The Shadow People of the Iron Horse

Last week, I got an urgent text from a customer asking me to describe the ghosts of the tavern. The next day one of our new cooks came running outta the kitchen asking me to tell him what was going on...

Maybe it's because the  are in full swing, maybe it's because it's October, making it their time of year, or maybe it's just because they never go to long without reminding us who's in charge. Whatever the reason, I've decided to give due respect to the true owners of the Iron Horse Tavern...  

THE SHADOW PEOPLE OF THE PUB 

As is indicated by the fact that our pub is located in "Historic" Norcross, it's an old building...very old. The building itself is 135 years old and while much of the time it's been a pub, it's also been a grocery store, offices and (as legend has it) a brothel (no I don't mean currently, so save those jokes).

Regardless, there is a lot of history, many stories and plenty of people who have come and gone though our drafty little building. And as you well know, we offer a rip-snorting time... so why is it so hard to imagine that some people wouldn't want to stick around? 

We the employees all have a different attitude to our shadow people. Jason, another bartender, never says we're wrong, but he has said he has never experienced it (well the Shadow People aren't stupid...I wouldn't mess with the Jason either). Jeanne just doesn't want to talk about it...EVER! (Something about her playing with ghost children at a Victorian Mansion in New England...I dunno, ask her about it). JoAnna adamantly declares us crazy and the whole thing fake (which is odd being as she's our resident "werewolves are awesome, vampires are sexy, I wanna be a Zombie" gal). Others just sort of accept it with a "maybe, maybe not" attitude. Then there's Clint, the kitchen manager, and me...We've seen whats happened a few too many times for us to ignore it. 

I guess the first thing I should do is explain the Shadow People. Well, that's easy enough...they are Shadows. Dark figures that you get little glimpses of, especially around the pool table. Sure, sure, go ahead and tell me, "Uh, those aren't shadow PEOPLE, those are SHADOWS," But wait, there's more. 

The Shadow People are lurky. When I got that text last week I responded with: "They are dark figures that stand right behind you and look over your shoulder." Well my poor customer got a bit creeped out because my description was apparently word-for-word what he'd just described as happening to him. No need to be creeped, I promise. They aren't usually mean, they just want to check out what's going on. 

But if someone denies their existence, they do get a bit feisty. 

Dear JoAnna has given us the worst issues with this. (That's right Jo, I'm callin ya out. I figure maybe if I throw you under the bus publicly, they'll stop blaming us for you.) The first time Jo and I got into a conversation about it was a Sunday. She started in with the whole "you're crazy" thing. Don't do it, girl...don't say it. I braced myself for what was to come.

The rest of the evening was spent sweeping up shattered glasses that broke upon touching, tripping over the broom at constantly fell in our path and putting things back up on the walls that. In 3 years, I have never before seen things fall off the wall. Thanks Jo, ya just couldn't keep your yap shut, eh? 

Well later in the week, she starts the same lecture with Clint. Come on now, he's in the kitchen! Why ya gotta start trouble in a room with knives and boiling oil around? Clint, who starts his every day at the pub by greeting the Shadow People, tried to hush her up. He told her if she continued, they'd make themselves known... Sure enough the ramekins that were a solid 8 feet away chose to fly off the shelf moments later. I'm not sure if she gets it yet, but for our own safety we just choose to not talk to her about it. 

Like I said...They aren't mean. It's just that they were there first, so if they don't like where Clint is keeping something and choose to fling it at him, or if they feel like showing up after hours for a party (which is made evident when we open the next morning and find one or two chairs down, a TV on and the jukebox blasting so loud you can hear it from the parking lot) so be it. Shadow People wanna have fun too.

Just please, PLEASE don't tell us they aren't real. We can't afford to lose that many glasses. Oh, and HAPPY HALLOWEEN.