Chapter 2
Lydia left the building where all the classrooms and laboratories were. She walked across the college grounds to the girls' dormitories. She was wondering if she would ever leave this dull building. The college had been around for over fifty years. But there was nothing creepy about it. So far, the only thing that fascinated her about this town was the legend of a headless ghost that committed several bloody murders near the beginning of the year 1800. But even though the college was situated near the Western Woods where the ghost was said to roam, she hadn't seen hide or hair of anything unusual.
With a sigh, she strolled up to the bulletin board. She had looked over it several times in hopes of finding a place of her own. But they all had rental rates that were more than she could afford. But today, there was something new. There was a gray sheet of paper with text written in black letters. It said "Room For Rent. Low Rent. Apply within. 1313 Poe Lane."
Lydia thought that the address of the house sounded really creepy. Of course, an address doesn't tell much about the house or the people who lived there. There wasn't a phone number listed. But after all, the notice did say apply within. Whoever had placed this notice up wanted people to see this place before they talked business. 'I'd better go see this place. But I better go with my best friend,' she thought.
She left the dormitory and went around to the back of the college building. The back of the college faced the Western Woods. Lydia looked around to make sure no one was around to see what she was about to do. After seeing that no one was in sight, she said under her breath a rather peculiar incantation. "Though I know I should be wary, still I summon something scary. Ghostly haunting I turn loose. Beetlejuice. Beetlejuice. Beetlejuice!" she recited.
After Lydia said that strange word for the third time, a boom of thunder and a flash of lightning ripped across the sky. Lydia shielded her eyes from the blinding light. When she uncovered them, a strange male figure stood before her. He had ghostly white skin, pale green eyes, dirty blonde hair, rotten green teeth, red fingertips and was wearing a black and white striped suit.
"Hey babes! How was school today? Did the doc like the photos you took of those bugs I found for you?" said the creature. "He sure did, Beetlejuice," said Lydia. "That was one school project I could really sink my teeth into. Once you were done photographing those morsels, I got to make a buffet out of them," said the creature as he produced a platter filled with bugs. One by one, he started to eat them.
This was the secret Lydia had been keeping and her reason for wanting to find a place of her own. Over the years, she had been friends with a ghost named Beetlejuice. By reciting his name three times in a row, she allowed the ghost to enter into the real world (which is called the Outerworld) from the spirit world (which is called the Neitherworld). Beetlejuice was the only person who really understood her. But they hadn't visited the Neitherworld lately since Lydia didn't have a place of her own.
"So Lyds, have you found a tomb with a view yet?" asked Beetlejuice. "Well, I just saw this new notice on the bulletin board of the dormitory. I thought we could check it out. I like the sound of the address 1313 Poe Lane," said Lydia. "Well, let's get going. If that place looks as creepy as it sounds, it will be perfect for living in. Let's hit the road, babes," said Beetlejuice. In a puff of smoke, Beetlejuice transformed himself into a black-and-white striped convertible. "Just climb in and leave the driving to me," said the convertible.
Lydia laughed and opened the door and sat down in front of the steering wheel. "Now Beetlejuice, don't get too crazy. We don't want to get a ticket on the way," said Lydia. "Who said anything about staying on the ground? This creepy convertible takes to the skies!" said Beetlejuice. Lydia knew what he meant and quickly fastened her seatbelt. Suddenly, the car launched itself into the air. They were on their way to this mysterious house with a creepy address.
High in the sky, Lydia checked a road map of Sleepy Hollow looking for Poe Lane. "It looks like Poe Lane is on the edge of town and number 1313 is on a hill," said Lydia. "Like that one?" said Beetlejuice as one of his arms shot out of the side of the car and pointed downward.
Lydia looked over the side and saw a tall hill. There were no other houses near the hill. On top of the hill, shrouded in leafless trees was a house. But she couldn't get a good look at it from the air. "Beetlejuice, land this car and try to do it safely," said Lydia. "All right babes! But you better hold on tight because we're going to dive!" said Beetlejuice. The car suddenly pointed down and started to plummet down to earth.
Lydia screamed, "Beetlejuice! Slow down! You may be dead. But I'm still alive!" The ground was getting a lot closer and soon the car would crash. But just before the car hit rock bottom, Beetlejuice transformed into a pillow and Lydia landed softly on him. "Did you think I didn't remember that? I may have a wicked sense of humor. But I'm a real softie" said Beetlejuice with a laugh. Lydia breathed a sigh of relief and got off Beetlejuice as he resumed his normal form.
They had landed next to a wall of stone that was surrounding the hill. It wasn't a very tall wall. But along the wall, were various, creepy gargoyles. "Whoever owns this land has good taste," said Beetlejuice. "Let's look for an opening. The road is just ahead so there must be a driveway," said Lydia. The two of them walked along the wall.
As they walked, they admired the various gargoyles. Each of them was different with various horns, wings, claws, and fangs. The artist who carved them certainly had a creative streak. As they passed by the gargoyles, Beetlejuice said, "If I didn't know any better, I'd say those gargoyles' eyes were watching us." "Beetlejuice, we're not in the Neitherworld. Though I do admit, this place wouldn't look out of place there," said Lydia.
They had soon come to the road and the turned right to see an opening in the wall. A long driveway led up the hill. On both sides of the road, the wall ended in two tall pedestals with a gargoyle on each of them. A bronze plaque showed the number 1313. "Looks like we've got some walking to do," said Lydia as she and her ghost friend started to walk up the long, winding driveway.
Lydia left the building where all the classrooms and laboratories were. She walked across the college grounds to the girls' dormitories. She was wondering if she would ever leave this dull building. The college had been around for over fifty years. But there was nothing creepy about it. So far, the only thing that fascinated her about this town was the legend of a headless ghost that committed several bloody murders near the beginning of the year 1800. But even though the college was situated near the Western Woods where the ghost was said to roam, she hadn't seen hide or hair of anything unusual.
With a sigh, she strolled up to the bulletin board. She had looked over it several times in hopes of finding a place of her own. But they all had rental rates that were more than she could afford. But today, there was something new. There was a gray sheet of paper with text written in black letters. It said "Room For Rent. Low Rent. Apply within. 1313 Poe Lane."
Lydia thought that the address of the house sounded really creepy. Of course, an address doesn't tell much about the house or the people who lived there. There wasn't a phone number listed. But after all, the notice did say apply within. Whoever had placed this notice up wanted people to see this place before they talked business. 'I'd better go see this place. But I better go with my best friend,' she thought.
She left the dormitory and went around to the back of the college building. The back of the college faced the Western Woods. Lydia looked around to make sure no one was around to see what she was about to do. After seeing that no one was in sight, she said under her breath a rather peculiar incantation. "Though I know I should be wary, still I summon something scary. Ghostly haunting I turn loose. Beetlejuice. Beetlejuice. Beetlejuice!" she recited.
After Lydia said that strange word for the third time, a boom of thunder and a flash of lightning ripped across the sky. Lydia shielded her eyes from the blinding light. When she uncovered them, a strange male figure stood before her. He had ghostly white skin, pale green eyes, dirty blonde hair, rotten green teeth, red fingertips and was wearing a black and white striped suit.
"Hey babes! How was school today? Did the doc like the photos you took of those bugs I found for you?" said the creature. "He sure did, Beetlejuice," said Lydia. "That was one school project I could really sink my teeth into. Once you were done photographing those morsels, I got to make a buffet out of them," said the creature as he produced a platter filled with bugs. One by one, he started to eat them.
This was the secret Lydia had been keeping and her reason for wanting to find a place of her own. Over the years, she had been friends with a ghost named Beetlejuice. By reciting his name three times in a row, she allowed the ghost to enter into the real world (which is called the Outerworld) from the spirit world (which is called the Neitherworld). Beetlejuice was the only person who really understood her. But they hadn't visited the Neitherworld lately since Lydia didn't have a place of her own.
"So Lyds, have you found a tomb with a view yet?" asked Beetlejuice. "Well, I just saw this new notice on the bulletin board of the dormitory. I thought we could check it out. I like the sound of the address 1313 Poe Lane," said Lydia. "Well, let's get going. If that place looks as creepy as it sounds, it will be perfect for living in. Let's hit the road, babes," said Beetlejuice. In a puff of smoke, Beetlejuice transformed himself into a black-and-white striped convertible. "Just climb in and leave the driving to me," said the convertible.
Lydia laughed and opened the door and sat down in front of the steering wheel. "Now Beetlejuice, don't get too crazy. We don't want to get a ticket on the way," said Lydia. "Who said anything about staying on the ground? This creepy convertible takes to the skies!" said Beetlejuice. Lydia knew what he meant and quickly fastened her seatbelt. Suddenly, the car launched itself into the air. They were on their way to this mysterious house with a creepy address.
High in the sky, Lydia checked a road map of Sleepy Hollow looking for Poe Lane. "It looks like Poe Lane is on the edge of town and number 1313 is on a hill," said Lydia. "Like that one?" said Beetlejuice as one of his arms shot out of the side of the car and pointed downward.
Lydia looked over the side and saw a tall hill. There were no other houses near the hill. On top of the hill, shrouded in leafless trees was a house. But she couldn't get a good look at it from the air. "Beetlejuice, land this car and try to do it safely," said Lydia. "All right babes! But you better hold on tight because we're going to dive!" said Beetlejuice. The car suddenly pointed down and started to plummet down to earth.
Lydia screamed, "Beetlejuice! Slow down! You may be dead. But I'm still alive!" The ground was getting a lot closer and soon the car would crash. But just before the car hit rock bottom, Beetlejuice transformed into a pillow and Lydia landed softly on him. "Did you think I didn't remember that? I may have a wicked sense of humor. But I'm a real softie" said Beetlejuice with a laugh. Lydia breathed a sigh of relief and got off Beetlejuice as he resumed his normal form.
They had landed next to a wall of stone that was surrounding the hill. It wasn't a very tall wall. But along the wall, were various, creepy gargoyles. "Whoever owns this land has good taste," said Beetlejuice. "Let's look for an opening. The road is just ahead so there must be a driveway," said Lydia. The two of them walked along the wall.
As they walked, they admired the various gargoyles. Each of them was different with various horns, wings, claws, and fangs. The artist who carved them certainly had a creative streak. As they passed by the gargoyles, Beetlejuice said, "If I didn't know any better, I'd say those gargoyles' eyes were watching us." "Beetlejuice, we're not in the Neitherworld. Though I do admit, this place wouldn't look out of place there," said Lydia.
They had soon come to the road and the turned right to see an opening in the wall. A long driveway led up the hill. On both sides of the road, the wall ended in two tall pedestals with a gargoyle on each of them. A bronze plaque showed the number 1313. "Looks like we've got some walking to do," said Lydia as she and her ghost friend started to walk up the long, winding driveway.