The Legend of Hangman's Gorge

Thomas took in a deep breath of the crisp morning air, and then walked across the street and town square to the old Opera House. Nicholas and Ricky were sitting on the steps when he arrived, watching as the vending trucks rolled into town.

“Hey guys,” said Thomas.

“Hey Thomas,” said Nicholas and Ricky.

“Guess what?” said Nicholas. “There’s a new vendor for this years festival.”

Nicholas pointed to a red vending truck that was parked across the street from Julian’s Bakery. There was a sign on the truck that read, Goblin Goo’s Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream and Fresh Apple Cider. A short round man, with dark ruffled hair, was busy setting up small tables and chairs on one side of the truck.

“Can you believe that?” said Nicholas. “Pumpkin pie ice cream. I’ve never had pumpkin pie ice cream before.”

“Neither have I,” said Thomas. “Never even heard of pumpkin pie ice cream.”

“Wonder if it really taste like pumpkin pie,” said Ricky. “I know the grape slushy’s they have at the carnival don’t really taste like grapes, neither does grape flavored candy.”

“I’ve noticed that too,” said Nicholas. “It doesn’t make any sense.”

Thomas sat down next to Ricky and watched as the vendors set up their stands. There was; Martha’s Hot Apple Dumplings, Bud’s Hot dogs, Burgers and Fries, Cho Cho’s Cookie Barn, Peppy’s Pizza Palace, Clair’s Funnel Cakes, and Jungle Jangles Caramel Apple’s and Chocolate Covered Popcorn.

All the vendors were parked on the street around the square, where orange and yellow lights were being strung. Even the fir trees that lined both sides of the street, were decorated with Halloween ornaments.

“This is going to be so much fun!” said Thomas. “I can’t wait till tonight when all the ghouls come out.”

“Me neither!” said Nicholas and Ricky...

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..., and then climbed up on the stage.

Behind the curtain there were many large objects draped in sheets and covered in dust. One of the objects was tall and slender like a ghost or monster of some sort. Thomas shook the thought out of his head as he crept past it.

“Do you want to see whats under that sheet?” said Ervin, pointing at the tall object.

“What is it?” asked Thomas.

Without warning, Ervin grabbed the sheet from the tall, slender object and forcefully pulled it off.

A thick cloud of dust swept into the air, blinding their view of the object that was wobbling back and forth. Nicholas and Ricky jumped back just in time before it came crashing down. Thomas wasn’t so lucky, and with a loud thump, the object fell on top of him. Thomas screamed, as he stared up at the ugliest monster face he had ever seen. The monster had sharp, pointed teeth and horns on its head.