The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

WHO'S GOT MY LIVER?

THERE WAS ONCE A LITTLE GIRL WHO'S MOTHER SENT HER TO
THE STORE TO GET SOME LIVER. THE GIRL'S MOTHER GAVE HER
SOME MONEY AND TOLD HER NOT TO STOP AT THE CANDY STORE,
BUT TO GO DIRECTLY TO THE STORE FOR THE LIVER. WELL,
WHILE THE LITTLE GIRL WAS WALKING, SHE GOT A TERRIBLE
TASTE FOR SOME CANDY, SO SHE STOPPED AT THE CANDY STORE
AND SPENT ALL HER MONEY. NOW THIS LITTLE GIRL KNEW THAT
HER MOTHER WOULD BE VERY, VERY ANGRY AND BEAT HER IF
SHE DIDN'T COME HOME WITH SOME LIVER. THE LITTLE GIRL
DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, BUT AS SHE WAS WALKING, SHE SAW
A GRAVEYARD. IN THIS GRAVEYARD SHE SAW A DEAD PERSON
WHO WAS READY TO BE BURIED. THIS GAVE THE GIRL AN
IDEA, SHE DECIDED TO CUT OUT THE LIVER OF THE DEAD
PERSON AND TAKE IT HOME. WHEN SHE GOT HOME, HER MOTHER
FIXED THE LIVER FOR DINNER. NOW IT WAS TIME TO GO TO
BED. THE LITTLE GIRL GOT INTO BED. AFTER IT WAS REAL
LATE AND PITCH BLACK OUTSIDE, THE LITTLE GIRL HEARD A
STRANGE VOICE CALLING, "WHO'S GOT MY LIVER?" "WHO'S
GOT MY LIVER?" ALL THIS TIME THE VOICE KEPT COMING
CLOSER. "WHO'S GOT MY LIVER?" "I'M ON THE FIRST STEP,
WHO'S GOT MY LIVER?" "I'M ON THE SECOND STEP, WHO'S
GOT MY LIVER?" "I'M ON THE THIRD STEP, WHO'S GOT MY
LIVER?" "I'M ON THE LAST STEP, WHO'S GOT MY LIVER.
YOU'VE GOT MY LIVER!!"
AT THIS POINT THE NARRATOR GRABS A PERSON OF HIS CHOICE.

Submitter comment: MY GRANDMOTHER TELLS THIS STORY TO ALL THE YOUNG
CHILDREN IN OUR FAMILY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA

Date learned: NOT GIVEN