adjustments to her arm.
"That can't be good for you, that your stitches just loosen like
that. I don't remember you having that problem so much in the
past.", Fishgal commented.
"Oh...", Sally said. "They don't come loose on their own.
It's just that the babies wrap their little fingers into them
when they're in my arms. It isn't really a problem. I just have
to tighten things back up every few days or so, that's all.
That and I've been keeping my wrists a little more loose
than I used to. I learned a useful trick. Sometimes if the
little ones won't sleep I can leave my hands with them and that's
all they need." She laughed. "It doesn't work everytime, but it
works enough to make it worthwhile trying!" The Fishgal just nodded.
She had been looking forward to her duties with the babies,
getting them ready to sleep and putting them down for the night.
She had not really considered that they might not fall asleep.
Everytime she saw them they seemed sleepy.
"I can't take my hands off.", Fishgal said. Sally
looked up from her needle.
"That's all right. It's just something I came up with
one night because we were both so exhausted." She laughed again.
Fishgal looked worried.
"What do I do if they don't sleep?", she asked.
"Just hold them. Sometimes it helps to walk with them.
You can sing to them, they like that. Sit with them in the
rocking chair. That's if they're not hungry or need to be
changed." Fishgal nodded, digesting the information. Nicky
stretched in her lap and whimpered. She looked at Sally
helplessly.
"He's getting a tooth in.", Sally said frowning. "We put
Mrs. Corpse in charge of helping him with that. Still, you're
the only one spending the night. If he wakes up with it
bothering him you'll need to put some oil on it and hold him."
Nicky's momentary release from discomfort was over. He was
gearing up to share his displeasure. The soft whimpers grew louder.
Fishgal gave him back to his mother as the full blown shrieks
began. It was deafening, decibles above what a mere human baby
is capable of emitting. Fishgal was shocked at the noise coming
from that tiny little face. Sally didn't seem phased, other than
typical motherly concern. She cradled him and placed her finger
into his mouth. She shouted over the din:
"I NEED TO GO BACK TO THE HOUSE WITH HIM. COME WITH ME,
I'LL SHOW YOU WHERE THEIR NIGHT CLOTHES ARE, ALL RIGHT?"
Fishgal just nodded again. She was thinking she should have
spent a little more time with the princes before offering her
assistance.
Jack had reviewed the basics with the Mayor.
Afterwards
both seemed considerably more rattled about the whole situation
than they had before.
Now Jack knelt beside the black marble tub explaining to the
witches the procedure for giving baths to squirming baby
skeletons. The didn't seem to grasp it as well as he had
hoped.
"You know Jack, there are some very simple
spells we could
do...", said the taller witch.
"Very very simple!", her smaller companion
interupted. The
first witch continued:
"We could make them clean and fresh as a new
grave in just
a moment's time!"
Jack blanched slightly, yet remained diplomatic.
"Err, no. We really like them to just...take
a bath. Just
a regular bath. It helps them fall asleep. It's their routine
you know. I think especially since it will be the first time
they'll be without us, routine is important. You understand."
The witches grumbled, but were not about to argue.
The bath lesson was interupted by the sound of the front
door opening and an ungodly wail. The witches jumped. Unlike
Fishgal, they had heard the sound of upset baby before. Once
when Jack was working with them, carrying one of his sons
(in that fabric thing that they were sure his wife made him
wear), the child had become irate at a random percieved
discomfort. The sound was indescribable. They had hoped
it
was a rare occurance, but now that same noise soared up the
twisting stairs to the bathroom. Jack looked up.
"Oh, Sally must be home with Nicholas.
Poor little thing,
he has a sore tooth. This one shouldn't be far behind.", he said
gesturing to little Jack. "Then I suppose they'll be
harmonizing!", he laughed. The witches didn't laugh. After
a
moment the shrieks subsided, replaced by softer, equally
miserable sounding whimpers.
Sally and Fishgal climbed to the second floor.
They passed
by the bathroom, and Jack could almost feel an icy breeze pass
between the witches and his wife. Sally's eye's met her
husband's for an instant, but she moved into the nursery with
Fishgal.
"I think this is fairly well in hand.
You seem to
be comfortable with your duties.", Jack said to the witches.
He
was eager to move along with this. The old women agreed and
stood to leave.
"Don't you worry about a thing Jack!
Your little princes
will be in the best hands. Why, I'm certain they've never had
such capable care!", the taller witch said. Jack smiled
graciously. He heard a closet door slam in the nursery room.
The sound of an unhappy rag doll. He thanked the witches again
and hoped he didn't appear to be rushing them out. They didn't
appear to be bothered. They cackled happily and assured Jack
again of their excitement and competance before hovering
downstairs to let themselves out. Jack watched them leave and
breathed a sigh. There were still other townsfolk to speak with
and instruct, but first he wanted to go and check in on his
queen. He scooped up little Jack and peeked round the corner
of
the nursery room door. Nicky sat on a patchwork quilt spread
upon the thick black carpet. He chewed on a toy. Zero
fluttered into the room. He circled about the ceiling, his nose
illuminating the stenciled bats, pumpkins, and stars that
embellished the nursery walls. Sally sorted through bureau
drawers organizing tiny pajamas and playclothes.
"I'll have everything together and in one
place for
you, for everyone...", she said to Fishgal. "It won't be hard
don't worry." Her soft voice sounded tired, or something
else. Fishgal got up.
"It will be fine. No worries.
I shall excuse myself and
let you two talk. I'm sure you have things to discuss."
She
smiled at Jack, then paused by the twins and patted them. Jack
Jr. gurgled amiably. Nicky scrunched his face and scuttled away
from her touch.
"What's with him? His tooth must be
awfully painful, he's
normally very social.", Jack chuckled. He knelt by his sons.
Fishgal gave a small wave and left the family alone.
Sally sat down in the rocking chair by the window. Outside
dusk was settling. The sky had become faint lavender and the
first stars were appearing over the hills. Sally bit her lower
lip and turned to face Jack again.
"Your thoughts angel?", he asked. Sally
pursed her lips
then spoke.
"I just don't like them...the witches."
"I know.", Jack said.
He walked on his knees to the chair
and rested his skull on Sally's knee. "I know you don't like
them, but they are very very reliable."
"Did you hear that? She said that the
babies have never
had such capable care! You know what she meant by that don't
you? That they think I don't take as good care of the babies
as
they could!" Sally scowled. "...And they 'liiike' you too!
...always have.", she added. She narrowed her wide eyes.
"You
know what I mean." Jack made a face of mock surprise and Sally
couldn't help but laugh. She slid out of the rocking chair and
into Jack's arms.
"I know they wouldn't dare let anything happen
to Jack or
Nicholas. I just don't like them. That's all."
Jack laughed. He and and his wife moved away from the chair and
sat with their sons.
"They are our sons Sally.", Jack said quietly.
"Every bit yours
and mine. Not a single soul could doubt that, no matter what."
Sally smiled but said,
"Sometimes I feel like some of the town considers
the
children yours alone and not mine. That hurts me." Jack
put his arm about her.
"I'm certainly not the one who was carrying
them
around all those long months before they were ready to greet the
day.", he said. Sally smiled again, recalling with no small
amount of satisfaction the looks she had gotten from the local women
when Jack
announced thier big news to the town.
Jack embraced his wife. He nuzzled her hair, which always
smelled like lilies and vanilla. Sally raised her head and their
noses pressed together. They began kissing when Zero snuffled
in
between them. The glow of his nose reflected off Jack's skull
and Sally squinted. She playfully scratched Zero's ghost puppy
head.
"Zero will keep an eye socket on everything
here, won't u
boy?", said Jack. Sally smiled and lay back on the floor between
her children. She studied Jack's face.
"How did everything go today Jack? Did
the Mayor seem
comfortable with his responsibility? He will be able to oversee
the babies while we are away?"
Jack looked thoughtful. He hesitated for a moment before
answering.
"I think it will be fine. The Mayor,
well, you know how he
is."
Sally stretched but kept her gaze on Jack.
"What about Fishgal?", he asked. "She
is alright with them
for the overnights? No worries?"
"I don't believe so. She seems a bit
nervous, but that's
to be expected. I think we were more nervous our first few
weeks with them."
Jack laughed.
"Yes. Who would think such little creatures
could
frighten the great pumpkin king? They surely did though."
Sally said nothing, she didn't have to. She could express quite
a bit without a word.
A long way from Halloweentown, in a world equally
unknown to
the living, a gaunt ghostly gentleman stood holding a letter.
The envelope was of thick paper and sealed with black wax. The
wax bore a crest.
"It's the Royal Seal of Halloweentown!," exclaimed
the
gentleman. Around him gathered a group of ghosts and ghouls,
they floated above one another and pushed for a better view of
the missive. A correspondence from Halloweentown! From
The
King!!! The gentlemen opened the letter nervously and read it
to
himself while those around his shoulders became increasingly
agitated in pursuit of a glimpse. After a moment, the gentlemen
looked up and announced:
"The King of Halloween, Jack Skellington, is coming here!
He is coming to the Bermuda triangle for a vacation! What's
more, he will be accompanied by his Queen!" There was a
collective gasp. No one from Halloweentown had been to the
Bermuda Triangle in years. Word had been that the young king
had
been somewhat of a loner until his marriage. The beings who
inhabited the triangle had not laid eyes on Jack since he was a
very little skelleton indeed. There was so much preparation to
be done in anticipation of the royal couple. The spirits got
to
work accompanied by rhythmic sounds from a misty sea.
