A-note I do not own Nightmare before Christmas. So on with my story...Beware! PS before you hate on me I know Jacks last name is Skellington, but if you read my story you'll find out why I gave him a different last name.

It was October 25 in Halloween town, a chilly wind blew withered, orange and yellow tree leafs past a school yard. The old bar fence that surrounded the school had started to rust over. The school itself was made of old stones. Miss. Grouly was a corpse with red hair that she kept in a bun. She was missing a eye and had stitches running up her cheek but the first grade children that she that she taught loved her any way. Her class had just finished doing their English assignment. "Okay children, please put your books away." The class placed their books in their desk. "Now children who knows what October 31st is?" Nearly the whole class raised their hands. "Jack Bones." The thin skeleton she call on was tall for his age and thin. He wore a black vest a white shirt and vertical striped pants. "That's Halloween Miss. Grouly." Jack answered with pride. "Correct Jack. Halloween is on October 31. Now does anyone want to guess what Halloween is about. Billy Volece. " Billy was a chubby boy with two faces, he wore a big black tie and suspenders. "Candy." He guessed "No that's not it Billy. Oogie boogie." She called out again. "Making people fear you." Oogie guessed. "No that's not it either. Sally do you want to guess." The ragdoll looked around at the class who was staring at her.

"Um… I… I don't know what Halloween is Miss Grouly." Sally shyly confessed. Laughter bursted out among the class. "Who live in Halloween town and you don't know what Halloween is! Where you born yesterday?!" Oogie laughed. "No…" Sally whimpered as the class continued to laugh along with Oogie. "Hey! It's not funny!" Jack shouted over the class. "Alright that's enough!" Miss Grouly scolded. "Mr. Boogie you already have a yellow pumpkin card today. Unless you want a red pumpkin, you will behave yourself." She warned Oogie. It wasn't unusual for Oogie to get this lecture, he always did something to cause mayhem at school. "Jack would you like to answer the question?" "Yes Miss Grouly. Halloween is about thrills and chills." Jack answered. "That's correct Jack. Now for your next assignment I want you to draw a Halloween costume." The class started to draw on the sheet of paper handed out by the teacher. Half an hour later the class was still coloring away."Okay children, dose anyone want to show the class what you've drawn." Miss Grouly asked. Jack eagerly raised his hand. "Okay Jack go ahead." Jack ran to the front of the class and raised his picture so everyone could see. The drawing had a Jack-a-lantern for a head a scarecrow body and flames engulfing it. The class gasped with delight. "My Jack that is wonderful." "Thank you Miss Grouly." Jack sat down next to Billy and gave him a high five. "That is a terrifying costume Jack." Billy praise Jack with aw. "Thanks Billy, I can't wait to show my father."

Across town in the town hall a small meeting was taking place. "Oh Benvollio K. Bones you really out done yourself this time." Three figures sat in the hall at the long table. "I'm Just doing my Job John." Ben modestly explained. He was a tall thin Skellington with a orange tux and a bat bow tie but with a pumpkin in the center, Instead of a bat head. "Well you sure do it well. how are the Pumpkins this year?" John ask. He on the other hand was a short skeleton with a Chinese goatee that was just starting to grey He wore a black tux with a bat bow tie with a Jack-a-lantern in the center. "I checked them on the way here and they will be sent to the pumpkin carvers tomorrow." Ben smiled as he placed the papers he had passed out earlier in a folder. "I don't understand why we pay those fools They don't do anything." "Now Oogustus Boogie, you know why we pay the pumpkin carvers." John started to explain. Oogustus was a big green sack of bugs with gleaming red eyes He too was wearing a black tux but with a spider tie. "They make our source of light on Halloween. We can't light all the places like the grave yard and the pumpkin patch, and a lot of our citizens need to take the paths to get home safely." John lectured. "They are only decorators John, we can do without them." Oogustus argued. "We are not eliminating jobs so you can have more servants Mr. Boogie!" John snapped standing up from his chair. "I never said stop the Jobs I meant down cut their pay!" Oogustus snapped back. "They have families!" "They'll survive." "ENOUPH! Both of you!" Ben snapped. "For once can we get through a meeting without getting into a heated debate! Its driving me insane!" "We're sorry Benvollio." John apologized. "Yeah, It's been a long day…" A nock on the door interrupted the meeting. "Come in." A short and stout, two faced man wobbled in. "What is it Mr. Volece?" Oogustus asked. "John Skellington, Benvollio Bones Our pumpkin king wants to see you Immediately." "Thank you Vinnie, we are on our way." Ben said. "We will continue our meeting tomorrow."

The two skeletons rushed over to the home that would eventually become Jacks. The door was answered by Doctor Finklestein, he had very little hair and was using a walking cane. "How is he doctor?" John asked. "Vincent is not doing well. He may not even make it to Halloween. I'm sorry." The doctor apologized. "Let's Go in and see him." John said as he entered the house. "Ben you son is scheduled for a checkup today at 12:15." The doctor reminded. "Thank you for reminding me Doctor." He followed John in the house. The house was dimly lit. The climbed the stairs, and entered the room. "John, Ben my boys." "Hello Father." John said sitting down in a chair next to the bed the old skeleton was laying upon. "I wish I could say I was going to get better, but ..." The old skeletons bones were starting to chip a sign of old age. "You're not. We know." Ben finished. "I called you here so I could find my successor. The one who will be the next pumpkin king." Ben and John looked at eachother. "Father… I've been thinking, and you should make John the next king. He is the oldest, and he is your biological son." Ben said. "But Ben, You're his son too." John noted with surprise. "I'm only adopted. It wouldn't be right for me to ask for a job, I would have if you hadn't been my best friend." Ben stated. "But Ben you are much better at the job then I am." Ben smiled. "You know I was always worried that you two would fight over the Job, But both of you would give it to the other. I'm so proud of both you." Vincent praised them. "John, you are going to be the new Pumpkin king." "Well done John." Ben congratulated. "Sorry, I can't stay but I need to pick up my son for a doctor appointment."

Back at the school Jack was on the swings with Billy. "Jack My dad say's I can go to the town festivities with him this year." Billy sais excitedly. "Hey maybe my dad will let me come too." Jack said hopefully. "That would be so cool! If we could both go." Billy exclaimed. "Hey, It's Sally! Lets invite her to play with us." Jack suggested Jumping off the swing and running to Sally. "Hey Sally." "Oh hello Jack." Sally said looking down at her feet. "Do want to swing with us?" Jack asked. "You want to play with me?" Sally asked hopefully. "Of course. Your nice." Billy said. The little ragdoll blushed. "So let's play! Last one to the swing is a rotten pumpkin." Jack called in a sing song voice taking off in the other direction. "Hey no fair." Sally yelled with a smile chasing after Jack. "Guys wait up!" Billy call as he wobbled as fast as he could after them. "I win!" Jack cheered reaching the swing and throwing his hands up in the air victoriously. Ben entered into the school office and signed Jack out. "Go ahead Mr. Pumpkin king Jack should be at recess." The mummy at the desk said. "Please call me Ben." Ben said as he left for the school yard. He walked out across the yard and he spotted his son on the swings. "Excuse me young man, would you like a push?" Ben asked. "Father!" Jack exclaimed realizing who had grabbed his swing. "What are you doing here?" "Well you have a doctor appointment today so I am here to take you there." Ben explained. "Father this is my new friend Sally!" Jack informed his father showing him sally. "Hello Sally. I like your name." Ben said warmly. "Thank you." Sally shyly said. "Come along Jack we must be on our way."

Anote. Please review and once again… Beware!