Image Information: The Oklahoma Memorial Union Source: Wikipedia
It was 2 AM on a Monday. Jane and Sam had been up late studying in the dorms. They decided that they wanted to get something to eat. They came upon the realization that the best place to go would be the Union. Crossroads was open 24/7 so it was the best choice. The girls made their way to the Union, but what they had in store for them there, no one would have ever guessed.
Opening the front door of the Union, Jane asked Sam, "What do you think you'll get? Are you gonna use your points?"
Sam replied, "My all-time favorite item here is the chorizo and egg breakfast burrito. I might use a meal just because I might get some milk and a banana too."
The girls approached the counter and ordered their food. As they waited for their food, the girls began talking about the Union and how empty it was.
"I wonder if there are any other students even in the building right now," said Jane.
"Jane, if this is one of your ideas to go look around in the building at this time of night, I'm not joining," replied Sam.
"Oh come on, Sam. I am sure there's nothing to be afraid of here. This building is harmless," said Sam.
"WRONG!" screamed the cashier at Crossroads.
Taken aback by the outlash of the cashier, the girls became frightened.
"This building is haunted more than you think. Now, you girls get your food and get on back to your rooms. Things get pretty creepy around here at as 3 AM rolls around," said the cashier as he passed the girls their food.
The girls began making their way to the front door. But before they got to the top of the stairwell, Jane stopped and said, "Sam, what if the cashier guy was trying to scare us? Can we just go walk around for a few minutes? I honestly haven't been able to tour the whole building anyways with all the hustle and bustle during the day."
Jane was terrified of the ghostly experience she faced in Holmberg, but something about that adrenaline rush made her want to see if there was anything unusual in the Union.
"No way, Jane. If you want to, do it yourself. I'm going back to the room," replied Sam.
Sam said she didn't believe the ghosts were real, but could this be a sign that Sam may be scared to face the truth?
"Fine! Have it your way. I'll be here. Have fun walking back alone," said Jane.
Jane walked towards Will Rogers Food Court. From a distance, she could hear music being played on the jukebox. She couldn't make out the words, but it seemed like someone had just selected a song to play on the jukebox in the food court.
As Jane entered the Will Rogers Food Court, she noticed that the jukebox was flashing lights, and the music seemed to be coming from there. As she approached the jukebox, she noticed that it was playing the song "Leaving on a Jet Plane." Looking around, Jane didn't see anyone who could have even decided to turned it on.
"I wonder who was here," thought Jane.
As she was searching for signs of someone being there, she heard footsteps. They kept getting closer, and closer.
"Hello? Who's there?" asked Jane.
The footsteps got closer. She began to hear them louder, and louder.
"Hello? Is anyone there?" asked Jane.
Now, Jane heard the footsteps come around the corner. She decided to run, and see who could possibly be walking around at this time. Jane fled the food court, and made her way past the Starbucks and the university post office. As she approached the end of the hall, she noticed no one was there.
Taking the stairs, Jane made her way to the second floor of the Union. She paused at the top of the stairwell only to see that the hallway was dark. She knew that the Union was powered by motion sensors. So, she decided to stay put. If someone was really walking around, she would see who it was once they entered the hallway.
Standing at the top of the stairwell, Jane heard the footsteps again. The footsteps began to get louder, and louder. Finally, she heard them take a different direction. The sound of the footsteps were faint, and it seemed like they took a different direction (whoever they may be).
Waiting to see who it was, Jane began to breathe faster and faster. The lights flickered on. The footsteps began to get closer and closer, but no one was in the hallway.
Jane fled down the stairs, and back towards Crossroads. She began to breathe heavily. The adrenaline rush of discovering a ghost excited Jane, but she was also wondering whether this would be her last ghost adventure. Would she make it out alive?
As she approached the front of Crossroads, the cashier was out of sight.
"Hello? Cashier guy? Is anyone there?" asked Jane.
Sounds of banging on the doors on the first floor resonated the first floor of the Union.
"Hello? Anybody? I need help!" exclaimed Jane.
Just as Jane turned around, the cashier was right behind her.
"Didn't I tell you go to back to the dorms?" exclaimed the cashier.
"I-I'm so sorry. I was just curious," said Jane.
"Get on out of here. The ghosts of the Union are not to be disturbed. Leave them alone," said the cashier.
The whole walk home Jane was curious about the myths of the Union. She wondered why there were ghosts there. She wanted to know the story.
When Jane arrived back in her dorm room, Sam was fast asleep. She knew this would be a story to tell in the morning. Both girls would be able to figure out the haunted mystery of the Union.
Jane climbed in her bed, only to realize - she left her burrito in the food court.
This was a night she was never going to forget.
Author's Note: In the book, Jeff Provine talks about the initial constructions of the Union and how many rooms were originally used as apartments. A couple who were cheating on their significant others would meet each other there, and would also participate in acts of theft. Eventually, they knew they would get caught, so they made plans to cross the border illegally. They began to ask for help as they approached the border. Few men decided to help the couple, and after that, the couple was never seen again. The apartments were then converted into offices in the Union, and today the couple's ghosts haunt the Union. Leaving on a Jet Plane is played from the jukebox, and it's been said that the reason why is because the couple had wishes to cross the border by plane. Unusual banging noises of the doors and footsteps are heard throughout the Union, even when no one is there.
Bibliography: Campus Ghosts of Norman, Oklahoma by Jeff Provine