Author's Note: It's been a while since I added anything to this story. I don't know how much more I'm going to put up here. I can think of at least two more things, but I don't know. I rewrote chapters 2, 3, and 4 recently and I may rewrite chapters 5 and 6 while I'm at it. The last few chapters of this story was not meant to be taken seriously. It's supposed to be about the love-hate relationship with cell phones. In this chapter, however, I decided to take a break from the light-hearted story and put in something a little more dramatic. This is serious compared the other chapters. It is about something that personally annoys me, that being people who talk on their cell while driving. And instead of paying attention to the road, they are more worried about their phone conversation. Several times accidents almost occured that way, so it's something I felt needed to be mentioned.
On with the story!
It was late afternoon and the sun sat at its highest peak during that month, making it the least favorite of most of the inhabitants of the town. It was considered the most unlucky day of the year, for it was the day that the most calamities occurred. The name of this dreaded day was Summer Solstice.
Already that morning they had the worst luck, including three victims and two counts of destruction. First the gooman's feet became stuck to the stones at town square. Later one of the vampires nearly passed out because a few rays of sunlight seeped through his coat and scorched his arm. four of the thirteen structures that had been cracking during the Summer months finally broke and came tumbling down to the creatures below. The pillars were holding up the gigantic couldron that was part of the town's plan to make the largest fog brew that was intended to cover the entire Earth on Halloween. It was Sally's idea that she proposed to Jack just weeks before the planning began. When reminding him how well it worked on Christmas Eve, despite that Zero was able to pull through at the last minute, Jack encouraged her to come forth at the meeting and tell them her idea. The townspeople fell in love with it and agreed to give it a shot.
Everything worked out well so far, but the humidity of the day caused the supports to cave in. Everyone ran out of the way of the boulders intending to smash their bones. Jack ordered for the witches to cast their best spells to counter the tumbling stones. Their spells caught the rocks just in time melting them to the rest of the structure. Jack held his skull wondering how all of those columns were going to be replaced on such short notice. The Mayor cried that at the rate they were going they would never finish the plans in time for Halloween. Even Jack had to admit that the destruction of the pillars would put them back at least a week.
After that accident Jack called an assembly with the Mayor and the four project coordinators. The meeting lasted nearly two hours with each creature arguing over whose idea was best. Mayor found out a counter to everything brought up.
"Why not have the witches use a spell to raise the columns?" Werewolf asked.
"Because if they use up all their energy now there won't be any left for Halloween!" Mayor cried.
"But Halloween's not for another few months," argued the head vampire.
"But this is the worst of all days to cast spells," the smallest witch retorted.
"Yes, on this day we wouldn't dare try magic," the taller witch added. "The spell may cause worse damage to what's left."
"How about putting it off 'til a cooler day," the demon spoke.
"Yes, one less sunny too," the vampire added trying to expand the parasol before the rays scorched him to ashes.
"But then we'll get so far behind," Mayor whined.
"It's just one day," the demon retorted.
"But that's a total of twenty-four hours wasted," Mayor argued.
"But we never work a full twenty-four," the witch pointed out.
"Yes, but maybe we should," Mayor suggested.
Everyone in the council turned and glared at the Mayor. He pulled the brim of his hat down over his eyes and muttered a rejection to his own idea.
Jack had already tuned their arguments out five minutes prior when he realized that no matter what idea the group suggested it would ultimatley be opposed. He sat down on the fountain with one long leg crossed over the other. He pulled the phone out of his pocket and began to play with the flap. He opened it then let it close, then opened it again, then shut. He repeated the pattern for a good two minutes, listening for the light creak while it opened then the thud when the two edges met. His face brightened everytime his eye sockets caught the glimpse of his spooky mansion that he set as the background on his phone. He suddenly wondered what Sally chose as her background. Jack shook his head, it didn't matter at the time, it was probably something simple that made her smile.
"What do you think Jack?" the Mayor's voice asked.
Jack closed his phone and glanced up at the five faces staring at him. He guessed, by the smiling face on the Mayor, that they reached some plausible outcome.
"I'm sorry, what?" Jack asked as he put the phone back inside his pocket.
"What do you think about the idea?" Werewolf asked.
"I'm sorry, I wasn't listening," Jack replied. The Mayor's nervous face spun around. "Could you please repeat it."
"This is a catastrophe!" Mayor cried with his hands on his face. "We can't do anything without Jack's approval!"
The other four groaned and walked away, leaving Jack to fend for himself.
"Wait! You can't go, we're in the middle of a meeting," Mayor cried.
"Call us when we have a plan," the Demon called.
Once Jack was able to calm the Mayor down to the point to explain the new plans again, he agreed to go through with it. At that point his own personal opinion mattered little to him, he merely complied to keep the Mayor quiet.
The Mayor announced the new plans to the group on his megaphone the second Jack gave his say-so. Two of the teams set off to rebuild the pillars. It was the Mayor's idea that everyone pitch in, against the will of the other members of the group. Jack negated the Mayor's idea, saying it was better to wait until a cooler month to continue. They decided to compromise putting only two teams towards reconstruction and having everyone else continue with the other plans. Mayor was not one to argue with the king.
While they were in the middle of construction, a boulder slipped fromt the corpse's hands dropped and smashed into the lantern post. The glass shattered and the pole fell to the ground. The flames began to lap at everything it came in contact with, which included the plans for that year's Halloween that the Mayor accidentally dropped when he heard the noise.
Jack was the first to notice the fire's intent for destroying the blueprints. He ordered for those nearby to attatch the hose to the fountain and put out the fire before it spread to the nearby buildings. The Mayor realized the folded sheets of paper were missing from his pocket. He glanced around and shrieked when he saw the flames slowly incinerating them to ash. He jumped through the smoke to retrieve the plans.
"Mayor, what are you doing?" Jack yelled.
"I have to...for Halloween!" Mayor cried as he grasped the plans.
"Mayor, it's not worth it. We know what our plans are!" Jack shouted. "And we can come up with new ideas!"
He handed them to Jack who was currently yelling for him to get to safety. Jack snatched the charred papers and threw them aside on the nearby rocks. His other hand reached for Mayor's. Jack's long, bony fingers grasped Mayor's short, chubby ones. He pulled him away from the flames.
Several of the residents grabbed the nearby water hose and filled it with the water from the fountain. They sprayed until all the flames were put to rest. Even the most rational idea such as putting out a fire was doomed to fail on Summer Solstice. The water knocked over a thick plank of wood from the construction site.
Jack was in the process of retrieving the Mayor from the rubble. The beam fell and landed on the Mayor's left leg. He screamed, sending Jack tumbling backwards. Jack blinked as the Mayor bled from the wound. He stood up and ordered that all nearby hands to help him lift the block. In no time the Mayor was rescued from yet another disaster. He was picked up and carried over to the edge of the fountain. Unfortunately his favorite tall hat was destroyed by the flames.
"That does it, everyone," Jack called out on the Mayor's megaphone. "From now on we will never do any work on this day."
The people of the town cheered and yelled in agreement at their king's decision. Most of them knew it was Jack's intention for years to make that day a holiday, but the Mayor insisted that they never take a full day off except the day before and after Halloween. And on Christmas, which had recently been established an official holiday by the Halloweentown Board thirty years ago. Jack made a mental note to bring up Summer Solstice as a holiday at the next board meeting. Perhaps after the unfortunate injuries this year it would be a unanimous vote in favor.
Jack walked over to where a ghost dressed the Mayor's broken leg. Jack glanced away and sighed. He rose his face to watch the Mayor wince in pain with every movement of the bandage. The ghost smiled and assured their elected official that he would be healed in no time. All the creatures of Halloweentown mended within the span of fourty-eight hours. Jack listened as the ghost instructed that the Mayor take off the next two days, three to be safe. Mayor argued that he would be needed to make sure the operation went according to schedule.
Jack stepped up and said, "Mayor, I think it's best you do as he says."
The Mayor opened his mouth to speak but let the words go upon the stern look on Jack's face.
"Now, you're in no condition to drive, I'll take you home," Jack volunteered.
Mayor nodded. Jack and the ghost lifted Mayor onto Behemoth's back. The massive creature carried Mayor over to his hearse and gently placed him inside the passenger seat. Jack placed a firm pillow of slime under the Mayor's bandaged ankle and knee. The slime pillows were another of the Mayor's genious slime inventions over his sixty year reign in council. Jack took the driver's seat and buckled up.
The skeleton stared over at the car's owner. His face was on the pale, white side, but instead of his usual nervous frown that occupied that mood, he wore a sincere sorrowful one. He stared down at his folded hands.
"Look, Mayor, I'm sorry about what happened," Jack spoke as he began to drive away.
Mayor lifted his head to meet the sympathetic eyes of Jack. He looked away and nodded. "It's alright."
"I promise we'll keep on schedule," Jack spoke. "Don't worry."
"But I will worry."
"Worrying will only delay the healing process."
Mayor sighed.
"Two, three days from now you'll be surprised how quick we'll have this project moving," Jack said with a grin.
Mayor smiled.
The two rode in silence for another mile. It was only another three miles until they reached the Mayor's house at the end of the town. He lived at the town limits, but spent most of his hours down at town hall. There had been several times when Jack walked into the Mayor's office and found him passed out at his desk or on the floor. Jack was somewhat glad the Mayor was injured for it would give him time to recuperate his overstressed mind.
Jack's cellphone chimed. He picked up the phone with one hand while keeping the other one on the wheel. He flipped open the top to receive the caller's identity.
"Hello, Sally," Jack said as he put the phone up to his skull.
"Jack, what's going on?" Sally asked hysterically.
"What do you mean?" Jack asked.
"I saw the flames and the smoke from the window," Sally cried. "When I ran out everyone was shouting and running around. What's going on?"
"We just had a little accident," Jack replied.
"What accident?"
Jack slightly swerved as he answered her question. "We had a fire. And the Mayor was hurt."
"Jack, watch your driving!" Mayor cried.
Jack brought the car back under his control.
"Oh my gosh!" Sally shouted. "Is he okay?"
Jack glanced over at the man in question then returned his eyes to the road. "Yeah, he's fine. Just a broken leg."
"That's terrible," spoke Sally.
"It is," Jack replied as the wheel skidded as it began to run off the road.
"Jack!" Mayor hissed. "This is my car. Be careful!"
Jack nodded.
"What's going on?" Sally asked. "It sounded like the Mayor."
"It was, I'm driving him home," Jack answered.
"While you're on the phone!" Sally exclaimed. "Jack, you can get in an accident."
"Yeah, but you..."
"No, hang up right now! You can talk to me later."
"Jack," Mayor whined as the car darted into the other lane.
"I'm okay," Jack said.
"No, I don't want another accident today," Sally said forcefully.
"Jack. Jack! JACK!" Mayor cried.
Jack realized he was heading for a tree. He braked and brought the car back to its correct lane. Mayor grasped his bald head with his hands as he tried to catch his breath.
"Call you later," Jack said short of breath as he closed the phone.
Jack brought the vehicle to a halt. There was rarely any traffic in Halloweentown, for most citizens chose to walk unless it was an emergency. Jack looked over at the Mayor who had his hand over his chest.
"Mayor, are you...?" Jack began.
Mayor glared at the pumpkin king. "Jack, don't ever talk on that phone again while driving my car."
"Yes, I under..."
"I mean never!" Mayor snapped. He leaned his face forward into his hands and groaned.
Jack was taken back having never heard the Mayor take that tone before. He took a deep breath and continued his journey down the street.
There's this chapter. I know it was different from the others, but I felt this chapter fit with this story. The next one won't be so serious. I think there's only going to be 2 more chapters, 3 at the most, or many more if I come up with other ideas. I hope you enjoyed this one.
Remember, don't talk and drive!