[I OWN NOTHING]

Chapter 5: Casper's Parents Meet the Cartoon Characters

Back in Dream Street, the cartoon characters had seen what had nearly happened to Casper, via Tech's TechCam.

"Ay ay ay!" Agustin exclaimed. "That's horrible!"

"It's true." Tech said, worried. "That mugger could've really hurt him."

"I also can't believe he started a fight in a fast food restaurant." Buddy said.

"Well, it could've been worse." Jack Hammer pointed out.

"How worse?" asked Sheriff Callie.

"He could've started doing drugs, like Michael once did." Jack Hammer said. "You know, the boy who is in the big classes at school that lives round the corner from Casper?"

"I remember him," said Daisy Do-Right. "Michael shouldn't take drugs like those, cause it could end his life early."

"Si." said Mirabel. "Good job Michael stopped, cause his little sister Corey told Casper a few weeks ago about that he's stopped taking drugs."

"And," Chase added, "I know it's strange, but Michael never told anyone about how he stopped taking drugs a few days after trying them."

But We know, don't we?

"Anyway, let's get back to the main point of the story." suggested Arthur. "It seems Casper's new life in the city has gotten off to a rocky start."

"It certainly has." said Daisy Do-Right. "He doesn't realize how much running away is starting to affect him."

"But it's not just him that running away affects." Tech said.

"It's not?" asked Esteban Flores.

"No," Tech said. "It's his parents that are affected, too."

"Really?" asked everyone.

"Yes." Tech said.

"I don't see what the big deal is." Angelica said. "I ran away from home once, and my daddy didn't seem too upset about it. He was quite relieved to see me."

"Angelica," Daisy Do-Right said seriously, "Running away from home is very serious. If your father had found out you'd ran away earlier, he wouldn't have been as relieved when he found you."

"Exactly." said Tech.

Angelica went quiet, and looked at the ground.

"As I was saying," Tech went on, "parents are also affected by what happens when kids run away."

"Yeah." said Roary. "I think we need to show Casper's parents what happens to parents of kids who run away from home."

Everyone agreed.

In the real world, Amber put down the phone, her face still stained with tears from crying.

"Any luck?" Reg asked, just as worried and upset as his wife was.

"No." said Amber tearfully. "Mrs Filly said she hasn't seen Casper at school all day. And I called Michael's family, and they haven't seen him, either, but they said they're gonna keep their eyes peeled."

Reg sighed, and sipped his tea.

"It's all my fault!" Amber sobbed, blowing her nose on another tissue and throwing it onto a pile of soggy tissues on the floor next to the sofa. "If only I hadn't scolded him for neglecting his duties, none of this would've happened." she cried.

"Darling," Reg said, "this is a terrible thing that's happened, but we can't just blame ourselves for this."

"We can and we will." Jane said.

"Look, Amber, darling," Reg said, "Children need discipline. You can ask any syndicated advice columnist."

"I know." Amber sniffed. "Oh Reggie, are we ever gonna see our son again?"

"Beats me." Reg sniffed. "Things just aren't the same without Casper around. I miss him already."

All the parents could do now was hug each other, and quietly sob and hope for a miracle.

Then suddenly, they heard a loud thump upstairs. Their expressions changed from sad to surrprised.

"What was that?" Reg asked.

"It came from upstairs." Amber said.

The 2 parents forgot their worries, and cautiously climbed upstairs. They listened out for any noises.

They checked the bathroom. Nothing.

They checked Casper's bedroom. Nothing.

That left only one place left to check - Reg & Amber's bedroom.

"I'll go in first." Reg said. Amber nodded, as Reg cautiously opened the door.

He opened the room, and saw a pile of his clothes lying on the ground near the open door of the wardrobe.

"What a mess." Reg said. he reached into the pile of the clothes, and pulled out a white round skeleton head. "Thank you, sir." the skeleton head said, "I could hardly breathe in that pile!"

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Reg screamed.

Amber took a look inside the room, and she screamed too. "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" she screamed.

Then, a thin skeleton body wearing a black & white pinstripe suit appeared, and grabbed the skeleton head, and put it on his body. "Ahhh, much better." siad the skeleton.

Of course, this skeleton was Jack Skellington, from 'The Nightmare Before Christmas'.

Reg & Casper managed to stop screaming, as the skeleton in the room composed himself. "I don't believe we've met. I'm Jack. Jack Skellington."

"You look like Casper's Halloween costume!" said Reg, remembering that Casper always dressed up as Jack Skellington for Halloween parties at his school.

"Of course I am." Jack said. "The magic Buddy sent brought me to life, and me and the other cartoon characters heard about what happened to your son, Casper."

"Magic? Buddy?" Reg said, BEWILDERED. "What are you on about? And who are all these cartoon-"

DING DONG!

But Reg never got to finish that statement, for at that moment, the doorbell rang downstairs.

"I'll get it!" Amber called. she went downstairs, opened the door, and stood, jaw hanging, for there were all the cartoon characters outside her house - Roary, Maxi, Esteban, Chase, Ben, Gwen, Grandpa Max, Pingu, Wilson, Blaze, AJ, Blossom, Bubbles, Buttercup, Mirabel, Agustin, Hiro Hamada, Baymax, Angelica, Ginger, Brother Bear, Sister Bear, Buddy, Tech, Daisy Do-Right, Jack Hammer, Arthur, D.W., And Sheriff Callie.

"Who's at the door, honey-?" Reg said upon coming down, and he saw the above mentioned characters. HIS jaw hung. "Good lord." he muttered.

Immediately, Amber fainted.

END OF CHAPTER.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

It seems I don't need to give you the rundown of this chapter.

Agustin Madrigal: Well, I guess it took Reg's parents by surprise, didn't it.

Jack Skellington: Exactly.

Jack Hammer: It was amazing though.

Me: Yes, yes it was.

Sister Bear: I hope Casper's mom wakes up soon! I don't think I'll ever forgive myself if we've scared her for life.

Brother Bear: You and me both, sis.

Me: Don't worry, Brother & Sister Bear, you haven't frightened her. It's gonna be a lot for her and Reg to process. Next chapter, we'll get to see another bad thing of Casper's life in the big city, and the cartoon characters SHOWING Casper's parents what happens to parents with kids who run away from home.

Scoop: What about me? Do I get to appear in this story yet?

Me: Yes you will, Scoop. I haven't forgotten about you.

Scoop: OK!

EVERYONE: READ & REVIEW!