Listen, children ... listen!

by Wallace West

"Listen, children ... listen!" by Wallace West is a work of horror fiction written in the early 1950s. The book presents a chilling story centered around themes of loss, isolation, and the psychological descent into madness, encapsulating a rural family dynamic in a bygone era. It likely explores the haunting nature of memory and the emotional repercussions of death, particularly focusing on the relationship between the living and the supernatural. The narrative follows the life of a young boy and his sister as they confront the ghostly presence of their grandmother, Maw, after the tragic death of their father. Maw's obsession with listening for her deceased husband's return spirals into madness, blurring the lines between reality and hallucination. As the children struggle to cope with their grief, they find themselves drawn into Maw's world of shadows and deluded conversations with her reflection in a mirror. This tale reflects on the impact of grief on mental health, the terror of familial loss, and the reliance on fragile memories, culminating in a horrifying revelation that leaves both the children and the reader unsettled.