The Awakening

Summary

Snap Judgment: The Awakening
Released on July 3, 2025
Hosted by Snap Judgment and PRX

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Introduction

In the "The Awakening" episode of Snap Judgment, listeners are treated to a series of spine-chilling narratives that blend real-life experiences with hauntingly immersive beats. This episode, a collaboration with the sister podcast Spooked, delves into supernatural encounters and unexplained phenomena that challenge the boundaries between the natural and the paranormal. The stories are masterfully woven to encourage listeners to perceive the world through the eyes of others, all set to the podcast's signature dramatic and cinematic soundscape.

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Michelle’s Haunting in Montserrat

Timestamp: [00:02 – 19:08]

The episode opens with the story of Michelle, a resident of the Caribbean island Montserrat. Raised in the opulent Gearbox house, Michelle's childhood was anything but ordinary. The Gearbox, owned by her grandparents, was a hub of social activity with lavish cocktail parties that transformed the spacious dining and drawing rooms into dance floors. Despite the grandeur, an undercurrent of mystery pervaded the household.

Michelle recounts experiencing eerie phenomena from an early age. At around 2 PM one afternoon, she hears a woman's voice calling her name with a "very posh British accent" ([05:41]). Confused and seeking answers, Michelle approaches the household staff, only to be told they did not hear her. This marks the beginning of her encounters with the supernatural.

Notable Quote:

“I heard a woman's voice calling me. She called my name very, very slowly with a very posh British accent. Me shell innocent sounding, sweet, lovely, almost playful.” – Michelle ([05:41])

The house itself seemed to be a conduit for strange occurrences. Glass windows allowed the wind to howl through the rooms, creating auditory illusions of "a thousand women screaming." Shadows danced along the walls, adding to the unsettling atmosphere. One night, as Michelle navigates a dark passage to the bathroom, she glimpses ghostly couples dancing silently in the drawing room. These apparitions, dressed in 17th-century attire, mesmerize her until she decides to investigate further.

During one such encounter, an older gentleman with "long and swept back" gray hair approaches Michelle. They dance together, but his touch becomes unnervingly cold, prompting her to flee in fear ([05:41]). This chilling interaction leaves her questioning the nature of these apparitions and the energy surrounding her friend, Mr. Gere.

The culmination of Michelle's haunting experience occurs during a violent thunderstorm. In a terrifying vision, she encounters a grotesque man with half of his face melted, who attempts to attack her. Upon waking, she discovers the manifestation of this figure in her bedroom, causing her immense fear and distress ([16:06]).

Michelle's account ends with the Gearbox being destroyed by a volcanic eruption in 1995, burying the house and extinguishing the supernatural presence. Her return to the site years later revealed no trace of the once-grand house, suggesting that perhaps the spirits had finally found peace beneath the ash ([18:43]).

Notable Quote:

“I couldn’t understand why there was no music or talking or laughing. I knew that there was something not quite right.” – Michelle ([05:41])

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Adam’s Journey with Pepito in Puerto Rico

Timestamp: [23:45 – 39:39]

The episode transitions to the poignant story of Adam, who shares his deep-rooted connection with his great-grandfather, Pepito, in the lush landscapes of Yaoko, Puerto Rico. Raised amidst mountains and dense jungles, Adam's childhood was intertwined with the wisdom and traditions of the Taino people, as embodied by Pepito.

One vivid memory involves a formidable bull that terrifies young Adam. With his father's guidance, Pepito uses a powerful whistle to exert control over the bull, demonstrating a profound bond between man and nature. This encounter not only alleviates Adam's fear but also instills a sense of awe and respect for the natural world ([23:45]).

Notable Quote:

“I didn’t like his cold hands. See, some people are sparks, the first ember of the inferno. Otherwise, the mystery will remain silent.” – Narration ([05:41])

As Adam grows older, he witnesses the interconnectedness between humans and animals on the mountain. During a thunderstorm, after the passing of Pepito, Adam experiences an overwhelming presence sensed by the animals. The valley is filled with the agonized cries of animals mourning Pepito's death, signaling a spiritual awakening and the animals' inherent ability to perceive the transition between life and death.

In a reflective moment, Adam grapples with the concept of death, questioning whether animals possess a unique sensibility that humans lack. His nocturnal encounter in a hammock, where he senses Papito’s spirit protecting him, solidifies his belief in an afterlife where bonds transcend death ([35:07]).

Notable Quote:

“I knew that death was something very, very powerful, very part of life. But Papito showed me that that death is not the end of.” – Adam ([39:39])

Adam's narrative emphasizes the profound connections between humans and the natural world, suggesting that death is not a final severance but a continuation of existence in another form. His story resonates with themes of legacy, memory, and the enduring spirit shared between generations.

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Oscar the Feline: The Death Predictor in Providence

Timestamp: [39:39 – End]

The final tale introduces Oscar, a seemingly ordinary cat residing in Steer House, a hospice in Providence, Rhode Island. Unlike typical companion animals, Oscar exhibits an uncanny ability to predict impending deaths. His presence beside patients serves as an eerie harbinger of the end, transcending standard feline behavior.

As Oscar completes "over 100" interactions where his quiet companionship precedes the passing of patients, Dr. David Doa takes notice. A man of science, Dr. Doa is initially skeptical but soon acknowledges the patterns of Oscar's behavior. Families begin to interpret Oscar's presence as a comforting signal, granting them time to reconcile and bid farewell to their loved ones.

Notable Quote:

“It's eerie when daughter recalls. He gave us time to say everything. We needed another man, his eyes wet, voice cracking, remembers. He wasn't there for us. He was there for her.” – Narration ([35:07])

Oscar does not overtly interact or provide solace through traditional means. Instead, his silent presence during the final moments of patients' lives creates a poignant and mysterious connection between the living and the deceased. Dr. Doa documents these occurrences in his book, "Making Rounds with Oscar," exploring the intersection of animal behavior and the supernatural.

The story of Oscar invites listeners to ponder the roles animals play in our lives, particularly in moments of profound transition. It raises questions about the possibilities of animal intuition and their potential connections to the spiritual realms.

Notable Quote:

“Is it a trick? A gift? A miracle? Instincts? I don't know. But of course, I tell you this story to ask a favor.” – Narration

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Conclusion

The Awakening episode of Snap Judgment masterfully intertwines personal anecdotes with eerie supernatural elements, creating a tapestry of stories that challenge our understanding of reality and the beyond. Through Michelle’s haunted experiences, Adam’s spiritual connections with nature, and Oscar’s death-predicting presence, listeners are invited to explore the thin veil separating the mundane from the mystical. Each narrative not only entertains but also provokes deep reflection on the mysteries that lie beyond human perception.

The episode concludes with a thought-provoking monologue on the nature of time and existence, urging listeners to cherish the moments and connections that transcend life itself. By blending storytelling with emotional depth and atmospheric beats, Snap Judgment continues to deliver compelling content that captivates and resonates.

Notable Quote:

“What is our responsibility to those lost echoes left behind? I don't have a magic formula. The best I know to do is to never ever, never, never, ever turn out the light.” – Narration

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Credits

• Original Scores: Doug Stewart
• Production: Ann Ford, Eric Yanez
• Storytelling: Glenn Washington, Michelle, Adam
• Produced by: Snap Judgment and PRX

For more enthralling stories, subscribe to Snap Judgment and explore additional content on the Spooked podcast’s YouTube channel. Stay tuned for more awakenings and be prepared to see the world through a different lens.

Transcript

[Glenn Washington]

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[Michelle]

The house that I grew up in was called the Gearbox because it had been owned by a Mr. And Mrs. Gere. My grandparents were part of the upper class, so it was quite lavish. The house was filled with beautiful antique furniture, some of it 17th century. The dining room was massive. It was an open plan between the dining room area and the drawing room area. So whenever they would have cocktail parties everything was taken out and they would have just a huge room where people could dance and mingle. We had a chef, a housekeeper, a chauffeur and a gardener. When my grandparents would have cocktail parties they would be offered extra hours to help, to cater. But none of them ever wanted to stay. Once it got dark, they always left long before dark. I never understood why. Soon after my mother, brother and I moved in with my grandparents. I was playing with my dolls. It was around maybe 2 o' clock in the afternoon. Nobody else was home except for our household staff. And I heard a woman's voice calling me. She called my name very, very slowly with a very posh British accent. Me shell innocent sounding, sweet, lovely, almost playful. I dropped what I was doing and I went running straight to our cook to ask her. Yes? She said, yes what? I said, you called me just now. She said no I didn't. So I went running to the housekeeper. She said the same thing. No, I didn't call you. I'm busy. Run along, run along and play. And that was just the beginning. I would hear it so often, at least three, four times a week. Michelle that is what life was like back then in the Gearbox. Strange things happened in that house and nobody spoke about it. There were glass windows all around the house. The wind would come roaring down the hill, straight through our house, through all the open windows, howling to the point where it sounds like a thousand women screaming. There would be the shadows of trees all along the wall. This wind howling. One night I woke up. I was on my way to the bathroom, which is down a long passage. I had to pass by the drawing room and there were glass doors. I happened to glance to my right and the room was filled with all these different couples. Eight to ten couples, all dancers and whirling around. All just gliding silently. No music, no nothing except the sound of the wind. I just stopped and I stared. I was in awe. It took my breath away because the women were so beautiful. They were all dressed in very old fashioned clothes. Everything was muted. Almost like one of these old fashioned photographs that you see. I couldn't understand why there was no music or talking or laughing. I knew that there was something not quite right. I can't tell you how long I was there for. It seems as if I was there for hours. When I got tired, I just went to the bathroom. When I came back from the bathroom, nobody. Just the sound of the wind. I never told my mom what I witnessed. Because I knew that I was not supposed to be out of bed at that hour. I never told my grandparents or my aunts and uncles. I never even told my brother. On another night, I went to use the bathroom again. And I saw them again. This time I opened the glass door. I wanted to see them clearer. Nobody turned to look at me. Nobody said anything. They just kept dancing on. Then an older gentleman came up to me. He had gray hair and it was long and swept back. He had a mustache and a goatee kind of beard. And he was dressing up same style as the men, very formal. He held his hand out to me and I took his hand. He held out his other hand, put my hand in his. They were very soft for a man's hands. And then he lifted me so that my little feet were on top of his shoes. They were beautiful. Black, shiny, well polished. He put one arm around my waist and he had the other hand in his. And then he started whirling me around. In and out. All around the couples. I was laughing. I loved it. Little by little I started to get tired. And then I noticed his hands started to get cold. And colder and colder. Until they were almost like ice. Till there was almost this frigid air coming off of him. I didn't like was uncomfortable. It was making my hands cold. I just took my hands out of his as I broke away from him. And I turned just out of my peripheral vision for a second. I could still see them whirling around. And then I ran. And I never looked back. And I just ran straight through glass doors. I don't know for sure who he was, but I can only imagine that it was Mr. Gayer. I had a lovely time dancing with all these strange people because it made me feel like an adult. And I fell asleep very, very happy. I knew this wasn't a dream because I saw it more than once. I saw the other couples dancing several times after that night. But I never danced with Mr. Gere ever again because I didn't like his cold hands. My mother had a queen size bed. And then my brother and I shared a twin bed. One night there was a massive thunder and lightning storm. It woke my brother and I up. We got scared and we jumped into bed with my mother. I fell asleep. I had a dream that I was in a small wooden house. There was something chasing me. All I could hear was the sound of very heavy footsteps following me. I ran into this room. I scampered under the bed. I saw the black boots came walking over to the bed and they just stood there. I was almost holding my breath and I was petrified. But then the feet all of a sudden turned around and they just walked out of the door. I figured, okay, it's safe. All of a sudden, just as I was about to slide out from the bed, the entire bed was just lifted and thrown in the air. Then two hands were reaching down on me. That woke me up immediately. The minute I woke up, I was lying on my back. There was thunder and lightning, heavy rain, wind howling. The windows were open just a little bit, but it was enough for there to be a breeze. I could feel the wind on my face. I could see my mother on my left side sleeping. I could see my brother on my right. I looked up. Directly above me, the first thing I saw was a figure floating against the ceiling. The first thing I saw was their shoes. The exact same shoes that were in my dream. Black boots. The pants were flapping from the wind. My eyes traveled to the face. It was a man. He had long, stringy gray hair. One half of his face looked as if it had been melted. It was just completely melted. Very similar to burn victims. I had never ever seen someone burnt to that degree. And on the other side, scowling, sneering, very, very cruel smile. And the second of my eyes saw his face. This thing launched itself at me. And the two hands circled my neck. And just as it started to squeeze, I screamed as loud as I could and he was gone. Immediately my brother woke up. My mother jumped up. What?

[Glenn Washington]

What? What's going on?

[Michelle]

What's going on? And I was screaming and screaming. And screaming. And then I started crying and I would not stop. I was hysterical. I couldn't even speak for quite a few minutes because I just could not get the words out. All I had a chance was to tell her about there was something up there. There was a man up there and he rushed down and he put his hands around me and his face and, you know. But I was probably not making much sense. I knew it was not Mr. Gayer because I knew what Mr. Gayer looked like and he did not look like this man. And also, Mr. Gere had never tried to hurt me. When we danced together. My mom had to be up early and she just didn't have time for it. So she was like, no, no, no, it's just a dream. It's just a dream. Nonsense. I was really, really upset for a very long time that my mom didn't believe me. From that night onwards, I grew to hate the sound of wind howling. I was terrified of that house, especially when it got dark. I became so clingy. I had to be with somebody. And I never went to the bathroom once everybody was asleep. I always made sure I did what I had to do before I had to sleep. So how did you feel when you moved out of that house? Relieved. So happy. So happy. So happy to leave because I lived in a constant state of terror. But I still heard the voices calling. I still heard a voice calling my name. I was never afraid of that.

[Adam]

Have you ever been back to the Gearbox since then?

[Michelle]

Yes. My mother and I had to sing at or perform at a recital. And our pianist, he said that there's a beautiful grand piano and it's at the Gearbox. And we had understood years before that they had renovated the Gearbox into a music school. And so he said, I would like you all to come up there so that we can practice. And that was the first time in years that I had been back. But because I knew they had renovated it, I wasn't. I didn't feel. Anyway, completely renovated it.

[Glenn Washington]

And then what.

[Adam]

What state is the Gearbox in these days?

[Michelle]

It's probably buried under several feet of ash because that entire half of the island was completely destroyed and buried under several feet of ash because of the pyroclastic flows. So there's no trace of that house or anything around it.

[Glenn Washington]

It's just Ruby. Oh, no. Ghosts don't care about geography, we're sure. But somewhere down there, underneath all that volcanic ash, Mr. Gere is still dancing, waiting for his partner. Big thanks to Michelle for sharing her story. Michelle still lives in Montserrat. And she's got plenty more to say about the frank freaky things she's seen. So if you're ever on the island, stop by. As long as you're ready to be spooked. Original score for that piece was by Doug Stewart. It was produced by Ann Ford. Now, after a long slumber, when Snap returns, a mountain wakes up. Stay tuned. Okay, so I've got a sad story with a happy ending. I've been traveling planes, trains, automobiles. And my favorite travel garment is my beautiful quince flow knit breeze long sleeve. You can wear it underneath something. You can wear it on top of something. It's the perfect travel companion. But somehow, between here and there, the unthinkable happens. I misplace my quince floated long sleeve, no calamity. Then I realize it's from Quince. Replacing it won't cost an arm and a leg because Quince works directly with top artisans and cuts out the middlemen. So Quince gives you luxury pieces without the markup. So right away, I'm back in the saddle. I'm looking good. Stick to staples that last with elevated essentials from quince. Go to quince.com snap for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns. That's Q-U I N C E.com snap to get free shipping and 365 day returns. Quints.com snap snap judgment is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. Do you ever find yourself playing the budgeting game? Well, with the name your price tool from Progressive, you can find options that fit your budget and potentially lower your bills. Try [e-mail] Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates. Price and coverage match limited by state law. Not available in all states. Welcome back to Snap Judgment, the awakening episode. Today we're featuring stories from our sister podcast, Spooked. Now for our next story, I want you to meet Adam. As a kid, Adam used to travel a lot to Puerto Rico to visit his family in Yaoko, a town surrounded by mountains and jungles. And there he would spend time with Papito, his great grandfather. Everyone knew Pepito in town. He was almost like the chief of the mountain. Everyone respected him, from his kids to his great grandchildren, even the animals. Pepito held all the knowledge of the Taino people. He would always tell Adam, the mountain is aware of things. And that was something that Adam was about to find out for himself.

[Adam]

When I was about nine years old, I spent a whole lot of time in my Papito's house, my great grandfather's house. It Sits on one of the many mountaintops of yaoko. It's on this little plateau that overlooks the cliff and the valley. And there's forest, forest, forest everywhere. It's like a jungle. It's very difficult to see a neighbor. The only other neighbors that were near were his brothers and sisters, who owned their own houses on this big property in the mountains that was all owned by my great grandfather. So one day, I go up to papito's house, which is a walk from my grandmother's house. I loved to hang out there because he had a bunch of interesting, random farm equipment and tons of farm animals. Cows and horses, goats. But nearby, there was an enormous bull. And I was deathly frightened by this bull because it was enormous. It was huge. So much larger than me, Huge horns. So I was hanging out and playing in the front of his house, and this big bull came nearer to me. So I go to my papito and say, I'm scared of the bull, and it's coming close. He laughed because he saw this city kid being scared of the bull that no one pays any attention to. The bull was walking away from the house, and papito did this super powerful whistle, Like a fourth of july firework echoing through the mountains. And then the bull just stopped and started coming back towards us. That was really scary, as is the last thing I wanted. I was, like, pulling away from him, but he wouldn't let me go. And the bull is just lumbering over very slowly, and then he says, no, no, no, no. That's all he said. He said, no, no, no, no. And then he grabbed the bull by the horns and he lowered it down into the ground and made it, like, bow its head and put its horns towards the ground. And so he just grabbed me, picked me up, threw my leg over. The next thing I know, I'm riding on this enormous bull and holding onto the horns. And it was scary, but it was awesome and exciting. I felt much better because I saw that thing, did whatever he wanted it to do. One day, I'm in my madrina's house, which was at the top, highest peak of all of the hills that we lived on. I'm playing with my sister and my cousins. My madrina, my godmother, was taking care of papito at the time. He was in his late 90s, and he had severe sort of dementia. Papito is laying in my madrina's room in her bed. And as we play during the day, I start to get the sense that something is happening. Everybody is Gathering at my Madrina's house. And more and more people keep showing up. People from the town. Uncles, aunts, and a priest shows up. I peeked into the room, and the room was filled with people. Papito is laying in the bed. He looked very small and skinny and pale. He looked gray almost. I started to feel uncomfortable. I didn't know what was going on, but I knew that I didn't want to be around at that moment. So I go to my abuela and I tell her how I feel. She told me that I could go back to her house, that the sun is just starting to set. If I leave now, I can make it before the sun fully sets and that I could wait for them to be finished what they were doing. So I leave my Madrina's house and I start on the path to my grandmother's house. I can hear the sounds that are fading away from the house, and it sounds like crying. And I'm thinking, oh, okay. Whatever it is that I didn't want to be around for is happening right now. I'm entering the lower part of the mountains, the beginning of the valley and the forest, and I realized that it's much darker than I thought it was going to be. There is just so many trees, vegetation, tangly vines. I get to my grandmother's driveway, which is a long little road. And as I get there, I heard somewhere nearby a very strange sound, an animal sound. The first thing I thought of was a cow, because there's cows everywhere. And then a moment later, it screamed in a way that I've never heard a living thing scream before. It was almost like a human wail coming from an animal. I get this cold tingliness throughout my whole body. Goosebumps going up my neck. I immediately just started to run towards my grandmother's house. As soon as I start running, I hear another. And now I'm sure it's an animal, but it sounded like someone, a person in pain. Then, in the distance, a bunch of other animals start wailing. The pigs in the valley, the dogs that were randomly all over the mountainside, the cows and the horses and the bulls. Some of it sounded like it was the pigs near the slaughterhouse that were not even on our property. They were in agony, as if they were being killed. And then the night is just filled with these wails. It's an igniting of voices that keep coming out of the darkness because I can't see where they're coming from. And so I'm running, running, running to my grandmother's house. And this wailing seems like it's chasing me, like it's. It sounds like it's right in the back of my head, trying to grab at my ankles. Once I get to the top of the hill, I'm panting like a madman. I pass through the gates of my grandmother's house, slipping and sliding. Run up to her patio, grab the door, yank it open, and slam the door shut. I'm all alone. The wailing is still going strong, and it feels like it's completely surrounding my grandmother's house. I run into the room where I was sleeping, and I lay on the cot. I just started praying. I just wanted the time to pass to wait for my grandmother to come back. Eventually, the animal noises finally died down. And shortly after that, my grandmother arrives. My grandmother comes up to me and asks me if I'm okay. And I. They sort of stammer over my words. I told her that when I was coming back to the house, I heard the animals screaming. And my grandmother said, of course they're screaming. Of course they're upset. And I asked her, why are they so upset? She said, because Papito died. Papito's gone now. At first, I'm confused. I didn't understand. And I said, how could. How could they know that he died? And my grandmother said that all of the animals know these things. They sense his spirit. Papito was like their father, their master, their protector, everything to them, their chief. They could feel him leaving. They were sad and scared, so of course they know. That night, I was having a lot of trouble falling asleep. I was up thinking a bunch of things. How could animals know that Papito died? And I wondered, do animals have some sense that we don't have? Or do we have that sense?

[Glenn Washington]

What happens next? What do you mean, what happens next? Next. Only one way to find out. Stay tuned. Welcome back to Snap Judgment. My name is Glenn Washington, and when we last left, the animals of the mountain were mourning Pepito's death. Snap judgment.

[Adam]

That night, I was having a lot of trouble falling asleep. I was up thinking a bunch of things. How could animals know that Papito died? And I wondered, do animals have some sense that we don't have? Or do we have that sense? I was so restless that I got up, I opened up the main door very carefully and quietly, and then went outside into the night. There was a place in my grandmother's house that I really loved to go during the day, and it was in the rear of the house where there was a hammock hanging and There was just like a cliffside and it overlooked the valley. I went towards the edge of the cliff. I lay in the hammock in the darkness. I'm looking out over the valley, seeing the little bit of stars out there and just the blackness of the mountain. I hear the crickets and the coquis, the little frogs that make a very specific sound in Puerto Rico. And I hear an animal sound in the darkness. It wasn't a growl. It was more strange and scary than a growl. I don't know what it is, but it sounded scary. And it was coming from the darkness in front of me. Me. The animal makes this sound a second time. It was a strange hyena, like yipping excitement, but not a good excitement. It sounded very close and it sounds like something that wanted to hurt me. I'm frozen stiff. I can't move. I was just like a deer in headlights. The thought crossed my mind, oh, my grandmother's gonna be so mad if I die. And immediately after, I hear this whistle like a firecracker in the darkness in the valley. And that animal sound stopped. I'm feeling like I just got shocked by electricity. And I feel a sudden flush of relief. And in that moment, I knew. I knew it. I just somehow knew that Papito made that sound. Papito was there with me. Papito's spirit said goodbye to the animals and even stuck around long enough to protect me and to say goodbye to me. I slowly get up and make my way into the house. And I'm thinking, there's something after death. I knew that death was something very, very powerful, very part of life. But Papito showed me that that death is not the end of.

[Glenn Washington]

Thank you, Adam, for sharing your story to Spooked. That original score was by Doug Stewart. It was produced by Eric Yanez. Remember, if you dig spook storytelling, subscribe to the Spooked podcast. Don't miss a moment. And to see Spooked in a whole new way, go to the spooked YouTube. Be afraid. Okay, so Providence, Rhode island, far away from the cobblestone touristy part, it sits a quiet building called Steer House, a nursing home. It's a hospice. And in this place lived a cat. Not a purring cuddle machine. No Instagram cutie. No. This cat is cold blooded. Name's Oscar. Gray, white fur, green eyes. Oscar doesn't care about sitting in your lap. Oscar doesn't chase toys. Oscar doesn't even want to be bothered with people much. Unless and until you are preparing for your final journey. And the first time this happens, no one really pays much attention. Oscar slips into the room of a woman who'd stopped speaking two days prior. Oscar jumps onto her bed and this cantankerous feline actually curls up at her side and just wait. Hours tick by and quiet as mist. The woman passes away. The attendants think, what a sweet moment. What a cosmic coincidence to have the cat as a comfort during her final moments in another room, in another patient. Oscar disappears from his usual spot in the hallway and somehow winds up curled in a ball besides this man. Oscar lies still, eyes half shut, tail tucked. And this man too, passes into the beyond. And with another person. And another. And again. Another still. And by the time we arrive at the strange coincidence number 25, people aren't saying that's weird anymore. No. Instead they say, call the family. Oscar's on the bed. No heartbeat monitors, no vital sign. Crash. It's just a feline signal that the end is nigh. And Dr. David Doa. He sees this and he's trying to make sense of it. He's a man of science. But Oscar's. Oscar's throwing off his game plan. They start tracking them. Oscar, he's right. Over and over and over again. More than 100 times. More than 100 people. And not just patients in decline. Sometimes Oscar curls up before anything looks different. Before the nurses even notice. Eventually, they stop questioning. Instead, they start trusting. Families say that when Oscar enters the room, something changes. It was eerie when daughter recalls. He gave us time to say everything. We needed another man, his eyes wet, voice cracking, remembers. He wasn't there for us. He was there for her. But he helped us understand what was happening. Oscar didn't howl, Oscar didn't demand, didn't console. He witnessed still a shadow when the breath slowed and the room filled with that silence born of absence and touched and moved. The good doctor wrote a book about what he saw called Making Rounds with Oscar. How do you explain what happened? Is it a trick? A gift? A miracle? Instincts? I don't know. But of course I tell you this story to ask a favor. Because if you have a knowledge of a non human neighbor, it seems to have a special connection to the inexplicable. Maybe even that special non human neighbor living in your house that you put food in their bowl twice a day. Well, I'd sure love to know about it. Why? Because, dear friends, there is nothing better than a spook story from a spooked listener. [e-mail] Boots is brought to you by the team that makes their own pet food for any animal in their care. Except for Mark Ristich, who always says, if I can eat kibble, so can they. There's David Kim, Zoe Ferrigno, Ann Ford, Eric Yanez, Tayo Ducat, Brisson, Dodge Miles Lassie, Doug Stewart, Elliot Lightfoot, Paulina Creaky, Juan Diego Paltran, Sasha Wilson, Dan Yashinsky and Team snap. The union representative, producers, artists, editors, engineers are members of the national association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians, Communications workers of America, AFL CIO Local 51. Bespoke theme song is by Pat Mesiti Miller My name is Washington. They say that time is just an illusion. Well, it's a pretty good illusion, right? It's a pretty good trick. Because time is relentless. Everything time giveth, time also snatcheth away. Nothing stays the same even for a moment. The rules are harsh, unforgiving only for it never back. No appeals, no regard, no back door, no secret hatch. All the money in the world can't buy a fast pass off this ride. Right? Right. Well, I wonder sometimes if but when what we experience is supernatural, is paranormal. It's really just echoes of those that discovered an escape route from those that decided that this moment was too important to abandon and that part of them was going to stay right here, no matter what time said about it. And what is our responsibility to those lost echoes left behind? I don't have a magic formula. The best I know to do is to never ever, never, never, ever turn out the light.