Pilot

About this location

A few stories people tell about this place

1. At dawn, when most gas stations are empty and quiet, an old pickup truck pulled up to Pilot. The regular, a gruff man with a weathered face, always came around this time, but today something strange happened. He asked for a coffee that wasn’t on the menu. The clerk smiled, poured himself a cup of regular coffee and said: ‘We don’t serve that here, sir.’ ‘I know,’ the old man replied with a twinkle in his eye. ‘But I heard you make the best darned coffee anywhere, so I brought my own grounds.’ They spent the rest of the morning brewing beans and chatting like old friends, until finally someone from headquarters called asking why there was a pot of coffee brewing behind the counter.

2. At dusk, when the Pilot gas station is almost deserted, a delivery driver pulls up with a mysterious package. He hurries inside, but not before glancing nervously over his shoulder. Inside, the attendant raises an eyebrow but says nothing, knowing better than to ask questions. The driver quickly hands him the package and whispers something about ‘special fuel for the night shift.’ As he leaves, the attendant shakes his head and mutters, ‘Next time use the regular station across the street—cheaper and no funny business!’

3. At night, when the Pilot gas station lights up like a beacon in the darkness, a little girl spots something unusual. As she waits for her dad's car, she watches as a shadowy figure fills up a tank without ever reaching into their pocket. Curious, she follows the ghostly form inside and finds an old man counting change under the counter. ‘Dad,’ she whispers, ‘why does Mr. Jenkins always pay with invisible money?’ Dad smiles, ruffling her hair: ‘Because, honey, he’s just that good of a neighbor.’

4. At midnight, when the Pilot gas station's pumps glow eerily under neon lights, a delivery driver pulls up and asks the attendant, 'Do you ever see that guy in the reflection?' The attendant shrugs, ‘Nah, never noticed anyone.’ Then they both look into the mirror, where a grinning old man waves back. The driver whispers, ‘That’s Uncle Pete from down the street!’ They laugh it off, realizing sometimes the strangest reflections are just friendly neighbors checking on us.