To those unused to it, Halloween Town was nothing if not intimidating.
Corpses roamed the streets during the day. Most were really quite kind, but the slightly maniacal glints in their eyes had caused many a young ghoul to dive into a side alleyway on seeing them. At night, though, Oogie Boogie's henchmen were out, enforcing curfew and even going so far as to beat people they found out after dark. The buildings, like most of the inhabitants, were ramshackle on the outside but cozy on the inside—if hanging spiders and bats were the type of decor you liked.
Jack Skellington had grown up quickly since he'd landed in the pumpkin patch. He was now at least seven feet tall. He dressed in ragged clothing he'd found while roaming the pumpkin patch and the nearby graveyard. He'd seen the town from afar, but had never ventured in.
But today was the day.
Jack straightened his collar, wiped off his jean overalls, and smiled at himself in a mirrored tombstone.
"I look good," he said.
One last check to make sure everything was in order, and he was off, striding on his long legs through the graveyard up to the town gate. He pushed it open as it protested, squeaking. The inhabitants of Halloween Town didn't know Jack was there, but they'd felt something, a sinister spirit on that side of the gate, that had kept them away.
Out of the corner of his eye, Jack saw something small run into a side alley. A mouse? Probably.
As he wandered the streets, something became apparent. No one was home.
"Hello?" he called. "Anyone here?"
Nothing except the gurgling of a fountain.
Jack sat down on the edge of it. Of course he picked the one time that no one was even there. He kicked a pebbled despondently.
Then, Jack heard a sound in the alley. A sound much bigger than the one a little stone would make.
Monsters emerged from the streets leading into the town square, surrounding him, hemming him in.
"Well, well, well," a booming voice said.
A giant green sack walked out from the crowd and right up to Jack. Jack leaned back as the creature leaned over him. "What have we here?"
Jack cleared his throat nervously. "Jack… Jack Skellington."
"And where'd you come from, Jack Skellington?" he said.
"The pumpkin patch."
"Oh-ho!" he boomed, making Jack jump with fright. "So you're the reason no one goes there anymore. What'd you do, boy? Scare 'em off? Did ya scream and send 'em running?"
"I never did—"
"Well, listen here, boy," said the sack man. "You may be king of your little pumpkin patch, but I'm the king of this whole durn town! Mister Oogie Boogie, King of Halloween!" He poked Jack in his ribs. "I'm more than happy to have another citizen, but you'll have to get someone to fill you in on the rules. This is a happy town! So long as you don't go causing trouble. I don't like troublemakers."
Jack stared Oogie Boogie straight in the eye. "I'm not planning to make trouble."
Oogie Boogie held his gaze. "You better not be."
Did you guys catch the "Well, well, well, what have we here?" as being part of Oogie Boogie's song in the movie?