Chaz Strebor: Or Is He?

Strange Voices

Stop! I yelled, as something pushed me backward and onto the ground. Who pushed me?

As I listened for a few minutes, I still didn’t hear anything. My body tensed up and fear overwhelmed me as I struggled to locate my flashlight because I wanted to see what or who lurked nearby, and I didn’t want someone to mug me out here in this dimly lit alley. When I found it, I moved it back and forth to survey the area and to see if I could locate anyone lurking around, but I couldn’t locate anyone, so whoever hid in the alley must have disappeared when I hollered out because he didn't want to be seen, or maybe he hid somewhere in the alley waiting to do something else. After a few minutes, I felt something scurry across my leg.

I wanted to holler out to whoever was there, but I didn’t think I anyone would respond, so I cautiously stood up and proceeded to shine the flashlight back and forth to see if I spotted anyone waiting to attack me. Since I couldn't spot anyone, I concluded that whoever hid from my view vanished quickly. I had walked through this alley many times before, but nothing like this has ever happened. I hesitated before I continued to walk to the back door of the office supply store because I didn't want someone to notice me.

I didn't have any trouble entering the back door, which amazed me because I thought most places would have an alarm system to warn the police about any break-ins, but I'm glad this place didn't have an alarm.

On the other hand, I didn't want to break into a place, but I was fascinated with the life of a burglar.

As I glanced around the store, my body tensed up when I noticed a dim light until I realized it was the streetlight, and then I began to relax, but I wondered if I'd have trouble locating my writing supplies. However, I managed to start down an aisle, using my flashlight, but I bumped into a stand in the middle of the aisle, plopped onto the floor with the items tumbling on top of me, and blurted out, Ouch! as I shuffled the items to the side so I could stand up.

Starting to rise up, I had second thoughts when I noticed a bright light shining inside. I hoped that the person outside didn't realize I was in the store because that would really ruin my plans, and I didn't want that to happen. Then, it crossed my mind that whoever stood outside and shined the light inside, might be a police officer, and I didn't want to confront a police officer, so I sat motionless and hoped the person would disappear soon.

When something scurried across my leg, I became startled, jumped up, and started waving my arms back and forth in order to avoid whatever was on the floor. However, I remembered I didn't want to stand up because of the light shining into the store, so I plopped down and attempted to remain quiet.

Finally, the light disappeared, so I attempted to stand up, but I stumbled through the items on the floor. I gained my stature, walked down the aisle, and grabbed all the items I needed, which included pencils, pens, erasers, and whiteouts. I walked down another aisle hoping to find some notebooks to write my stories and some smaller notebooks so I could write my journal.

When I finished the job, I took out two blue square cards that had the letter S on one and the letter H on the other one, and then I put them on the floor in the middle of an aisle. I had several cards made, so I could have them ready after I completed my evening work. I usually left some kind of clue that would show the police I'd been there, but I didn't leave identifiable evidence because I wanted the police to be baffled as to my identity.

My name is Chaz Strebor - Or Is It? I'm an educated person who wanted to earn a living like anyone else, but I had my own way of meeting my financial obligations. I also worked out all the time and became confident that my great body created a tough character in good physical condition, which would help me escape from anyone who stood in my way of earning a living.

However, when someone constantly criticized me throughout my life, I became overly sensitive and developed a low self-esteem, but now I decided to overcome those negative feelings and strive to reach my goal in life, which was to live a successful life doing something I enjoyed.

Because I didn't want anyone to notice me at times, I pondered over the job possibilities and when I could work without having anyone assist me. I searched for places where I could obtain notebooks, file folders, pencils, pens, post-it notes, paper clips, white outs, erasers, and other writing supplies. I've always wanted to write because writers could work anywhere they lived, and I wanted people to read my stories and books, so they could become acquainted with me and what I have accomplished as well as enjoy my fiction stories and books.

However, I couldn't obtain the resources in order to write my short stories and books, and I needed my writing supplies handy. Even though I had other types of jobs, writing was the most efficient job for me because no matter where I lived, I could always write.

After I finished getting my supplies, I scurried back to my run-down apartment where I've lived the last two months, but I planned to leave this dump because I wanted to search for a better place to live. Eventually, I wanted to travel in a houseboat, so I could have the freedom to do what I wanted and to escape from those who trailed after me, but I needed some money.

The elevator door closed before I could step inside, so I had to push the button. As I walked out my door, I headed toward the elevator, and then I pushed the down arrow to the first floor and waited for the elevator to arrive on my floor, but when the elevator stopped, a man, of average weight and height and dressed in a blue suit, stepped off and greeted me. How are you tonight? the man asked.

I'm doing okay. What about yourself? I asked, as I flexed my fingers several times.

I'm doing fine. I went out to a Mexican restaurant for supper, and now I'm ready to return to my apartment, so I can watch television before I retire for the night.

I hope you enjoy your evening watching television, I replied.

You seem nervous. Are you all right?

I'm in a hurry, I said, as I stepped into the elevator and pushed the button to the first floor.

Wow! He was chatty. I’m glad I had the courage to just get on the elevator and shut the door. I normally wanted to be by myself instead of confronting anyone, but he seemed okay, or at least he accepted what I told him about going to work.

When the elevator stopped on the first floor, the door opened, and I walked out the front door of the apartment building and noticed that nobody else lurked around the area, so that was a perfect set up for me. On the other hand, I didn't mind confronting some people, so I wouldn't seem too obvious about going out alone at night. I didn't want people to become suspicious of my activities at night, especially the police. As I casually strolled down the sidewalk, I looked for my destination. After I walked four blocks, which was near the woods and near the boat dock, I spotted a shop.

When I opened the back door with ease, I stood there amazed at how easily I could break into this place because I thought most stores had alarms on their doors, so people couldn’t break into them, but this place was too easy to enter, so I thought that my desire to work as a burglar might be an easy job. However, the only problem I could foresee was how burglars would escape from the police, but since the stores didn’t have alarms, I thought that would be easy to do. As I walked down the first aisle, I bumped into a stand and stumbled onto the floor with the items tumbling on top of me.

Not again! What is it with stores? Why do these owners place stands in the middle of the aisles so customers have a difficult time walking or even seeing what is on the shelves, I blurted out, as I shuffled the items to the side of me. I managed to stand up and walk again. I thought how this store was exactly like the other one -- too many stands in the aisles, which made it difficult for people to walk without bumping into them. These owners should realize that customers need more space to walk, especially if they have carts for their merchandise. They should spread their stands out more and make the aisles larger, so people could stroll down the aisles easier without bumping into stands or other customers. I wonder what the owners would do if I left a message about moving the stands to a better location, so customers could walk down the aisles without bumping into them. I just might do that, and then I could come into the store during the day to see what action they took because of my note. I quickly wrote my note and left it by the cash register, so a clerk would locate it immediately.

I managed to rise up but ducked down quickly when I heard a noise outside the store. Sweat dripped down my face as I peered through the merchandise and stared at the figure of someone who was average height and weight. I panicked and didn’t know what I should do. I didn’t want to stick around here and wait for the mysterious person to intrude on my night duty, but I didn’t know what to do next. I wondered who could be shining lights in the windows, and then I thought maybe a police officer might be outside patrolling the streets in search of someone committing a crime and that frightened me because I didn’t want to confront a police officer.

As I stared at the image of the figure, my body tensed up and chills traveled throughout my body when I heard someone attempt to enter the front door. I didn’t want to confront a police officer or a burglar in disguise, so I waited fearfully to see if the intruded opened the door. When the light disappeared, my body relaxed some because I thought whoever shined the light inside probably couldn't see anyone and left. I managed to stand up and grab my stolen items before somebody else returned with a flashlight or attempted to enter the store again. Hopefully, I can make it to the back door, I mumbled.

Maybe you'll escape out the back entrance, but then again you might not escape, so you better watch out because you never know who might be outside waiting for you in the alley, but I’m here to protect you, I heard someone say.

Stunned by hearing another voice, I stood stiff as a statute hoping the person would disappear soon because I still didn't want to confront a police officer or another burglar. Glancing around in the dimly lit room to see if I could locate a figure, I didn't notice anyone, so I didn't know what to think.

After a few minutes, I finally got up the nerve to speak even though I couldn’t see anyone. Who said that? I asked. Why would you want to protect me when you don’t even know my identity, and how can you protect me when you don’t make yourself visible to me?

I did.

Who are you and where are you? I shouted.

You'll find out soon enough, but I want you to remember that I’m not going to harm you. I’m here to protect you.

Where are you? I can’t see you, and I want to see who I’m communicating with, so I won’t think I’m talking to a ghost.

"Remember this: Thou Shalt Not Steal."

Now, I’m talking to a religious ghost, so I must be hearing things and communicating with my own mind or some other internal being because ghosts aren’t real, I mumbled.

Maybe you’re hearing things and maybe you’re not. All I’m going to reveal to you is that I’m real, and I’m here to protect you because God wants you, the voice said.

As I glanced around the room, I noticed the neatly stocked shelves with office supplies, and I thought about how I'd like to purchase several items, so I could organize my office better. I continued to survey the room, but I didn’t notice anyone or see any visual signs of a shadow moving from aisle to aisle in the dark, so I didn’t know what to think about this person who talked to me. I also hoped he or she wasn’t a police officer who decided to play tricks on me just so he or she could seize me. I attempted to rush out of the store without falling again, but that didn't happen. I couldn’t believe that I bumped into another stand and stumbled onto the floor along with the stuff that tumbled on top of me.

Quit bothering me you religious ghost if you're really there, I blurted out, as I struggled to move the office supplies to the side of me. I didn’t understand what was happening to me, but I thought someone had to be in here with me because I wouldn’t say things about religion. I couldn’t see anyone, as I scrambled to stand up. I stood stiff and felt a lump in my throat when I noticed something scurrying across the floor in front of me. I wanted to scram out of there as soon as possible, so I dropped two other cards with the letter R on one and the letter C on the other one and rushed toward the back door. I breathed a sigh of relief when I managed to arrive at the back door, but then something happened that scared the wits out of me - I stumbled on something in front of the door that wasn't there - What’s going on? Who put that box there? I blurted out, after I fell to the ground. I stood up and dusted off my clothes, but anger started to swell up inside because of the terrible incidents that happened to me in this store. Someone was out to get me, but I didn’t know why anyone would want to harm me because I haven’t done anything to anyone. I looked around the dimly lit alley, but I couldn't see anyone and none of these incidents made any sense to me.

I put the box in front of the doorstep, I heard a voice reply and then a giggle.

Who are you, and why did you cause me to stumble and fall you comical ghost?

That's me, a comical ghost who likes to drive people crazy.

"Just go away and leave me alone, you comical ghost. It's not funny when people fall