The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

Sleepy Hollow was the quietest place in the world. Besides being haunted, nothing much happened there--until the night of the Van Tassel party. Skinny, old Ichabod Crane marched into the party with his head held high, resembling a scarecrow dressed in fancy clothes. He was at the party for one reason-Katrina Van Tassel.

The stunning Katrina stood out at the party like a red rose on a snowy day. She chatted with Brom Bones, who was as massive as a bull and as mean as a bear. He enjoyed riding around on his horse, Daredevil, and causing mischief. Brom Bones also liked Katrina. Ichabod mustered his resolve and went straight up to them. “ Excuse me, Katrina, " Ichabod said. " Would you care to dance?"

Brom Bones's face turned as red as a boiled lobster. " I'd love to dance, " Katrina said as she grasped Ichabod's hand. Ichabod and Katrina twirled around the dance floor as if there were no tomorrow. Ichabod imagined he could dance his way right into Katrina's heart. Stranger things have happened. It's not that she didn't like him. She liked him fine, but a beautiful girl must weigh her options. The longer they danced, the angrier Brom Bones became.

When the band took a break, Ichabod and Katrina stopped for a drink at the punch bowl. There towered Brom Bones, sharing ghost stories with a group of friends. " I'll tell you the scariest ghost story of all, " boasted Brom Bones. He stared directly at Ichabod. " Have you ever heard of the Headless Horseman?" " No, " Ichabod muttered and gulped. Brom Bones began to whisper, and the group leaned in closer. " Every night at midnight, he rides through town on his horse, looking for his missing head, " Brom said. “ I've seen him with my very own eyes. I was riding along late at night when this fellow came trotting up. I asked him if he wanted a race. He didn't say a word because-he didn't have a head! "

“ So I took off on Daredevil, " Brom bellowed, " and he came tearing up behind me. I raced him right up to the church bridge. Once his horse set foot on the bridge, he disappeared in a flash of fire. " The audience stood in tense silence. " If you ever see the Headless Horseman, " Brom Bones said, “ head to the other side of the church bridge. Otherwise, you're done for. Of course, if you're as fast as me, you have nothing to worry about. "