An Alarming Story

Last week a man that I know named John saw me and said, "Josh, have I got a story for you!"  He proceeded to tell me about some odd things that had been happening in his house the previous week. 

One day his wife Valerie (FYI - this is NOT the same John & Val that attend Redeemer) called him at work and said that she just wanted to check and make sure that he was not at home.  She said that she heard someone say, "Hello Valerie" but nothing else.  He asked her a few questions regarding dosages of her medications and if she was feeling ok.  Valerie was sure she heard a voice in the house.  She called him another time a day or so later with the same story, "Hello Valerie" then silence.  He assured her that no one was there and that everything was fine.

One night at the end of the week John and Valerie had someone over visiting.  Valerie and the visitor were talking together while John was in another room of the house.  John heard a voice.  Valerie and the person heard it too and began to talk excitedly about it.  When John came into the room Valerie said, "Did you hear it?  That man's voice - he said 'Hello Valerie'.  John laughed.  Then John laughed more as he explained that he heard the voice too.  But the voice did not say, "Hello Valerie".  The male sounding voice said, "Low Battery."  It was the smoke detector.