Poor, poor, Jackie Jubjub. It was almost Halloween, and his owner still hadn't
gotten him a costume. "I'm sorry, Jackie, I just can't afford a Halloween Paintbrush
to jazz you up for Halloween," she explained. "Maybe next year you can have
a costume to wear."
Jackie sighed. He loved Halloween more than any other festival in the year.
Jackie desperately wanted to go to Prii Prii Blumaroo's costume party, and he
had told all his friends he would be dressing as a jack-o'-lantern. "Oh, what
am I going to do?" he thought sadly. "I've just got to have that jack-o'-lantern
costume!"
The next morning, Jackie's owner left to go to school, leaving Jackie alone
in their NeoHome. Jackie decided to go to the Neopia Central shops to pass the
time.
For several hours he wandered in and out of the market stalls. He helped the
Breadmaster make a new batch of Halloween donuts, complete with little Korbat
wings, mixed some Transmogrification potions for Kauvara, and planted some Bluebells
for the owner of the Garden Centre.
At lunch time, he headed over to Hubert's Hotdogs to grab a bite to eat. Jackie
bought a hot dog and browsed the rest of the shops while he ate. He sauntered
into the Toy Shop and saw two of his friends inside, Cheekers the Kacheek and
Techo the Techo, wearing their Halloween Costumes.
"Hi Jackie!" Cheekers called. She was wearing a Frankenstein costume over
her normally pink fur. "What's up?"
"Yo, Jackie, what are you dressing up as for Prii Prii's party?" Techo fiddled
with the bandages on his mummy outfit.
"Hello," Jackie replied. Just looking at their beautiful costumes made him
sad. Oh why, oh why, couldn't his owner get him that costume?
"Yoohoo, earth to Jackie!" Cheekers waved her paw in front of his face. "Didn't
you hear Techo? He asked what you were being for Halloween." "Huh? Oh um, well,
you see…"Jackie mumbled something unintelligible.
"What?" Techo asked. "I didn't catch that last part. These bandages must be
covering my ears. Please speak up."
"My owner can't afford a paintbrush," Jackie said softly.
Techo and Cheekers looked at each other. Cheekers threw her arm around Jackie's
shoulder. "Oh, Jackie, it's okay, you can still come to the party."
"Yeah," Techo agreed. "Don't worry, everything's cool, man."
Just then, Jackie burst into tears and dashed off through the marketplace.
"Jackie, wait up, dude!" Techo called, jogging after him.
"Oh, it's no use!" Cheekers plunked down on a nearby bench. "We've got to
get Jackie to come to the party!"
She sat quietly for a moment, thinking. Suddenly she bolted upright and ran
screaming down the path. "I've got it, I've got it!"
Techo followed her, panting. "Whoa, hold up, what do you have? Where are you
going?"
Cheekers stopped abruptly at a certain place where wishes can come true, near
the Alien Aisha Vending Machine. She grinned at her pal. "Understand now?"
Meanwhile…
"Oh, it's not fair!" Jackie sobbed as he ran. "Why does everyone have a great
costume except for me? Why? It's just not fair at all!"
Jackie dashed into his owner's NeoHome, ran into his room, and slammed the
door. He flopped down on his bed, and cried himself to sleep.
The next day, Jackie woke up early. "Oh no!" he remembered suddenly. "It's
the day of the party, Halloween! What am I going to do?"
Jackie quickly resolved to stay in his room for the rest of his life, but
after about an hour, he got hungry and came out in search of food. His owner,
Cheekers and Techo were all waiting for him in the kitchen, looking extremely
pleased.
Jackie scowled. "What are you three so happy about?"
His owner smiled at him. "You've got some great friends, Jackie. I think you
should thank them for what they did."
Jackie was getting frustrated. "What's going on?"
Cheekers skipped up cheerfully and handed him a package. "See, Techo and I
couldn't stand seeing you so unhappy, so we took matters into our own hands.
We know how much you love Halloween."
"Cheekers thought up this great plan. We got our owner to wish for a certain
object at the Wishing Well. When it came true, we gave the object to your owner,
for you. Come on, open it up!" Techo urged.
Jackie carefully unwrapped the package, desperately wondering what on earth
it could possibly be. He pulled away the last piece of paper to reveal…
"A Halloween Paintbrush! Thanks guys!" Jackie dropped the paintbrush on the
table and gave his pals a huge hug. "Wow, thank you so much!"
Techo and Cheekers blushed. "Aww, it wasn't anything," Cheekers said shyly.
"Yeah, don't mention it, man. That's what friends are for." Techo scratched
the back of his leg with one foot.
"Jackie, you and I have to go to the Rainbow Pool later," his owner said,
drawing another package from behind her back. "Meanwhile, here's a Halloween
treat I picked up for you guys today."
She pulled off the paper bag to reveal an orange, smiling dessert.
"Pumpkin pie!" the three NeoPet friends yelled joyfully, digging into their
favourite dessert.
Jackie's owner smiled. "Happy Halloween, guys!"
The End | 
