In a Dark, Dark Room and the book of Other Scary stories like ... The Green Ribbon

I thought this post was appropriate for two reasons. First, it's almost Halloween and it is a book of "scary" stories. Second, I grew up on this book. I don't remember why or how we got it but I have almost all the stories in it memorized. It is a book written so that kids can read the stories so they're all short, easy and sweet.

My family still tells one of the stories from this book around campfires. Both because it is super cheesy and because it's easy to remember.

Let me share this story with you:

The Green Ribbon! 

 Once there was a girl named Jenny. 

She was like all the other girls, 

except for one thing.

She always wore a green ribbon around her neck.

There was a boy named Alfred

in her class.

Alfred liked Jenny, 

and Jenny like Alfred.

One day he asked her,

"Why do you wear that ribbon 

all the time?"

"I cannot tell you," said Jenny.

But Alfred kept asking,

"Why do you wear it?"

And Jenny would say,

"It is not important."

Jenny and Alfred grew up 

and fell in love. 

One day they got married,

 After their wedding, 

Alfred said, 

"Now that we are married,

you must tell me about the green ribbon."

"You still must wait,"

said Jenny.

"I will tell you 

when the right time comes."

Years passed. 

Alfred and Jenny grew old.

One day Jenny became very sick.

The doctor told her 

she was dying.

Jenny called Alfred to her side.

"Alfred," she said, 

"now i can tell you about the green ribbon.

Untie it, 

and you will see

why I could not tell you before."

Slowly and carefully, 

Alfred untied the ribbon,

And Jenny's head fell off!

... ahaha. I laugh every time I read this story. And sometimes if you ever see someone in my family tie a green ribbon around their neck and walk around the house, this is why.

It's funny how childhood memories can make a pretty lame book of scary stories into something you have to buy when you see it at the bookstore.