"Huh... what's that??" Shock took off her purple witch hat and swept her

long black hair behind her as she questioned Lock

"Oh... Nevermind... I was just wondering about next Christmas... now that

Jack is dead again and in second death world, I don't know what to do."

"Oh, Lock, I feel so bad for you. Having Jack crown you Pumpkin King the

night before Halloween must be dreadful! All of the pressure is on you to do

a good job, or else you might be murdered like Jack was."

"Shock, for one, we don't know that Jack was murdered... maybe he just was

walking along when he slipped and fell off the cliff, and for two, you

aren't making me feel any better!"

"Sorry, Lock! But I just wanted you to know that I am beside you all the

way through this?"

"Thanks Shock." Lock stood up, grabbing the scattered notecards on which he

had written his coronation speech, squeezed Shock in a quick hug, and raced

out the door, Zero at his heels.

"Oh Zero! I know that you will always

follow me everywhere, but do you have to yip like that? It is so obnoxious!"

"Woof!" Zero said, in his doggie way of saying sorry.

"Oh Zero, you know it's ok." Lock sighed as he patted the ghost dog on his

lit-up red nose, remembering when Jack had used the nose to light his way

the first time Halloween Town had tried out Christmas. It was a foggy day,

thanks to Sally, and "No!" Lock snapped himself back to reality, trying to

concentrate on the dirt road upon which he was treading. "I have to

concentrate." he told himself. "No time to cry over Jack or Sally." Upon

reaching the town hall, Lock took a deep breath and convinced himself that

it would be okay. Placing his crown of spider legs and thorns on his head,

he pushed open the huge doors to the hall with a bang. A few people gave

scattered applause, but mostly Lock heard sniffling and weeping. He saw the

white flash of Kleenex from almost every row. Bravely, he strode to the

podium.

"Hackew!" Lock stuttered. 'Oh great, he thought, now they think I am a

complete fool!' He glanced over the audience, looking for a familiar face.

The audience members blurred through his tears, silent, still waiting for

him to start his speech. Quickly blinking the hot tears away, he caught a

glimpse of Shock, who smiled through her tears and gave him a thumbs up.

Concentrating on her, he once again picked up his notes. "Greetings, fellow citizens of Halloween Town! I know this is a very sad day for you, me and

all of the people who knew and loved Jack, either as the King of Halloween,

Jack-O-Lantern, Bringer of Christmas, or Pumpkin King."

"Former Pumpkin King!" an audience member exclaimed. Lock couldn't tell

from which direction the voice was coming from, but he could tell from the

murmurs of the audience that his speech wasn't going well so far. A few of

the audience members stood up, shaking their fists in protest. The audience

started to chant. At first the words were unclear and jumbled, but soon they

were easily distinguishable. "Get off the stage before we come at you in a rage. You can't replace the Pumpkin King, no matter how well you can sing!"

They repeated this over and over again until Lock's head felt like it would

explode. Slowly, he dropped his notecards and slunk off the stage, glancing

at the quickly blurring audience long enough to see Shock quietly stand up

and rush out of the room. Lock knew it was over. He wasn't good enough to

even be a Pumpkin King, let alone replace the best one of them all. He had

failed the town, the Mayor, Shock, Jack, but mostly he had failed himself.

~*~

Disclaimer: I don't own anyone, except for Jack's death and Lock's (ASGT: failure of a) speech.

Some other people own all of the other stuff... for all of you who care, i

haven?t decided if Lock and Shock are married, dating or 'just friends' (ASGT:FRIENDS DAMNIT! FRIENDS!)

Barrel will probably show up in some other chapters, but he didn't really

work out in this scene! Thanks 2 Shea my editor and advisor!!!! (more

advisor, she can't spell) (ASGT: What are you talking about Katie?)

R/R!!! PLEASE!!! **goes and gets some please with sugar on top and gives it

to you**