Jack Skellington awoke to a slimy, ghost dog tongue licking his skull.
"Alright, alright Zero, I'm up."
He blinked his eye sockets a few times before kicking off his covers and throwing his nightcap on the floor. A small moan escaped from his boney depths as he shuffled out of bed and brushed back the spindery cloth that draped his window. He took a glance around, noting the morning hubbub of Halloween Town. "Humm," he sighed and smirked. He lifted a lengthy arm to casually rub the back of his head as he rounded and headed for his closet.
Buttoning up a pinstriped petticoat, he waltzed over to his full length mirror; it barely reached his shoulders, so he had to hunch over to see himself. He narrowed his eyes to gaze at himself, adjusting his bat tie and tugging at the collar of his fashionable suit. He looked himself up and down and suavely said, "Eh". Upon exiting, he called for Zero who floated over happily and so, he drowsily made his way down the spiral stair case that lead to the rest of his humble abode.
Jack slumped down each step and wandered into his living room. He looked gloomily into his kitchen, only to take in the seemingly billions of abandon spider webs swaying with the draft. He had never actually used his kitchen for when one is dead, one does not need to eat. However, he was neither dead, nor alive… the whole matter was too confusing to think about in the morning anyway. Jack pushed the thought from his mind.
"GAA!" he yelped at the high pitched screech of the doorbell and shook his head at himself for being so jumpy; he was after all The Pumpkin King for God's sake. He headed towards the door.
"What a surprise", he sighed though gritted teeth as he creaked open the door. "Why, hello Mayor", he said enthusiastically. At least he hoped it sounded enthusiastic. "How can I help you this fine morning"? He gazed down upon a stout little monster with an interchangeable head.
"Well, now that you mention it, I came to further discuss next year's plans for Halloween," he said gleefully shoving about thirty rolls of parchment into Jack's unwilling arms.
"Mayor, we just went over them in the Town Hall a couple of days ago, remember?" Jack stated, his fake smile fizzling down into a notable frown.
"Rrrr, yes but…"
The Mayor continued to ramble and he was trying to seem interested in what was being said, but it was really no use. Jack looked up and a flash of red hair caught his eye. His heart warmed up at the sight of her and a crooked smile stretched far across his face. Sally was leaning against his fence with her back against the railing. She had noticed the jabber coming from Jack's doorsteps and turned around. Small fingers clenched themselves around the iron bars and she beckoned him over with her shining eyes.
"Jack? .... Jack? Ja-"
"Please excuse me Mayor. Shall we speak later? Great, sounds good", he said with a hint of laughter and a harsh pat on the Mayor's beefy back.
"But-"
"Pardon," said Jack as he pushed the Mayor aside to get by, quickly dumping the thirty rolls of parchment back into the Mayor's stubby fingers. Jack heard the clicks and clanks of the Mayor's head switching sides from behind. But he really didn't care at the moment because Sally was just ahead, waiting for him.
"Sally," Jack said soothingly. Sally loved it when he said her name. She hustled over to him and embraced his waist.
"Let's go for a walk," she implied and looked up into the eyes of her lover. Jack was grinning right back down at her and replied, "Brilliant idea." They headed into Town Square with their fingers laced as Jack led Sally towards the entrance of the forests.