looked to his resume on the desk, “do you think you could make things work as refined here as you did there?”

Ron nodded. The work he’d done back where he used to live kept him busy, but it was a challenge he enjoyed. The opportunity he experienced had him matching wits with others from around the world. And he was able to do it.

As Ron was about to speak, the door to the office flew open, and a man rushed in, yelling, “it’s happening again. The damn machine is acting funny. You have to do something about it.”

Ron turned to see the man, the expression of fear prominent. Justin looked to the man in the doorway, “uh, I’m in the middle of something. I’m sure it can wait.”

The man in the door shook his head, “we’ve replaced the machine every time. It’s not the machines. This one’s making those, uh noises. Just like the others. I think it might be the uh, the uh, you know.” Ron turned to see the man motioning his head toward the machine.

Justin held his hands up, “I’ll look at it when I’m finished. Please close the door.” He motioned for the man to leave, which he did, reluctantly.

Ron looked back to Justin, and the manager could see the quizzical look on Ron’s face. Finally, the man leaned back in his chair. “You have to forgive my shift supervisor; we’ve had some issues with some of the vending machines breaking down.”

Justin moved forward, his hands clasped together as he placed them on the desk. He looked toward the door, “we’ve replaced them each time, and it happens again. I think it the way they are manufactured.”

Ron thought for a moment, “I’ve had to fix things like that before. What kind of noise is it making?”

The smile disappeared from Justin’s face as he paused. He looked down at Ron’s resume, tapping it before he answered.

“I’ve never heard it, but others say it sounds like voices arguing. It usually happens before the machine breaks down.” Justin began to laugh. “Some think the warehouse is haunted.”

Ron looked back to the door before turning back to the man across the desk. He could see a glint of hesitation, even fear, in the man’s eyes.

Ron took a moment then smiled, “well, I might be able to help you with that too.”

The manager looked curiously toward Ron as he told him how he wrote many articles on ghost hunting, even making a semi career out of it. Then, he noticed Justin interested and went for the kill, “I’ve yet to find any evidence of ghosts. But, I can tell you I have seen some strange things. All of which, I can….” Ron paused for emphasis, “explain.”

A smile appeared on Justin’s face as he stood, “so, you’re not afraid of ghosts?”

Ron shook his head.

The manager laughed, “well, since my last few operators quit because of the so-called ghost, when can you start?”

Ron joined the man chuckling himself, “well, in a couple of days, I have to get a few things situated on the home front. But I can start as soon as that.”

The manager nodded, “we’ll make it Monday then. Take the next few days and get things set on your end, and I’ll see you then.”

Ron shook the man’s hand and turned to leave. His mind was now more at ease. At least it was from the financial problems of the bookstore. He now had a chance to focus on his new job. Justin showed him around a bit and even showing Ron the “haunted” vending machine. Ron was surprised to find it turned out to be a new doughnut vending machine. He had several angry stares from others in the room when he asked, “does it do things when they restock it?” Justin tapped Ron’s shoulder in approval as he pulled him along to show him the rest of the facility.

It was several days later, and Ron found himself working a double shift. The second shift manager had left for, as he put it, “sanity time.” The warehouse was closed, and the last shipment was stocked and logged. Ron had finished ahead of time and was waiting out the clock.

While he waited, Ron decided to do a walk through and found that most had left for the day. He could only find one additional person. And she was rushing to pack up.

“You leaving?” Ron asked.

Charlotte had been working for the warehouse for only a few months. And Ron watched as she hurried to pack her things. She only paused to stare at Ron.

“You’re not staying here alone, are you?” Charlotte asked. There was an almost squeak in her words.

Ron shrugged his shoulders, “I’ve got another two hours. I could use the money.”

Charlotte looked to him before she returned to her packing. She threw her bag over her shoulder and started toward the door. Her hand was on the knob when she spoke with concern, “this place is haunted. You better not stay.”

Ron smiled, “you may not know this, but I used to write articles on ghost hunting. So far, I’ve found no evidence of them being real.”

Charlotte gave him a glare, “be safe. There’s evil here. I don’t want to find you splattered all over like in some horror movie.” Her statement made Ron laugh, and she rushed, closing the door behind her.

It was almost time to leave, but Ron still had about a half-hour before he could close things down. To pass the time, he did another walkthrough. He used a flashlight to check the high windows since it was night. But, as he was heading back to the office, he heard noises from the breakroom. His curiosity piqued; Ron stopped to investigate. He listened to the machine clanking followed by words. But, Ron recognized the phrase.

Is that brownie? Did they just call the machine a rusted pile?

Ron moved closer and heard the rattling louder and the words more prominent. The phrase he thought he heard now sure, and Ron pounded on the machine.

“Hey, whoever you are, stop messing with the machine,” Ron said, his voice full of conviction.

Ron then heard a word he recognized, “amadan.” He had been dealing with the brownies back at his place and wondered why Josclyne always tapped Erant when he said it to Ron. The word meant idiot.

Hearing this, Ron tapped the machine again, “did you just call me an idiot?”

There was silence for a few seconds before Ron heard what sounded like scurrying up the back of the machine. Ron rushed back, shining the flashlight behind the machine. He was surprised to see two sets of dark emerald eyes now staring back at him. And if Ron were was any other person, they would have mistaken them for mice. But, Ron knew the difference between a mouse and a mouse disguise.

“Look, whoever you are, why are you messing with the machine?” Ron asked.

The two creatures only stared back.

Ron thought for a moment, Josclyne had tried to teach him some brownie words, and Ron said, “carnid, no wait, caraid, that’s it.”

His words caused the creatures to move closer until one spoke, “you know what we are? You can see us?”

Ron nodded, “yeah, been dealing with a couple like you back home. why are you trying to break into the machine?”

The small person now stood on the bracket holding the machine to the wall. As the other joined him. Ron could see a small man and woman; he knew from dealing with the others like them that all things had two sides, more of each, a sort of yin and yang. The man stepped forward, “hey, how can you see us?”

The words of the brownie sounding more normal than he’d been used to with Erant. But Ron decided to answer, “well, according to one of your fellow brownies, I have eyes, not of this world. Whatever that means.”

The other brownie looked closer at Ron, “aye, yes, he does. We hope you’re not expecting us to leave now, are ya?”

Ron shook his head, “you have everyone thinking either this place or the machines are haunted.”

The woman smiled, “then they’ll leave us be.”

Ron smiled at her logic and asked again why they were messing with the machines. The woman stepped forward, “who’s asking?”

Ron smiled, “I forgot, there is a protocol, forgot to introduce myself. My name is Ron Wilt. I’m new here.”

The woman looked at him, “and ya are not afraid of us?”

Ron shook his head, “No. But I respect what you can do.” He leaned forward, “I’ve seen it firsthand.”

The woman smiled at him, “and what makes us want to trust you?”

With a sigh, Ron replied, “that’s up to you.”

Within a moment, the small man brought his hands up, and a spark of electricity shot from the wire nearby, its singular brightness striking at Ron but was absorbed by the ring he wore around his neck. Seeing this, the brownies looked at each other. “You should be on the ground. How did you do that?”

Ron had disbelief and a hint of anger in his eyes as he stared back at them, “I see that some don’t play as nicely as others. I’ll have to remember that.”

The woman snapped back, “Are you a sorcerer? What charm are you wearing?”

Ron tugged the chain exposing the fairy ring he wore. As the small wooden ring came into view, the brownies stepped back.

“A fairy ring?” The woman then jumped forward, hanging on the edge of the machine. “You are friends with a fairy?”

Ron nodded.

The small woman looked back before jumping again to the bracket on the wall. “then you are a friend. Our apologies. We do not mean you harm. I am Tollona, and this is Masho”

Ron acknowledged them and asked again, “why are you messing with the machine?”

Masho crossed his arms, they have the most delightful pastry on one of the shelves, but the blasted machine keeps us from getting it.”

Ron moved to the front of the machine, “Which one?”

“Third up from the left side,” Tollona said.

Ron looked, “the crullers?”

“That’s the one,” Masho replied.

Ron smacked his lips, “those do look good. Let me get you one. My treat.” He then placed money in the machine and pulled the doughnut from the front. He held it as he returned to the back of the machine. He looked around before handing it to the two.

“I can’t get you one every night, but at least you can enjoy it for the moment,” Ron said.

Tallona remained as Masho took the doughnut back to the small hole in the wall. “Ron Wilt, I see why you earned a fairy ring. Consider us friends; we’ll try not to disrupt this place so much while you’re here.” She then turned with a smile. “May I ask if there is another of that ring?”

Ron nodded, “yes, but she, we own a shop together.”

“Then why are ya here?” Tollona asked.

Ron replied, “well, it is a book store. We do sell a lot of fairy-themed items, but it is difficult to keep it running.”

Tollona nodded as she turned away, disappearing into the shadows, “well, friend, we welcome you to this dwelling. Try not to make too much of a mess of it.”

Ron laughed, saying, “well, it seems like everything’s normal here. Can’t wait to tell the others about this.”