CONSIDER THIS: A Real Haunting in San Benito

By MICHAEL RODRIGUEZ
Managing Editor
editor@sbnewspaper.com

Michael Rodriguez

In the pitch-black darkness of my bedroom, the clock striking midnight and my wife out cold beside me, I struggled Friday to prepare that which I’ve dreaded all week: writing this article. You see, I had initially intended to write a timely, albeit charming tale involving my many escapades inside the purportedly haunted old high school, better known to many of you as the original Berta Cabaza Middle School. I had been there many times before to cover stories about strange occurrences that had been chalked up to the paranormal. I even tagged along with a group of self-proclaimed ghost hunters who sought to uncover these supposed hauntings. But none of what I planned to share with you frightens me as much as what’s recently occurring in San Benito. And it wasn’t until I had written my opening paragraph that I realized this.

I’m going to share with you, now, just a small portion of my original draft, only because I believe it’ll provide some perspective as to how I came to the conclusion that the truly scary things in San Benito have nothing to do with that in which goes bump in the night.

It was over six years ago when my wife called me at work, insisting that she heard someone enter the house, toss keys on the kitchen table and walk toward an office where she was using the computer at the time. Thinking I had come home early, she called out for me but didn’t get a response. It didn’t take long for her to realize that I was still at work, and whoever was inside the house wasn’t supposed to be there.

What happened next was nothing short of intriguing.

The San Benito police officer who responded to our call was thorough in his search of the premises, yet he uncovered nothing; not even the keys that my wife – to this day – swears she heard thrown onto the kitchen table or any indication that the lock on the front door had been tampered with. So there we were, the three of us scratching our heads as to what really happened. Then, in what I’m sure was an attempt to add a little humor to the not-so-pleasant situation, the officer made the following suggestion: “Maybe your house is haunted. You know, like at Berta Cabaza.” And that, my friends, is how I got the idea to write a story about the alleged hauntings at the old BC.

After writing this, I understood that although I had the makings of a good column well in hand, the whole story seemed more like a metaphor for what’s transpired with the raspagate scandal and school district insurance letter debacle – mysteries, if you will, that the public may never learn the whole truth about. The media’s investigating, that much I can assure you, but like the officer attempting to find that in which wasn’t there, it’s difficult to uncover what’s hidden well – or at least what may simply be invisible to the naked eye. Thanks to the San Benito News, I can happily report that we have already learned much in relation to said scandals, and I’m glad that the rest of the media is beginning to catch up. Still, many times it takes someone to jump out of a closet and reveal themselves in order for any real closure to be achieved. Until that day comes, I fear we may always be kept in the dark even after cases are closed and consequences are rendered.

These scandals will continue to haunt us, but not necessarily because the accusations levied against our public officials are unfounded – as many believe. Though not in every case, all too often has a person or group’s interest been protected rather than that of the public. Lawlessness is perpetuated in such ways, and that – my friends – is what really scares me about this city.

With nothing but the blue hue from my computer monitor staring back at me, I acknowledged the cold, hard truth that a sole individual will not be responsible for such a collapse of accountability but rather the apathy which allows those with power to operate with impunity.

I pray I’m wrong.

Read this story in the Oct. 28 edition of the San Benito News, or subscribe to our E-Edition by clicking here.