Dem always seh, if yuh nuh believe inna duppy, duppy will mek yuh believe. And dis story, a true story, happen to mi grandmother long time inna di country.

Mi Granny, bless her soul, was a strong woman, always up before di sun, working in her garden. One evening, she did coming home from di market, and darkness did jus' start to fall. Di road was long and winding, and surrounded by thick bush. She did walking, humming a little tune, when she hear it. A tapping. Light, like somebody drumming dem finger pon a dry leaf.

She stop. Look 'round. Nuttin'. So she start walk again. And di tapping start again too, right behind her. Tap-tap-tap.

Mi Granny, she vex. She think a one a di pickney dem from di village trying to prank her. So she spin 'round, hands on her hips, ready to give dem a good cussing. But still, nobody. Just di tall shadows of di trees swaying in di breeze.

A little chill run down her spine, but mi Granny stubborn. She seh, "Alright, who dat? Stop di foolishness now!" Silence. She walk on, faster now. Di tapping get faster too. Tap-tap-tap-tap-tap! It sound like it right pon her heels.

Then she hear a whisper, low and raspy, like dry leaves rubbing together. It seh, "Yuh walkin' fast, Auntie."

Mi Granny's heart jump. She didn't look back. She start to pray. Every single prayer she ever learn, she start to mumble dem. Di tapping get louder, like somebody now walking in step wid her, still whispering. "Yuh goin' home, Auntie? Yuh can carry mi?"

By dis time, mi Granny was running. Her feet flying over di dirt road. She could feel a cold breeze right behind her neck, and di whisper was right in her ear now. "Mi seh, yuh can carry mi?"

She reach her yard, burst through di gate, and slam di door shut behind her. She did panting, leaning against di door, trembling like a leaf. She could still hear a faint tapping, like it was outside her window, for a good while after.

Next morning, she tell di story to her neighbour. Di neighbour seh, "Auntie, yuh lucky. Dat was a Rollin' Calf for sure. Dem always try to trick people into carrying dem home. If yuh did look back, or seh yes, yuh woulda been in big trouble."

Mi Granny never walked that road after dark again. And from dat day forward, she was a true believer in duppy.