The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

THE VINDLE VIPER

HERE'S A JOKE THAT USED TO CIRCULATE AROUND LANSING
{MICHIGAN} WHEN I WAS A KID: IT IS TOLD BEST IN AN
EERIE SETTING, PREFERABLY AFTER SOME GOOD "GHOST STORIES"
HAVE KEYED EVERYBODY UP:
THERE ONCE WAS THIS LITTLE BOY WHO WAS AT HOME ALL BY
HIMSELF ONE NIGHT AND EVERYTHING WAS DARK AND STILL.
HE WAS SITTING IN THE LIVING ROOM BEING PRETTY SCARED,
WHEN SUDDENLY THE PHONE RANG, ALMOST SCARING HIM OUT OF
HIS WITS. THE VOICE ON THE PHONE SAID, "I AM THE VINDLE
VIPER AND I AM FIVE BLOCKS AWAY." WELL, THIS REALLY

SCARED THE LITTLE BOY, SO HE WENT AND TURNED ON ALL THE
LIGHTS SO HE WOULDN'T BE SO SCARED.
HE WAS JUST GETTING OVER BEING SCARED, WHEN RINNNGGG!
THERE WENT THE PHONE AGAIN. THIS TIME THE VOICE SAID,
"I AM THE VINDLE VIPER AND I AM THREE BLOCKS AWAY."
WELL, THAT REALLY SCARED THE BOY AND HE WENT AND DOVE
INTO BED UNDER THE COVERS. THE PHONE RANG AGAIN BUT HE
WOULDN'T EVEN ANSWER IT; HE WAS REALLY SCARED.
HE WAS JUST HOPING THAT NOTHING MORE WOULD HAPPEN,
WHEN, BAM, SOMEONE CAME IN THE BACK DOOR. THE POOR
BOY ALMOST DIED OF FRIGHT AT THIS, AND THEN HE HEARD THAT
SAME VOICE CALL OUT FROM THE KITCHEN: "I AM THE VINDLE
VIPER AND I HAVE COME TO VIPE YOUR VINDLES {WINDOWS}!"

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: NOT GIVEN