The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

(DEATH TO LISTENER)

THERE ONCE WAS THIS POOR LADY WHO LIVED ALONE WITH HER
DAUGHTER, THEY HAD LITTLE IN THE WAY OF MATERIAL
THINGS. ONE DAY THE MOTHER INVITED SOME OF HER FRIENDS
OVER FOR TEA. "OH, I'M SORRY I DID THAT," SHE SAID
TO HER DAUGHTER, "I HAVE NOTHING TO USE FOR SILVERWARE."
"DON'T WORRY," SAID THE DAUGHTER, "I'LL TAKE CARE OF IT."
SO, THAT NIGHT THE DAUGHTER WENT OUT TO THE GRAVE OF HER
GRANDMOTHER, WHO WAS BURIED BEHIND THE HOUSE. SHE DUG
UP THE BONES OF HER GRANDMOTHER AND CARVED KNIVES,
FORKS, AND SPOONS OUT OF THE BONES. WELL, HER MOTHER
HADN'T ANY WORRIES ABOUT HER TEA, AND IT SEEMED THAT THE
PROBLEM WAS SOLVED.
ABOUT A WEEK LATER THE DAUGHTER WAS LYING IN HER BED AND
IT WAS VERY LATE AT NIGHT. A WEIRD NOISE WOKE HER UP.
SHE THOUGHT SHE HEARD A STRANGE HOWLING FROM THE YARD.
AT FIRST SHE THOUGHT IT WAS THE WIND, BUT SOON SHE WAS
ABLE TO MAKE OUT THE WORDS THAT WERE FILLING THE AIR:
"BLLOOODYY BBBOONESSS ISSS GOINGGG TOOO GET YOUUU..."
SHE KNEW IT WAS IN THE HOUSE NOW.
"BLODDEEE BONESS ISSS GOINGG TOOO GET YOUUU..." IT WAS
COMING UP THE STAIRS.
"BLOODEE BONESS ISSS GONNA GET YOUUU..." IT WAS IN THE HALL
OUTSIDE HER ROOM.
"BLOODY BONES IS GONNA GET YOUUU...." IT WAS IN HER ROOM.
IT WAS COMING OVER TO HER BED, IT WAS RECHING FOR HER,
IT WAS.......ARRAGHH!

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 00-00-1958