I was awoke a few hours after my rest.
Sally woke me up to tell me that Jack had organized a meeting at the Town Hall to introduce me to the citizens of Halloween Town. And so that I could ask their help to search for my friends.
I wasn’t at all nervous.
I was excited.
Since Jack was talking skeleton and Sally was a doll brought to life and the Doctor looked quite creepy too, I wondered what the other people in this world looked like.
By the sound of “Halloween Town” I guessed there were characters like witches here. Ghosts and vampires. (Well, you get the idea).
When Sally brought me to the hall it wasn’t entirely empty. There was Jack already there, and a new character I hadn’t met yet.
The Mayor of Halloween Town was at the opposite end of the room in the balcony, sorting out the lights for the stage.
Jack walked over to the bottom of the ladders and called up.
‘Mayor! She’s here!’
I looked up at the railing.
I could see someone moving about.
And then, the Mayor came to the rail and into view.
The Mayor was…funny shaped, I’d say.
Short and fat. His head looked like it was made of plastic. And he was wearing the strangest looking hat.
I kept staring puzzlingly as he can down the ladders.
‘So, you must be Emma. A pleasure to meet you.’ He said as he shook my hand.
‘Halloween Town always welcomes a new face.’
‘Thanks…err Mr Mayor.’ I wasn’t quite sure what to say, he seemed overjoyed to see me.
‘It’s been so long since we met anyone new. I remember when Jack introduced us to Sandy Clause.’
‘Sandy Clause?’
‘Oh, but that was years ago. Two to be precise.’
‘Don’t you mean Santa Clause?’
‘Santa Clause?’
The Mayor looked quite puzzled.
‘Oh, no matter. You’re the new face now. You alive as well, just like Sandy. You’re quite rare around here you know…’
I looked around while I listened to his chattering.
I saw on the stage an old amplifier partially covered by the curtains.
Ignoring the yapping of the Mayor, I wandered over to the stage where I saw the amplifier.
I knelt in front of it and began sorting out the wires.
‘I wouldn’t even try if I were you. That speaker’s old, It’s been broken for years.’
‘Maybe, if I where you.’
I took out a plugs attached to one of my hair plats. And plugged it into the amplifier.
‘But I’m not you, I’m me. And as long as it’s designed to make a noise, I can make it practically explode!’
Music blasted out of the speaker and filled the room.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
I nodded my head to the beat and started to dance slightly.
‘Now that’s what I call…music!’
I noticed that Jack was staring in astonishment.
I felt like showing off a little.
I plugged more speakers and set them going.
One after the other, they all started blasting music and filling the room with its power.
‘Amazing.’ Jack sighed.
‘Just the basic.’ I said.
‘How do you do all this?’
‘As long as it’s designed to make a noise, I can make it make whatever noise I want.’
‘But, you took out a plug from you head.’
‘I’m may be alive. But I’m part machine. I’ve got metal and wires inside out. But it don’t mean I ain’t got a heart. And it defiantly don’t mean I ain’t got a brain.’
I moon walked to the rhythm of the music and I slid backwards away from Jack.
‘I’ve never heard anything like this.’ Jack looked unsure of what to think.
‘It’s…It’s fantastic.’
He began nodding his head to the beat.
I kept going with the rhythm. (Dancing is my thing).
I jumped to the ground and spun a flair. (Trust me, it looks awesome, and it’s pretty hard to learn too).
I flipped back onto my feet. And as I did so, (now this was unexpected), Jack front flipped over my head and landed perfectly.
He started dancing too. (And he was pretty agile).
‘Hey, Jack, where’d you learn to dance?’
‘I’ve been dancing too long to remember.’
I felt a little jealous. I thought I’d be the best dancer here.
I started a flair.
I spun higher and higher until I was spinning on my head.
Then I stopped, flipped both feet over and back flipped in the air.
Jack sensed the competition.
He ran to the wall, and ran up it, vertical!
He was pretty high when he flipped backwards and spun in the air.
When I back flipped, I was rushing so I was a little messy.
But Jack was, I d’know, neat.
His landing stance was pretty good too.
Ok, now it was my turn.
I moon walked.
Combination of body roles and live wires.
I did every thing I could.
But I couldn’t concentrate for feeling beaten.
My rhythm died down as I came to a stop.
I sighed.
I took of my cap and threw it down in front of Jack, sort of like throwing in the towel, it meant “You win”.
I turned off the music and I walked off stage.
I leaned against the wall at the back of the hall. I guess was a little ticked off.
‘I’m sorry, Emma.’
Jack came over to me.
‘I didn’t mean to over shadow you.’
I still felt like sulking, so I didn’t talk back.
‘You are the best dancer I’ve ever seen. No one else dances like that around here. And that music It’s so different. I’ve never heard anything like it. It’s fantastic.’
‘I appreciate your attempts to make me feel better.’ I chose to speak.
‘But it’s not working.’
I walked round the back of the stage.
‘You can’t sulk all the way through the meeting. You told me your friends are counting on you. They need you. You need to tell everyone who’s missing. What to look for.’
For once, I began to feel different. Positive for once.
‘You can’t let one small dance off get you down. Your friends are missing. Let us help you find them.’
Jack held out his hand towards me, urging me to come out from behind the stage.
I was hesitant at first. But the point the had proved forced me to take hold of his hand and let him lead me out from behind the stage.
I guess he was right.
‘Jack! Jack! Everyone’s outside right now, waiting!’ The Mayor panicked.
Jack nudged me over behind the stand on the stage.
The Mayor began letting everyone in while I was hidden behind the stand.
I peeped round the tall wooden edge.
I saw the people of Halloween Town alright, and they were just how I expected them to be.
There was a tree who walked in.
It, or should I say ‘he’, had a carved face in the bark, and five skeletons hung by the neck were hanging from the branches.
I also saw a fat, ugly, scary clown on a unicycle. Looking at his face, I guessed he might have wheeled that thing into a wall at one time.
There was also two witches who flew in on broomsticks. One was way taller than the other tidgy one. But they both had pretty long noses. And I don’t think it’s because they’ve told lies.
And then I saw four more characters that were not to be unexpected. Vampires!
One looked small and quite young. Another was taller and looked a little older. Then there was another; he looked the same size but he was obviously older. And the other vampire was clearly the oldest. All four of them came in with umbrellas of some sort, my guess was that it was to shield them from the sun.
Then I saw three creepy looking guys. They looked like a family ‘cause there was a man, a lady and a little boy. They all looked like they’d just come out of their tombs, and the little boy even had his eye’s sewn shut! I wondered if he could still see.
I then saw a strange looking man with a strange looking hat. And the hat was even stranger when I saw someone peeking from underneath it. Wow! There was a man living under the hat!
My attention was distracted when I saw another weird looking character.
He was pretty big. But that wasn’t intimidating, the axe stuck in his head was! How could he still be alive? Oh, wait. No one’s alive in this town, (except me), They’re all dead.
The list of strange and weird looking people walking through the door kept on going.
Though I kept hidden, I kept on watching in amazement.
This town was just full of surprises.
(Even though I was in the Town Hall and unaware of what was going on anywhere else, this part of the story that I was told later on, I think you’d better hear it now).
Mean while, In the Doctor’s lab, (the same place where I woke up), the Doctor was planning a human experiment and researching on living human beings.
But that wasn’t the only plan that was taking place.
Little did he know that he was being watched. He was being spied on by three sinister looking characters, watching from the pipes that were firmly hung from the ceiling. Hidden by the shadow, out of view where the light couldn’t reach.
They too had a plan.
Unlike the Doctor’s well-meaning experiment, the plan that these three guy’s were planning was full of trouble and mischief…
(Anyway), Back in the Town Hall, everyone was seated and it was time to start the meeting.
I must admit I was a little shy, I’m not use to this kinda audience.
I guess Jack was my only hope of making a good first impression.
‘Listen up, everyone.’ Jack began.
‘We have a new face among us in Halloween Town.’
Jack signalled me to come on stage.
Daring as I usually am, I came out from behind the stand and introduced myself.
‘This is Emma. She’s come here from another world.’
‘Please, Jack,’ I boldly stepped out.
‘Leave the introduction to a professional.’
…
(Emma) The name’s Emma Donnahue.
But don’t let my appearance fool you.
I ain’t dead, unlike you.
I guess ‘cause I’m alive I’m new to you.
(Town People) Alive?
In Halloween Town?
This is incredible!
How is this possible?
(Jack) She came from another place,
Landed here after flying through space.
To a far away place at far away ends,
Emma became lost and so did her friends.
(Town People) Your friends?
There’s more of you?
How many are you?
(Emma) There’s ten of us altogether.
If we can’t reunite, well be lost forever.
Please help me, if you can,
Maybe you can lend a helping hand.
(Jack) Emma’s friends are lost in this Town.
As soon as possible, they must me found.
(Emma) They’re in danger, with out me as their guide.
We must find them! We must try!
(Town People) Of course well help you.
And your friends too.
Just tell us what to do.
And well get right to it.
(Jack) If you see anything report to me.
(Emma) They’re my friends! Report to me.
And don’t just report,
Bring them to me.
Make sure they’re safe.
(Jack) Make sure they’re sound.
(Jack & Emma) Come to us with anything you’ve found.
(Mayor) Who are your friends Emma? What do they look like?
(Jack) Yes, of course. That would help us awful lot.
(Emma) Let’s see. Where do I start?
The youngest is Benjamin. A four year old boy.
He’s normally see with his teddy bear toy.
Dressed in pyjamas. Two to three foot tall.
He’s kinda silly. He is only four.
Next there’s Sarmoo. An African boy.
Seven years old. Full of happiness and joy.
Brown skin, ragged clothes.
He’s a poor boy, you get how the story goes.
Then there’s Annie, Annie Rose.
She’s nine years old and wears pretty posh clothes.
A little girl dressed in red.
And golden blond hair flowing from her head.
Next there’s Andy. A real smart kid.
All ways been quite a science wiz.
Though he’s dumb and can’t say a word,
He certainly don’t got the brain of a bird.
Ruth Maria. Quite a hot head.
Wears a jacket fiery red.
Danny and Darah. Siamese twins.
Psychic powers filled to the brim!
(tempo slows down)
Alex is cool. Were best friends.
I have to find him before this search ends.
I miss him the most, for you see,
He’s the only one who looks like me.
(Jack) But what about the tenth? You missing one more.
(Emma) I’m sorry to disrupt this joyful song. But there is one girl I must warn you of.
She’s the reason I stand before you.
The reason me and my friends are trapped in your Town.
She is evil. She is wicked.
She’s the reason we all went down.
She used to be good. I’ll tell you that.
But now she’s turned, so watch your back.
She’s evil and deadly and she will attack.
(Town People) What would we do!?!
(Emma) Run away, and don’t look back.
…
Suddenly, the door burst open.
‘Jack!!!’ Yelled a voice from the door way.
It was the Doctor. He seemed quite distressed.
‘It’s gone! My experiment had been stolen!!!’
Everyone in the hall, (except me), gasped.
‘They took my greatest invention!’
‘What would that be, Doctor?’ Jack questioned.
‘The same invention that I used to bring life to Sally. The electric-impulser.’
‘The what?’ I said, not understanding much of what he meant by that name.
‘The radar which creates an electric impulse in order to bring something to life! And it’s been stolen!!!’
‘Do you know who did it?’ Jack asked urgently.
‘Oh, yes. I’d know those three even if I were blind!’
‘Those three?’ I puzzled.
‘No, not those three!’ The Mayor panicked.
‘Who!?!’ I said.
The Doctor wheeled over to me upon hearing my repeated question.
‘Lock, Shock and Barrel!’
