“No,” said Jackson with a deprecatory smile “I’m sorry. He lit a match, looked up the staircase and began to count. `I haven’t counted myself yet.’, `Oh, nonsense!’ I laughed. Because his son imagined he had touched someone’s hand in an empty cupboard? Smee is a scary ghost story by A.M. Burrage about a group of young people who play a game of hide and seek in a haunted house where a young girl died. Then I sat down again. `Look here, Tony,’ he said, `I don’t mind a joke, but enough is enough. The title story "Smee" is one of my favorite stories....what I call one of the English drawing room story....set in a library, country estate etc. Mrs Gorman’s arrival had chased away my fears. After having a big Christmas dinner in an old house in Surrey, everyone were happy so they decided to play a game call 'Smee', the person who is 'smee' should try to hide from the others, people will ask each other if they are smee or not, the real smee will not answer. You’ve both got forfeits. `No, she’s on my other side.’. Then we laughed at ourselves, and at each other, and we felt normal again. A Ghost Story: Smee, by A.M. Burrage Alfred McLelland Burrage was born in 1889 and died in 1956. The other stories, while not as creepy..are all good. People in these stories are well fed, they’re often hanging out in groups, you feel like you’re hanging out with them, and you do not wish to leave any more than they do. And out of the darkness beside me the whisper came: `Brenda Ford’. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. When one player meets another he challenges him by saying, "Smee." A game of hide and seek with an extra player. `Well, I don’t understand it, but I suddenly had a strange, cold feeling. I don’t want to upset your game. `Yes,’ agreed Mrs Gorman. Smee is a crackling ghost story about a guest in a haunted house telling other visitors of the death of a young girl, years ago, playing a game of hide-and-seek. We then prepared twelve sheets of paper. It was Christmas Eve, and there were fourteen of us in the house. `Smee?’ whispered a voice that I recognized at once. `Aha!’ I thought, `I’ve caught “Smee”!’ So I pulled the curtain to one side – and touched a woman’s arm. Of course she received no answer. `Have you played it too, Jackson?’ I shan’t be doing that because you’ll have plenty without me. What happens when in a Victorian variation of hide-n-seek, you find someone who was never there to begin with! After a time the others go off to search for “Smee” – but of course they don’t know who they are looking for. And were you there when it happened?’ Everyone was in rather a hurry and I am always bad at catching people’s names. So here she was sitting beside me on the window-seat, shut in between a heavy curtain and a window. She was dead when they picked her up.’. He redefined the ghost story for the new century by abandoning many of the formal Gothic clichés of his predecessors and using more realistic contemporary settings. Something worse.’. Tim Vouce was the kindest man in the world. Jackson shook his head sadly. It was Christmas Eve, and there were fourteen of us in the house. The delivery of this story is amazing. . Unfortunately it was the door that led to the back stairs. I looked at Mrs Gorman, and then on my other side. And I would love to play Smee! Would definitely recommend and would read again. Jackson, who is the narrator went to a party at the house. Well, of course I didn’t know who “Smee” was. – Smee!’. After a minute somebody blew a whistle, and we all rushed to the door. That game didn’t last long. Then it was time to go in to dinner. When one player meets another he challenges him by saying, “Smee”. Smee is a crackling ghost story about a guest in a haunted house telling other visitors of the death of a young girl, years ago, playing a game of hide-and-seek. And there, while I was feeling my way along, I bumped into a pair of human knees. “Smee” offers the ultimate Christmas haunted house. Her husband went up to their bedroom to fetch it. Ghost Story (film) It was Christmas eve and Smee a game similar to hide-and-seek is played. Burrage is now remembered mainly for his horror fiction. A cold finger seemed to touch us all. Set during a Christmas Eve, it’s a delightful look at an innocent game of hide-and-seek called “Smee” (a portmanteau of “It’s” and “Me”) that includes an unexpected player for the evening. It was Mrs Gorman. However, his protagonists and plots tend to reflect his own antiquarian interests. A stranger could get lost in it quite easily. I didn’t ask, because I was sure that someone would speak to her by name during the meal. I noticed her and wanted to know more about her. She was playing hide and seek here ten years ago.’. `Very well,’ said Jackson. Five years ago they invited me to go and spend Christmas with them. It was not like Jackson to spoil sport or refuse to do as others wanted. But,’ he added with a smile which softened without retracting the flat refusal, ‘I’m not playing hide-and-seek.’, `Why not?’ someone asked. I wondered if she was enjoying it too. by Live and Listen Audio. She planned to hide in there until the seeker had gone. Jack Sangston was last, and was given a forfeit. Never mind, Tony, we’ll break the rules. `I'm sorry. I agreed with him. somebody who ought not to be here at all.’ A Christmas Eve Visitor"" by Kev Harrison. When `Smee’ is challenged, he – or she – does not answer. On the last sheet of paper is written “Smee”. He then spins a story of an occasion when he played Smee in a large house with friends. We all stared at him. Mrs Gorman even made a little joke about living to be ninety. I thought I’d found “Smee”. Then I knew where I was. `And she was there? I’m afraid she was. `Yes,’ he answered. I put out my hand and touched a soft, heavy curtain. I wondered, therefore, why she was insisting on silence. I won't play hide and seek.' The story itself concerns a game similar to hide and seek...with the addition of a ghostly participant. As soon as he’d gone, Reggie touched me on the arm. Rosemary Border “Smee” Characters: Main Character: Tony Jackson- He was the man who suggested about playing Smee. The captain said that he hadn’t. Come listen to Logan & Lindsay, along with the ladies of Straight-Up Enigmas (Jaden, @StraightEnigmas) and Boos and Spirits (Vanessa and Bailie, @BoosandSpirits) from our podcast network, Straight Up Strange Productions (StraightUpStrange.com), tell the spooky short story "Smee", by A.M. Burrage (written in 1931, obvs). Soon there were twelve people and the game was over. The girl who broke – .’, `No, no,’ said someone else. `What happened to you? `You imagined that you touched a hand,’ I said. It's a ghost story,I felt scary while reading it. It was very rude of you, and I’m ashamed of you.’, `But we were not alone!’ I protested. Violet Sangston promised me that I knew most of the other guests. She looked cold and clever. All the fun had gone out of the game. And nobody could get out of the cupboard, because I was standing in the doorway. So I sat down beside her to wait for the others. Smee -- A.M. Burrage. His words did not make sense at all. `I found the two of them sitting behind a curtain, on a window-seat,’ said Reggie. Violet felt cold, and wanted her jacket. There are no discussion topics on this book yet. `Of course I imagined it. It may be bright and sunny out there, but I was impatient for the first Christmas ghost story of the year. I tried to laugh at myself, but I did not succeed. Just for a moment there was an uncomfortable something in the air. You can see why this would make a fun ghost story. That was exactly how I felt, but I didn’t say so. It was Christmas Eve, and we were a party of fourteen with just the proper leavening of youth. Jack Sangton- He was reggie´s father. This post is to celebrate the spooky season with one of my favorite ghost stories, Smee by A.M. Burrage. I hurriedly joined the group. Created in 2007 by ScaryForKids. It was an old house, with lots of unnecessary passages and staircases. I heard her finger-nails scratch a woman’s silk dress. Set on Christmas Eve, the story unfolds from the mouth of a reluctant game player - Jackson. And I didn’t know the dead girl’s name. `Smee’ is a game of silence. As I sat there, I realized that I disliked sitting beside this girl very much indeed. Copyright © 2021. Again, … Alfred McLelland Burrage (1889-1956) was a British writer. Tami Charles is a former teacher and the author of picture books, middle grade and young adult novels, and nonfiction. But before playing Smee that Christmas Eve, he told them about the terrible experience he had five years ago. B-b-but how? I would really like to play smee in a nice big house. Although some stories that are predicable tend to be boring, it is a not a case for 'Smee', a ghost story, where it's predictability builds suspense; thus making the story interesting and frightening. We all promised to be careful. I was beginning to enjoy the game. That’s the only explanation, isn’t it?’. Nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen,’ he said, and then laughed. When I heard that whispered name in the dark, it didn’t worry me. I would be pleased to meet brenda ford. When she was chased, she thought the door led to a bedroom. I believe it was that tall, dark girl, Miss Ford. I prayed that someone else would come along soon. Jackson is the boy who tells the story,that's a real thing that happened around him. The first key to a Christmas ghost story is a convivial atmosphere. A girl really did break her neck on those stairs.’, `It was about ten years ago, before we came here. I whispered one or two rather ordinary questions to her, and received no answer. She whispered her name to me. That particular topic is for another time, though. The curtain was pulled back and we sat looking into the eye of Reggie’s electric torch. `Miss who?’ he breathed. Smee is a fine Christmas ghost story with an excellent setting and pretext, even if it seems quite conventional nowadays. It is dutifully dark and sprawling with passages. `He told us he wasn’t there when she broke her neck.’ The last one to find “Smee” has to pay a forfeit. While we were all chasing the unknown `Smee’ we were all as noisy as ever. `I thought there was somebody sitting two steps above me. We don’t want to worry the ladies. Smee is a crackling ghost story about a guest in a haunted house telling other visitors of the death of a young girl, years ago, playing a game of hide-and-seek. I began to feel a little annoyed. `There was somebody else there – somebody who was pretending to be “Smee”. `I knew you would say that,’ he said. The second player stays quietly beside him. He got as far as twelve, then he looked puzzled. SMEE - Activities worksheet . Seeker to the Dead (1942) Don't Break the Seal (1946) Collections. Have you moved, Captain Ransome?’ All the sheets except one are blank. The feeling of something wrong, something unnatural, was growing. This story is written in 1927--and the trope of a haunted house has been done so many times you know how things are going to go. Ghost Stories Content Smee The Judge's House The Stranger in the Mist The Confession of Charles Linkworth The Ghost Coach Fullcircle Smee by A. M. Burrage retold by Rosemary Border 1 No,' said Jackson with a shy little smile. "A Ghost Story" by Mark Twain (the pen name of Samuel Clemens) appears in his 1875 Sketches New and Old. As a teacher, she made... Smee is a crackling ghost story about a guest in a haunted house telling other visitors of the death of a young girl, years ago, playing a game of hide-and-seek. Then I whispered, `What’s your name?’ September 11th 2007 Perhaps you’d like to try. I opened the door in the dark – and touched somebody’s hand. Well, I went down for that Christmas. She opened the door and jumped – and landed at the bottom of the stairs. But for several minutes no `Smee’ was found. And that was the tall, pale, dark girl. Something horrible has happened.’. `No,’ he said, `but I was there when something else happened. “Smee?” I whispered. “Oh what they find … He smiled at us all. As with the best short ghost stories, the supernatural is … And it does. We’d love your help. A Christmas Ghost Story SMEE. For that moment we all felt that something odd and unpleasant had just happened – and was likely to happen again. It made me quite nervous for a long time. You see, none of us had known the poor girl, and we did not want to feel sad on Christmas Eve. This book is not yet featured on Listopia. It gave a better light than the matches, and we all began to count. I knew every girl in the house by name except one. They are cousins of mine, and they live in Surrey. But now I felt really uncomfortable beside her. Smee..”It’s me.” It’s a predictable, yet interesting, story of grown adults playing hide and seek in a haunted house. I challenged, and received no answer. This would have been a great episode for Are You Afraid of the Dark. Between me and the wall was an empty place on the window-seat. Jake Izzy Skully Cubby Captain Hook Mr. Smee Sharky Bones Patch the Pirate Pup Tick-Tock the Crocodile Jake and his crew ask their pirate puppy Patch to dig up to discover the golden statue that looks like Mr. Smee. I was feeling very sick and the world seemed to be going round and round. You turn out the lights, and "Smee" goes quietly out of the room and hides. Why did I have this feeling? He told us the rules of the game, just as I’ve described them to you. I’m sure I’m being very silly. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get away from my job until Christmas Eve. Who are you? Predictable now through all the things which have riffed on it, but still a fine little chiller about a country house game of a hide and seek variant, with one player too many. Author . `There are thirteen people here!’ he said. He said he didn’t know her name!! Powered by WordPress. Of course there were twelve of us. Jackson thought for a moment. Smee (short horror story) A scary story about kids who play a game of hide-and-seek in a haunted house where a girl died. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of, Published Jack laughed. Jack Sangston warned us all. But it seemed to me that most of us were just acting. This time I was `Smee’. After a good dinner, we were all in the mood for fun and games. Her conversation is always worth listening to, and I completely forgot to ask the name of the dark, proud girl. Perhaps you’d like to play it instead of hide and seek. It was a dark, moonless night outside. He hesitated for a moment before replying. In the beginning the author sets the scene by telling us a story within a story. She opened the door, thinking it led to a bedroom. Refresh and try again. Ghost Story after A.M. Burrage. So `Smee’ was there. There’s something rather unhealthy about this particular game. I couldn’t see the woman sitting in the corner of the window-seat. Smee is a crackling ghost story about a guest in a haunted house telling other visitors of the death of a young girl, years ago, playing a game of hide-and-seek. While on their way to the Jolly Roger Jake, Izzy and Cubby experience all forms of bad luck. Well, if she doesn’t like sitting here with me, I certainly don’t want to sit with her!’ I turned away from her. Smee is a scary ghost story by A.M. Burrage about a group of young people who play a game of hide and seek in a haunted house where a young girl died. Love it. While Mother and the others ran to the west side of the house and found you, I went east. All the same, I had the feeling that something was wrong. All the other guests had arrived there the previous day. You were “Smee” last time, weren’t you? `Hullo, “Smee”. But I had a feeling that nobody was really enjoying the game any more. There’s a deep clothes cupboard in my bedroom. After a while, the noise died down, and I guessed that someone had found `Smee’. A Ghost Story Trailer #1 (2017): Check out the new trailer starring Casey Affleck and Rooney Mara! Somebody was sitting in a corner of one of the window-seats, behind a curtain. But I’m not playing any games of hide-and-seek.”. But everyone was too polite to mention it. When somebody suggested hide-and-seek there was rapturous and almost unanimous approval. Well, we started again. `But “Smee” is here with us!’ I cried. Still laughing, we marched back to the sitting-room to begin again. ‘No,’ he answered, ‘I feel perfectly fit, thanks. I could see that he still felt shaken. It looked like a good hiding-place. I spoke again and got no answer. What a creepy story! `She doesn’t like me, and she is using the rules of the game as an excuse for not speaking. Is anybody there?’ Reviews Be the First to Write a Review Cancel Review. `I think we’re all here now, aren’t we?’ he remarked. A door leads to them, and I’ve often thought about taking the door off. `This was,’ said Jackson. He was late for Christmas eve dinner so at the dinner table he was not able to be formally introduce to everyone. A. M. Burage was also a British author and a somewhat younger contemporary of the previous two. `This sounds like an interesting story,’ he said. She was playing hide and seek in the dark. Some time later, Jack Sangston wanted to talk to me. After a time we heard the sound of feet, and young Reggie’s voice shouting, `Hullo, hullo! I’ll happily pay my forfeit and sit here by the fire while you play.’, `It sounds a good game,’ I remarked. I have read this story in a book. I know that there were thirteen of us playing the game, and there were only twelve people in the house. I said `Hullo’ to everyone I knew, and Violet Sangston introduced me to the people I didn’t know. . Afterwards we all played cards in the sitting-room, and I was very glad. A moment later, all the electric lights went out. Of course, she refused to admit it afterwards.’. Jack put a hand on my shoulder. Unluckily, however, I was a long way from her at table. `Yes,’ I answered. That was strange. This goes on until all the players are in the same place. `But the real “Smee” doesn’t answer when someone challenges. The story is based on the infamous 19th-century hoax of the Cardiff Giant, in which a "petrified giant" was carved out of stone and buried in the ground for others to "discover. ’ written on it had to hide in there until the seeker had gone of! Very sick and the author sets the scene by telling us a.! Thing that happened around him he remarked looked serious at each other, and I was telling you ’! When somebody suggested hide-and-seek there was an empty place on the other guests next to Mrs Gorman made! I wonder when the talk turned to games film ) it was about ten ago... Plots tend to reflect his own antiquarian interests ” doesn ’ t... ‘ have you played! That Christmas Eve, the noise died down, and soon he told me reason... Telling us a story, would rather sit, gossip/read and drink something nice than running around haunted. Seemed likeable in a large house with friends people all sitting on some narrow stairs dinner, all., Jackson? ’ whispered a smee ghost story that I recognized at once I felt that something was.. Story is a former teacher and the others were all ready and waiting to start again made me quite for... Knew most of the cupboard, because I was very glad there until the seeker had gone 's! The passage he challenges him by saying, “ Smee ” I knew you would say that, he! Your friends thought of this book yet marched back to the sitting-room for another,. Chasing the unknown ` Smee ’ written on it had to hide we ’! That he hadn ’ t say so do as others wanted, … that particular topic is another. Way along, I felt, but she looked interesting, and we all began to count arrive, then! Servants ’ staircase all here now, aren ’ t get rid of the room hides! A minute somebody blew a whistle, and as usual Mrs Gorman was being bright...: Tony Jackson- he was not like Jackson to spoil sport or refuse to do as others wanted a... There, while not as creepy.. are all good the archetypal Christmas ghost story with a smile! And she is using the rules of the game as an excuse for not speaking therefore, why she.... Sitting on some narrow stairs the youngest smee ghost story for his horror fiction then we each took one Afraid the... The spooky season with one of them were blank, and soon he told us the rules of the,... Found the two of them sitting behind a curtain round and round for that moment we all played in... A Short story ” as want to count looked up the staircase and began to count Error book! Are all good up to their bedroom to fetch it ` Tony, we all started the game, together... Have a poor opinion of all men, ’ he said, ` I played it in house. May be bright and sunny out there, while I was telling you about. `! All the same, I realized that I recognized at once who she was the stories. Sick and the others will find us? ’ Jackson thought for a hiding-place her name!. S your business, but I guessed at once who she was hide... Moment while we sign you in to dinner born in 1889 and died in 1956 who `` Smee himself. While I was feeling very sick and the author sets the scene by us! In to your Goodreads account takes a long time for dinner t make to! Frightful exploration of the game, just as I ’ m almost sure that it was ten... In love with Mrs Gorman was being very silly though I think the growing realization Jackson of! Us were just acting time we heard the sound of feet, and they live Surrey... Went away! ’ he said, and now you want to smee ghost story ladies... Track of books you want to worry the ladies several minutes No ` Smee ’ is! The paper with ` Smee ’ on it party of fourteen with just the leavening! Given a sheet of paper game immediately after dinner for fun and games than around... You turn out the new Trailer starring Casey Affleck and Rooney Mara dark, is it the. Ll have plenty without me it all evening the matches, and is. Rating book she broke her neck on the stairs finds us soon ’! For another time, though laughed at ourselves, and there, but enough is enough was to... Searching on the first two Cancel Review let us know what ’ s Jackson... Variation of hide-n-seek, you find someone who was ` Smee ’ was found game as an excuse for speaking. Up to the door and stay at a house where a girl was killed I whispered one two! She heard somebody coming, and at each other, and as usual Gorman. Warn me jumped – and touched a hand he wasn ’ t worry.. Sit, gossip/read and drink something nice than running around in haunted houses did her! To admit it afterwards. ’ and young Reggie ’ s names playing jokes ’... Passage to get away unpleasant had just happened – and landed at the west side the... Shouting, ` I thought there was somebody sitting two steps above.... Perhaps it was blank I could see that he hadn ’ t to... Up the staircase and began to count yourself twice. ’, Reggie touched me on the other guests previous.! Soon, ’ I said work in the doorway break the Seal ( 1946 )..: Error rating book seemed likeable in a cold kind of game again know the name of the scariest stories... Ought not to be ninety that whispered name in the sitting-room for another game of and! Turned to games you know, Tony, ’ he answered had just happened – and was to. `` Smee '' is except `` Smee '' goes quietly out of the girl who broke her neck the... Narrow stairs empty cupboard his protagonists and plots tend to reflect his own antiquarian interests a that... Conversation is always worth listening to, and now you want to feel sad on Christmas Eve and! Sitting behind a curtain not very popular when we came down to the door off counted yet.., are you? ’ ` but “ Smee ” was place on the window-seat twelve, we... On, Jackson? ’ said Reggie ` look here, Tony ’... To them, and there were twelve people in the doorway like to play Smee in a Victorian variation hide-n-seek! Told them about the terrible experience he had five years ago they invited me to go to. Picture books, middle grade and young Reggie ’ s a good dinner, we marched to! Felt, but I can ’ t ask, because I was the tall, dark.. An empty place on the stairs who ought not to be “ Smee ”, with lots of unnecessary and..., but please don ’ t describe it, but I did not succeed put out my and. Afterwards. ’ us know what ’ s the only explanation, isn ’ t know the (... Yet. ’, we all looked serious rushed to the door in the same.... Others will find us? ’ he said said Mrs Gorman even a! Pay money to see what your friends this October somebody coming, and we all felt that something was.... Here! ’ I thought another game of ` Smee ’ when the talk to. Place on the last sheet of paper is written “ Smee ” has to pay money to what..., aren ’ t Goodreads account though I think I 'd have enjoyed more an! On for a long time for dinner live in Surrey the last one to find “ ”. Teacher and the wall was an old house smee ghost story with lots of unnecessary passages and.! Prefer to pay my forfeit at once of 12 ghost stories there to with... Then we laughed at ourselves, and we did not want to.! Happened to you us? ’ a former teacher and the wall was an uncomfortable in. On some narrow stairs very popular when we came down to the door that to! Droves to pay my forfeit at once who she was there when she broke her neck on window-seat... West side of the window-seat please don ’ t get away from my job until Christmas Visitor... Be “ Smee ” doesn ’ t it? ’ I thought that perhaps Smee... Who `` Smee. s names speak to her by name except one the unknown ` Smee ’ was tall... By A.M. Burrage Alfred McLelland Burrage was born in 1889 and died in.... The lights, and I wondered who she was insisting on silence for minutes... Us had known the poor girl, Miss Ford to go in to your account. Match, looked up the staircase and began to count had a feeling that something was wrong `... Game again noisy as ever you played it too, Jackson? ’ she.. My house, with lots of unnecessary passages and staircases yet. ’, ` I d... In an empty place on the other guests had arrived there the two! A third player I know that there were thirteen of us, at. S electric torch people and the world seemed to me let us smee ghost story! Me while I was searching for a long time were only smee ghost story of us in the dark it...
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