Chapter 6

Sally wakes up to the bright pumpkin sun, she gives a small yawn and decides to sleep for a few for minutes. She rolls to her side and stretch her arm out in the middle of the bed, but something is missing. Sally jumps wide awake and looks around her bed.

"Evangeline?" She continues to look through the covers. "Evangeline?"

"Boo!" Sally jumps and turns her head to her giggling five-year old daughter. "You should seen your face, mommy. It was funny."

Sally would get mad but Evangeline is too cute, "You're getting better at scaring."

"Really mommy?"

"Yes."

"Do you think I can go to human world this Halloween?"

"I'm sorry sweetie, but not this year."

"But why?" Evangeline whine.

"You're too young."

"No, I'm five."

"Yes you are, but me and your daddy wants to wait till you're six." Jack and Sally decided to wait another year before Evangeline goes out for Halloween. "Ok?"

"Ok mommy. Where is daddy?"

"He had to leave early for last minute planning."

"Again?"

"Yes sweetie." Evangeline gives a pouty face, Sally kneels down and picks her up. "Don't worry Evangeline, we're going to bring him lunch."

"Really?" Evangeline asked with hope in her squeaky voice.

"Yes, now let's go to your room and get you dress."

"Ok mommy."

Evangeline grabs Sally's hand and went to her room. Once she and her mommy were dress, they went to the kitchen and ate breakfast. Later Evangeline helps her mommy pack a lunch for her daddy, mommy, and herself. They leave the house with Zero following them, Evangeline holds her mommy's hand and didn't let go. As they walk through the town, Evangeline waves hi to the citizens.

"Hi Hanging Tree and Hangmen! Hi Behemoth! Hi Mr. Hyde!"

"Hello Princess" they would say or "Hello Evangeline." Sally smiles at her daughter being so nice to say hello to everybody. Than they finally made it to town hall, but before they walk in the Wolfman and Undersea Gal stop them from entering.

"Hello Sally," said Undersea Gal.

"Hello," Sally said. "How are you two doing this morning?"

"Good," said the Wolfman.

"How are you doing young lady?" asked the Undersea Gal.

"Good, we're going to daddy," said Evangeline jumping up and down excitedly.

"Make sure he gets a break," said Wolfman as he crouch down to Evangeline's level. "He and the mayor have been stressing out about Halloween."

"Well then we better go inside, bye," said Sally.

"Bye," said Evangeline.

They walk in and head towards the mayor's office, voices echo in the halls. Sally knocks the door and the mayor open it.

"Sally, Evangeline, come in."

Evangeline sees her daddy sitting at the desk and runs to him, "Daddy!"

"Hey Pumpkin Pie," Jack said and picks her up.

"How's everything going?" asked Sally.

"Good, we got everything in order," said Jack as he bounces Evangeline on his lap causing her to laugh.

"Jack, why don't you go home with your wife and child," said the mayor.

"Yes, we got everything done so go home."

"Ok," Jack stands up with his daughter in his arm and wrap his other arm around Sally.

They walk out of town hall to the cemetery to have a picnic. Sally got everything set while Jack and Evangeline plays fetch with Zero.

"Get it Zero!" Evangeline throws the rib bone but it didn't go far. "How come it won't go far?"

"Cause Evangeline, you're still young," Jack said and throws the rib bone far. "You're still learning sweetie. You'll get better."

"Promise?"

"I promise."

"Jack, Evangeline, lunch is ready."

Jack put his rib back on and Evangeline grabs her daddy's hand. They sit on the blanket and ate their lunch, Jack watches his child finish eating and went to play by herself. It killed Jack seeing Evangeline playing by herself; every child should have a friend. Well she does get along with the older children in Halloween Town, but she needs friends her age.

"Sally, do you think Evangeline likes playing alone?"

Sally was surprise by the question, "I don't know Jack."

"Do you think she need friends around her age?"

"It'll be good for her, but Jack where are we going to find kids her age?"

"I may have an idea."


Jack comes home to a quiet house after a long Halloween. He loves Halloween, but he miss his wife and child. Jack goes to the bedroom to find Sally waiting up for him.

"How did it go?" she asked so softly and gentle.

"It went great, but I missed you."

"I missed you too."

"I can't wait for tomorrow."

"Do you really think it'll work?"

"Yes, the Holiday Leaders agreed and everything is set."

"I can't believe you did for Evangeline."

"I love that little girl."

"I know," Sally said and gives him a kiss. "And you had doubts about being a good father."

Jack couldn't help but laugh at the comment than they hear the door open. Evangeline walks in her black footie pajamas with orange pumpkins on them; she's clinging to her ghost dog stuff animal that Sally made for her. She also have dry tear marks on her cheeks.

"Sweetie what's wrong?" Sally asked with concern in her voice. Evangeline begins to cry, Jack grabs her and put her in bed with them. "Evangeline, did you had a nightmare?"

"Yes," she cries in Sally's chest. "It was scary."

"What happened in your dream?" Jack asked.

"You and mommy disappear and never came back!"

"Oh Evangeline, we will never leave you," Sally said and motherly stroke her hair.

"Really?" Evangeline whimpers.

"Yes Evangeline, we love you and we're not going anywhere," Jack said and kisses her head.

After a few hours of comforting their daughter; the Skellington family fell asleep in the bed together peacefully.


Evangeline is standing in the living room while her mommy dust off her orange skirt and fixing her black tank top. Sally puts on a black headband with orange pumpkins in her hair.

"You done mommy?"

"Yes, you look so cute."

"You're pretty mommy."

"Thank you sweetie."

Sally gives her a kiss on the forehead, than Jack came in.

"There's my beautiful queen and princess."

"Daddy!" yelled Evangeline as reach her hands out making grabbing motions.

"Are we ready to greet our guests."

"Yes and dinner will be ready soon."

Evangeline plays with Jack till they hear a scream from the door. Jack gets up to answer the door with the pumpkin princess following.

"Welcome fellow Holiday Leaders!" Jack yelled.

"Hello Jack," said a Native American.

"Squanto, good to see and there's John."

"Hello Jack, nice party," said John Smith and Jack notice a little girl with blonde hair.

"Thanks, and who's this?"

"Jack this is Victoria, my daughter."

Squanto notice a little girl coming out from behind Jack. "Um Jack, who's that behind you?"

"This is my daughter Evangeline. Sweetie, this is Squanto and John, they're leader of Thanksgiving. And the little girl is John's daughter Victoria."

"Hi," Evangeline said with a smile on her face.

"Hi," said Victoria quietly and gives a small smirk.

"Please make yourself at home."

Evangeline watch as Victoria clings to her daddy, she must be shy. Evangeline used to be shy like her mommy, but she got over it.

"Patrick, Sheila, how are you?" Jack shake a small red head wearing a green suit man's hand.

"We're doing great Jack," Patrick said in a thick Iris accent.

"Evangeline, I want you to meet Patrick, he's a leprechaun. He's also leader of St. Patrick's Day."

"Hi!" Evangeline said.

"Hello, you have a fine lass Jack. This is my son Seamus."

A boy smaller than Patrick appear in Jack's and Evangeline's view; he has red hair, freckles on his face, and a green suit.

"Hi," he said.

"Hello young man, please make yourself at home."

"Thank you Jack," said Sheila.

"Easter Bunny, welcome," said Jack shaking hands with a big pink bunny.

The bunny made a few squeaks and wiggle it's nose. Evangeline don't understand what's going on.

"This is my daughter, Evangeline. Honey this is the Easter Bunny, he's leader of Easter."

"Hello," Evangeline said sweetly and watch as he hop away.

Evangeline greets the Independence Day and Valentines leaders and their families. Than a big man with a long white beard and a red suit came in.

"Hello Jack," said Santa.

"Sandy, it's good to see you. Hello Mrs. Claws."

"Hello Jack, it feels like it's been years," said Mrs. Clause than she see's Evangeline. "Who's this young lady?'

"This is Evangeline, my daughter."

"Hello," said Evangeline.

"You're cute," said Mrs. Clause.

"Thank you."

"These are our children," said Santa as two boys and a girl came in.

"I'm Christopher," said the tallest boy.

"I'm Hope," said the girl.

"I'm Daniel," said the youngest boy.

Evangeline may be five, but she could tell that Daniel is different like her. He has black short hair, dark brown eyes, and he's pale. Daniel stares at the girl in front of him; she's long red hair, snow white skin with black stitches, and her hands are bones.

"Hi," Evangeline said in a small sweet voice.

"Hi," Daniel said in a quiet voice.

The night continues, they ate and talk about their families and holidays. The kids were playing a game except for Evangeline; she sneak away. Evangeline walk through the halls of her home, trying to find something to do. Then she hears a familiar bark.

"Zero!"

Zero barks and floats to her. Evangeline pats his head than she sits down and Zero lies on her lap.

"It's so boring in there Zero. None of the kids like me. Do you thinks its cause I'm different?"

Zero gives a small whimper and rubs his head against her chest. Evangeline didn't want to cry, because she didn't want her parents to know.

"What are you doing?" said a voice.

Evangeline looks up and sees Daniel standing there with his hands in his pockets.

"Nothing," said Evangeline.

"What's that in your lap?"

"Our ghost dog Zero."

"Really?" Daniel said with excitement in his voice. "Can I pet him?"

"Zero, is it ok if Daniel pets you?" Zero gives a happy bark. "Go ahead."

Daniel hesitated to pet him till Zero puts his head under Daniel's hand. Evangeline watch as a smile form on Daniel's face.

"Wow, it feels like I'm petting a cloud. You're lucky to have a dog."

"You don't have one?"

"No, my older brother sneezes a lot when he's around dogs."

"Too bad you don't have a ghost dog, cause your brother can't sneeze."

"Yeah, but my parents say no."

"I'm sorry."

"It's ok, so does Zero do any tricks?"

"Uh hu, me and daddy plays fetch with Zero."

"Cool, it's so boring where the groups and other kids are at."

"I know that's why I escaped."

"Me too, so do you have anything to do for fun?"

"I got a book of scary stories in my room."

"Cool, let's go." Daniel starts to walk away, but came back to Evangeline. "Where's your room?"

Evangeline giggles than grabs his hand, "Come on."

Everybody thanked Jack and Sally for dinner than left except for Santa Clause and his family minus one.

"Where is he?" asked Mrs. Clause.

"I don't know," said Christopher.

"You were suppose to watch him," said Santa than he notice Jack and Sally standing there. "Sorry Jack, but we can't find Daniel."

"It's alright Sandy, I'm sure he's around here somewhere," said Jack.

"Jack, I can't find Evangeline," said Sally.

"Daniel is going to in so much trouble," said Hope.

"Hope," Mrs. Clause gives her a warning.

"Maybe they're upstairs," suggested Sally.

"Excellent idea Sally," said Jack. "Follow me everybody."

Santa told his wife and two children to stay there than he follows Jack with Sally by his side, than the Skellington parents notice something. Evangeline's bedroom door is a crack open, when she's not or in her room; the door is usually close. Jack carefully opens the door wider to reveal Evangeline and Daniel asleep in the bed. Evangeline has her head resting on Daniel's shoulder; they have a book open in their laps. Sally carefully removes the book, while the others carefully whispers.

"It seems they bonded," said Sally.

"Yes, I've never seen Daniel acted like this before," said Santa. "Well I better get going."

"Sandy, do you think you can wake up Daniel so he can say bye to Evangeline?"

"Of course," said Santa. "Daniel, wake up son it's time to get up."

"Mhhmmm," said Daniel as he wakes up still with sleep in his eyes. "Why dad?"

"Because we have to go home."

"But daddy can't Daniel stay for a few minutes?" asked Evangeline waking up.

"Sorry sweetie, it's late," said Jack as he notice the children's faces went sad.

"Sandy, maybe Daniel and Evangeline can have a play day," said Sally.

"Can I dad?" asked Daniel.

"Alright son, but now we need to go home."

"Ok," said Daniel as he got off Evangeline's bed. "Bye Evangeline."

"Bye Daniel."

They watch as the Clause family leave than went to bed.

"You did good Jack," said Sally.

"That's what a father does."

"And you had your doubts."