The Real Legend of Sleepy Hollow

By Matthew J. Norcross

"The Real Legend of Sleepy Hollow," based on Washington Irving's "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" tells the story of the real Ichabod Crane. A conniving Lothario, he travels from town to town, along with his trusted servant Johann in the guise of a School Headmaster, eventually seducing whatever hapless widow falls prey to his schemes. The Village of Sleepy Hollow though, is different. Upon arrival, Ichabod is haunted by the specter of a mysterious Headless Horseman. The presence of the ghostly figure looms over him continually as he meets and unexpectedly falls in love with Katrina Van Tassel, a beautiful young woman supposed to be his next "mark." Adding to it all is the Village Blacksmith, Brom Bones, who has known and pined for Katrina his entire life. The two engage in a series of intellectual and physical duels in an attempt to win her heart. Through it all, Ichabod is forced to deal with the ever ominous threat from the Headless figure and the climax sheds new light on the Irving's classic tale.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Matthew J. Norcross
• Release date: Sep 25, 2015
• ISBN: 9781310583087

Matthew J. Norcross

I have been involved in creative writing my whole life. It's something I truly enjoy and it is a large part of helping me to do my primary work, which is to compose original musicals. My formal training is in Music Theory and Composition and I've recently completed my second full length musical (working on a third now!).

Book preview

The Real Legend of Sleepy Hollow is a retelling and expansion of the classic Washington Irving story, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow which originally appeared in The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent originally published through the years 1819 though 1820. This particular version is based on the musical of the same name, written and composed by the author, which debuted in October of 2013.

Though I acknowledge them later, I must in the front of the book thank the original cast and crew of the musical for the tremendous work they put into the production. Their efforts helped shape and vastly improve the characters you will hopefully enjoy in the following pages.

- Matthew J. Norcross

Chapter 1. A Brave Soldier

1780- North Tarrytown, NY- A Battlefield During the Revolutionary War...

The sound was at first deafening, and then there was silence. The thunderous clap of cannon fire, the clanging of bayonets, the screams of death, all of it overwhelming and yet inaudible, numb. Ichabod’s dream was a familiar one, so familiar in fact he was aware of it while it was taking place. Still, that offered him little comfort and moreover, something was... different this time. He looked at his clothing and realized he was witnessing events from someone else's body, an Officer of the American Revolution charged with leading a ragtag group of Militia against the well-trained Hessian Mercenaries. These British-backed soldiers were feared even more than their red-coated allies! He found himself weaponless, charging about the battlefield looking for anything he could use to defend himself, and all the while feeling him approach. In this now nightly occurrence, Ichabod knew it was only a matter of time before he would show himself. And soon he did…

Like a Monster from a child’s nightmare the Hessian Captain appeared, towering over all others, draped in a cape and prowling the battlefield with neither his sword or gun drawn. Walking past two dueling combatants, he stopped a bayonet from being plunged into the heart of one of his soldiers, yanked the gun from the hands of the Militia man aggressor and then stabbed him with the very same blade he had intended for his opponent. He moved forward not ten yards before grabbing another overmatched Militia man from behind. With ease he threw him through the waiting bayonet of another Hessian Soldier.

Onward he went in such a fashion, destroying all in his path. Ichabod’s eyes never left him and for a brief moment he experienced hope when he saw an ally flank him from the side. The Captain did not see him approach and with all his strength, the young man hit him across the jaw with the butt end of his rifle. Ichabod's heart leapt with excitement when he connected but to his horror, the Captain was fazed only briefly and stared at the young man with an icy gaze. In his terror, unable to move, the young soldier dropped his gun as the Captain grabbed his head with his massive hands and twisted it, breaking his neck.

The young man's limp body fell to the ground. Despite his trembling fear, Ichabod felt a deep desire for revenge. He had to stop him! Some irresistible force was compelling him to do so. He picked up the musket of a dead soldier and charged at him with all his might. His adrenaline was coursing through his body and just as he thought he would run the behemoth through, the Captain turned quickly and intercepted his rifle. He removed the bayonet from the musket and stabbed him in the stomach in one sweeping motion. The pain was excruciating. He fell to the ground and would certainly have been finished off quickly had it not been for another unfortunate soul who had charged the Captain. He too suffered a similar fate but bought Ichabod enough time to crawl to safety, temporarily. While on his knees suffering, he realized two equally important things...that he was losing blood very quickly, and that an opportunity for revenge had presented itself.

A cannon sat, unfired only twenty yards from his position. He felt the very life escaping from his body but he was determined to continue the struggle. Toward it he crawled at an awfully slow pace. He dared not look back lest he find the terrible monster standing above him. Finally reaching the cannon, he lifted himself up, a raised sword in one hand, a lighter in another, the Captain hadn’t seem to notice him. Battle me! he cried. The giant turned toward him, smirking as he finally drew his massive sword. He was insulted that anyone would dare be foolish enough to challenge him openly and began charging toward a now dying Ichabod. Ichabod grasped his sword, his hand shaking as the Captain approached. The trap was working but he was running out of time. He knew this as the world was quickly fading from his sight. Just as the blood loss caused his vision to go black he lit the cannon. The explosion of the gunpowder was the last sound he heard.

Chapter 2. Angels Enter the Battlefield

Ichabod’s eyes opened. The searing pain in his body was gone. So too was the ringing in his ears. He could hear once more! A blissful chorus of voices informed him of that. He raised his head to the sight of illuminated beings walking around the bloody battlefield. They sang what sounded like a mysterious hymn as they went from soldier to soldier, lifting each of them up before leading them into a mysterious bright light. The radiant beings now approached him. Ichabod instinctively raised his arms as they removed his jacket. The feeling that he had inhabited the body of another had passed. He now felt a slight tinge of regret. That man was a hero, and Ichabod knew he could never be capable of such a sacrificial and honorable act. He was now purely an observer, once again fully aware of who he was and now walking about in this dreamland as the strange, glowing beings now surrounded the prostrate Hessian Captain.

One of them whispered in his ear, or, to Ichabod’s horror, where his ear used to be. The cannon ball had found its mark! The Captain’s head had been removed by it. The being who whispered was quickly pulled away by the others as if the deceased warrior still posed a danger. He dared to move closer as they surrounded the Captain once again. To his amazement, the Captain's body was rising and now stood, facing away from Ichabod. His heart began to race. As he backed away, another strange sensation overtook him. Ichabod realized he was now in his own bedroom but still able to witness this scene from the past. His eyes were fixated on the Captain as he turned slowly around to face him. Without a head it seemed impossible that Ichabod felt him peering into his soul, but the strange sensation of his gaze caused an icy feeling inside of him. His fear grew exponentially as the Captain lifted his sword and pointed it directly at...him! With that the monster moved toward him. Ichabod shrieked in fear, finally waking himself up.

Chapter 3. Johann Higginbotham

Johann, Johann! he exclaimed still half asleep. Dutifully, his servant rushed into the bedroom. Johann Higginbotham was a short, stocky man in his mid thirties, though his premature graying could deceive some into thinking he was older. He wore a full beard but kept it well-groomed and was considered a rather handsome man by the ladies, though in his current groggy yet alarmed state, they may have reconsidered.

What is it Master, another dream?

"It was him again. Ichabod replied, standing up. But this time…it’s as if I was there." Johann relaxed