Okay, folks. Sorry it's so late, and so short. I've had a bit of a hard week, but I managed to get my ass in gear to write a chapter. Hope you enjoy!
Roll it, Louie!
The following day, Jack wandered around the town. He would need to see the mayor at ten o'clock, but that was still about fifteen minutes off.
Suddenly, he became aware of a tiny pink thing that was hanging from his trouser leg and snarling. Jack kicked his leg slightly, but the thing didn't let off. A tinkling giggle echoed in the morning air, and Jack looked around for its source. He saw nothing.
The little pink ball looked up at his with bloodshot eyes and bared its formidable teeth. It growled, a huge deep sound for such a tiny thing.
Jack kicked his leg once again, intending to throw the thing off and step on it. The laughter came form behind a corner. Jack took his eyes off of the pink ball and trained them onto the corner of the building.
A witch appeared from around it, her pine-green eyes twinkling and her arms wrapped around her stomach. Kesy put two fingers into her mouth and blew four sharp notes, and the little pink ball came bounding towards her.
"Sorry, Jack," Kesy said, her face lit up with amusement, the pink ball bouncing up and down in her hand. "I had Wilfred attack whatever was around the corner."
"Do mind telling me what it is?" Jack asked, after checking to see that Wilfred hadn't cut a tear in his trousers.
"Man-eating pom-pom."
"I'm sorry?"
"Wilfred is a man-eating pom-pom. My…coven was made up of creatures that put pom-poms on everything; they even taught the girls how to make them. So I figured that I might as well use the only craft I've ever been good at to make my fortune. They're a little simple-minded, and Wilfred is the only prototype I've been able to make attack."
"Interesting. How many other prototypes are there?" Jack asked. Kesy jerked a thumb behind her, were dozens of deactivated pom-poms were stacked a pile. She picked up a blue one.
"This one only wanted to back cookies. I reckon that if you throw a few of these underneath a kid's bed, he won't sleep for a week."
Jack laughed. This eccentric girl had a messy sort of happiness and general darkly positive outlook that was contagious. It was like someone walking up to you, shaking your hand, introducing themselves, and telling you that their aunt was ill with chicken pox because she'd eaten an elephant.
Kesy was the sort of person who made you do a double take and say, "What the-!"
It was endearing.
Kesy smiled. She liked the pumpkin king's laugh. It was high, but with a slight bass tone that was distinctly male (all those Christmas carols had taught her something about music), unlike all the voices of the elves in Christmas Town.
"Wilfred," she said, looking down at the pink ball that looked adoringly up at its creator, "be a dear and try to remember not to bite royalty…unless it's a prince. Or a human king. Or a prince of darkness, or…well, you get the point."
"Don't bite anyone unless you wind up on their bed," Jack supplied. Kesy shot him a smile.
Wilfred bounced happily and Kesy sent him on the ground. He went to go sleep near his brethren.
"What brings you out at this time of morning, o Pumpkin King?" Kesy asked, leaning against a mold-covered wall.
"Just making the rounds. I need to be at the Town Hall in…ten minutes," Jack said, looking at the clock in the center of the Residential Area.
"Oh? Plans for Halloween, eh?"
"Exactly. Can I put you down for anything?"
Kesy looked thoughtful. "Put me down for three dozen man-eating pom-poms, along with general witchery. And grave dancing. Jolly good fun, that."
Grave dancing was a rather obscure practice which involved choosing a victim, making certain that they were close to a tombstone, enchanting their name on it, and- guess what- dancing on the grave. The trick was to look like a figment of their imagination, but it never failed to put a shriek in their throat when done correctly.
Slightly sadistic, yes, but jolly good fun.
"Ah! Starting out large, I see! All right, a four-forty-three, two-ninety-six, and…" Jack thought for a moment, muttering. "Carry the pom-pom…divide by thirteen…and a five-eighty-one."
"Cool! I get a new number!" Kesy looked very pleased, and Jack couldn't help but smile.
"Well, be prepared. Three months flies by like no time at all!" the Pumpkin King cautioned the witch.
"Good point. I'd better get started on those pom-poms, then, huh?" Kesy responded.
She scooped the dormant pom-poms into her arms. Wilfred remained on the ground, yawning to expose his sharp teeth. "Come along, Wilfred." Turning to Jack, she smiled.
"See you around, Your Majesty!"
"Good day, Kesy. Enjoy your week!" Jack said, as the witch walked away.
The Pumpkin King stood rooted to the spot for a while after Kesy left. The witch was decidedly unlike anyone he had ever encountered. He couldn't quite place his finger on it, and every time he tried, she managed to evade description.
Jack shook himself, glimpsed at the time, and ran to Town Hall.
There you have it! Three months fly by, meaning that the writer'll hit the ol' fast forward button and soon Kesy shall be engaging in her first Halloween.
Reviews make me smile. And boy, do I need to smile.