The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

SCRATCHIN'

A YOUNG COUPLE WAS ON A DATE AND WERE TRAVELING DOWN
A DIRT ROAD. IT WAS DARK OUT AND QUITE WINDY OUT.
AS THE COUPLE WERE DRIVING, THE CAR RAN OUT OF GAS.
THE BOY TOLD HIS DATE THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE
HER AND WALK BACK TO TOWN TO GET SOME GAS. HE TOLD HER
THAT EVERYTHING WOULD BE ALRIGHT BUT LOCK THE DOORS
AFTER HE LEFT AND NOT TO OPEN THE DOORS FOR ANY REASON.
HE LEFT AND THE GIRL STAYED IN THE CAR. SHE WASN'T
AFRAID. SUDDENLY SHE HEARD A SCRATCHING ON THE ROOF
OF THE CAR. SHE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO THINK, BUT SHE
DARED NOT OPEN THE DOORS. SHE REALLY GOT SCARED.
SO SHE LAID DOWN IN THE CAR TO TRY AND HIDE FROM
WHATEVER IT WAS THAT WAS OUT THERE. ALL THE WHILE
THIS SCRATCHING PERSISTED. THIS KEPT UP FOR OVER AN
HOUR. THEN SUDDENLY SHE HEARD A TAPPING AT THE
WINDOW. THE GIRL SPRANG UP AND SAW A LIGHT IN THE
SIDE WINDOW. IT WAS THE POLICE. THE GIRL WAS RELIEVED
TO SEE THEM AND THANKED THEM. BUT THE OFFICER SAID
HE WAS SORRY AND POINTED UP ABOVE THE CAR. THE GIRL
LOOKED UP AND SAW HER BOYFRIEND HANGING DEAD FROM A
LARGE TREE WITH ONE HAND RUBBING AGAINST THE TOP OF
THE CAR. THE WIND HAD BENT THE LIMBS OF THE TREE
DOWN AND CAUGHT THE BOY UP IN SUCH A WAY THAT HE
COULDN'T MOVE OR YELL. ONLY HIS ONE ARM BARELY REACHED
THE TOP OF THE CAR. THE ONLY THING HE COULD DO WAS
SCRATCH THE TOP OF THE CAR. ALL THE TIME HE WAS
TRYING TO GET THE GIRL TO HELP HIM.

James Callow comment: CALLED "HANGMAN'S ROAD" IN COFFIN & COHEN, <
FROM THE WORKING FOLK OF AMERICA>>.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Mount Clemens

James Callow Keyword(s): CAMPUS HORROR STORY

Date learned: 00-00-1960