Disclaimer: I do not own The Nightmare Before Christmas. As for the ringtone number, it was something I made up, so if it happens to be a real number, I apologize and did not mean anything by it. So, on with the story.
Sally stood in the kitchen sweeping away the dust, while trying to avoid a playful Zero from attacking the cleaning utensil. He wagged his tail and nose as he readied to pounce on the broom. He launched forward, grabbing hold of the twigs.
"Zero, let go!" shouted Sally.
The more she struggled the harder he yanked.
Sally huffed and searched the area smiling as her eyes landed upon a squeaky, green ball. She grasped the ball and threw it up in the air catching Zero's attention. He looked up and barked with a smile. Sally tossed the toy and Zero zipped after it.
Sally resumed the task while the radio played the somber tones she adored.
A short while later her phone buzzed. Sally turned around to spot the plain cellular sitting on the counter, vibrating along with a ringtone as dull as the device. She picked it up to see the image of an envelope on the screen. She flipped it back to find Jewel's name under the closed envelope and the words "New Text Message." At the bottom it read two options: open and delete.
Sally stared at the two choices pondering on what a text was. She heard it several times mentioned on the radio and from the mouths of several Halloweentown citizens. Never in her life would she imagine a text to be sent to her.
Her finger hovered over the button, wondering which one she should press. Upon buying it she made it clear to Jack that the two of them would use the phone in case of emergencies and to get in touch with one another, or in Jack's case the Mayor. The clerk never mentioned that the phones they purchased had access to texts.
Sally moved her lips and lowered her finger to the button underneath "open." She stopped just before it touched the key remembering the time she was at the market overhearing one witch tell the other that when her niece was given her cell phone (at the time not knowing what a cell phone was, nor caring to find out) and ran up a huge bill on texting costs. Sally shut the phone telling herself she should discuss texting with Jack before falling into the realm she could never return from.
Just as she was about to put the phone back on the counter it rang with another text message from her stepmother. Sally's nerves twitched along with her fingers.
Zero returned to the kitchen with the ball and dropped it in front of Sally's feet. She looked down at him then back to the phone. Zero gave a small yip. Sally bent down to pick up the toy. She stared back at the phone then looked at Zero.
"What do you think?" she asked.
Zero tilted his head to the side.
"Do you think Jack will mind?"
Zero gave a louder bark.
"I think you're right," Sally said then tossed the ball.
Zero began to chase after it but turned back to Sally as she paced with the phone in her hands.
She took a deep breath and said, "Just one won't hurt."
She pressed the "open" button and the screen switched to a white background with black letters that read:
Sally did you get my last message it's an emergency.
Sally put her hand over her mouth to wonder what could be bothering Jewel. Perhaps something was wrong with the doctor, or maybe someone had broken into their house, or what if she was pregnant?
Sally shook her head with a tiny giggle at her last thought. She could simply call Jewel, for her number was saved in the address book. But there was something novel and exciting about opening that text message. It was almost like opening a birthday card or a personal letter with her name scribbled on the outside. It was much more personal then calling to hear a voice. It gave her a sensation that begged to be experienced again.
She went back to the text message screen and grinned as she selected the first message. A wondrous feeling was released as the words appeared on the phone. She read:
Sally your fathers birthday is coming up. I was wondering what kind of…
Sally's eyes widened. She searched the screen up and down wondering why the message just ended like that. Finally she saw a gray line much like on the computer when there is more to read when scrolling down. Sally shrugged and pressed the downward key to reveal the rest of the message.
cake I should make him. Please hurry back.
Sally giggled again. It was just like Jewel to get upset over the simplest thing. Dr. Finklestein told her numerous times that while he adored his wife and would not trade her for the most advance creation in the world, she desperately needed to take cooking lessons.
Sally pressed the "options" button under the message and pressed downwards to the "Call" button. She stopped as above it rested another option which read "reply." She looked back at the dog who sat there smiling.
"Just one text and I'm done," Sally said as she pressed the button.
She looked down at the numbers on the phone as a message screen popped up awaiting her reply. Sally eagerly pushed the buttons that answered Jewel's message. When she finished it read:
Make him a worm cake with spider icing. Yummy.
Sally pressed the button and released a malicious laugh as the words "Sending your message" flashed across the screen.
Sally placed the phone down and turned towards Zero.
"I'm glad that's out of my system," she said.
Just then her favorite song came on the radio. Her eyes lit up as she spun to the stringed instruments and flute that swirled notes into a blend of morbid beauty. Her red hair twirled around her body. Her smile reached its peak and her bright eyes shone with the power of two thousand moons. If Jack could see her now he too would be wrapped up in the simple bliss that occupied his wife.
As the song came to a stop the radio DJ's sultry voice came on and said, "We play the best funeral music all day. If you like that one why not add it as your ringtone."
Sally's eyes turned to the radio. It would be nice to have something other than the horrid default tones supplied.
"Just text MOURNING4 to this station to receive your tone. Coming up another hour of gloomy tunes. First a word from our sponsors."
Sally picked up her phone and said to herself, "I rarely buy anything for myself. Why not?" With that she texted the station and her ringtone began to download.
Zero whined as Sally hummed with the tune of her new tone.
Soon the new ringtone, which had yet to be assigned, was interrupted by a number Sally did not recognize. She pressed the "Talk" button and greeted the unfamiliar party.
"Yeah, dude, I'd like two large anchovie pizzas," a voice groaned.
"What?" Sally asked.
The children had to move away from the speaker to hide their laughter.