The Step by E F Benson

The Step by E F Benson, ready by Richard Crowest
“With a sudden sinking of his heart, he heard behind him the step which he thought he had silenced for ever.”

[@Rosalinda7seven7]

Well done! I especially liked the inclusion of the sound of the step. Thank you! I have subscribed.

[@GhostsByRC]

Thank you very much! I’ve had some negative comments about sound effects so I’ve been using them less lately, but it’s always good to be reminded that not everyone thinks the same!

[@kimmorgan3122]

Yes, the step sound is so creepy! I didn't realize it was part of the story until I paused it to turn on the light and look over the room!

[@magicbulletdancers]

You have an extraordinarily unique voice and style of delivery. V cool 👍

[@rneustel388]

Excellent reading! This one is new to me.

[@marjie012000]

Wow. Spooky and wonderfully read. Kept me fully engaged throughout.

[@janespring9224]

i'm in the hospital and this is helping me pass the time and engage my mind wonderfully! i love these videos! cheers =)

[@GhostsByRC]

I'm glad they're helping! Get well soon.

[@joannamorgan6911]

I love these, and the reader is perfect. I can hear him so clearly, which is so precious.

[@krishnasen397]

Gripping scary story! Excellent reading as always. Thanks very much Sir.

[@GhostsByRC]

Thank you!

[@minzygreen1167]

this is great. what amazing narration!

[@northernlights8126]

Brilliant story and perfect narration.

[@christiangreene1196]

Brilliantly narrated… it kept me very engaged. Thank you very much👍🏼

[@mjrchapin]

Excellent reading!

[@clairegreenaway9653]

Oooohh!! Lovely and creepy!Thanks for a great narration 😀👍

[@misty_doi11]

Excellent narration

[@rosiemcnaughton9933]

Excellent! Well done!

[@snipehunter4771]

EF Benson, great observer of human shortcomings in horror and humor. Who else would come up with “ironic alms”? Thanks so much for reading

[@jodyharnish9104]

Wow. That was an excellent performance of an amazing story. I'm subscribing now.

[@jeffreese1828]

Newly found your channel and quickly had listened to your whole catalog ! I enjoy your accent and crisp , clear pronunciation , and story selection ! Now subscribed . Regards from USA !

[@mijiyoon5575]

TY👍👍👍👍👍

[@feralbluee]

excellent reading. and a very well written work. i just happened upon you and thought i’d give it a try. so glad i did. usually these stories are well told, but you actually were suspenseful, but especially in your whispery voice. i hung on every phrase. thanks so much. subscribing 🌷🌱

[@GhostsByRC]

Thank you so much! I hope you enjoy more of the readings.

[@esterherschkovich6499]

Excellent 🌟🌠New sub here...

[@annnovy4537]

Richard you are such a wonderful reader. You have done this great story justice and brought the characters to life.I wish I could find you more often. There are so many poor readers of short stories on the internet, this story was a joy to listen to, thanks

[@GhostsByRC]

Thank you so much. I’m delighted you enjoyed it.

[@2msvalkyrie529]

Excellent narrating technique .! Tone , timing , intonation all excellent. I assume you spent some time in theatre / drama performance / training.? If not , then it's even more praiseworthy..!

[@colinmurray5368]

Very good reading mate and the yarn is half decent.

[@stephenjackson1604]

This was an excellent story and outstanding narration. My only problem comes with the ending. The villain came to God at the end recognizing both the Holiness of the church and the reality of hell from whence his specter came. Yet it did him no good. One can always come to repentance.

[@punkinpatch7948]

Thank you. Please read more!

[@earthcat]

🌺 scary as Hell

[@ranamcmahon7653]

🌹❣️🌹👻

[@kalukapatuka]

The denouement of this story is an EXACT copy of Lafcadio Hearn's Japanese folktale "Mujina". I do like Benson but this story dragged out. Listeners, look for and read "Mujina" A MUCH better story dramatized in a far better way.

[@GhostsByRC]

* Warning - spoilers * You're quite right that the ending of the story echoes Hearn's directly, but it's only an eighth of the whole tale. For me this is one of Benson's best-constructed tales, with the recurrence of the haunting footstep ramping up the tension beautifully. Cresswell's moral bankruptcy and meanness, both of spirit and of purse, give the story real shape and purpose, and the atmosphere of the church at the end, whose denizens he has mocked and abused, makes it a very fitting setting for the climax. I'll take Benson's sense of drama over Hearn's, too - the phrasing of the last paragraph of Mujina rather robs it of power. By saving the reveal to the very last line, Benson delivers a superb final shock that makes this, for me, one of the best endings to any of his ghost stories.

[@williamhagen2792]

Good voice actor. A weak, boring, and predictable story.

[@blumiu2426]

Was this based on a Japanese folklore? It's possible there could be a relative spirit in other cultures, but it reminded me exactly of a kind of yokai which name I don't recall at the moment.

[@GhostsByRC]

Yes, a friend pointed out the similarity to the Noppera-bō faceless ghosts in Japanese folklore. I’ve always found it a striking and disturbing image.

[@blumiu2426]

@@GhostsByRC Yes, that was it! Very similar and yes. Those were disturbing stories in that escape seems impossible. Inevitability seems to be the result if one encounters them.