Man In Black

Over the holidays I remembered this strange incident way back when I was younger.

I worked at a gas station when I was 19, in 1979; it was an isolated place just outside of town next to the freeway. So many times it could get busy and other times it is just as desolate as it looked. I worked part time after college until eight or ten at night. This particular night was slow and stormy; it was a cold dark rainy night in October. Sometimes friends would stop over to visit, but this night with the thunder and hard rain it kept everyone away. I was bored with only having a TV with three stations and a radio. I pulled my Buick in for an oil change as no business was coming my way. I found a radio station that was telling ghost stories, so I turned it up and got to work. I knew if a customer came the bell would ring as a car pulls in up to the pump.

I had the car up on the lift and was draining the oil when a visitor appeared inside at the garage door. I was not aware of him nor did I hear the bell ring. Then he spoke, "Hello sir, can you help me?" I dropped my wrench from fright of his voice; the sight of him scared me even more. He was right out of the UFO files and magazines where you hear of the "Men in Black", visiting you after witnessing a UFO. He was wearing a black suit with a white shirt sporting a thin black tie. He also wore a black hat and had dark shades on. He was around 6ft, and looked pale and old. He kept his hand on his throat. He just stood there looking at me. The scariest thing is when he spoke it sounded mechanical. Then he spoke again in that robotic voice, "Can you help me sir?" He was a customer and I had to get a grip on myself and overcome the shock. I approached him. He was wondering about directions to a section of town. I could not get over his voice, figured with his hand on his neck that he had a voice box transplant perhaps from smoking, but it was sure creepy. I gave him the information and he thanked me. Still holding his throat and with a slight slouch he walked out the door.

I was relieved but still shook up. I then noticed something very odd. I realized that he was not even wet from the pouring rain. I thought to myself, "Is he a man in black and did I just give him directions to a UFO witness that just occurred, and now he has to give a visitation?" I then laughed at my thought and quickly looked out of the towering glass walls of the station to see him leave. Then the scary feeling lead me in total disbelief, when I saw no car, no headlights or tail lights, and the bell again never rang. I had to think to myself, how did he get here, and who did I just see?