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It started out many years ago … I think it was back in my college days when I would revel in reading the epics of John Steinbeck, all about Monterey and Cannery Row and Salinas.  They always seemed like such fun but I never knew the secrets that were contained behind the scenes of many innocent books.  The problem first came to light, if I can remember properly, when my brother was given a job running a backhoe for a construction company that was renovating some property on Cannery Row.  Laying the ground work for a new tourist shopping center of sorts, my brother was preparing the ground and leveling it for the new construction when he suddenly heard a clunk and noticed that his blade had struck what appeared to be a skull.  It was a rather old skull since it was no longer attached to a body, perhaps due to his handy work while working, but as per the rules he notified his supervisor that they were actively digging in what could possibly be a grave yard of sorts although it did not appear on any of the plans or historical documents for the area.  His supervisor picked up the skull, looked at it closely, obviously deep in thought, and then he casually tossed it onto the trash pile that would be loaded into the dumpster at the end of the day.  “Continue!” was all he said to my brother.  “Shouldn’t we notify someone?” my brother asked.  “Continue!” said his boss in a more threatening tone.  Having heard that voice before and knowing what would happen if he belabored the point my brother did as he was told. 

Many people knew of the curses that supposedly existed on “the Row” but few had ever experienced them.  My brother was about to, little beknownst to him. 

One mysterious death on the Row had happened on the building that resides just in front of the radio tower that once belonged to KMBY 1240, if I can remember the jingle they used to recite every 20 minutes when I listened to it as a 10 year old child, just getting into rock and roll which had recently been introduced by this new entry into the market, Elvis Presley.  Anyway, this painter was working on the top floor of the building, touching up with the final coat when his fellow worker called up and asked him if he wanted a sandwich or anything from the local deli.  As the roof jockey turned to say that he already had a sandwich in his lunch box he lost his footing and slipped.  His safety harness caught him and he regained his footing but you could see the fear in his face as his friend said “Careful there … you don’t want to fall from there … that would hurt quite a bit.”  To which his friend said “No problem … at least now I know why we have to use these stupid harnesses … saved my life it did … I’m fine .. the wife packed my lunch this morning and if my snooping was accurate I’ve got a roast beef sandwich waiting for me in my lunch box … but you could bring me a cup of Joe if you wouldn’t mind … black is fine”.  “You got it mate”  and his friend was off on his mission while his associate continued to wind up his job for that morning.  Once he was done here he would be moving on to the downstairs area … inside the hallway … a lot less stress for him he figured and the day was getting a bit warm so the cool hallway would be a welcome relief.