Jackie opened her eyes slowly as the morning light beamed into the room. Slowly sitting up, she stretched her arms letting out a yawn. She dropped them and made a dazed face, smacking her lips together. That was the best sleep she had in years. Finally getting out of her daze, she looked around the room once more. Stopping to look at the corner of the room where her staff, she made a weird facial expression. Her staff had fallen to the ground, the bottom still facing the corner. She didn’t know how it had fallen that way, for she leaned it so it wouldn’t fall at all. She was beginning to question herself about that staff until a smell entered the room. It smelled delicious. Closing her eyes and putting her hands on her growling stomach as she sniffed the air. Finally, she flew the blankets away and got up. Remembering about the dish last night, she took it off the table and headed towards the kitchen.
She peeped into the kitchen to find Jack at one end of table sipping on some coffee, reading a Halloween Weekly newspaper. Cindy was at the other end in a highchair sipping on her bottle. Sally was at the stove preparing something good.
“Ahh Jackie your awake!” Jack smiled putting his newspaper down.
“Just in time for breakfast.” Sally said turning around carrying three plates. Two on one arm while she carried the third one in the other hand. She set one plate in front of Jack, one in front of an empty seat, and the last one in front of her as she took a seat. “Come eat.”
Jackie nervously walked into the kitchen with her empty dish.
“Ah, so you were the one who had the leftovers.” Sally giggled.
“Um.” Jackie blushed. “It was really good. I enjoyed it very much.” Sally let out a warm smile. Jackie straightened back up and walk over to the sink to put the dish in. She then took a seat and looked at what was in front of her.
The smell was overwhelming. Blackberry pancakes stacked high in the middle of the table. The plate in front of her had two fried eggs, two bacon strips and one sausage rounds. She felt herself began to drool as she quickly covered her mouth to look up. Jack was back to reading his newspaper, taking bites every 5 seconds or so, and Sally was feeding Cindy cut up pancakes. She couldn’t take it anymore. She hadn’t had a breakfast like this in years, no way is she going to pass this up. She quickly took her knife and fork and started grubbing like this was going to be the only breakfast she’ll have for another year. She paused and looked up to see Jack and Sally giving her an odd look. She quickly straightened up again.
“Sorry I couldn’t help it.” Then out of nowhere she let out a loud burp. She quickly covered her mouth, blushing in embarrassment. Cindy dropped her bottle and started laughing out loudly, which surprised Jack and Sally. They’ve never seen her laugh like that before, which made them laugh. Jackie laughed nervously with them, still blushing.
“Well this has certainly made my day already.” Jack said leaning against his chair sighing happily.
“Indeed is has.” Sally smiled at Jackie.
Jackie just sat there and smiled, still blushing.
“Morning dipweeds!” Barrel yelled bursting out of his room. He had so much energy in him today, he wanted to run miles around Oogie’s lair and back. Shock, however, looked like a zombie. The lines around her eyes were darker then usual, her hair was a mess, and her eyes gave no kind of emotion. She sat on the couch wearing her black wooly house coat, staring at the wall.
“HELLO!”
“AHH!!” She jumped, falling on the couch. “Barrel! What the hell!?”
“Hey, you looked like you’ve seen a ghost.” Barrel took a seat on the couch.
Shock sat back up. “I couldn’t sleep...”
“Was it Jackie?”
“No, it was something else.”
“What was it?”
She didn’t know if she should say anything. She turned to Barrel and opened her mouth to say something until....
“SHADOOOOW!!!” Lock popped up from behind the couch, making his arms the same way as last time.
“AHHH!” Shock jumped, falling off the couch again.“YOU SON OF A BITCH!” She jumped over the couch and tacked Lock onto the floor. “I’m going to kill you!!”
“Not again..” Barrel sighed leaning over the back of the couch watching the two roll across the floor. Rolling his eyes, he took a hand up and rested his head on it.
“Aw come on you know it doesn’t exist now.” Lock said while getting strangled.
“Grr you pick the worst times to do these kind of things!!” Strangling him more, then suddenly rolling on the floor again.
“Ya think you’d be used to it by now!” Now on top on her, his hands on her wrist, keeping them from punching him. He noticed her house coat opened up a bit, revealing the top of her silk nightgown, showing some cleavage. He blushed at the sight, then felt a sharp pain in between his legs. Shock had kneed him in the groin while he was distracted. He fell to the side singing the sopranos.
“You do NOT hit a MAN where his PRIDE is!” He yelled in an almost high pitched voice.
“Well that’s what you get you pervert!” Getting up.
“Well, they weren’t that nice to look at anyway!” He said now on all fours, glaring up at her.
“Humph, serves your right!” She stuck her tongue out and stormed off to her room, slamming the door.
Lock just stayed there, panting, his face still red from the sight he’d just seen. Suddenly he felt something else in between his legs. He looked down at himself, then shot up in a panic, not realizing Barrel was still leaning over the couch.
“Dude what the hell is wrong with you?” Barrel asked, waving a hand.
“Uh...nothing.” Finally calming down his hard-on and turned towards Barrel, who had his eyebrow raised at him. “What?” He snapped.
Barrel shook his head. “It’s obvious you know.” He turned and leaned his back against the couch.
“What’s obvious?” He leaned over giving Barrel a confused look.
“Mmm, nevermind.” He got up from the couch. “Well I’m going out, see you guys later.” He walked off and went into the elevator, giving Lock a salute as it was lowered.
Lock stood there once again, then decided to go sit on the couch. Tapping at the arm with his tail, he looked at the ground while he leaned back, covering his face with one if his hands. He couldn’t get Shock out of his head, and it was driving him crazy.
“You alright, besides your pride?”
He turned around to see Shock leaning against the couch, fully clothed and ready for the day.
“Besides THAT I’m fine. Where you going?”
“I’m going over to Jack’s house, I want to ask Jackie a few questions, you know, to get to know her better.” She crossed her arms and gave a stubborn look at the wall, then looked back at him. “You wanna come?”
“I don’t see why not. I got nothing better to do anyway.”
“Ok.” She turned went over the elevator to lift it up. Entering it when it had risen. “Well?”
He jumped off the couch and went into the elevator and closed the door. None of them looked each other the whole way down.
Jackie was roaming around the living room, exploring the house since she didn’t have the chance yesterday. She stopped for a moment and bent over to examine some pictures that were placed on a small coffee table. One was a picture of Mayor crowning Jack the Pumpkin King. Boy did he look young in that picture. Another one was a picture of Jack and Sally on their wedding day, but the one that caught her eye was the one with Jack and Sally, with Cindy sitting on Sally’s lap.
“Famuly.”
Jackie turned to see little Cindy standing with her hands behind her back, rocking back and fourth. “Huh?”
“Famuly.” Cindy pointed to the picture.
“Ahh.” Jackie smiled at her then looked at the picture, her smile slowly turned into a frown.
Cindy tiled her head to the side. “Do you haf one?” Jackie looked back at her.
“A family...I...” She drifted off as she looked back into the picture, thinking deeply. “I think so?”
“Where’s your mommy and daddy?” The little one asked with interest.
“Uh...” She straightened up slowly, about to say something until she heard the screaming doorbell.
“I’ll get it!” Sally said rushing to the door. “Shock! Lock!” She peeped her head out and looked around. “Where’s Barrel?”
“Barrel had to do something. Is Jackie in?” Shock asked, tilting her head to see inside.
“Oh yes, why don’t you guys come in.” She moved to the side to let the two teens in.
“Thanks.” Lock saluted.
They were about to go into the living room till Jack bumped into them out of nowhere.
“Ahh, what are you guys doing here?” Jack gave them a puzzled look.
“We just want to see Jackie.” Shock let out a grin.
“Oh! Hey since you guys are here, can you help Jackie watch Cindy while Sally and I go to our meeting with Dr. Finklestein?” Jack pleaded.
“Sure thing.” Lock nodded.
“Wonderful!” Jacked cheered. “We should be back in four hours, six at the latest.”
“Alright.” Shock said as she started towards the living room.
Jack turned towards Lock. “If you guys get bored, there’s a DoomBox180 in the closet next to the grandfather clock.”
“Whoa sweet!” Locks face lit up. “Since when did you get one!?”
“Sandy Claws gave to me for Christmas for some reason. I must admit, it’s a lot of fun when you got the time.” He laughed nervously. “Well I must be going, behave now.”
Lock nodded.
“Jack hurry up we’ll be late!” Sally yelled from the door.
“Coming darling!” He shouted as she ran to the door and left for the meeting.
Shock was standing by the stairs waiting on Lock. “Come on lets go.” Lock followed.
When they took a look into the living room they heard a familiar, haunting tune, one that they thought they would never hear again.
“Well, well, well what have we here?
Little Cindy, huh?
Oh I’m so excited!”
Jackie was singing to Cindy as she giggled and began to dance. Shock and Lock gave each other a horrified, yet confused look. How the hell did she know that tune?
"So you wanna learn how to dance, huh? Alright lets go!
They both looked at them, jaws dropped.
“Step left, step right
Then twirl around three times
Go forwards, go backwards
Go along with the rhymes!”
Cindy giggled as she followed the commands.
“How the hell?” Lock felt his heart race, the only one who sang to that tune was no other than Oogie Boogie.
“When Miss. Jackie says
You tap your feet three times
You better pay attention now
Cause that would be a crime
And if you start trippin’
You haven’t lost your chance
For this won’t be the last time.
I’ll teach you Jackie’s Dance. Ohhh.”
Shock heart started racing as well. “Does she know Oogie?” She whispered to Lock. No answer.
“Ohhh...”Cindy followed.
“Ohhh.”.
‘OHHH!” Jackie laughed.
“It’s the Jackie Dancey Dance!” Jackie finished hands up in the air. Cindy did the same. Then Cindy turned around, noticing the two teens standing by.
“Hi Locky Shock!” Cindy waved at them. Jackie quickly stood straight, blushing madly.
They both slowly walked into the living, eyeing Jackie as Shock took a seat on the couch, and Lock leaned against the wall, crossing his arms. “Nice moves ya got there.” Lock finally said.
“Oh!” She started scratching the back of her head, smiling. “Thank you.” Lock took a seat next to Shock.
“Dance again! Dance again!” Cindy pleased tugging on Jackie’s skirt..
“Later ok.” She looked up. “Hey, I never got your names last night.” She said and Cindy stopped tugging on her and sat down to play with her dolls.
“Well I’m Lock.” Saluting as he stretched himself on the couch, taking over Shock’s space.
“And I’m Shock.” Pushing Lock off her. Jackie giggled. “What’s so funny?” She glared over at her.
“It’s cute that your names rhyme, are you two brother and sister.”
They both eyed each other, then looked back at Jackie. “No.” They said at the same time.
“Oh, sorry.” Feeling kind of stupid for asking that. Then heard the doorbell again. “Who could it be this time?” She said walking towards the door.
It was no other than Barrel.
“Ah Barrel come in come in! Lock and Shock are already inside.” Jackie smiled as she let him in.
“I’m not surprised.” Barrel said cheerfully as she went into the manor. “What’s up dipweeds!?” He said running up to the couch and jumped from the back of it, ending up sitting between Lock and Shock.
“Well you’re a little energetic one today?” Shock gave him a questionable look.
“Yeah I had so much stuff I had to do.” Barrel leaned back. “I’m just glad I’m done.”He sighed.
“Well, now that the whole gang is here,” Lock sat forward. “Let’s talk.”
“Oh?” Jackie questioned, taking a seat on an armchair next to a bookshelf. Cindy went over to her and let out a little whine reaching her arm out to her. She smiled at the little one and picked her up and sat her on her lap. Cindy then snuggled onto her, closing her eyes. “About what?”
“Well.” Shock started. “We....want to get to know you more. So we want to ask you a few questions.” Crossing her arms.
Jackie slowly looked down at Cindy, who was now sleeping. She knew this wasn’t going to be easy. “Ok.”
“Hey how old are you?” Barrel asked first. Shock and Lock gave him the dumb look.
“I’m 19. How about you guys?” Looking back up.
“I’m 16!” Barrel proudly said.
“I’m 17" Lock pointed at himself.
“Me too.” Crossing her arms.
“Cool.” She smiled, it might not be a tough as she thought, but then.
“Where ya from?” Lock questioned next.
“I’m from...” She paused, she looked around, trying to think. “I don’t remember....”
“Why not?” Shock have her a look of suspicion.
“Uh well....you see...” Her eyes rolled up. “All I remember is waking up and finding myself in the middle of nowhere.” Suddenly she felt a sharp pain in her head. The pain began to grow worse and worst as she put her free hand against it, closing her eyes tightly. It was almost unbearable until it all of a sudden disappeared. She opened her eyes quickly and looked up.
“What was that all about?” Barrel giving her an odd look.
“Yeah...” Lock said.
“Sorry, I had a headache” Jackie started to frown, but smiled quickly.
Then the doorbell rang once again.
“Again?” Jackie whined as she laid Cindy on the armchair and went to the door.
“Well you must be Jackie! Jack told me all about you.” It was the Mayor, and he seemed quite happy about something.”
“Yes I am.” She smiled.
“Splendid to meet you, I’m the Mayor!” He let out a hand.
“Nice you meet you Mayor.” She shook his hand.
“I would like for you to come with me, to meet the townspeople and help out a little, you know, give you a taste of Halloween Town.”
“That would be nice.” She turned back towards the trio, who were watching her on the couch. “Can you guys watch Cindy while I’m gone.”
“Sure!” Barrel waved, “You go have fun!” He smiled before getting smacked again, this time by Shock.
“Thanks guys, I’ll be back soon.” She shut the door behind her.
“She hiding something.” Shock stood up, pacing back and fourth.
Lock nodded in agreement “What do you think we should do..?”
Then Shock stopped and gave out an evil grin. “Barrel, watch Cindy, me and Lock are gonna go outside.
“Wait! Why are you guys going out for?” Barrel whined.
Shock gave an evil stare at the boys. “I think someone has over stayed their welcome.” She winked.
“Uh, Shock?” Locked nervously interrupted. “What are we planning on doing.”
She gave out an evil giggle.
“We’re going to get her kicked out of Halloween Town.”
