Jack's Daughter

The Picnic

I opened my eyes with excitement! Today was the day of the thing called a "picnic" with Leo!

I ran to my closet and found my best dress. My mother had made it a long time ago. It was a beautiful, light blue sundress! Sally had sewn it and passed it to Samantha. Samantha...

I walked over and sat on my bed, head in my hands. I had just left her there! And here I was, going on a date while she was no doubt being tortured. I started to cry, liquid pouring down my face.

I felt something warm on the back of my hand and looked up. Zero was floating in front of me! "Hey, buddy." I said sadly. He tilted his head as if to say, "What's wrong, Spark?"

"I'm just upset about Samantha, that's all. Here I am, going on a date where she's being tortured by Oogie." I started to cry more. Zero, with his pink ghost tongue, licked my cheek.

"Aww. Thanks." I said. Zero was a special ghost, he could turn from a ghost form to a solid form. I gave him a hug and he woofed, gently. I heard the door open and saw Sally come in.

"Hey." I said quietly. She gave me a half smile. "How are you?" She asked me. "I'm worried about Samantha. And that I'm going on a date while she's no doubt in trouble." More tears came out.

Sally sat beside me. "Don't cry." She told me. She gently wiped the tears away. "I'm sorry." I said, my voice cracking like unlucky glass. "It's okay, it's natural. We will get her, I promise. It will be okay." Sally said, taking my hand gently.

She was wearing jeans and a shirt, very unusual looking! "Here." She said, taking out a white pair of gloves. They matched the white daisies on the dress. "He'll be here soon. He'll drive you, let me help you get ready." She told me.

"Okay." I said. "And Samantha would be happy for you, you know that. It's just to get your mind off of things. It's okay." She gave me a hug. I smiled and said, "Thanks, mom."

She held me at arm's length and smiled brightly, pulling at her stitches. "You're welcome."

I felt so happy, because for once, I was not the only "freak" around. My mother looked exactly like me, and I was proud. "I'll get you ready." She smiled.

After about 30 minutes, I was finally ready! I was wearing my blue dress with white leggings, all my makeup, gloves, and a jacket. Sally had gently braided my hair.

"Ready?" She asked me. "Of course!" I smiled. She kissed my forehead and I ran downstairs. I dodged monsters and grabbed my bag off the kitchen counter. I carefully dodged a game of Slimepong, before walking to the front door.

I double checked that I had my phone and turned the knob. I walked outside, Leo wasn't there yet. Walking over to one of the two trees in the front yard, I sat down and pulled out my notebook.

I doodled the fountain of HalloweenTown and Zero with his pumpkin nose. I heard someone clear their throat and jumped. Leo was standing over me, his bright blue eyes glowed.

"Hello, Sparky." He smiled. "Leo." I said, closing my notebook. He reached out his hand and I took it. He pulled me up. "You look very nice." He said with a smile.

"So do you." I responded nervously. He was wearing a green shirt with jeans and cowboy boots. "Ready to go?" He asked me. "Yeah!" I said, we walked toward his car. He drove an old, blue pickup truck.

I felt really nervous as we drove in silence. "So, where are you from? I mean, you're new this year". He asked.

"I'm from London!" I said quickly. "Yeah, cause you definitely have an accent!" He laughed, "How old were you when you moved here?" He asked, glancing at me.

"I was very small. I don't remember." I shrugged. "Oh, okay. I'm from here." He shrugged. "That's still pretty cool!" I said. He smiled at me and continued to drive.

We finally reached the park and he opened my door. "Thank you." I said, happily. "Sure!" He responded, going to grab the picnic basket. He had two blankets.

"Ready?" He asked, his blue eyes looked like tiny fireworks. "Yeah!" We walked toward a fountain in the middle and decided to sit against a tree facing the fountain.

He spread out one the blankets and motioned for me to sit down. I sat down, my boney back against the tree. "So, I hope you like sandwiches?" He smiled at me.

"Yeah! I'm good with anything, really." He handed me a carefully wrapped sandwich. "Thanks!" I blushed. He wrapped us both up in a brown blanket.

We talked and ate for a little while until I got sleepy. Before I knew what I was doing, I laid my head on his chest. "Oh! I'm sorry!" I blushed as bright as my hair.

"No! It's okay." He said with a smile. I laid back and looked up. He looked down at me and got a weird look on his face. "What's wrong with your mouth?" He asked. Then, he blushed.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean...""No, it's okay. What're you talking about?" I asked, shifting to the side. "Y..Nevermind." He said, "Sorry I asked."

We laid there like that for a bit. I heard a buzz and jumped, hitting something on the top of my head. I glanced up and saw Leo looking down at me. I had fallen asleep!

"Sorry!" I said quickly. "It's okay. Have a nice nap?" He asked with a smirk. "Yeah..." I admitted. There were no dreams...or nightmares! "Sorry I fell asleep." I said shyly.

"It's okay! Don't worry about it. You're kinda cute when you sleep. You sleep with a smile on your face." "Wow..well that's a little.. I'm just kidding. Thank you, that's sweet." I said, happily.

My phone buzzed again and I looked down. I flipped it open. Mom: hurry home, your father is worried.

I put it down and looked at Leo. Before I could say anything, a small rock hit me in the arm. I turned around before looking up. Alyson was glaring down at me. I turned back front, looking at the fountain.

"Hey, I have to leave. I'm really sorry. My parents will be worried if I'm not back." I told him. "It's okay!" He said with a smile. I helped him pack up and we began walking.

We passed the fountain and he tapped me on the shoulder. "Want to make a wish?" He asked, handing me a shiny object. I realized it was a "coin."

"Sure!" I responded, grabbing it from his hand. I aimed and threw it. I made my wish, and before I could do anything, I tripped.

I fell into the fountain and gasped, my makeup was coming off! "Here! Grab my hand!" Leo told me. He helped me out. "You...you're..." He stopped. I ran away from him, completely embarrassed and shocked at what had just happened. He wouldn't want to talk to me ever again! I ran until I stopped, panting by a tree. Someone gently grabbed my shoulder.

"I know, I'm a freak. Go ahead, laugh at me. Tell me how I belong to a Halloween shop." I said without turning around. "You're beautiful. And....and.. blue." He finally managed to say.

"What!?" I asked, completely surprised. "Well not the blue part.." "Yes. Here, use this to dry off." He said, handing me the brown blanket. "But I don't want to get makeup on it." I protested. "It's a tacky blanket anyway." He shrugged. I dried myself off and his eyes glittered, he looked really happy. "What...what are you? H..how?" He stuttered. "I'm a person, like you, only different. I have a lot of scars." I shrugged. It was true, even though I was sewn together like a ragdoll, I still considered myself human. "You can't tell anyone." I said. "I won't, unless you ever want me to." He said.

I felt a buzzing and when it didn't stop, I took out my phone. "Hello?" I asked. "Spark! Where are you?" I recognized the worried voice of my mother. "I...I fell into a fountain." I managed to say. "What!?" She asked me. "Yeah...it's okay." I said. Leo had already started toward the car. "He thinks I look beautiful." I said. She sighed, "Please get home." She pleaded.

We hopped into his truck and he drove me home.