The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

THE RED RIBBON

JOHNNY LIVED NEXT DOOR TO SUSIE AND THEY USED TO PLAY
TOGETHER ALL THE TIME. ONE DAY JOHNNY ASKED SUSIE
ABOUT THE RED RIBBON SHE WORE AROUND HER NECK ALL THE
TIME. JOHNNY KEPT ASKING SUSIE BECAUSE SHE NEVER TOOK
THE RED RIBBON OFF HER NECK AND THIS REALLY PUZZLED
HIM.
THE STORY GOES ON AND AT EVERY OCCASION, GRADUATION FROM
GRADE SCHOOL, HIGH SCHOOL, THEIR ENGAGEMENT, GRADUATION
FROM COLLEGE, THEIR WEDDING NIGHT, ETC., AND SHE
ALWAYS TELLS HIM THAT SHE WILL EXPLAIN IT TO HIM LATER.
(OF COURSE WHEN THE STORY IS TOLD, IT IS DRAGGED OUT
AS LONG AS POSSIBLE AND THE DETAILS, NO MATTER HOW
SMALL, OF THE OCCASIONS ARE NARRATED.) FINALLY, ON
THEIR GOLDEN WEDDING ANNIVERSARY, JOHNNY ASKS SUSIE
WHY SHE WEARS THE RED RIBBON AROUND HER NECK.
SUSIE SAYS, "OK JOHNNY, I'LL FINALLY TELL YOU, NO I
CAN'T TELL YOU, LET ME SHOW YOU." SHE TOOK THE RED
RIBBON OFF HER NECK AND HER HEAD FELL OFF.

Submitter comment: BILL COULDN'T RECALL WHERE HE HAD HEARD THE STORY.

Where learned: NOT GIVEN