The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

THIS STORY OFTEN CIRCULATED IN THE DEARBORN-LIVONIA
AREA OF MICHIGAN, WITH SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT VERSIONS.
A YOUNG GIRL WAS BABYSITTING AND SHE RECEIVED A PHONE CALL
FROM A MAN WHO SAID "YOU'RE NEXT." THE GIRL THOUGHT
THAT THIS WAS JUST A PRANK PHONE CALL, UNTIL THE
CALL WAS REPEATED SEVERAL TIMES. FINALLY, SHE CALLED
THE POLICE WHO SAID THEY WERE ON THEIR WAY. NEXT
SHE RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE OPERATOR WHO TOLD HER
IF HE SHOULD CALL AGAIN, TO KEEP HIM ON THE PHONE AS
LONG AS POSSIBLE, SO SHE COULD TRACE THE CALL. THE
NEXT TIME HE CALLED, SHE KEPT HIMON FOR A FEW MINUTES
UNTIL THE OPERATOR INTERRUPTED AND TOLD HER TO GET
OUT OF THE HOUSE, AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, BECAUSE THIS
MAN WAS ON THE EXTENSION PHONE. ALL ALONG HE HAD
BEEN UPSTAIRS AND HAD KILLED THE CHILD.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 02-00-1971