The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

THE HOOK

THIS LEGEND IS POPULAR AMONG TEENAGERS AND I'D LIKE TO RECITE ONE
VERSION THAT I HAVE HEARD. ONE NIGHT, A TEENAGE COUPLE WENT TO A
LOCAL LOVERS' LANE FOR THE OPOPORTUNITY TO BE ALONE. ON THIS SAME
NIGHT, THE GIRL HAD HEARD ON THE RADIO THAT AN INMATE OF A NEARBY
ASYLUM HAD ESCAPED AND THAT HE WAS A HOMICIDAL MANIAC, AND THAT HE
HAD ONLY ONE HAND AND ON THE OTHER HAND THERE WAS A HOOK.
THE COUPLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR A WHILE, LISTENING TO THE RADIO
AND DRINKING BEER. THE GIRL, ALL OF A SUDDEN, HAD A STRANGE
INTUITION THAT THERE WAS DANGER AROUND AND THAT THEY SHOULD LEAVE.
NATURALLY, THE BOY REASSURED HER THAT THERE WAS NOTHING TO WORRY
ABOUT, BUT SHE PERSISTED AND PERSISTED, UNTIL THE BOY LOST HIS
PATIENCE, PULLED THE GEAR SHIFT INTO FIRST AND LEFT THE LANE.
HE TOOK THE GIRL HOME AND CONTINUOUSLY REMINDED THE GIRL THAT SHE
WAS CRAZY TO THINK THAT THE FIEND WAS ANYWHERE AROUND THE LANE.
WHEN THEY REACHED HER HOUSE, HE GOT OUT TO LET HER OUT AND ON THE
REAR DOOR HANDLE THERE WAS A STRANGE OBJECT HANGING THERE--A HOOK.

Where learned: NEW HAMPSHIRE ; MILFORD

Date learned: 11-05-1967