مشکلاتی برای بابانوئل و جک

Chapter ten

Problems for Jack and Sant

“I wanted to do something good Zero”, said Jack, “now look at me. Look at the sleigh. Where are the reindeer? We have to find Santa Claus.”a

There was only one happy face in town. High above the police station in a strange sleigh, a skeleton’s smile shone. Inside his head were pictures of happy children’s faces. He had no idea about the problems below.

The police used their strongest lights. Their biggest guns were ready, too.

But when Jack saw their lights, he smiled again.

“They’re celebrating this wonderful night,” he thought.

“Look, Zero,” he said to his little dog. “They’re celebrating! They’re having a wonderful Christmas!”

Then a gun almost hit one of the reindeer.

“Was that a mistake,” thought Jack. “Or are they shooting at us?”

The guns didn’t stop and Jack started feeling scared.

“I don’t like this. It’s getting very dangerous up here,” he said to Zero.

Zero put his head down and looked up at Jack with his big, sad eyes.

Suddenly, one of the policemen shot at Jack. It didn’t hit him, but it made a big hole in the sleigh. When they shot again, it hit the sleigh for a second time. The sleigh broke in two.

“No, What are they doing,” Jack cried. “Are they crazy? We have a lot of toys on this sleigh! Think of the children!”

Suddenly, everything began to fall and the reindeer flew away. Jack hit the ground hard and one of his arms broke off. But worse than that, the sleigh was on fire. Now he knew. His Christmas plan was a mistake. That felt worse than his head, his legs, or his arms.

Zero ran and brought Jack’s arm back to him. Jack put it back on easily.

“I wanted to do something good, Zero,” said Jack. “Now look at me. Look at the sleigh. Where are the reindeer? We have to find Santa Claus. Only he can change this nightmare into a happy Christmas for the boys and girls.”

Jack quickly ran and found a churchyard. He jumped down a hole in the ground and ran through the dark woods back to Halloweentown.

When the police started shooting, Sally heard the guns. She heard the witches in Halloweentown, too. Witches always know everything and they knew about the problems in Christmastown.

“Jack’s plan isn’t working. Only Santa Claus can help him,” she thought. “Where can I find him?”

She thought about Lock, Shock, and Barrel. They were friends with Oogie Boogie.

“I’m going to go to Oogie Boogies house. I’ll find Santa Claus there,” she thought.

Ten minutes later, Sally stood outside the hole to Oogie Boogies dark, dirty underground house. She looked down the hole and, of course, Santa Claus was there. He was in a chair and he couldn’t get out of it. Oogie stood over him. She could see maggots around Oogie’s mouth. Some climbed up and down his arms.

He danced around Santa and scaled the old man. This was Oogie Boogie’s idea of a good time.

Sally had to help Santa Claus.

“You’re old and ugly, but I’m going to eat you for my dinner,” Oogie Boogie said to Santa. “I’m hungry, so I’ll start the fire now.”

“No,” cried Santa. “Please, don’t eat me! The children are waiting for their Christmas presents. I have to go. They can’t celebrate Christmas without me!”

Oogie Boogie laughed. “Go? Never! You’re dinner, Santa Claus!”

“What am I going to do,” Santa Claus thought. “This is the worst place in the world! What’s going to happen to Christmas?”

Oogie Boogie sang and laughed. The fire got bigger and hotter.

“I am really hungry, Santa Claus,” he said. “Do you know about me? I scare everybody! Are you afraid of me?”

“No, I am not,” Santa Claus said. He moved in his chair and tried to get free. “I’m Santa Claus and I’m not afraid of anybody.”