© Anna- Karin 2001
The Hessian looked curiously at the strange yellow things
that were lined up in a neat and tidy row in front of the Tree of the Dead. He watched as
Ichabod Crane cut up the strange vegetables and scooped out the
contents of those strange things.
"Ichabod Crane, what exactly are you doing?"
"I'm making Jack-o-lanterns."
"And what exactly is that?"
Ichabod decided to give the Hessian a quick course in American
traditions, and began to explain. After a while the hessian nodded.
"So you are making lanterns that will glow in the dark, with
frightening smiles."
"Exactly."
"What did you call those yellow things again?"
"Pumpkins."
"Can I try?"
An hour later the Hessian proudly presented the fruits of his labour.
Ichabod had never seen the Hessian covered from head to toe in yellow
goo. This sight in combination with those sunny smiles on both
the pumpkin *and* the Hessian sent Ichabod into a fit of
laughter.
"What's so funny?"
"Just the pumpkin, I swear!" Ichabod said between spurts of
laugheter.
The Hessian didn't really believe that.
When all the pumpkins had been carved into grinning lanterns it was
time to place them around the small clearing in front of the Tree.
The Hessian placed a couple on the right side of the tree so it would appear as if
they were peeking out from behind it. Ichabod placed one on each side
of the entrance to the clearing. Then there were three more to place.
The largest one The Hessian put in front of the Tree, with the
smallest one next to it.
"Then there's this one", said Ichabod and pointed to the last one.
"Where should it be?" he continued.
The Hessian looked around. He pointed to a spot to the left side
of the Tree.
"There, to the left."
When it got dark, which it did very soon after they were finished, they lit the candles inside the Jack-o-lanterns. Then they went to the egde of the clearing to see what it looked like.
Three grinning faces of unknown demons peeked out from behind the Tree.
The heads of two other demons looked up from each side of the path
leading to the clearing. And the the two in front of the tree, smiled in menacing
greetings.
"Looks great", said Ichabod.
"Yeah."
They remained there for some time and admired the results their work.
"Well", said Ichabod, "time for you to take a bath."
He picked a strand of pumkin insides from the Hessian's hair, and showed
it to him.
"No", said the Hessian.
"No?"
The Hessian bent town to pick up a handful of dirt from the ground. Then he rubbed it
between his hands before he gently put a wide streak of dust on Ichabod's forehead and
nose.
"Time for *us* to take a bath", said the Hessian, and smiled. "Happy Halloween, Ichabod!"
"Happy Halloween", said Ichabod and kissed the Hessian.