Aunt Jemima's Syrup House

Ghost Stories of Saskatchewan (Uncle Ben’s House, An Unseen Playmate, Old Faithful: The Tabor Light)



Answer the following questions:

Which reading did you enjoy best (teacher read, classmates read, read to self)? Why? I enjoyed the readings better when it was read to us by Mr. Nickell. I liked it better because I focused on what was being read out loud. It was also read with emotion and it caught my attention so I paid attention better.
What strategies do you think would help to get more out of the reading methods you didn’t enjoy (ie: classmates read) I didn't enjoy it as much when the students were asked to read because I couldn't pay attention. To help me stay focused and in tuned I will have to make some changes by following along while the story is being read. Also I can try and imagine the scene and what is going on in the story in my mind.


Complete the following:

For each story:
Attempt to explain the phenomenon through scientific and/or logic reasoning.
Complete your own background story for Old Faithful: The Tabor Light (see the first few for examples, ie: 1923, 1935, etc...)





Old Faithful: The Tabor Light
The glowing light could have been some strange fog during the 30's. It only happened during this period of time so it could have been something going on then.

An Unseen Playmate (Swing Monster)
The swing that automatically started swinging back and forth as it gradually picks up speed can be scientifically explained I guess. Actually sitting here thinking about, I can't explain it all, or even try. I totally would be tripped out.

Uncle Ben's House
It was just her imagination playing tricks on her! It can happen, yup, indeed. It sure can!





Aunt Jemima's Syrup House


1889 (June)- It was the opening day at 'Aunt Jemima's Syrup House', sun was shining, light, warm breeze, beautiful people surrounding the sidewalk, awaiting to be greeted and toured through the store. All was going well, when all but Aunt Jemima heard an natural childs whisper.

1889 (October)- Halloween was near. Business was booming, no more unusual voices have been heard since openning day. Miss Jemima dismissed the voice and replaced it with scientifically explained reasonings. She dismissed it to soon.
The staff left, she said she could handle locking up by herself. She explained to the staff that she had some paperwork to finish up and she would see them the next day. As they laughingly joked and said their goodbyes as they closed the door behind them, Aunt Jemima stood in the doorway waving everyone goodbye. She then locked the door, closed the curtains, flicked the switch off on the open sign, and began to walk up the staircase leading to her office. Third stair from the top, she heard the front door opening, then a sudden slam. Her heart stopped. Bit her lip with fear, with courage she spoke out. "We're closed, you'll have to come back in the morning." No reply. She stood on the staircase for a couple of minutes, barely breathing, no movement, she tried to slow her heart pace. Sudden footsteps appeared. She ran to her office, stumbling, trembling to open the door. She pressed her ear to the door, listening to the footsteps as they came closer and as they stopped at the office door, she reached for a lamp. The only solid object that could be used to defend herself. As tears fell down her face and sweat dripped down her body, she quickily opened the door, there was nothing. She ran downstairs screaming "Leave my store now! Or, or, or I'll contact the police right now!" No reply again. She went to the door and noticed the door was still locked. She decided to leave the paperwork and return in the morning witih more staff. she wouldn't tell the co-workers, simply because they would be terrified and would never want to show up for work again.

1890 (June)- Last year on this exact day Aunt Jemima opened the store for the first time. Except on this day, 'Aunt Jemima's Syrup House' was an official crime scene. The whole staff was murdered. Except, there wasn't any murder weapons, no blood, just limp, lifeless bodies. They died of heart attacks. Aunt Jemima's body though, was locked in her office, Terrifed, pyschotical messed up. She kept murmouring the words "It came." The police investigated, never could explain what had happened on that very day.

1890 (July)- Aunt Jemima sits in the Insane Asilum. Sitting and shaking back and forth talking to herself. Still repeating the words "It came." The deaths of the staff members is still unexplianable. It still remains a mystery.