Explaining Urban Legends: The Babysitter and the Man Upstairs

If you have read Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark or have seen the film, Black Christmas, you may know the common trope known as The Babysitter and the Man Upstairs. 

 The Babysitter and the Man Upstairs is an urban legend in which a babysitter is usually babysitting some kids. The phone rings and a strange voice answers. The phone rings again and that same strange voice answers. This happens a few more times. Then, an unknown man comes downstairs. The unknown man is usually the strange voice on the phone. The man is usually arrested. 

This version usually appears in Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. It also appears in Black Christmas, but it is slightly altered.

There are many other versions of this urban legend trope. They usually appear in books and films as well as TV shows.