Cultural Background Storyteller's Cabin
			Written by J.J. Reneaux Around La Ville, New Orleans, the land is so low and wet that the dead have to be buried above ground in a vault. Folks don't bury their dead in a grave in the ground. If the river were to overflow the levee, or a hurricane to flood the land, your loved one might just float back up from the grave and pay you a return visit! Down the river a little ways from La Ville, there once lived an old man with his only child, a jolie fille called Therese. Her maman had died and Therese was left in the care of her papa, a greedy, miserly man who worked his girl like a mule and dressed her in rags. Though she was of a marrying age, he would not allow any young man to court her. She saw no one except her mean ol' papa. All he ever cared for were the gold coins that he kept hidden under a loose board in the floor beneath his bed. Every night he'd lock the door, and by the light of a flickering candle, he'd count his golden coins. He loved the way they clinked and glowed and weighed so heavy in his hands. But poor Therese, she was so lonesome. Every night she'd come knocking on his door, knock, knock. Her papa would yell out, "Who's there?" "Papa, c' est moi," she'd say. "It's me, Therese. Papa, let me in, talk with me. I am so lonely." But her papa would only holler back at her, "Girl, get on outta here and get back to work. You only wanta get your hands on my gold, and thatta be over my dead body!" And so it went until one night, knock, knock. "Who's there?" "Papa, it's me, Therese. Me, I'm sick-sick," she moans. "Papa, let me in!" But he just yells back, "You lazy good-for-nothin'! Get outta here. You're not sick. You just wanta get your hands on my money, and thatta be over my dead body!" Again and again Therese returned to her father's door, knock, knock. "Who's there?" "Papa, c' est moi. Papa, let me in. I'm bad sick. I need the healer. Please, Papa, send for the traiteur!" Knock, knock. "Who's there?" "Papa, please help me. The pain is worse. Oh, Papa, open the door!" -1-
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