I’ve always loved the story of Sleepy Hollow. As a kid it was one of my favorites. The headless horseman was way cool and everything was dark and creepy. He’d seem to appear out of nowhere, ride his marks down and cut their heads off with abandon.

As I got older and had kids of my own, the legend of Sleepy Hollow gained new interest as I could see the look of shock in their eyes. Glued to the screen the moment the horseman arrived. The wince as he slice a neck and the head would roll. Always made me smile, knowing exactly what they were feeling at that moment.

In 1999, Tim Burton came out with his version of the story: Sleepy Hollow . I enjoyed every minute of it. In short order, it became a Halloween favorite and every year during this time we would get together to watch it. By far one of Johnny Depp’s best performances and by far the best version of the story. You could disagree with me, but you’d be wrong.

It wasn’t until years later that I realized there was a hidden example there in the story. One that I am almost sure many would miss or dismiss. But it’s something that now, I can’t escape the knowing of it.

Constable Ichabod Crane is dispatched to investigate a series of murders in the small of Sleepy Hollow. Ichabod is somewhat of a nerd and has a weak stomach. Not the type of investigator you’d expect to be very effective in discovering the secret behind the decapitations. Throughout the movie he’s seemingly one step behind the Horseman, as head after head continues to fall. Finally, through a series of events, he discovers the Hessian is being controlled and commanded by a woman. A woman with a score to settle and a grudge to satisfy.

This woman obtained the head of the Horseman years ago, and with that head in her possession, she wielded his sword. She’d call for him to ride, and he would ride; then heads that she willed would fall.

Few years later, after having watched Sleepy Hollow for the first time, I’m sitting in a restaurant with my son eating dinner.

To the left of us I hear a man visibly upset and raising his voice to the waitress. Something was clearly not right with his dinner and he wasn’t having it. The waitress left and in short order the manager showed up. The manager didn’t do any better with that old bastard. He was a big guy and his intimidation game was strong. I could tell the manager was visibly shaken with his response. Just about the time I was expecting those two to go to blows, this guys lady reaches across the table, pats his arm and whispers to him. That guy stopped immediately. His facial expression changed, his tone of voice got softer, then he sat up and apologized to the manager. It was as if he was a totally different man. It. Was. Amazing.

That little old lady couldn’t have weighed over a buck twenty. And her guy, he had to have been the biggest, gruffest, meanest, SOB in those parts. I imagine he had made many a men wet themselves when he had the mind to. But with a soft whisper from that woman – that man was butter.

Now, I have no idea what she said to him. I just know based on what I  witnessed it wasn’t a threat. She didn’t raise her voice. It was just a look and a whisper. That was it. And it changed the whole course of whatever was about to happen, from happening.

I can’t watch Sleepy Hollow without thinking about that couple.

That woman was in absolute control of that mean old bastard. She controlled his head. What he had a mind to do, he didn’t do, because she was there.

Now I have no doubt that he gave his heart willingly to that woman. But I think that woman took control of his head over time. Then changed the way he did things. And I reckon if she had a mind to turn him loose on that city, he’d burn the whole place down, until she said stop.

It was an interesting dynamic to see. Knowing that man is set to provide and protect that woman. He’s there to do her bidding. At her will, as she sees fit and yet, that little old woman, knowing her Horseman will ride for her – she protects him. 

Who knew, the story of Sleepy Hollow was actually a love story…:)

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