Me: Hey, guys. This is chapter two to CatDog and The Nightmare Before Christmas. I'm over at my grandma's house while writing this.
Cat: That's nice. You must love your grandparents.
Dog: What did you do here? Are you having a good time?
Me: Yes I am having a good time. And before we traveled to Washington, we went to my cousin's house for dinner. She made us nice chicken with different sauces like teriyaki and barbeque. She has a big Nightmare Before Christmas collection. A talking Jack Skellington figure, the original poem, a cookie jar of Jack's head, a TNBC Monopoly game, and cute tragedy dolls. Anyway here's the story. Enjoy. ;)
CatDog followed Jack through the forest. Then Jack fell asleep after a long time walking. When daybreak came Jack woke up and found himself in a circle of trees. CatDog saw it, too. The trees had symbols of other holidays. Cat recognized the one he, Dog and Lola found. Jack opened the Christmas door and a bunch of snowflakes surrounded him. CatDog and Lola jumped in to see what was inside the tree. Jack didn't notice them.
"Wow. This is amazing," Cat said.
"A world of Christmas," Dog said. Jack was also amazed to see this new discovery. Then Jack fell off the hill and CatDog and Lola followed him. Then Jack began to sing another song. And CatDog and Lola joined in.
Jack: What's this? What's this? There's color everywhere.
Cat: What's this? There's white things in the air.
Dog: What's this? I can't believe my eyes. I must be dreaming.
Jack: Wake up, Jack. This isn't fair. What's this?
Lola: What's this? What's this? There's something very wrong. What's this?
Cat: There's people singing songs. What's this?
Jack: The streets are lined with little creatures laughing. Everybody seems so happy. Have I possibly gone daffy? What is this? What's this? There's children throwing snowballs instead of throwing heads. They're busy building toys and absolutely no one's dead. There's frost in every window. Oh I can't believe my eyes. And in my bones I feel the warmth that's coming from inside.
Cat: Oh look. What's this? They're hanging mistletoe. This kiss?
Dog: Why that looks so unique. Inspired.
Jack: They're gathering around to hear a story roasting chestnuts on a fire. What's this?
Cat: What's this? In here. They got a little tree. How queer.
Dog: And who ever think. And why?
Lola: They're covering it with tiny little things. They got electric lights on strings and there's a smile on everyone.
Jack: So correct me if I'm wrong. This looks like fun, this looks like fun. Oh could it be I got my wish. What's this? Oh my, what now? The children are asleep. But look, there's nothing underneath. No ghouls. No witches here to scare them or ensnare only little cozy things secure inside their dream land. What's this? The monsters are all missing and the nightmares can't be found. And in their place there seems to be good feeling all around. Instead of screams I hear music in the air. The smell of cakes and pies are absolutely everywhere.
Cat: The sights, the sounds, they're everywhere and all around.
Dog: I've never felt so good before.
Jack: This empty place inside of me is filling up. I simply cannot get enough. I want it, oh I want it, oh I want it for my own. I've got to know, I've got to know. What is this place that I have found? What is this?
Then Jack bumped into a sign that said "Christmas Town". Cat seemed to enjoy the place. Then Jack spotted CatDog and Lola.
"Well, who are you three?" Jack asked.
"My name is Cat," Cat said, politely.
"And my name is Dog," Dog said.
"And I'm their neighbor, Lola," Lola said.
"Pleasure to meet you," Jack said. "I'm Jack. Jack Skellington. Could you help me explain Christmas to me? I want to show it to everyone back in Halloween Town." After discussion, CatDog and Lola agreed. So Jack took the three back to town.
Back in town, everyone was complaining where Jack could be. Then everyone heard Zero's bark from the distance. Jack was riding in a snowmobile with CatDog and Lola on top of a bag behind the snowmobile.
"Wow. What a crowd," Cat said.
"You draw a lot of attention, Jack," Dog said.
"Where have you been?" the Mayor asked. "And who are those three?"
"Call a town meeting and I'll tell everyone all about it," Jack said.
"When?" the Mayor asked.
"Immediately!" Jack replied. So the Mayor called the town meeting. The citizens headed into the town hall to see the town meeting. Even Sally came. Then Jack came out of a door to calm everyone down.
"Listen, everyone. I would like to tell you about 'Christmas Town'," Jack said. So Jack began a song.
Jack: There were objects so peculiar. They were not to believed, all around. Things that tantalize my brain. It's a world unlike anything I've ever seen. And as hard as I try, I can't seem to describe like a most improbable dream. But you must believe when I tell you this. It's as real as my skull and it does exist. Here let me show you.
Jack pulled a rope and it revealed a Christmas tree with CatDog and Lola next to it. Everyone was amazed to see the decorations on the tree. Jack continued his song, explaining the decorations.
Jack: This is a thing is called a present. The whole thing starts with a box.
Devil: A box? Is it steel?
Wolf Man: Are there locks?
Harlequin Demon: Is it filled with a pox?
Devil: A pox. How delightful, a pox.
"I knew this was a bad idea," Cat said, doing a face palm.
"Come on, Cat," Dog said. "They're just confused."
Jack: If you please. Just a box with bright colored paper. And the whole thing's topped with a bow.
Tall Witch: A bow? But why?
Small Witch: How ugly.
Witches: What's in it? What's in it?
Jack: That's the point of the thing. Not to know.
Clown: It's a bat.
Creature Under the Stairs: Will it bend?
Clown: It's a rat.
Creature Under the Stairs: Will it break?
Undersea Gal: Or perhaps it's the head I found in the lake.
"Confusion, Dog? Looks more like stupidity," Cat said.
"Let Jack explain, Cat," Dog said. "I'm sure everyone will understand in the end."
Jack: Listen now. You don't understand. That's not the point of Christmas Land. Now pay attention. We pick up an oversized sock and hang it like this on the wall.
Hyde 1: Oh yes. Does it still have a foot?
Hyde 2: Let me see. Let me look.
Hyde 3: Is it rotted and covered with gook?
Jack: Um...let me explain. There's no foot inside but there's candy. Or sometimes it's filled with small toys.
Mummy and Withered Winged Demon: Small toys?
Withered Winged Demon: Do they bite?
Mummy: Do they snap?
Withered Winged Demon: Or explode in a sack?
Corpse Kid: Or perhaps they just spring out and scare girls and boys.
Mayor: What a splendid idea. This Christmas sounds fun. I fully indorse it. Let's try it at once.
Jack: Everyone, please now not so fast. There's something here that you don't quite grasp.
"I agree, Jack," Cat mumbled.
Jack: Well, I may as well give them what they want. And the best I've best confess I have saved for the last. For the ruler of this Christmas Land is a fearsome king with a deep, mighty voice. At least that's what I've come to understand. And I heard in told that he is something to behold, like a lobster huge and red. And he sets out to slay with his raingear on, carting bulging sacks with his big great arms. That is so I've heard it said. Then on a dark, cold night under full moon light, he flies into a fog like a vulture in the sky. And they call him Sandy Claws.
Everyone cheered when Jack finished the meeting. Only CatDog and Lola didn't cheer and left the town hall.
Jack: Well, at least they're excited. But they don't understand, that special kind of feeling in Christmas Land. Oh well.
Outside, Cat was frustrated about Jack's description on Christmas.
"They'll understand in the end?" Cat said to his attached brother. "Did you see Jack? He joined everyone's guesses on Christmas. I mean, Sandy Claws? Sets out to slay with his raingear on? That's just terrible."
"Come on, Cat. Maybe Jack will do okay," Dog said.
"Yes, Cat. Just give me a chance," Jack said.
"Okay. Fine. But if you and your friends mess up, I'm not letting you do this," Cat said.
Me: Wow. Boy is Cat mad at Jack now. That actually fits Cat's personality well. I know his personality like a pro. He's short tempered and sometimes fights with Dog when he does something wrong.
Cat: I agree, Em. It does fit my personality perfectly.
Dog: And the stuff I said in the story sounds like my personality. Carefree and nice to others and giving the others a chance.
Me: Right. It's easy to write things like this when you're giving characters any personality. Anyway, don't forget to review.