The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

( ENCOUNTER WITH HORRIBLE MONSTER)

A MAN WENT INTO A HOTEL ON A STORMY NIGHT. THE OLD PLACE
SEEMED DESERTED. FINALLY AN OLD WOMAN HOBBLED OUT. "I
ONLY HAVE ONE ROOM TO RENT AND THAT ONE'S HAUNTED," SHE
SAID. THE MAN, TIRED FROM HIS TRIP, COULDN'T FACE GOING
BACK OUT INTO THE STORM SO HE TOOK THE KEY AND CLIMBED THE
RICKETY STAIRCASE TO THE ROOM. AS HE GOT IN BED, HE HEARD
A STRANGE VOICE MOAN, "MY LONG BONY FINGERS, MY RUBY RED
LIPS." THE MAN WAS REALLY SCARED BUT HE TRIED TO GET SOME
SLEEP. HE HEARD THE VOICE AGAIN, "MY LONG BONY FINGERS, MY
RUBY RED LIPS." NOW HE WAS MORE ANNOYED THAN SCARED.
MINUTES LATER HE HEARD THE VOICE AGAIN, "MY LONG BONY
FINGERS, MY RUBY RED LIPS." "SO WHAT ABOUT YOUR LONG BONY
FINGERS AND YOUR RUBY RED LIPS? WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THEM?"
HE SHOUTED. AT THIS POINT THE STORYTELLER STRUMS HIS LIPS
AND MAKES ONE OF THOSE NOISES LIKE AN AUCTIONEER.

Date learned: 11-23-1970