The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

I WANT MY LIVER BACK

THIS STORY WAS POPULAR AT PAJAMA PARTIES IN THE LATE
1950S. THE LIGHTS WERE USUALLY DIMMED WHEN IT WAS TOLD.
ONCE THERE WAS A LITTLE BOY AND HIS MOTHER SENT HIM TO
THE STORE TO BUY SOME LIVER FOR DINNER. WELL, ON THE
WAY HOME FROM THE STORE, HE DROPPED THE LIVER AND A DOG
CAME ALONG AND ATE IT UP. THE LITTLE BOY KNEW HE'D GET
IN TROUBLE IF HE DIDN'T BRING HOME SOME LIVER, SO HE WENT
TO A CEMETERY, DUG UP A DEAD MAN AND TOOK OUT HIS
LIVER. THE LITTLE BOY'S MOTHER COOKED THE MAN'S LIVER
AND THEY ATE IT FOR DINNER.
WELL, THAT NIGHT WHEN THE LITTLE BOY WAS IN BED AND
EVERYTHING WAS DARK, HE HEARD SPOOKY VOICE SAYING,
"JOHNNY, I WANT MY LIVER BACK." THEN IT SAID, "JOHNNY,
I'M ON THE FIRST STAIR. JOHNNY, I'M ON THE SECOND
STAIR. JOHNNY, I'M ON THE THIRD STAIR. JOHNNY,
I'M ON THE FOURTH STAIR {THE TELLER USUALLY GOT TIRED
AT THIS POINT} JOHNNY, I'M ON THE TENTH STAIR.
JOHNNY, I'M RIGHT OUTSIDE YOUR ROOM. JOHNNY, I'M IN
YOUR ROOM. JOHNNY," BOO! {AT THIS ALL THE GIRLS
SHRIEKED}.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 00001950S