The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

THE FIFTEEN STEPS

A COUPLE MOVED INTO A TWO-STORY BRICK HOUSE NEAR THE
EDGE OF TOWN. THEY SLEPT IN A ROOM DOWNSTAIRS, WHILE
THEIR YOUNG DAUGHTER SLEPT UPSTAIRS.
ONE NIGHT, THEIR DAUGHTER HEARD A MOANING AT THE FOOT OF THE
STAIRS. "KATHY, I'M AT THE FIRST STEP, AND I'M GOING TO KILL
YOU."
THE NEXT MORNING, SHE TOLD HER PARENTS, WHO DIDN'T BELIEVE HER.
THEY THOUGHT THAT SHE WAS JUST SEEING TOO MUCH TV AND HAVING
NIGHTMARES.
THAT NIGHT, THE VOICE CAME AGAIN, ANNOUNCING THAT IT WAS ON
THE SECOND STEP, AND THAT IT WAS GOING TO KILL HER.
AND SO IT WENT ON, FOR FIFTEEN NIGHTS, UNTIL THE VOICE
ISSUED A NEW WARNING.
"KATHY, I'M PAST YOUR DOORWAY, AND NOW I'M BY YOUR BEDSIDE,
AND NOW I'M GOING TO KILL YOU."
THE TERRIFIED GIRL TOLD HER PARENTS THE NEXT MORNING, BUT
THEY DIDN'T BELIEVE HER. THAT NIGHT, THEY GAVE HER PLENTY OF WARM
MILK TO HELP HER SLEEP.
THE FAMILY WAS NEVER HEARD FROM AGAIN. THE SHERIFF'S
DEPARTMENT FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF FOUL PLAY. TO THIS DAY, THE
DISAPPEARANCE OF THE FAMILY REMAINS A MYSTERY.

Submitter comment: DANIEL AND ME WERE WALKING DOWN A COUNTRY ROAD, WHEN WE
PASSED A DESERTED HOUSE. HE TOLD ME THE ABOVE STORY, AND ANOTHER PERSON WE MET ALONG THE WAY BACK TO OUR GRANDMOTHER'S
PLACE CONFIRMED THE STORY. I JUST ASKED ABOUT IT OUT OF
CURIOSITY WHEN HE ASKED ME FOR THE TIME.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; NORTH BRANCH