The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

THE LIMP

YEARS AGO WHEN MY MOTHER-IN-LAW LIVED IN GREECE, SHE HUNG HER
CLOTHES ON THE LINE TO DRY. WHEN SHE TOOK THEM IN, SHE DISCOVERED
THAT HER SLIP WAS FULL OF HOLES. IT LOOKED LIKE SOMEONE HAD TAKEN
A KNIFE TO IT. NOT REALIZING WHAT HAD HAPPENED, SHE BURNED IT.
LATER A FRIEND TOLD HER SHE SHOULD NOT HAVE DONE THIS, AS THE SLIP
WAS A SIGN TO HER THAT SOMETHING ELSE WOULD HAPPEN. SURE ENOUGH,
ABOUT A WEEK LATER A GIPSEY CAME TO HER HOME. SHE ASKED MY MOTHER-
IN-LAW FOR SOMETHING RED. SINCE SHE WAS VERY FRIGHTENED, SHE
DIDN'T GIVE HER ANYTHING. THE LADY SAID BECAUSE OF THIS SOMETHING
VERY TERRIBLE WOULD HAPPEN. THEN A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER, MY
BROTHER-IN-LAW STARTED LIMPING. THEY TOOK HIM TO MANY, MANY
DOCTORS, AND NONE COULD FIND OUT WHY HE LIMPED. I KNOW HIM TODAY,
AND HE STILL HAS THAT LIMP. THEY STILL DO NOT KNOW WHY. MY
MOTHER-IN-LAW SAYS THE GIPSEY LADY CURSED HER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT