# Yet another 'identify this story' thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 8, 2010, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-identify-this-story-thread/545945 "2010-07-08T11:07:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Charley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/97f17d/32.png) [@Charley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charley)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2010, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-identify-this-story-thread/545945/1 "2010-07-08T11:07:58Z")
Dopers seem to be very good at this generally, so I’m hoping someone can identify this one. I think it’s a short story, although it may have been in a collection. I have a vague idea it may be Ray Bradbury, but I’m not at all sure how accurate that is. I would have read this in the mid 70s. I remember a boy (?) being stuck ill in bed and (possibly) making some sort of wish, the consequences of which were that metaphorical things started to happen in reality. The only one I remember clearly is a gosspy type of woman in the local town whose tongue became literally hinged, so that it flapped on two sides at once. It was a horrid image, and I’m not sure what the consequences were. There may have been a dog that might have been half a cat by the end of it, or maybe there was something about raining cats and dogs? Sorry - not much to go on, but anyone recognise it? ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2010, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-identify-this-story-thread/545945/2 "2010-07-08T19:26:07Z")
I’m fairly certain you speak of a story in this book: [Ghosts and More Ghosts, by Robert Arthur.](http://www.amazon.com/Ghosts-More-Robert-Arthur/dp/0394811925) I remember the bedridden boy whose wishes started coming true, but it was presented in a very lighthearted fashion. (Possible title: The Wonderful Day) I absolutely love this book. In fact, I re-discovered it by posting an “identify this book thread” long ago! ---
**Author:** ![Charley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/97f17d/32.png) [@Charley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charley)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2010, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-identify-this-story-thread/545945/3 "2010-07-08T20:56:57Z")
Ohmygod… the second I saw the cover I knew that was it! And some of the reviews mention other stories I remember too. I think I remember _The Rose-Crystal Bell_ and _The Marvelous Stamps…_. Thank you - that’s incredible. Wow, suddenly I’m 8 years old again. Really, thank you **Dung Beetle** , that’s great. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2010, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-identify-this-story-thread/545945/4 "2010-07-08T20:59:18Z")
I’m glad I could help! 🙂