Long-Legged Larry (book)

*Long-Legged Larry* is a children's book by Henry Colfax. It has no publisher or copyright information.

At least two copies of the book are known to have existed. One was located in the Chester High School library, and the other was given to Pierce Keswick by Colfax.

## History

### Original copy

It is not certain how Colfax's *Long-Legged Larry* came to be in the Chester High School library, but it was found there at least as early as 2007 by Jeremy Stockton. In Overdue Book, Stockton performs a ritual using a corrupted version of the book to unleash the Mnemophage, a transdimensional entity trapped in the pages of the book by Henry Colfax.

The book is next seen at the Chester Mental Health Center in 2016, where it is being studied by Dr. Howarth and Jeremy Stockton. Howarth asks Pierce Keswick to study the book. Keswick learns that it is an unimaginably complex arcane power source, granting godlike powers to its user. He uses some of the power to create a memory modification device for Nadra al-Hashem, and stores the rest in a pock dimension that can only be accessed by both Keswick and al-Hashem working in tandem.

Using Mask of the Faceless, Pierce accesses the remains of the original copy without Nadra's agreement, and uses it to perform his Great Work.

### Second copy

A new copy of the book is given to Pierce Keswick by Henry Colfax at the Last House, who gives Keswick strict instructions to keep it safe and to not "break it".

Pierce gives the book to Sol Invictus as the price of returning Mitch, Kiera, Pierce, and Neveah safely to the United States after their encounter with Andrew Bernier.

Dr. Howarth uses the new copy of *Long-Legged Larry* to create a portable device that uses the grey substance produced by the Mnemophage to erase memories. The device is used on Neveah Stephens to take her out of her psychic meltdown, leaving her with nearly total amnesia. Howarth appears to have been affected by the device as well, although it is not clear if it was used on him or he used it on himself.

## Contents of book

### Cover

The cover of the book displays the title, the author's name, and an illustration of Long-Legged Larry in its clown guise.

### Page One

The first page shows an exaggerated cartoon clown with long legs and stilts, wearing a top hat and a pinstripe suit with tails. The text of the page reads:

> He looks rather odd, but he's not a bit scary
>
>

> Everyone's good friends with Long Legged Larry
>
>

> He wears a tall hat, eight feet up from the floor
>
>

> And often it's lost when he ducks through the door
>
>

In Overdue Book, this page was found nailed to the fireplace at the Braddock House, along with a rat.

### Page Two

The second page of the book shows Long-Legged Larry squatting down so his legs are at right angles above his head, like a spider. Larry is shown pulling chains of handkerchiefs and bouquets of flowers from his sleeves, and is surrounded by children who are clapping and laughing. The text of the page reads:

> All the kids know Larry's tricks are hoot
>
>

> He's got magic and jokes up both sleeves of his suit
>
>

> He strides his long strides down the hill into town
>
>

> Larry's job isn't done 'til no face has a frown
>
>

In Overdue Book, this page was found nailed to a wall of the Braddock House, along with a dead cat.

### Page Three

The third page of the book shows Long-Legged Larry by a fireplace. There are two versions of this page.

#### Corrupted text

The third page of *Long-Legged Larry* shows Larry crawling down the chimney of a house onto its hearth. The text reads:

> When you're down in the dumps Larry's got a great trick
>
>

> He can come down the chimney as quick as Saint Nick
>
>

> With a spring and tumble he'll caper for you
>
>

> Long-Legged Larry will help you forget that you're blue
>
>

This page was found nailed to the wall of the study with a bat.

#### Original text

The original version of this page shows Larry next to a fireplace, but doesn't show him coming out of it. He seems to be doing a backflip.

> With a sping and a tumble he'll caper for you
>
>

> Just to take your mind off what's been making you blue
>
>

Using the Hecate's magic brooch, Vivien Braddock guides Hailee Pennington to the original pages, which are hidden under the floorboards of an upstairs bedroom.

### Page Four

The fourth page shows Long-Legged Larry walking away from the children. There are two versions.

#### Corrupted text

In the corrupted version, Larry has a spider-like segmented leg coming out of his back. He is shown walking from a house and a number of people with blank expressions. The corrupted text reads:

> Forget that you're blue, forget that you're you
>
>

> Long-Legged Larry strides off with the faces you knew
>
>

> With a smile we all wait at the fireplace for when
>
>

> Larry helps us forget til it's quiet again
>
>

In Overdue Book, the corrupted text was nailed to the wall of an upstairs bedroom of the Braddock House, along with a dead raccoon.

#### Original text

The original version of page four show Larry walking away from a group of hows kids outside playing in a park, with Larry walking away. It does not show an extra limb. The text reads:

> He'll help you remember the good times instead
>
>

> Because laughter can chase the sad out of your head
>
>

> With a smile we all sit at the fireplace to see Larry off
>
>

> For we know he has places to be
>
>

In Overdue Book, the original version was found under the floorboards of an upstairs bedroom of the Braddock House.