I stayed with Becca until it was almost dark. She had shown me around town and had introduced me to some of her friends. I waved goodbye and started up the road to my uncle's house. The sun glowed through the dark foliage of the trees and shed crimson on every thing it could. A cold wind swept by me and I looked to the north. Dark clouds, they seemed to hold something more fearsome than rain or thunder. I studied them a minuet longer, the wind blew by me again. I frowned at the trees. Well nothing to be gained here. Trudging through a less dense pat of the back yard I found myself at the river. I cautiously made my way on the bank to an outcropping of boulders. Climbing on top I looked up river at a huge gray nothing. I shivered. It had gotten cooler sense I was on the road it was almost twilight now. The fog seemed to twist in on itself then spread. It was already reaching into the trees and hills along the Hudson. Narrowing my eyes I nodded Yup time to go inside. I clambered off the rocks and made my way through the trees once more. All the while I wondered about the unnatural fog it was kind of creepy, really. Inside, I went to the kitchen and made myself a ham and cheese sandwich with a side of kosher dills. I sat at the table and began to eat. My caretakers wouldn't be home till eight or so. At least that's what the message on the answering machine said. I was fine with that I liked being on my own. I finished my sandwich and casually looked out the back door and nearly chocked the yard was completely covered in fog. Wow. That was awful quick. Hmmm. I grabbed Uncle Greer's radio and headed for the bathroom. I set it on the counter and let it play on a local station. The DJ said that this was the most peculiar fog that sleepy hollow had seen in fifty years. After a shower I went upstairs to get some sleep. Spending half the day with Becca walking all over sleepy hollow had been rough. I contemplated the curious fog that surrounded the house and crept through the woods of sleepy hollow as I surrendered to sleep.

I ran as fast as I could through the trees. The forest seemed endless. I stopped long enough to call out to some one who was in the trees. Hidden. Somewhere. But where?! Where! I ran on looking as I did. I strained my eyes searching around endless columns of tree trunks. I just had to find them I just had to. I had to find that some one I had to find.Him.

I jerked bolt upright and smacked my head simultaneously on the ceiling. Bellowing something fierce in Latin I jumped out of bead and scrambled downstairs for an ice pack from the freezer. I startled Aunt Lorain who had been making coffee. She was dressed in a light blue house coat and had on pink fuzzy slippers and hair curlers. "Mercy child what's the matter? Are you all right?" Ignoring her I snatched open the freezer grabbed an ice pack slapped it on my forehead and slumped into a chair at the table. All in record time. "Sounds pretty freaky to me.", said Becca "Did it hurt when you hit your head?" "No, I happen to like getting bruises!" I said holding up my bangs to reveal a great purple spot on my forehead. "Goodness, Charlotte. It's a wonder you didn't get a concussion." She whispered in awe of the spot. "Yeah. I know. My Aunt said the same thing. Wanted me to go to the hospital to have it checked out." I sighed as we entered the 24 store and gas station on the corner of Banks and Crane St.

".and took off like a runaway train that demon horse just a screamin' like a Fury. I tell ya there's bad dealing's goin' on in the Hollow these days. Real bad." the old man who had been telling this narrative leaned back in his chair as if awaiting a verdict. His features were stony and rough with unshaven stubble and unkempt white hair for garnish. I looked him over and looked back at Becca. She motioned me away from the old men and said "that's old man Spickler. He lives on a private road not far from the cemetery. Some say he's crazy." "Oh."

"So do you really think the Galloping Hessian's back for blood, Spickler?" asked one man. I raised my eyebrows at this. "Yeah. You could have just dreamt the whole thing." Said another. Spickler responded "Say what you will but that fog we had was awful real and I'm tellin' you he was real too!" I inclined my head and looked to Becca. "What do you say?" I asked her. She gave Spickler a critical glance. "Stranger things have happened in the Hollow before." I too looked at Old man Spickler "So. That's a yes."