Discussion for Wednesday January 16, 2019---John Collier's Story: Thus I Refute Beelzy

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GNTLGNT

GNTLGNT

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....as always, given my "in bed with the chickens" early retirement-here are my thoughts...another tale that featured a paterfamilias that was nothing more than a brute and an abuser-both verbally and physically....the interaction between the "Small Simon" and his "friend" was flat out creepy, even when described in the past tense....I am one that will declare the ending a happy occasion, because I so genuinely disliked the adults in this tale, though the eventual comeuppance you could sense coming almost from the get go....not to morbid, bloody or frightening-just enough to say "well, that was quite the little satanic nugget".......
 
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Tery

Tery

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I've always loved this tale. Makes one think back to childhood "imaginary friends" and parental response to same. The karmic comeuppance is delicious. The suspense builds nicely and the whole story is the perfect length; short enough to read quickly yet long enough to draw you in and serve the denouement in a whallop.

When we found the old album full of these sort of stories narrated by Vincent Price in a thrift shop we were so happy! I'm posting the link again for anyone who missed the post in last week's discussion thread. So good!

 
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Doc Creed

Doc Creed

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Tery said:
I've always loved this tale. Makes one think back to childhood "imaginary friends" and parental response to same. The karmic comeuppance is delicious. The suspense builds nicely and the whole story is the perfect length; short enough to read quickly yet long enough to draw you in and serve the denouement in a whallop.

When we found the old album full of these sort of stories narrated by Vincent Price in a thrift shop we were so happy! I'm posting the link again for anyone who missed the post in last week's discussion thread. So good!

Click to expand...
I listened to it an hour ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. Much of this story is a conversation between father and son. I didn't find the father abusive, though. What am I missing? I liked the creepy matter of fact way the kid answers the interrogation. "He loves me and I love him". A chilling story with an ending that leaves a wicked smile on the reader. Nice choice, Tery.
 
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Spideyman

Spideyman

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Heart really went out to the boy. Felt as thought the father wanted to keep him within his shadow, thus the Big Simon and Small Simon. The father was rather stern and harsh toward the boy. Children need their imaginary friends and games. To me, there was a lack of communication between father and son.

While searching, I had found an article that at one time the ending was shortened to stop at "Let us go up-- That was not Small Simon."

The length was a perfect read.
 
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HollyGolightly

HollyGolightly

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Bravo! I loved it!! I have never heard of or read that story before. It was a tidy and simple story - leaving much to the imagination. It felt like a Twilight Zone episode - which is a high form of praise from me. I did a little googling of John Collier to see what else he's written and at least one of his stories was actually made into a Twilight Zone episode: The Chaser. And many of them were adapted for a series from the 80s called Tales of the Unexpected - it's British and I'm going to see if I can find it online somewhere to watch.

Thank you Tery for suggesting this. I'm envious of the album you found - what a gem! I read online - I didn't listen to it, and I didn't realize that was an entire collection of stories recorded by Vincent Price - a horror literature lover's delight!

I didn't get the abusive vibe from the father right away - more like a "kids should be seen and not heard" or "you are what I say you are". Perhaps a damaging way of child rearing - but not abuse in the way I think of it. I didn't have "spanking parents" so I don't know that fear and dread of the "go upstairs and wait". That is abuse, for sure. But hey - Beelzy took care of the old man - as promised!

Tery - I'm with you on the imaginary friend thing. I love stories about them. My parents worked opposite shifts, so while mom was at work, dad slept and I tended to myself. I made up playmates: Girlfriend, Remy, Chu-Ong and Chu-Ni. They left after I started kindergarten. I know I created them to entertain myself as a child alone all the time, but I really like to think that maybe there were some spirits visiting me. And then sometimes that thought frightens me. My parents just let me be about it.

I also loved the imagery of that little summerhouse and the sun room for tea time!

Perfect story for a quick frightening read.
 

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Doc Creed

Doc Creed

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HollyGolightly Yeah, I saw the father as stern but not abusive. He was condescending to a six-year-old and trying to reason with him, as one would be with a boy talking of imaginary friends.

We are never given proof that Beelzy exists; even with the father's gruesome remains upstairs. I think the story is deceptively simple but it is impressive how easily the author leads the reader to believe the boy. Did anyone other than Small Simon see Beelzy? Could it be possible that the little boy killed his father? (Or what if Beelzy is real...an escaped convict? I'm reaching, but it just now occurs to me that there could be other explanations.) For the record, I think Beelzy was the devil incarnate, as his name suggests and as fljoe0 noted.
 
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Tery

Tery

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HollyGolightly said:
I know I created them to entertain myself as a child alone all the time, but I really like to think that maybe there were some spirits visiting me. And then sometimes that thought frightens me. My parents just let me be about it.
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Yep. I think any singleton will do this. No siblings to be live-in pals so we made them up. I lived in a small house in Redlands, CA for a short period. Mom said I had an "imaginary friend" a little boy I called "Meeshio." We found out later that a little boy named "Emilio" had died in that house. Interesting. At least it wasn't Beelzy!

I'm so glad you guys enjoyed the story :)
 
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HollyGolightly

HollyGolightly

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Tery said:
Yep. I think any singleton will do this. No siblings to be live-in pals so we made them up. I lived in a small house in Redlands, CA for a short period. Mom said I had an "imaginary friend" a little boy I called "Meeshio." We found out later that a little boy named "Emilio" had died in that house. Interesting. At least it wasn't Beelzy!

I'm so glad you guys enjoyed the story :)
Click to expand...

Oh wow Tery! Meeshio/Emilio - I'm a believer. Rather than believing in ghosts - I'm more a believer in the "residue" of the living - like in Rose Red - I have a hard time believing that the dead choose to linger. But no doubt something does at times. As for - Remy, Chu-Ong and Chu-Ni - French and Asian names - there's no way I could have heard of those names. It was 1972 - I had PBS to keep me company while dad slept and mom worked. I used to knock on the corner of the wall where the phone was hung and invite them out to play. Girlfriend lived in the mirror - so I believe she was just me - I just didn't understand mirrors. Boy, I'm weird.
 
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cat in a bag

cat in a bag

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This was a good little story! First time read for me, too. I can see the abusive father angle, but to me it felt more like the father was not used to being bucked at all, his was the final word, period. Kind of set this story in a Victorian era in my mind. I don't know if that is correct or not. The ending sneaks up so quick yet it is the perfect ending. I enjoyed it!
 
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