Since its almost October, I've decided to share my take on "The Devil and Tom Walker"
"The Devil and Tom Walker" by Washington Irving is a Faustian legend about a man who sells his soul to the Devil because of greed. Eventually, his greed overpowers his being and he loses his soul and power to the Devil.
In the 10th grade, my English teacher asked my class to rewrite this classic story anyway we wanted to so I decided to change the protagonists fate and let him survive. I hope you enjoy my take on this Faustian legend.
Once in Manhattan, New York there lived a family by the name of di Angelo. The di Angelo’s lived in a gothic-like house. They owned a car that banged and popped every time it was driven. The di Angelo’s had a dark, brooding son named Alec. Alec’s parents were very stingy when it came to giving Alec items that he needed since Alec’s only concern was becoming a singer Alec loved to sing, but he was always told he’d never make it as a singer. This caused Alec to be quarrelsome and violent toward his family and friends. Alec’s parents, Todd and Anna, tried to take him to an anger management school but Alec kicked and screamed as soon as they got there. After that incident, Alec’s parents gave up on trying to help him ‘channel his anger. Alec was very grateful for that. He sang like an 18-year-old boy who finally got the girl of their dreams to say yes to going to prom with them.
One day while Alec was walking home, he took a shortcut through an abandoned record store. While he was walking through the store he saw a golden record signed by Billie Holiday. This record was rumored to be worth millions. “If I sell this record, I’ll be rich, Alec said to himself. As Alec went to grab the record he heard someone shout “Leave that record alone!” Alec jumped and whirled around quickly to see a dark-skinned man in a suit with dark sunglasses. The man looked like he was painted with ashes. His eyes appeared to be a crimson color behind his dark sunglasses
“Who are you to tell me what not to touch?” Alec asked. “I am you worst nightmare “, the man growled in reply. “I’m the man who took the souls of every great singer you’ve known and loved.” “I’m the man who burns and rots in the deepest pit of hell.” “No you’re not, Alec said fearfully, you’re just a man who loves to bring down others and scare people into doing bad things.” You’re so very wrong, the man said, I think this situation calls for a few visuals.” The man walked toward Alec and pointed at the wall behind him. The wall turned turquoise with various signed records. “You see these records; these records are all the souls I have taken.” “These souls all have one thing in common; they’re all rotten and malevolent to the core.
Alec stared at the wall in disbelief. He looked at the different signatures. He saw the signatures of Missy Mae, JP Thomson, JJ Lee, Sammy B, and Faye Lay on the wall. Each record seemed to be scratched, dented, and molding right in the center as if it was the core of the soul. The man walked toward the wall and took the record that was signed by Faye Lay off the wall. “Faye is a bright girl, but she hates kids and charity work.” “She’s gone too far this time, so now she’s mine.” the man growled sinisterly. The man took the record and smashed it against the floor. “All this time I thought they were successful because of their talent and looks, Alec whispered. “Well you thought wrong, the man snarled, now that you know the truth I will tell you a little about myself.” “Some people call me DJ Wishmaker.” “Others call me Diablo.” “My real name is the Devil.”
Alec looked at the Devil in horror. “Surprised?” the Devil asked laughing. Alec nodded weakly. The Devil laughed and said, “You know I could help you become a successful singer.” “All you have to do is record a demo for me.” “If I like it I’ll give you a record deal and make you the most famous teen in the world.” Alec looked at the Devil and said, “I will not; I’m not going to sell my soul just to become famous!” After Alec said this, he ran as fast as he could home.
As soon as he got home his parents told him that Faye Lay died that day. Alec chuckled darkly and said, “Ahh another dark soul has returned to its rightful owner.” Alec’s parents looked at him and asked what he was talking about. He told them about his encounter with the Devil. When he finished, Alec parents said he was making it up and told him that he need to go to his room and think. As soon as Alec left the room, Todd and Anna di Angelo decided to make a demo for the Devil. When they finished making the demo they changed in to their fanciest clothing and went to the record store to meet the Devil. As soon as Alec heard the door slam, he got up and went down stairs. When he got downstairs, he saw that his parents’ fancy clothes and jewelry were missing. Alec ran out the door and went to the record store to find his parents.
When Alec reached the record store, he called his parents’ names a six times. After the sixth time, he heard his parents say “Please, don’t kill us, all we want is a chance to become filthy rich so we can get rid of our son. After they said that there was an explosion and screams. Alec rushed into the record store and went to the oldies section. When he arrived at the oldies section, he saw his parent’s clothes and jewelry. All of the items had been burned to ashes. He swept the ashes up and threw them into the trash. As soon as he threw the ashes in the trash, the Devil appeared. Alec squealed in fright and said, “I will take your offer on helping me becoming a successful singer. “Good, he said, together you and I can make thousands”. “No, Alec said, we’ll make billions!”
A few years later, Alec is in his dressing room preparing for his show. The years after his deal with the Devil were great. Alec got a record deal with Gothic Demon Records. As soon as he became rich he bought a bigger gothic-like house in Los Angeles, California. He also bought four 1965 Ford Mustangs that he never fixed. To make up for the guilt he had about making a deal with a devil he got a tattoo on his back that said ’We are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled. -2 Corinthians 5:20‘. He also went to church every Sunday and read the Bible before and after each show.
One day while Alec was at a CD signing party, he met his biggest fan. “Hi, she said, my name is Amber; I am a huge fan of yours.” When Amber said this, Alec snapped and said, “You are not my biggest fan, no one is. Amber looked at him as if she pitied him. “You’re just bitter because you went through so much to get to this point, Amber said with a smirk. Alec gave her a hateful glare and said, “You don’t know me, no one but the Devil knows me.
After he said this the Devil appeared with a gold and turquoise colored record in hand. “Alec di Angelo, he said, your soul is mine!” Alec fell to his knees and closed his eyes. He did not want to give his soul to the Devil. “Wait; he cried, I challenge you to a sing off!” “If you win you can have my soul, but if I win my life stays as it is now and you won’t come back until I breathe my last breath.” “Deal, said the Devil with a wicked grin. “All right, said Alec, let’s go to the stage.”
When Alec and the Devil got to the stage, they shook hands. The Devil went first. He sang the screamo version of Say You Love Me. When he finished singing everyone booed and hissed at him. “Thank you, he said, you’re too kind.” After he got off stage the Devil handed the mic to Alec. Alec took the stage and everyone cheered. Alec sang a cover of Wayfaring Stranger by Luke Jones, While Alec was singing something amazing happened. Two wings of power; one black, one white, sprouted from Alec’s back. Everyone gasped and cheered even louder than before. When Alec’s song was over the crowd chanted his name. “Impossible, the Devil screamed. “It’s not impossible if you name is Angel in Italian, Alec said with a wink.
After Alec told the Devil this, he used his car keys to call his sleek, black GTO. The Devil hopped in his car and drove off leaving nothing but a trail of black tire marks and fire. To this day, Alec is a successful singer. He has millions of fans across the world. He is more down to earth and full of kindness. He still has his wings of power. On the other hand, the Devil is still brooding and bitter about losing a soul and a sing-off. He waits in the shadows for Alec to mess up again. Every night, it is said that the Devil drives his black GTO around each venue Alec plays hoping he can catch Alec in the act of committing slander against him.
I hope I haven't scared you too bad. If you've enjoyed this interepretation of "The Devil and Tom Walker", I hope you share it with others and give them a good scare.
