Chapter 9: OCD – Obsessive Christmas Disorder
(Al's POV)
I was sitting in my TV room, intently watching ABC Family's Presentation of The Nightmare Before Christmas. My face was mere inches away from the screen and I was getting a light headache. I scooted back so I can actually see the whole screen. I was keeping a Johnny-Depp-stalker eye peeled for ANY sign of Will. Nothing so far, but I was keeping my hopes up. I suddenly had the urge to call Will. "Dial number." I said to no one. "And we're ringing…. And ringing… and ringing… and we went to voicemail…"
Moshi moshi, Will speaking. I'm either driving or away from my phone. Please leave a message at the end of the beep and I'll get back to you as soon as I can.
Beep.
"Yo Will, it's Al. Pick up the dang phone child! I needs to talk to you…. like twenty seconds ago! ... Well… be sure to call me back at least… Bye bye…" I told the machine and hung up. "I'll call again." I said, starting to redial. Then, there was singing to distract my brain hamster.
GROUP
This time, this time
GHOSTS
Making Christmas
BASE PLAYER
Making Christmas
MAYOR
Making Christmas, making Christmas
Is so fine
GROUP
It's our this time
And won't the children be surprised
It's ours this time
CHILD CORPSE
Making Christmas
MUMMY
Making Christmas
MUMMY AND CORPSE CHILD
Making Christmas
WITCHES
Time to give them something fun
WITCHES AND UNDERSEA GAL
They'll talk about for years to come
GROUP
Let's have a cheer from everyone
It's time to party
GROUP AND DUCK TOY
Making Christmas, making Christmas
VAMPIRES
Snakes and mice get wrapped up so nice
With spider legs and pretty bows
WINGED DEMON
It's ours this time
CORPSE FATHER, WOLF MAN, AND DEVIL
All together, that and this
With all our tricks
We're making Christmas time
WOLF MAN
Here comes Jack
JACK
I don't believe what's happening to me
My hopes, my dreams, my fantasies
Hee, hee, hee, hee
HARLIQUIN DEMON
Won't they be impressed, I am a genius
See how I transformed this old rat
Into a most delightful hat
JACK
Hmm, my compliments from me to you
On this your most intriguing hat
Consider through this substitute
A bat in place of this old rat
Huh! No, no, no, now that's all wrong
This thing will never make a present
It's been dead now for much too long
Try something fresher, something pleasant
Try again, don't give up
THREE MR. HYDES
All together, that and this
With all our tricks we're making Christmas time
While the instrumental part of the song played I tried calling Will again.
"Looking for Will…. Call again!" I said, dialing her number.
"Damn voice mail!" I shouted at the machine. "I want to talk to Will, not Automated Betsy! WILL DAMN'IT!" I hung my phone up in a rage. And listened as the song finished out
GROUP
This time, this time
JACK
It's OURS
GROUP
Making Christmas, making Christmas
La, la, la
GROUP
It's almost here
GROUP AND WOLF MAN
And we can't wait
GROUP AND HARLIQUIN DEMON
So ring the bells and celebrate
GROUP
'Cause when the full moon starts to climb
We'll all sing out
JACK
It's Christmas time
He, he, he
Jack turned around as the skeletal reindeer descended behind him, and then the screen faded to black. The announcer stated that the show would be back in a moment and began to play a trailer for the upcoming Hotel Transylvania movie.
"Damn commercial!" I shouted, picking my phone up.
"Call Will." I shouted at my phone, it dialing Will's number.
"Ringing…. WILL! You answered!" I screeched. "So… how's it going?" I asked, my voice super tame.
Oh, pretty good, she replied, Jack put me on ornament decorating. Guess he didn't appreciate that– GAAAHH!
"What just happened?!" I demanded to know what had made my girly scream. That was my job.
Do you mind! I am on the phone! Sorry about that Ally. The Corpse Kid and the Mummy were trying out their new toy on me: a ghoulish puppet with an axe in its hand. Yeesh, who plays with a toy that wants to chop your head off!? Don't answer that.
"But I… I… okay…" And I had such a good answer. "Hey, so I've been watching for you on the tube. No such luck… YET!" I smirked. "But, I am a professional stalker so I'm going to be looking for you. By the way, I may have insulted your voice mail machine thingy…"
Well, I don't doubt your stalking skills. Look sorry I haven't called you in a while. Jack's had me busy for the last few weeks. I just finally managed to get a break.
"That man is a slave driver!"
You should see poor Sally. She's worked nonstop on that stupid Santa suit making sure it's just perfect. Grr, I've been trying to get them together ever since that incident in Jack's study, but apparently everything needs his approval.
"Hmm… well… I …. Um… okay… Well, um…. Mind out of the gutter please Mr. Hamster… Thanks Cheeky!" I was mostly talking to Mr. Cheeky, but I could practically hear Will rolling her eyes. Change of topic! "So, what's the hold up? Get going on that scheme I just know that you have. It's already been an hour love."
What do you mean it's only been an hour? Al, I've been here for a month.
"Yes, I am sure you have been. See, you're in the movie. I'm watching the move. Time warp!"
Please stop talking to me like Mr. Cheeky and the Voices. I have enough on my plate as it is. I heard something crash in the background and Will was groaning again. Oh great, the Gumby and Pokey just ticked off the tentacle track train. I don't know why Jack thinks these toys are winners. I just better remind him to give that shrunken head to a little girl in Hawaii with the blue dog.
"Well, I'll leave you to it. Have fun in Halloween Town!... OOOO Will you bring me a toy back? Please, please, please, please, please, PLEEEAAAASSSSSSEEEEEE? I don't care which one but please?"
Okay, I will try and get you the vampire teddy bear. I know that one's your favorite, but don't be surprised if Santa doesn't let me, okay?
"That's all cool child. All right, got to go. Crepe is getting antsy. Bye bye!" We hung up. My slightly deranged puffball of a cat, Crepe, was meowing loudly and off-key. "Shut up Crepe!" I shouted, giving the cat a gentle shove.
I had had Crepe since she was a kitten. I maybe accidentally dropped her many times… okay… many, many times. The poor cat loved me but was just a bit off since. It was feeding time and she was always hungry. I opened a can of tuna up and set it next to me. Crepe was happily eating and I was intently watching the TV screen.
"Damn Victoria Secret models taking up my TV screen. I wants watch Nightmare! And Will!... Grr!" I said, watching the overtly skinny and near perfect women prance about the screen.
XXX
(Will's POV)
I hung up my phone and went back to decorating. I was still pondering over what Al had just told me. I had been in Halloween Town for a month and a half now, but back home everything was just the same. I just couldn't understand it, but I decided not to think to hard about it or I'd end up giving myself a headache.
"Oh Will," called one of the vampires. "Could you come here?"
I sighed. Why did I have to be the "test subject" for these Halloweenized toys? Oh that's right. I'm the only human in a town full of monsters and ghouls. It was better to just go along with it. I walked over to their workbench to see what they'd come up with. "Whatcha got boys?"
They smiled and handed me a baby doll with white porcelain skin and black hair. it was kinda cute with its white and blue-checkered dress. That is, until it came to life and tried to take a bite out of my hand.
"What the heck!?" I dropped the doll but it came after me. So I did the only thing I could do: I ran for my life.
"Note to self: when vampires give you a baby doll, make sure its not possessed by a demon!"
XXX
GodlyJewel: Honestly this chapter was just a filler, but I thought I'd let Al have another scene. I wish I could take credit for Al's character, but all credit and applause goes to the fabulous creativity of Cosmic Horse. Plus, she gets to laugh at me running for my life from evil toys. Also just so you know, some of those toys I mentioned are from Tim Burton's original poem.
Cosmic Horse: Teehee! Those toys man are just the boss! Oh yeah, you want me to explain Mr. Cheeky Hamster. Well, my brain is just an empty cavern that a small, brown and white hamster runs on a wheel to keep me alive and moving.