The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

"HITCH HIKER"

THE INFORMANT SAYS THAT SOME YEARS AGO HE PASSED A YOUNG
GIRL HITCH HIKING IN THE RAIN. HE PICKED HER UP, BUT SHE
DIDN'T SAY A WORD. SHE WROTE DOWN HER ADDRESS AND HE TOOK
HER HOME, BUT SHE WOULDN'T GET OUT OF THE CAR. HE WENT TO
THE DOOR AND SAID THAT HE HAD THEIR DAUGHTER IN THE CAR,
THEY WERE NOT SURPRISED. THEY INVITED HIM IN FOR COFFEE
AND SAID THAT SHE HAD BEEN DEAD FOR THREE YEARS AND SHE
WAS STILL TRYING TO GET HOME. HE WENT BACK TO THE CAR
AND FOUND IT EMPTY. IT TOOK PLACE ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF
HER DEATH.

Submitter comment:

John P Clark: 63 years old. Journalist: English. Donora, Penn.

Mr. Clark is a fantastic storyteller and related this story to me this summer when he caught me off guard. He kept me for at least two hours telling me his stories.

Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; DONORA