Context:

Two years ago, the informant went with her friends to Huntington Beach. When they took a walk on the beach, they noticed something washed up on the sand.

Text:

The informant and her friends noticed that there were dead birds with their heads cut off all along the beach. She cites seeing “at least thirteen dead bodies with their heads cut off” and the birds included doves, roosters, and pigeons. The informant asked the lifeguard on duty about the dead birds and the lifeguard noted that a local satanic cult practices at night. Additionally, the lifeguard admitted that he was not allowed to move or remove the heads since it is a state beach and the birds are presumed to have died naturally.

Analysis:

This account is a memorate, or personal experience narrative about a legendary event. The informant themselves was unsure of how much to believe the legend of satantic cults residing in Huntington, indicating how legends are presented as believable but their truth is ultimately debated. The involvement of the lifeguard adds vernacular authority to the story and reflects how legends help people make sense of disturbing events. As Lindahl examines in the cases of Hurricane Katrina legends, such narratives often act to process uncertainty and assign blame when events lack explanations. The story demonstrates how belief is fundamentally shaped by our interactions and stories that we tell.