This story was told me to by a crazy Aunt when I was probably close to 6 years old. I remember sitting squished in the back seat of the car alongside a few cousins, and driving past the gas station on the corner to her house. She was in the passenger seat and every once in awhile she’d get so into the story she’d twist her body around to look us directly in the eye. I’m pretty sure it was summer time, but with her telling it, we couldn’t resist a Halloween story. I’ve decided to post it now instead of in the fall, because of her great story telling in all seasons.
“Look What I Can Do With My Ruby Red Lips and My Long Fingernails”
(Names are totally not changed, we are an important part of this story)
Once Upon A Time… There were five kids who lived across from a creepy old house. Their parents told them never to cross over the fence to this house, because it was rumored to be haunted. So the kids, Nolan, Taeja, Sarah, Madison and Nathan, always played in the safety of their own backyard. One day they were outside playing soccer when Nathan, who was very strong, kicked the ball all the way over the top of the fence!
They had to get their ball back to keep playing, so Nolan, who was very brave, lead the group through a slot in the wood fence. The old house had paint chipping off the door and shutters falling off their hinges. It looked like no one had lived in the house for a very long time. The ball lay in the overgrown grass near the rickety front porch.The group slowly walked up to the house.
“Did you hear something” Nolan whispered to the group?
“You’re just trying to scare us!” Madison said. They slowly inched closer to the ball.
“Look what I can do with my Ruby Red Lips and my Long Fingernails…”
This time they all heard it. There was a voice, and it was coming from inside the house.
“Maybe we should just go back” Sarah said grabbing the ball.
“No, I wanna know who that is” said Taeja.
The group continued up the steps of the front porch and into the abandoned house. They crossed through spiderwebs with their arms up to guard their face. The house was empty and everything was lined with a layer of dust.
“Look what I can do with my Ruby Red Lips and my Long Fingernails…”
There it was again, a woman’s voice repeating the same thing. It sent chills down all their spines.
“Look what I can do with my Ruby Red Lips and my Long Fingernails…”
It was coming from up the stairs. Trying to be as quiet as possible all five kids creeped up the stairs. They heard them sqqueeeaakk with each step. Everything was dark at the top of the steps, except for a small glimmer of light coming from under one door way.
“Look what I can do with my Ruby Red Lips and my Long Fingernails…”
The voice was louder now, and they knew they would find their answer behind the lit doorframe.
“Nolan, you go first, you’re the oldest” they all decided. Nolan ever-so-slowly, without making a sound, pushed open the door. Everyone’s heart was racing with the suspense.
Inside sitting at a mirror was an old woman with long gray hair. She turn to look at the kids when she noticed their entrance.
“Look what I can do with my Ruby Red Lips and my Long Fingernails…” She whispered at them in a raspy voice.
She raised one long fingernail to her red lips…
and went “blllbblllbbblllbb”
(The sound your mouth makes when you strum a finger up and down over your lips.)
Yes, she totally got us.
P.S. It was very hard to retell this story as amazing as my Aunt, I hope I did it justice. Also, if you’re interested in another retelling (I sometimes can’t help but google everything) here’s what I found. In our minds, my Aunt will always be the original author of this story.