6

So sorry for not updating sooner. Huge speech I had to write. Anyway, thanks to Musically for the review. Here's the next chapter.

They reached Harlequin Demon's work first. "What do you think Jack?" he asked excitedly, proudly displaying his exploding balloons of blood. "Excellent work, very creative." said Jack, which cause Harly to beam, which ended when Jake popped a balloon, spilling blood onto Jack's shoes. Jack frowned at his shoes. "Sorry." Jake mumbled. Jack said nothing and moved to the next citizen's work.

"Ah Harry Howler! And what have you come up with this year?" Jack asked in his 'Leader of the Town' voice. a/n: Harry Howler is the wolfman in the movie Harry showed off his idea of jumping jack o'lanterns. "See Jack, people come up to the door, and then are scared by the pumpkins! They'll never see it coming!" he said happily. "Good work as usual Harry." Jack replied. Jake touched one of the pumpkins, which then jumped, hitting Jack in the back and knocking him to the ground. "Sorry Dad." Jake said. Jack stood and brushed himself off. "I'm begining to notice a pattern here..." he muttered, but managed to put on a smile and move on.

But it seemed at each stop Jake did something that would hurt Jack. From squirting toxic slime in his eye socket, to ripping the seam of his pinstripe suit. Of course, Jake didn't do it on purpose, but Jack was a bit joyous when they reached where Sally and Sam were working, their last stop.

Jack smiled as he wrapped his long bony arms around Sally's waist. "Perfect work, as usual." he said. Sally beamed and gave Jack a small kiss in reply. Then she turned to Jake. "Jake, I need to fit you for your Halloween night outfit." Jake groaned, and looked at Jack to get out of it. Jack shook his head. "Get fitted. Halloween is only three days away." he mimicked the mayor, gave Sally a hug, then left.

Jake obliged to stand on the small platform, while Sally went at him armed with a tape measurer and pins in her mouth. "Oww!" he yelped as Sally pricked him with a needle. "Sorry Jakey." she apologized. Jake cringed. He hated when she called him Jakey. He also hated being measured.

After the measuring, Sally began piecing together his outfit. Jake marveled at his mother's speed. Within an hour she was done, and Jake had to admit it was a handsome costume. A pitch black suit, with his father's trademark bat bowtie, and a dark cape with a high collar. He admired himself in the mirror, posing and making faces.

"Thanks mom." he siad, giving Sally a hug as she put away her sewing supplies. "You're welcome sweetie." she said, giving Jake a kiss on the top of his skull. "Why don't you take off your Halloween outfit, and give your father this note?" Sally suggested, producing a piece of paper and a pen. She wrote a note in her small, neat handwriting, folded it, and handed it to Jake.

Jake quickly slipped out of the suit, handed it in a crumpled pile to Sally, then went off to deliver the note.

He eventually located his father in the town hall, talking with the mayor assigning jobs. Jake tapped his father's back. Jack spun around. "I told you thats all for today!!! Oh, Jake...sorry...what is it?" Jake was a bit shocked at how stressed and frazzled his father appeared. For crying out loud, his bow tie was crooked! Jake even backed up a little.

"ummm, Mom wanted me to give you this note." Jake said, handing Jack the note. Jack hastily read it, a smile forming on his lips. He then scribbled a reply on the same piece of paper, folded it, and handed it to Jake.

"Take this to Sally." he said, then turned back to work.

Jake nodded a scurried out the door. Once outside, Jake ducked into a back alley, looked over his shoulder, and cautiously unfolded the note.

Sally,

The mayor is keeping me late. I won't be home for dinner. You'll have to do the evening routine on your own. Don't work too hard.

your's forever,

Jack

P.S.-Most likely, Jake is reading this. Deliver this note Jake. I'll talk to you later Sally.

-Jack

'Geez Dad's smart.' thought Jake. He scurried dow nthe cobblestone streets, as soon it would be dark. He made his way to Skellington Manor. As soon as Jake opened the door, he was surrounded by the smell of food. He immiediatly headed to the kitchen to find his mother.

Sally was just sliding a dish into the oven when Jake waltzed in. "Here. Dad wrote something on it." Jake stated as he handed Sally the note. Sally wiped her hands off with a towel, then took the note and read it slowly. She still had difficulty reading, as Jack had to teach her. The doctor certainly hadn't. Jake noticed she smiled a bit at the end part.

"Where's Sam?" he asked. Sally looked up. "Oh, she's with Suzy. Could you go tell her she needs to come home?" Jake scowled. Did he look like a message boy? But, he had a trip to the Human World hanging in the balance, so he went out the door to find Sam.

Okay, sorry for not updating. I'm really desparate for reviews right now, so please...REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW...