A Friday morning conversation
The Setup: A gentleman came to our office area today looking for my boss, who wasn't in at the time. He was trying to find someone who had lived in Orlando for 25+ years. Offering to help him, even though I've only been here since 1992, he explains he's trying to find some information about a bus crash that happened a long time ago involving Seminole County Sheriff Don Eslinger. He showed a printout that looked like it was supposed to be from a news web site story, but it was just a picture, a vague caption, and a plethora of link farm posts. So I did some Googling:
Me: Aha, found it. (Referring to http://www.news-journalonline.com/special/buscrash/frtHEAD01110206.htm )
Visitor: What does it say?
Me: Looks like it was October 14, 2006, during a charity demolition derby where county sheriffs drove buses. Says Lake County Sheriff Chris Daniels was killed, apparently due to Eslinger's driving tactics.
Visitor: No, that's not right. It was longer ago than 2006, and Eslinger died.
Me: (pulling up the Seminole County Sheriff web site - http://www.seminolesheriff.org/ ) I'm afraid you're wrong. Either that, or someone forgot to tell the Sheriff's office, or they have a ghost working for them. (Eslinger's name and photo are still prominent on the site.)
Visitor: (attempts to point at something on my computer screen and mashes his finger on it)
Me: I prefer people not put fingerprints on my monitor please. Thank you.
Visitor: (looks at me without moving his finger.)
Me: (I literally reach for his hand and move it away.)
Visitor: (nonplussed, mumbled something indiscernible about Eslinger dying and not Daniels.)
Me: Well, I'm afraid you're mistaken, and my apologies, but I'm on publication deadline and need to get back to my work.
Visitor: (turns and walks away without another word.)
Me: …