Students of the Eleventh Grade Advanced Level English Course got into small groups to discuss the oral narratives of Bram Stoker’s ghost story “The Judge’s House”. The first narrative they listened to was the complete story. The second one was an adapted version that could have been presented on the  radio. They analyzed and compared the two audio versions. 

Want to know what each group had to say? Well, let's listen and find out. 

Ever wonder what it might be like to be thought of as an object? People pass by you maybe stopping to look but don't see you. As humans we need to interact with others. But if you're an inanimate object, it doesn't really matter. But who knows? Maybe it does. 

What do ghost stories have in common? There's always a mystery, of course! Sometimes we find out in the end what happened but we might find it puzzling. Do you know a good ghost story? Maybe you know one that has sent chills up your spine and made your hair stand on end. Those are the best kind.  

If you've listened carefully, you'll realize that this story may have a sequel. Could it be a happily ever-after one? Depends on what a person may consider a happy ending. Given more time, this could turn into a novel. I'll leave that up to my students. I'll bet they could come up with some real page turners. 

When writing a mini-series you get emotionally involved with the characters. You wonder what to do with them because you want your readers (or listeners, in this case) to be satisfied with the outcome. But you also want to make that outcome believable and at the same time pleasantly surprising. What to do and how to do it? Two very good questions. 

Anyway, I've enjoyed the writing part. As to recording the segments, it's been a challenge. Why? Sometimes the conditions were not the best. 

Have I done a decent job of keeping my listeners guessing?  I hope so. I've tried to provide details (hints) as to what might happen in the story. Can you come up with any interesting ideas?

We discover a bit more in this episode. The mother's name and how she came to find the book of spells. 

The theories in response to what happened to the father in "Secrets" (Part One) have been varied and very unusual.  The father has either been killed, he's run off, he went crazy, or just mysteriously disappeared. I knew they'd come up with a few wild ideas! 

My students will have read at least Act One of Arthur Miller's well-known play The Crucible so I decided to make up a narrative about witchcraft. I struggled to come up with a title but "Secrets" will have to suffice for now. 

The topic of witches and their "craft" has always been a popular one. Who doesn't like a good story about witches--whether they be good or bad? 

Will this story have a sequel? I left it so it could have one. Notice I put "Part One" within parenthesis. Maybe I'll ask the students to make up a second part. It would be interesting to see how they might continue the story.  With their wild imaginations, I might be surprised. Who knows?