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Ghost story: The silver leg

In the 30 years I have been involved in youth work, I have probably told this story several times per year. Most definitely never in the same way – apart from the end. The kids are always captivated and suitably scared. This ghost story can always be elaborated. It should however not be read out from a sheet of paper. Ghost stories are always suitable for a night time walk or by the camp fire. Whoever volunteers to take over the night watch after a couple of ghost stories, must be a hard bloke (or girl).

In the deep dark woods stood a half ruined castle. An earl and his butler had lived in the castle for many years. The earl had a silver false leg and the butler had a wooden leg.

One day the earl died. The butler, who had served the earl for years although he did not earn a lot of money, thought to himself „the earl doesn’t need his silver leg anymore, but I could use it and after so many years of service, I have definitely earned it!“ So he swapped his wooden leg for the silver leg.

As night fell, the butler closed all of the windows and doors of the castle like he always did. He did however feel a little uncomfortable. Not a single person for miles, only the whispering of the woods, the cracking of the fire in the hearth and the howling of a wolf in the distance.

The butler laid himself to bed and fell asleep. At midnight the butler was suddenly awoken. Had he heard a noise? Yes! Now he could hear it quite clearly. At first it was a soft „Tock-Tock-Tock“noise but louder and louder. The noise became closer and closer and closer...

The butler became nervous. Who could be outside? He had locked everything up! Or had he? Oh oh –he could now hear a voice. "Where is my silver leg!? Where is my silver leg?!" it was the voice of the dead earl. He should be in his tomb in the castle cellar. The butler felt quite strange but almost as soon as the haunting had began, it was over again.

On the next day, after a night of disturbed sleep full of nightmares of being followed by the old earl, the butler decides of change all of the locks and secure everything. He paid particular attention to the tomb and cellar locks making sure they were locked and bolted.

In the evening, with a slightly nervous feeling, the butler went to bed in his room in the loft. It happened again. Exactly at midnight, he was woken once again by an ever nearing Tock-Tock-Tock- noise. The footsteps became closer and closer and stood still directly in front of his door.

Bathed in sweat, the butler lay in his bed. The door handle now moved slowly downwards. Now he could be sure to hear the voice of the earl: "Where is my silver leg!? Where is my silver leg?!" The butler’s heart almost stood still. He pulled the covers over his head and didn’t move a muscle. The door suddenly shut and the haunting was over. The butler breathed a sigh of relief.

On the following morning even more precautions were taken. The butler now attached two padlocks to his door and pushed an old board under the door handle. Despite this, the game started again at midnight. Exactly at midnight, he was woken once again by an ever nearing Tock-Tock-Tock- noise. The footsteps became closer and closer and stood still directly in front of his door. Despite locks and wooden boards, the door opened. The butler lay bathed in sweat, crouched even further under the sheets.

"Where is my silver leg!? Where is my silver leg?!" the butler heard the old earl say and he seemed to be moving closer and closer. He must now be standing at the bedside.

- The butler held his breath – he heard the low voice once again: "Where is my silver leg!? Where is my silver leg?! “... (Short breath - pause)

"Theeeere is my silver leg!!!!“

(Directors note: shout “theeeere” so loud so that the listeners jump. The tension should be slowly built up by the story teller so that the listeners are captivated. It is not so important how the story is told or if it is elaborated or altered. It is important to build up the tension and to really shock the listeners at the end, just like the old butler.)