An Apple Today
It's another birthday, and this time I'm on time to blow the horns and toss the confetti. Yes, as I'm sure you all know, today is the birth anniversary of John Chapman, aka Johnny Appleseed.
Why do I, a horror writer, care about Johnny and his apple seeding? Simple. I find the guy intriguing, rather heroic, and also downright creepy.
Sure, he was spreading good health and The Word while tossing around his apple seeds. But at the same time, apple seeds? Was he just an overachiever apple seller who got carried away and couldn't stop? Was he just a great guy who understood the benefits of the Fruit of Knowledge at an early age and simply had to share...with everyone?
Or was he something more sinister?
Oh, sure, history pretty much tells us he was a good egg. But...I'm a horror writer. I read about people like this and, without asking for it, the darker images and ideas float up through my brain to go, "But maybe this is the real reason why..." In my mind, he could have been seeding a lot more than apples.
Of course, this is great, in that I have at least one new short story idea eagerly waiting to be written. But it does tend to make me less popular at parties.
Watching you from behind the apple tree,
J.C. Koch
Why do I, a horror writer, care about Johnny and his apple seeding? Simple. I find the guy intriguing, rather heroic, and also downright creepy.
Sure, he was spreading good health and The Word while tossing around his apple seeds. But at the same time, apple seeds? Was he just an overachiever apple seller who got carried away and couldn't stop? Was he just a great guy who understood the benefits of the Fruit of Knowledge at an early age and simply had to share...with everyone?
Or was he something more sinister?
Oh, sure, history pretty much tells us he was a good egg. But...I'm a horror writer. I read about people like this and, without asking for it, the darker images and ideas float up through my brain to go, "But maybe this is the real reason why..." In my mind, he could have been seeding a lot more than apples.
Of course, this is great, in that I have at least one new short story idea eagerly waiting to be written. But it does tend to make me less popular at parties.
Watching you from behind the apple tree,
J.C. Koch
Labels: apples, Fruit of Knowledge, horror, horror stories, horror writing, J.C. Koch, John Chapman, Johnny Appleseed, The Word
2 Comments:
Or maybe he was just fruit loops. But evil intent is good too.
MaryL
I vote that Appleseed guy was a serial killer. The pot on his head, the sack at his side. He said those were appleseeds. Did anyone ever see appleseeds? How do we know? Sounds like a good horror story..."Bloodseed." Not bad, huh?
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home