Lock sat on the edge of Jack Jr.'s bed. Jack abandoned
the board game and hopped onto his bed, happy to socialize with someone more
interesting than his newly pre-cognitive twin.
Lock was an enigma, even among Halloweenfolk. He and his cohorts had for years, perhaps decades, existed in a state of frozen childhood. They kept to themselves for the most part, with the exception of their tumultuous employment by the late Oogie Boogie. Following his demise they began to take more of an interest in general Halloweentown activity, mainly for want of something to do. Still, most of the citizens gave the trio a wide berth.
These days Lock faced an intriguing dilemma. He had taken an interest in Jack Jr., as the boy was exceedingly bright, adventurous, and possessed a streak of mischief and disobediance. The pair developed a friendship under the concerned eye sockets of the Pumpkin King. Now however, Lock faced the reality that his newfound friend was growing quickly. It wouldn't be too terribly long before Lock would lose his position as the cool, older one. Jack would pass him, and who knows? In time, the prince might not even want to spend time with a child, even if that child did have the wisdom of years. Lock wondered if he should accept aging and possible mortality that came with it. He had the power to do it if he so chose, but there would be no going back. It had been Shock's idea first, as she considered the benefits of developing an adult female figure. Lock had thought she was crazy at first, but as he watched the twins grow, his mind began to turn. Barrel, well, Barrel could be easily convinced depending on the decision of his compatriots.
The twins and their guest were interrupted by the sound of Sally's footsteps on the stairs.
"Lock!", Jack Jr. whispered. He lifted the pathwork dust ruffle on his bed and Lock slipped underneath like mercury. Nicholas groaned. The queen entered her sons' room, her long skirt gliding over the hardwood floor.
"Is everything alright?", she asked brightly. Her twins nodded in unison.
"Good. Would you like something more to eat, or perhaps something to drink?"
Her quiery was met with a double head shake.
"Fine then. I'll be in my sewing room if you need anything. Please tell Lock that if he wants to visit you he needs to use the front door like everyone else. I suppose I should be the last one to discount windows and a method of exit, but even so… He needs to use the door."
Nicholas and Jack Jr. looked at their mother, dumbfounded. She continued in a slightly louder voice:
"You can stay for fifteen minutes Lock, then Jack and Nicholas need to start their studies."
Sally turned to leave. Nicholas piped up before she had closed the bedroom door behind her.
"Mama! How'd you know about Lock? Did you have a vision that he was coming over?"
Sally sighed, turning back to her son.
"In a manner of speaking Nicholas. I saw him climbing up the ivy trellis. Fifteen minutes."
She smiled and gave a small wave, then exited the room. Lock slid out from under the bed with a grin. He tail whipped dangerously.
"Your mom is such a milf Jr."
The boy looked at his friend quizzically.
"Huh?"
Lock shook his head with a sigh.
"Nevermind. Was she serious I can only stay for fifteen minutes?"
Jack jr. nodded.
"Yeah. Dad'll be home soon anyway. We'll have dinner then. You want to stay for dinner?"
Nicholas whined audibly. He didn't want to spend all evening with Lock. Lock cut his eyes at the boy for an instant, then shrugged.
"Nah. Sitting around, having dinner with your dad? That's no fun. I'll see you later." He sat on the window sill and prepared to descend.
"Ah! Use the door!", Nicholas scolded. Now both Jack jr. and Lock cut their eyes at him. Lock gave a final wave and disappeared downward.
"Ugh. I can't stand him.", Nicholas sniffed. "Do you want to play another game?"
Jack Jr. shook his head. He exhaled heavily and looked out the window. Lock was strolling away across the weathered hills, back in the direction of his treehouse. Jack Jr. wanted to be out there too. The world had been opened up to him so recently! Finally given the freedom to run around, play and explore the town and hillsides without being accompanied by his mother or father. Now just because Nicholas had some kind of headache followed by dementia, his brother was forced to stay inside. Jack Jr. looked up to Lock. The last thing he wanted was for Lock to think he was some kind of baby.
"Why don't you want to play another game?", Nicholas asked.
"Shut up, Nicky.", pouted Jack Jr., still gazing out the window.
Lock was an enigma, even among Halloweenfolk. He and his cohorts had for years, perhaps decades, existed in a state of frozen childhood. They kept to themselves for the most part, with the exception of their tumultuous employment by the late Oogie Boogie. Following his demise they began to take more of an interest in general Halloweentown activity, mainly for want of something to do. Still, most of the citizens gave the trio a wide berth.
These days Lock faced an intriguing dilemma. He had taken an interest in Jack Jr., as the boy was exceedingly bright, adventurous, and possessed a streak of mischief and disobediance. The pair developed a friendship under the concerned eye sockets of the Pumpkin King. Now however, Lock faced the reality that his newfound friend was growing quickly. It wouldn't be too terribly long before Lock would lose his position as the cool, older one. Jack would pass him, and who knows? In time, the prince might not even want to spend time with a child, even if that child did have the wisdom of years. Lock wondered if he should accept aging and possible mortality that came with it. He had the power to do it if he so chose, but there would be no going back. It had been Shock's idea first, as she considered the benefits of developing an adult female figure. Lock had thought she was crazy at first, but as he watched the twins grow, his mind began to turn. Barrel, well, Barrel could be easily convinced depending on the decision of his compatriots.
The twins and their guest were interrupted by the sound of Sally's footsteps on the stairs.
"Lock!", Jack Jr. whispered. He lifted the pathwork dust ruffle on his bed and Lock slipped underneath like mercury. Nicholas groaned. The queen entered her sons' room, her long skirt gliding over the hardwood floor.
"Is everything alright?", she asked brightly. Her twins nodded in unison.
"Good. Would you like something more to eat, or perhaps something to drink?"
Her quiery was met with a double head shake.
"Fine then. I'll be in my sewing room if you need anything. Please tell Lock that if he wants to visit you he needs to use the front door like everyone else. I suppose I should be the last one to discount windows and a method of exit, but even so… He needs to use the door."
Nicholas and Jack Jr. looked at their mother, dumbfounded. She continued in a slightly louder voice:
"You can stay for fifteen minutes Lock, then Jack and Nicholas need to start their studies."
Sally turned to leave. Nicholas piped up before she had closed the bedroom door behind her.
"Mama! How'd you know about Lock? Did you have a vision that he was coming over?"
Sally sighed, turning back to her son.
"In a manner of speaking Nicholas. I saw him climbing up the ivy trellis. Fifteen minutes."
She smiled and gave a small wave, then exited the room. Lock slid out from under the bed with a grin. He tail whipped dangerously.
"Your mom is such a milf Jr."
The boy looked at his friend quizzically.
"Huh?"
Lock shook his head with a sigh.
"Nevermind. Was she serious I can only stay for fifteen minutes?"
Jack jr. nodded.
"Yeah. Dad'll be home soon anyway. We'll have dinner then. You want to stay for dinner?"
Nicholas whined audibly. He didn't want to spend all evening with Lock. Lock cut his eyes at the boy for an instant, then shrugged.
"Nah. Sitting around, having dinner with your dad? That's no fun. I'll see you later." He sat on the window sill and prepared to descend.
"Ah! Use the door!", Nicholas scolded. Now both Jack jr. and Lock cut their eyes at him. Lock gave a final wave and disappeared downward.
"Ugh. I can't stand him.", Nicholas sniffed. "Do you want to play another game?"
Jack Jr. shook his head. He exhaled heavily and looked out the window. Lock was strolling away across the weathered hills, back in the direction of his treehouse. Jack Jr. wanted to be out there too. The world had been opened up to him so recently! Finally given the freedom to run around, play and explore the town and hillsides without being accompanied by his mother or father. Now just because Nicholas had some kind of headache followed by dementia, his brother was forced to stay inside. Jack Jr. looked up to Lock. The last thing he wanted was for Lock to think he was some kind of baby.
"Why don't you want to play another game?", Nicholas asked.
"Shut up, Nicky.", pouted Jack Jr., still gazing out the window.
