Part 1
"JACK! Wake up! It's time for school!"
Jack Skellington, age 15, rolled over, trying to stifle his mother's begging. Failing, he got out of bed and dragged himself to the kitchen. His mother glared at him and handed him a bowl of Jack's favorite cereal. "Ma, I was just getting to the good part in my dream, couldn't I have just…" He glanced at the clock. It said 7:45.
"CRAP!" Jack screamed as downed his cereal and rushed to his bedroom to change. His sister, Haley, giggled at his mistake, and when Jack came back into the kitchen without pants, nearly rolled over laughing after the repeated "CRAP!"
Finally, fully clothed and ready to go, Jack hastily kissed his mother and Haley and dashed outside to find his friend Oliver waiting to walk to school with him.
Oliver was a big guy, complete with muscles and barely any brains. But no amount of muscle or stupidity could hide the nerd that Oliver really was. He knew everything about every bug imaginable, and always had a runny nose, which had earned Jack's nickname for him.
"Hey Oogie. What's up?" Jack called, a little breathless. Oliver- aka Oogie- could tell that Jack had accidentally slept in again. Jack smiled, and added, "yes, I slept in again- you don't have to look all knowingly." The duo laughed.
The day passed normally- Oogie failed his math test, Jack excelled in choir class, and guys high-fived him and girls flirted with Jack. His polite-but-awesome manner, coupled with his amazing singing voice, had gotten him to be the most popular guy in school.
His life was awesome.
Until it was ended.
It started with a letter to his mother, from a man known only as "The Mayor". Her eyes widened, as if in sorrow and fear, as Jack watched her read it. She sent Jack and Haley to their rooms so she could read it alone. Jack, being 15, simply hid behind a wall as he watched his mother lower her head. She wept, and Jack glanced at the letter and squinted out a few sentences: "I regret to tell you this as this doesn't happen very often, but your husband has passed away, even from here. But, as you know, this town needs a king…"
He couldn't make out anymore, but he did see that some sort of herb was attached. He shrugged. Though a little worried about his mom, his father had died when Jack was very young. Jack headed to his room, anticipating tomorrow- he loved Saturdays!
Jack had no idea it would be his last alive.
Jack spent the day with Oogie and invited him to dinner. His mother made soup that night. Jack noticed that her eyes were still sorrowful, but much more fearful than the night before.
When it was time for dinner, she gave Jack his soup with a terrible shake in her hand. Jack shoved a spoonful in his mouth, starving. The last thing he thought was, this tastes a little bitter…
Then died.
Haley and Oogie screamed, and Jack's mother burst into tears. Oogie eyed the soup, and tasted a spoonful as Jack had. His mother shouted "Oliver! No! There's nightshade…"
And Oogie died too.
Jack slowly blinked his eyes open. He groaned- his head hurt terribly, like he had hit a semi. He raised his arm to massage his temples- and screamed. There was no skin, no muscle, no blood, just bones on his arm. He felt his head, terrified- and again, nothing but bone. Jack looked at his body. He still had his old clothes on, which promptly slid off when he stood, due to the fact that he was now a skeleton.
"Hello? Is anyone out there? Anyone?" Jack called out. A familiar voice called back.
"Jack! Jack, it's Oogie! I'm over here!" Jack screamed again and ran towards his friend's voice… to find, basically, a talking pillowcase.
Jack and Oogie stared at each other, stunned. Finally, Oogie laughed and said, "Ha ha ha! You're naked!" Jack blushed (or hoped he did) and hastily groped around for some leaves and covered himself. Oogie, not laughing, finally said, "Where are we?" to which Jack replied, "I don't know. Let's look around for someone." So they walked. And walked. And walked. All the while, they both thought something was missing from them, besides the obvious. Jack felt like all his memories had been erased… all he could remember of Haley was taking her out trick-or-treating.
Suddenly, a loud cry pierced the night like a blade. Jack and Oogie ran towards the sound, to find 3 small babies, each with a different marking on their blankets. "Where did they come from?" Jack wondered aloud, concerned. Oogie looked undaunted. "Maybe we should leave them here," he said, "I really don't like changing diapers, and besides, what kind of parents puts pictures of locks, lightening bolts, and barrels on their kids' blankets?" he added, laughing. Jack's jaw dropped. "Oogie, what are you talking about? They'll die here! We need to find civilization, and they are coming with us." Oogie shrugged, as if to say, Fine, but they are your problem.
Jack wrapped the babies up, thinking, that isn't like Oliver at all. He used to baby-sit for extra money!
Even later, Oogie found something else- a set of dice and a stack of cards. He was surprisingly excited about it, and Jack realized- Oogie must have undergone a personality change when he died. He was now the sadistic gambler that we all know today.
Finally Jack, Oogie, and the 3 babies (Jack called them Lock, Shock, and Barrel according to their markings) came upon a town. It reminded Jack of the horror movies he watched on Halloween. There was a triangular man with the tallest hat Jack had ever seen at the gate, dozing. Jack gave Shock to Oogie (he had been holding her) and prodded the man. "Excuse me, sir? Where are we?" The man jerked awake. His eyes were bloodshot, and there was a frown on his face. As soon as his eyes were in focus, his head spun around to reveal another face, with normal eyes and a smile. Jack and Oogie jumped back as this happened. The man excitedly shouted "Jack! You've arrived! Who are your companions?" "Um, this is Olive-" "My name is Oogie Boogie." Jack stared at him.
Where did Boogie come from? And why doesn't he go by Oliver anymore?
"Yeah… and the babies are called Lock, Shock, and Barrel. How do you know my name?" Jack continued. The man smiled at Jack and said "You look exactly like your father did when he came to claim his title, and I know about the tradition of naming first-born Skellington sons Jack." He smiled even wider. "I'll see to it that your friends are comfortable, and-" Jack cut him off, saying "Wait a second. I want answers. Why am I here? What is this place? And what title did my dad claim?"
The Mayor- Jack finally noticed the ribbon on his chest- switched his face again. "You don't even know about Halloween Town? Or that you are next in line for the title of Pumpkin King?"
Jack's jaw dropped again. "King?! I'm 15! I can't be KING!" The Mayor gave Jack a pitiful look. "I'm sorry, Jack. But I simply can't make decisions by myself, and Halloween is only in 7 months! We need to, as you say, get cracking!" His face switched again to the smile. "As I was saying, I'll see to it that Mr. Boogie is comfortable, and that the babies are cared for. The Clown will show you to your house, Jack." With that, an incredibly ugly clown on a unicycle took Jack's arm and whisked him away, Jack screaming his skull off.
Jack, completely terrified and confused, slowly thanked the clown once they arrived at a big house with a gate with the outline of a jack-o-lantern on it (So THAT'S where the tradition comes from, Jack thought). The clown saluted Jack and rode away. Jack even more slowly opened the gate and went inside. He explored for a while, and when he went upstairs, found a large bedroom he wasn't quite sure he could sleep in. There was an electric chair, for god's sake! But surprisingly, as soon as his head hit the pillow, he was fast asleep.
Jack awoke the next morning, thinking, Wow. That was the strangest dream… he opened his eyes. Crap.
He heard a distant sound. Puzzled, he got out of bed and followed the sound to the kitchen. There he found a small ghost of a dog smiling at him. Jack's eyes widened.
There was a ghost wiener dog in his house! Jack tentatively took a step forward, extending his hand. The dog immediately flew up and gleefully licked it. Jack smiled.
I like him…or her. The dog barked and flew up to one of the cupboards, as if beckoning Jack. He walked to the cupboard and opened it. Inside, there were different types of food, spices marked Frog's breath and Worm's wart, some dog food, and a note. Jack opened it.
Dear Jack,
The dog's name is Zero. Please
take good care of him, he's been in the
family for centuries.
And also, I'm very sorry about forcing
You into this. Please forgive me.
Love,
Your father
"Hello… what should I call you, sir? Mr. Skellington? Your Scariness?"
"Actually everyone usually calls me Jack.
"Oh… okay, um, Jack."
The Mayor had taken Jack to the town hall to introduce him to all its citizens. Jack had so far greeted the Loch Ness Monster (so small…and a girl, too!), a monster whose head seemed to come up and down like a high-hat cymbal, the devil himself, and many others. He had just been talking to the clown he had met the night before, but Jack's heart wasn't in it, really. He couldn't stop thinking about the note from his dad.
Of course I forgive him… or do I? I'm DEAD because of him! On the other hand, though…
Just then, two witches nearly knocked his head off by overexcited brooms ramming into Jack.
"Oh! I'm so sorry, sir! Forgive me, the broom just…" "That's okay, I'm fine, and if you like, you can call me Jack."
Sigh. He had to have said that at LEAST 40 times that day!
Meanwhile, Oogie, Lock, Shock, and Barrel had earlier been escorted to a tree house about a ½ mile away from town. The short witch, Isabella, had just left from feeding the babies their breakfast and making sure Oogie had enough food.
Oogie still had no idea why he didn't care about them… they were orphans and everything, but still… nothing. He had a thought… a terrible thought.
Maybe the switchover messed up my brain…yeah…I'm evil now!
If I'm evil, I'm going to need some henchmen eventually, but who? Wait… I can raise those three kids! They can be my henchmen!
He laughed evilly aloud, confirming his wickedness. The babies stared at him from their room, a little confused, but soon forgot it when Isabella came back to change their diapers.