August 27, 2006 End of Summer Ghost Story

Erin and Heather joined me in the WCOM studio (www.commmunityradio.coop), a LP community radio station, out of Carrboro, NC. They had recently returned from overnight summer camp. The camp ended with the telling of a scary ghost story. The girls agreed to share the story with the WCOM listeners. They wrote the story up (see below). Heather narrated the story and Erin provided sound effects.

Play List of Songs on the August 27, 2006 Show of Melva's Musings on Jazz

• Nina Simone, Anthology CD, I Wish I Knew How it Felt to be Free (Billy Taylor song). Nina is from Tryon, NC and Billy Taylor is from Greenville, NC.
• Scott Warner, Wild Man Blues CD, Pine Apple Rag. Scott lived in Chapel Hill, NC for ten years, where he taught jazz piano at UNC, and performed throughout the area. He currently resides in the Oakland, CA area where he is working on new jazz compositions and performing.
• Dizzy Gillespie, Dizzier and Dizzier CD, Oo La La. Dizzy went to high school in Laurinburg, NC.
• Chuck Brown & Eva Cassidy, The Other Side CD, I'll Go Crazy.
• Mary Lou Williams, My Mama Pinned a Rose on Me CD, The Blues. Mary Lou spent the last eight years of her life at Duke University in Durham, NC.
• Vince Gill & Gladys Knight, Rhythm Country & Blues CD, Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing
• Neville Brothers, Treacherous CD, Cha Dooky Do
• Billy Taylor Quartet, Where've You Been? CD, I'm in Love With You. Billy is from Greenville, NC.
• Kevin Van Sant & Mahlon Hoard, On a Whim CD, Blue Monk. Kevin is from Durham, NC and Mahlon lives in Chapel Hill.
• Brian Horton, The Best of Brian Horton CD, Baby Steps. Brian teaches at NC Central University in Durham.
• Al Neese, Omen Seeker CD, Blue & Silver. Al lives in Greensboro, NC.
• Max Roach, 3/4 Time CD, Blue's Waltz. Max grew up in New Land, NC.
• Jim Beckwith, Step Right - Shake Left CD, Human Nature. Jim lives in Chapel Hill.
• Brother Yusef Salim, Piano & Vocals CD, A Hymm For Us All. Brother Yusef lives in Durham NC.
• Paul Tardif, Points of Departure CD, The Fox's Secret. Paul lives in Greenville, NC.
• Gabe Evens, Mobius, Old Timey Rocker. Gabe lives in Durham, NC.
• Marian McPartland & Dizzie Gillespie, Piano Jazz CD, In a Mellow Tone. Dizzie went to high school in Laurinburg, NC.
• Adia Ledbetter, First Take CD, You Don't Know What Love Is. Adia is from Durham, NC.
• Billy Taylor, Taylor Made at the Kennedy Center CD, I Wish I Knew How it Felt to be Free.

The End of Summer Horror Story as narrated by Heather and sound effects by Erin

Back when Camp Kanata was still a boys’ camp, there were two counselors, Max and Chip, of cabin 8, which was the cabin for the little boys’. Every Sunday night there is a fireball carnival, which is a festival where you play games with fireballs and earn new ones depending how on well you play the game. One night Chip dressed up as a clown for the carnival. Everyone loved it; he would squirt kids with a water gun, and act funny. The nametag read: Binky. Next week he dressed up in it again, except, he was a little harsher, and sprayed water in the kids’ faces. He’s just getting into character, everyone thought. The week after that he wore he wore it again, but that night he didn’t take the outfit off, he’s probably just tired, everyone thought. The next day, though, he didn’t take the costume off. By Wednesday, he was still wearing it. “Uh, Chip,” said Max, “The clown thing is kinda getting old.” Chip glared at Max. “Don’t call me Chip my name’s Binky!”
The next day the director, Hanbone, went up to Chip. “Chip, you’re freaking the kids out. If you don’t stop you’re gonna have to leave.”
“I am Binky!” Chip yelled. “You’ll have to leave then,” replied Hanbone, and Binky left in a huff. The rest of the summer continued, and ended. A year later, camp started up again and was going well. Max had a new counselor with him, and was still in cabin 8. By week 5 everything was fine, and the new counselor had the week off. Tuesday night, Chip was lying in bed, when he heard footsteps from outside the cabin. Max listened, but he didn’t hear anything. He closed his eyes. Was that a bell? It’s probably the other cabins playing a joke, he thought, and got up to get them away from the cabin. Max stepped outside, but saw no one. He heard footsteps from the side of the cabin, so he ran around the side, and saw a big red clown shoe disappear around the side the cabin, and the door slam shut. Max pulled on the doorknob, but it was locked. He pounded on the door, and kicked it until it finally came down. He ran into the room, to see the back door swing shut. He looked around the room, and saw the kids wide-awake playing with black balloons tied to their beds. “A guy came in and gave us balloons,” they said. “Just go to sleep.” Max told the kids, he didn’t want them to be scared. He was crawling back into bed when he saw a note taped to the back of his bed. It was on black paper, with white writing. MAX, it said on the front. Balloons are black. Binky is back, it read. The next morning Max went straight to Hanbone, and showed him the note. Later that day Hanbone called a staff meeting. “I want to know who did this; this is not a funny joke.” No one said a word. “Alright, I do not want to hear of this again.” That night Max was lying in bed; when he heard a bell. He sprang out of bed, and opened the door, to see him disappear around the side of the cabin. I’m not going to leave the front door this time, thought Max. He waited and waited; until he heard the thumping of balloons. He flew into the cabin, only to see the back door slam shut. Black balloons were tied to the end of the beds again. Max saw another note taped to his bed. Look for red, red is dread. The next morning, Max went to Hanbone again, and showed him the note. Hanbone called all the staff together. “This joke has gone too far,” he said. “Would you please tell me who’s doing this?” No one said a word. That night Max was lying in bed; when he heard a ringing. He sprang out of bed, and opened the door; and ran around the side to see Binky run into the cabin. He heard a balloon pop, so he ran in, only to see the back door slam shut again. Max saw another note taped to his bed. This time it said, look for red, red is dead. Max looked at the back door. A red balloon was tied to it. Max counted the kids. 8 kids, but there were 9 in the cabin. One was missing…
The next morning when he woke up he found another note at the end of his bed, this time it read I got one, now I will get the rest of cabin 8. After breakfast he went straight to Hanbone. They decided on a plan. That night all the kids were moved to the dining hall with other counselors protecting them, while the strong counselors and Hanbone waited in the cabin for Binky. Soon, they heard ringing. In walked Binky. “Where are the kids?” asked Binky. “They’re not here.” “Since the kids are not here, I’ll get you!” Binky ran into the woods. He and the missing boy were never seen again.