"Stay right here, okay?"
Sally looked at Jack in confusion. "Of course, but what-."
"I just need to talk to the mayor about one thing. I can't believe I forgot to ask him how many bats and snakes we need for next Halloween."
"Oh... All right. I'll wait here and stare up at the sky. It's such a beautiful day, don't you think?" Sally asked.
"It certainly is..." Jack said, looking up at the dreary, gray sky. "It's the most perfect day I could ever imagine. And I can't wait to share it with you."
"Oh Jack..." She sighed, taking his hand in hers.
He kissed her cotton cheek and reluctantly let go of her hand. "I'll be right back." He said with a smile.
When he was engrossed in conversation with the mayor, she slumped to the ground against a rotted oak tree. Thoughts of Jack filled her mind making her smile and she closed her eyes.
A happy memory began to take shape inside of her head.
He arrived at the castle carrying a bouquet of dried weeds; interspersed with bugs of all sorts.
"Oh Jack, they're beautiful!" She gasped.
"I picked them just for you, Sally." Jack replied, his stark white cheeks turning an unusual shade of pink.
She eyed him awkwardly, wondering what could possibly trigger such a strange reaction. Perhaps he was coming down with something.
But, as they said in the town called Halloween... the sicker the better. After all, death was something to be celebrated. But since most of the citizens were already dead, it was only natural to embrace it.
After a wonderful night of scaring as many people as possible, Jack took Sally home. And just as he was about to say goodnight, she kissed him.
"Wh-what was that for?" the Pumpkin King asked nervously.
The question made Sally smile.
"Because I love you, Jack."
"Oh-Oh well... I love you too, Sally."
They kissed again and stared into each other's eyes; their foreheads touching, not caring how many ghosts or goblins were watching them.
Gently, he reached out and touched her cotton cheek, causing it to fill with color once more.
When he turned to leave, she climbed up the rope and returned to the castle; watching Jack as he headed down the long yellow path.
She was definitely the luckiest rag doll who ever lived... Or died...
Sally was so engrossed in thought that she barely noticed the shadow that loomed before her.
Feeling strangely nervous, she looked up and found herself staring at an extremely handsome fellow, causing her to gasp in surprise.
"Oh!"
She pulled herself to her feet and absently brushed the dirt from her hands on to her tattered patchwork dress.
"Hello. I hope I didn't frighten you." He said, in the most interesting voice she'd ever heard. It was calm and cool... Not at all like the harsh, raspy voices of her friends in the town called Halloween.
"Um... No..."
"My name is Decatur, but you can call me Deco."
She stared into his shiny black eyes. His face was a pale yellow, triangular in shape. He wore a blue shirt and black pants and his wavy hair seemed to stick out in every direction but it was his smile that caught her attention.