A Different Kind of Christmas Cheer

My dearest friend, if you don't mind-
honestly, if you would be so kind-
pull up a chair as I begin my story
of love and darkness, but nothing too gory.

It began long ago in a town themed Halloween,
where bright colors were found few and far between;
a skeleton man was the pride of the city,
and his Halloween antics were really quite witty.

He grew bored of life in such a dull place;
the anguished look found a permanent home on his face,
and one night he took a stroll out of town,
and lost his dog, Zero, and hunted him down.

He came across a clearing with a wondrous view,
of shiny things unknown to him, beautifully new.
He chanced upon the cheeriest of all the decor,
and found himself falling down through a door

into a new world where brightness reigned supreme;
surely this loveliness must be a dream.
The surprise and wonder loosened his jaws,
especially when he set his sights upon Sandy Claws.

He raced back home to the others to tell of his trip,
and they all hooted and hollered, letting laughter rip,
but soon they all started getting ready to change;
a Christmas with dark colors, something quite strange.

Lock, Shock, and Barrel kidnapped the jolly old man,
with none assuming Oogie Boogie played a hand;
and Sally was tormented for she foresaw the doom
wrapped tight around Jack and his plans was pure gloom.

But Jack wouldn't listen, he took over Christmas anyway;
Halloween could always be set for any other day.
A new suit and presents and a bright, shiny sleigh-
but a dense fog corrupted Jack's safe passageway.

Zero, with his nose so cheerfully bright,
was picked to lead the bountiful sleigh through the night.
So Jack was off without a care in the world,
while the doom Sally saw was slowly unfurled.

Jack made many stops to bring joy to the masses,
with very few bruises and only a couple of crashes;
but soon havoc gave way from the presents macabre,
and Jack was blown away by many a bomb.

Laying crumpled in a heap in a cemetery alone,
Jack realized the importance of everyone back home,
and saw his potential as the Pumpkin King eternal,
and gave a mighty laugh, so very infernal.

Off he went back to where he would belong,
where nights are eternal and shadows last long,
and rescued his friends from Oogie's cruel grasp;
they were free from the tyrant at last.

Then he discovered something brighter than all,
and all at once he decided to fall
headfirst into love with Sally, his doll,
and promised a Merry Christmas and Halloween to all.

My dearest friend, what did you think of my story?
Of Jack and his realizations in all their glory?
Wake up! My story was far from long;
I'll gladly tell another if you'll listen along...