May I Carry Your Basket?

May I Carry Your Basket? is a story from Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. It tells the story of a basket with a scary surprise inside.



The Story
Sam Louis spent the evening, playing chess at his friend's house. It was about midnight when they finished the game, and he started home. Outside, it was icy cold and quiet as a grave. As he came around a turn in the road, he was surprised to see a woman, walking ahead of him. She was carrying a basket covered with a white cloth. When he got up to her, he looked to see who she was. But she was so bundled up against the cold, it was hard to see her face.

"Good evening," Sam said, "What brings you out so late?" But she didn't answer. Then he said, "May I carry your basket?" She handed it to him. And from under the cloth, a small voice said, "That's very nice of you." And it was followed by a wild laughter. Sam was so startled that he dropped the basket, and out rolled a woman's head. He looked at the head, and he stare at the woman. "It's her head!" he cried, and started to run, and the woman and her head began to chase him.

Soon, the head caught up with him. It mounded into the air and sunk its teeth into Sam's left leg. Sam screamed with pain and ran faster. But the woman and her head stay right behind. Soon the head leaped into the air again, and bit into his other leg. Then they were gone.