CHAPTER 16

The Birthday Party

Jack and Tim walked out from the standing crowd, one behind the other, onto the stage. The lights were dimmed. A spotlight shone on the pair as they made their way. The audience gave a respectful applause.

"Jack," whispered Sydney to the skeleton beside her. He had to stoop down to hear her, "Is that you?" She pointed to one of the Skellingtons on stage.

"No, that's my brother Tim," he gave her finger a tiny push toward the person next to Tim, "That's me."

"Whoa, you to should have done gum commercials."

"Huh?"

"You and Tim are TWINS! Or, were twins…anyways, you both looked perfect for a camera! You were tall, young, and resembled Johnny Depp! You were just gorgeous!-" Sydney slapped her hands over her over her mouth. Her checks were becoming rosy red.

Oh…my…god! Did I just tell bone man he was gorgeous! I mean, he was, but I didn't have to say it!

Jack gave her a side-mouth smile and winked at her, "No getting anything past you, huh?"

On stage, Jack and Tim stood in the spotlight, waving and smiling to their audience. You couldn't tell them apart, except for their personality. Even their attire looked identical. The man on the right had a genuine smile and loved the attention. The other man's smile was fake and, if you got close enough, he looked like he was trying to hide the fact that he was uncomfortable being displayed.

The mayor spoke to them, "Would you boys like to give a few words before your Birthday song?"

"Of course!" the Skellington on the right replied almost immediately. He dashed to center stage, where he gave a speech in his projected voice, "I'd just like to say, thank you all for coming! Thank you uncle for throwing this very generous party. Thank you friends for attending!" the Skellington's voice became softer as he held out his hand to a woman in the crowd, "And thank you, Gracie, for making me the happiest man in Sleepy Hallow," he flashed her a dazzling white smile that reflected a sparkle under the spotlight. All the ladies in the crowd were struck in awe.

The skeleton Jack that stood next to Sydney started to choke on a laugh, "Ha! What a load of-!"

"Jack!" exclaimed Sydney, "That was so sweet! How can you mock your own brother at a romantic moment like this?" Jack paused for a second, reflecting on her words, then started to laugh even harder, "You're a sick man, Skellington," Sydney muttered under her breath.

A woman in the audience jumped up and down, excitedly waving her arms in the air to be seen by the man, despite how dark it was. It was Gracie, "I LOVE YOU, JACK!" the man on center stage gave her a side mouthed smile and winked.

Sydney looked from the Jack on stage to the Jack beside her. He held his head down while shaking it, ashamed of what his living past had just done.

"Wait a minute," Sydney started, "Did you just…and you're on…you laughed…wait!"

"Sydney, before you give yourself more brain damage, why don't you go on stage for a better understanding?"

"Ummmmm…I guess if it helps," Sydney took a few steps foreword, and then stopped. She looked behind her to see Jack still rooted to his spot, "Aren't you coming?"

"I think I'll just wait for you. I'm feeling a little lazy."

"Alright, I wont be long."

Sydney made it through the crowd of people dressed like fancy monsters and onto the stage just as living Jack finished the rest of his speech. He bowed for his pleased audience, and then walked back to stand next to his brother.

The mayor projected his voice for the crowd to hear, "Tim, would you like to give a few words as well?"

Tim stayed in his spot. His face was hesitant as he considered his response, but finally, he spoke, "…thanks."

"Ha, ha, ha!" the mayor laughed playfully, and a little showy for the crowd, "A man of few words. Lets give these boys a song now, shall we?"

The mayor snapped his fingers in the direction of the musicians. They realized that this was their cue. The lead musician counted off, "A one, and a two, and a…" the band strung out an old fashioned Happy Birthday tune, leaving the residents to sing the lyrics.

During the song, Tim leaned into Jack sideways preparing to whisper, but trying to seem nonchalant. Sydney stepped up behind Jack and Tim. Not that she was hiding, there was no propose for that. She wanted to get in depth with their secret conversation without being "inside" one of the Skellingtons. The whole "hey I can be inside of you without taking off my pants, opening your mouth, or using a knife" thing made her skin crawl. That was probably a bad example of how little Sydney liked the transparency thing, but its true. It may not phase people to read about this sort of thing or see it in movies, but if you ever really experience it, it's…it's…just not right! On tiptoes, Sydney leaned her head in close to the boys. She could barely hear their whispers over the music, but it was better than nothing.

"That was really something, Jack," Tim whispered, "What you said to Gracie was really…touching," he seemed almost reluctant to speak these words.

Jack whispered back, "Yeah…I'm dumping her."

"WHAT!" Sydney and Tim said shocked in unison. Tim almost broke his whisper.

"After that show you put on!" Sydney cried. She tried to whack Jack in the back of the head, but lost her balance as she fell through him onto the floor. She didn't feel a thing. Sydney scrambled back up to hear the rest of the discussion.

That must have been the "load" Jack was laughing about. Sydney thought. Men these days!

"But…but…" Tim was having trouble controlling his nerves he was so surprised,

"Gracie is the sweetest…most kind…most beautiful woman in all of Sleepy Hallow; if not the world!"

"I know," Jack whispered, "but she's just not right for me. She's…she's," it took Jack a moment to think of the right word, "conventional. I want someone unique, someone special, someone I can relate to better than Gracie."

"And who is this someone?"

"Well, she's-."

Jack was cutoff by the town's people's applause. They had finished their song and were clapping praise for the Skellington boys, as if that was the only thing they knew how to do.

The mayor carried his voice over all the commotion, "I have a very special birthday gift for you boys," he clapped his hands next to his head, "Oh, Ragsdales, this is the cue."

From backstage, two teenagers came out baring gifts. The girl was about 19, and the boy 18. Both their dress attire were solid black, and they both had sleek, raven colored hair. The girl's hair grew down to her slim hips. She had charcoal dust rubbed on her fingernails as well as her eyelids. She reminded Sydney of Lydia Deets from Beetlejuice.

What a cool chick.

Sydney's eyes began to drift from the gothic-chic girl, to the punky lookin' boy. His hair was thick and spiky.

He seems familiar. I can't place the face…or hair…or eyes…or anything. But I'm getting vibes from him that are telling me that we've crossed paths before. But how could that be? This is from over a hundred years ago. Sydney shook her head as a shocking thought crossed her mind. Wait a minute! That woman that Jack nearly ran over in Thanksgiving Town, is she over a hundred years old too? How many crusty oldies do we have strollin' around in these holiday worlds? And…is she here?

Sydney began turning her head in all directions, trying to find the mysterious, blonde, pilgrim woman. However, her search was interrupted when the Ragsdale kids walked directly through her to get to the Skellingtons. As each one of them passed through, her body rippled, and made a strange strumming sound only she and skeleton Jack could hear.

"Whoa, I don't think I'll ever get used to this whole transparent thing," Sydney groaned to herself.

She turned her attention back to the Ragsdale kids. The older girl walked ahead of her brother to give her gift to Jack. As if guided by her heart, she knew which of the two Jack was.

"Happy Birthday Jack-I mean, Mr. Skellington," the girl spoke in a soft voice. Her cheeks were blushing bright on her fair skin, and her expression was unusually happy.

"Thank you," Jack replied while receiving his gift, "…um…what was it again? Halley?"

This question made the Ragsdale boy and Tim freeze in their process of passing on the Birthday gift. Both their heads were turned attentively to Jack.

The Ragsdale boy tightened his jaw, and glared hard at Jack. His thoughts ran in a flurry of furious past images. That stupid, spoiled brat! He gets everything he wants, and doesn't even give the kindness to remember my sister's name! He wouldn't even know who she was if she wasn't always making gifts for him! And for god's sake, the population of this town is a little over 30! Get it together Jack-ass!

"Sally," answered the Ragsdale girl, only slightly phased by Jack's comment.

"Oh, yes, Sally," Jack chuckled to himself, "It's kind of funny actually. You're the only one in town that can tell Tim and myself apart, and I can't even remember your name! Ha, ha! Isn't that humorous?"

The hands of the Ragsdale boy started to slightly shake while holding the gift out to Tim. Oh, Jack, I'll be laughing too…when I have your fat head on a pike in my backyard! Now, wouldn't that be humorous? HA, HA, HA!

Sally's smile wavered. She forced a giggle and said, "Yeah, I guess that is a little funny. Uh…here's your gift!" she held out the package to Jack. He took it and said thank you once more.

Tim just frowned, and slightly shook his head. He was used to the typical, insensitive Jack treating those that were less important…well, like they were less important. On the other hand, the Ragsdale boy didn't like this at all. His teeth were grinding, hands shaking, eyes glaring with a burning hatred. He released the present in Tim's hands, and took a step towards Jack.

"Diego!" Tim said under his breath. His hand shot out to Diego's arm, and held him there, "It's not worth it!"

Diego shot back at him, under his breath as well, "Have you not seen the way he's been treating her for all these years! I'm gonna show you just how much this is worth!"

Diego broke from Tim's grip. With his top lip curled in hate, he took three stomping steps in Jack's direction. Diego was a few inches shorter than Jack, but his masculine bulk could beat down the skinny man to a bloody pulp; which were Diego's exact intentions.

Diego came within six inches of Jack. Both Jack and Sally turned to him, surprised by Diego sudden presence. Diego raised his finger to Jack's face, and said in a husky, furious tone, "You! If you only knew just how much Sally-!"

Out of nowhere, the Mayor caught Sally and Diego from behind, and started pushing them backstage, "Thank you both. That'll be enough for tonight!"

With a final thrust from the Mayor, Sally and Diego stumbled backstage. They landed on the ground, sliding a few feet before stopping.

"What?" said skeleton Jack in the audience. He had just seen Sally and Diego shoved back stage, "I don't remember seeing this."

Jack made his way through the crowd by simply walking through the people. He made his way to the back stage.

"You kids alright?" the Mayor asked the Ragsdales.

"Ohhhh," Sally moaned, "I think I broke my-!"

"All right!" exclaimed the Mayor, obviously careless of Sally's condition. He went back to center stage where the timid Tim, and excited Jack waited to open their present, "What are you waiting for? Open the gifts! I personally had them made!"

"Yeah, open the gifts!" the crowd chanted.

"Let's get out of here," Diego said to his big sister back stage. He was a little calmer now.

"No, I want to see this," Sally replied.

Her eyes were glued to Jack as he gladly ripped open his present. Jack stuck his hand in the medium-sized box wrapped in black and orange paper, to pull out a beautifully constructed black tie. His face lit up at the wondrous gift he received, and thought, that under the right lighting, the tie resembled a tiny bat with large wings.

Tim's reaction to the gift wasn't exactly the same as Jack's. His gift was the same tie, but colored a deep, blood red. At first his face twisted to slight disgust, but then he remembered his manners and forced out, "Thanks uncle. It's really…really…something…"

"I LOVE IT!" Jack's sudden enthusiasm made nearly startled everyone, "I…LOVE IT…THANK YOU UNCLE!"

"He likes it, no, loves it!" cried Sally.

"What would ever give you that idea?" Diego asked, sarcastically.

"What? Why are you acting this way, Diego?"

"Well, why do you care about what Jack thinks?"

"I made the gifts and wrapping paper single-handedly, thank you very much. When the mayor asked me to make these gifts for Jack and Tim, I couldn't refuse!"

Skeleton Jack had just exited the crowd and approached Sally from behind. The three of them continued watching as the mayor instructed the musicians to strike up some dance music. In a synchronized pattern of an old movie musical, the crowd paired up and began waltzing around the room. Still on stage, living Jack and Tim exchanged a few urgent whispers. For the first time that night, if not ever, Jack looked like he was pleading as he whispered to Tim. However, the moment Gracie skipped up on stage, Jack shoved Tim away.

Diego suddenly gave a violent sneeze that drew Sally's attention away from the stage.

"Bless you," she said to him maternally. Sally always treated Diego like a son. Being the only two Ragdales left, somebody has to play the parent.

Sally turned her attention back to the stage…big…mistake. She watched in horror as Gracie left the stage and went onto the dance floor with Jack, not resisting and with a wide set grin on his face. The moment they took each other into their arms, and their bodies began to sway to the melody; the couple seemed to glide over the hard wood floor, waltzing to the smooth music. The two were talking, and laughing. Their time together seemed magical. Yes magical, like an enchantment upon living Jack and Gracie, and a curse upon Sally.

Skeleton Jack looked from the dancing couple before him, to the gothic girl with the sad eyes standing in front of him. Sally's back began to slightly lurch, and soft sobs escaped her breath.

"Sally…are you…are you crying?" Diego asked her. She tried to muffle her sobs, but she wouldn't speak, "Forget him, Sally! He's just a rich, spoiled brat! You're better off fancying Tim. At least he won't get a girl for you to envy."

Sally was silent for a moment, "I don't fancy anyone."

Jack started to get choked up.

"Sally, he doesn't care about you, so why should you care about him? And don't deny it. I know you love him. Everyone knows you love him; everyone, except for Jack."

Sally stared out to the dancing couple she envied so much. There was silence between her and Diego once again. With each second of silence that passed by, Diego's words sunk into her heart. They sunk in sharp and slow, like each individual word was a traitorous dagger penetrating her broken heart, and making it a bloody gore of emotional murder. She couldn't take it anymore. Sally threw her hands into her face and let out a wailing cry, however, the music and laughter was so loud, that only Diego and skeleton Jack could hear her. The tears from years of holding back flowed through the cracks of her fingers. Sally had broke.

"Sally…please don't cry…" skeleton Jack begged her.

Skeleton Jack had completely forgotten he was ghost-like. He came around to stand in front of Sally, and then bent down to embrace her. It was like hugging nothing. But Jack just stood there hugging himself, pretending to hold Sally. It was the best he could do for now.

"How could I have been so blind? You deserved to love someone better than me then, and you deserve to love someone better than me, now. I had taken you for granted in life, and even in death," impossibly, tears began to trickle from Jack's eye sockets, "I miss you…"

Under Sally's sobs, she whispered to herself, coincidentally in Jack's imaginary ear, "I love you Jack,"

Jack clenched his fists, "I love you too, Sally."

Jack slowly leaned into Sally, enclosing on her lips, but Diego came and put an emotional arm around his sister, "Come on, let's go home," Sally just slightly nodded, nearly oblivious to his remake. Diego walked Sally through Jack and out toward the crowd. The two turned away, leaving Jack still hugging himself in that same spot.

Oh god, I've got to get her back. Jack's thoughts were panicked. Oh god, I'VE GOT TO GET HER BACK! I let her down before, and it wont happen again! Even if that means I have to kill that Oogie Bastard 100 times mor-!

A gentle tap on skeleton Jack's shoulder interrupted his thoughts. Being startled by this, Jack spun around sharply to face Sydney. This fast motion startled her as well. She had caught Jack completely off guard, and could have sworn that his paper white cheeks bones were starting to blush. Jack was embarrassed.

"Wha…what do you wan…how m-m-much did you…" he spoke shyly through his apparent crying.

"I saw it all, Jack," the empathic Sydney spoke to him. This may have been the first time she ever spoke to him so friendly, and like she cared. She opened Jack's arms and placed herself in his hug, "I'm sorry," Sydney's loving support filled Jack with warmth that made him cry harder, "It's okay though. Even the King of Fright can cry. I understand now why you fainted. It is horrible to see the love of your after-life broken hearted."

"How would you know?" Jack said, annoyed that she didn't have any experience in this situation to actually feel the same way he did.

Sydney's comforting tone hadn't changed, "Because I'm looking at you."

Shizsit! That came out wrong! Sydney's thoughts screamed.

"Jack, what I meant was-!"

He quickly placed a finger on her lips. Jack's thoughts were so focused on 'I understand now why you fainted'; that everything else she said he'd forgotten. Jack stopped crying, and wiped away his tears.

His voice suddenly became urgent, "Sydney, you don't understand," he grabbed her by the shoulders and brought his face down to her level, "I saw people change! I saw sick mutations! Things that I never remembered until I saw this sick nightmare! I…I…" Jack was losing his voice, caught up in the critical matter, "I…I…I SAW SALLY DIE! I saw several people DIE!"