Sally's Lament Quotes

“She stepped under the archway and into the graveyard, a contented sigh escaping her lips. She loved coming out here; it always felt so peaceful amongst the stones and weeds and feral cats that would wander between the graves hunting for field mice and spiders. Even though it was technically a place for the dead, being here always made Sally feel as if she were reborn.”
― Mari Mancusi, Sally's Lament

“And soon Sally found herself watching what seemed like an entire ballet of these sugared plums, dancing around her head.”
― Mari Mancusi, Sally's Lament: A Twisted Tale

“A simple kiss between a rag doll and a Pumpkin King. And perhaps the beginning of their most amazing adventure yet. Not in another world far away this time, but right here, right now, just the two of them, silhouetted in the moonlight on top of Spiral Hill.
As if it was simply meant to be.”
― Mari Mancusi, Sally's Lament

“After stepping out of bed, she got dressed, slipping on her new patchwork dress and enjoying the feel of the soft cotton against her cloth skin. She'd sewed it together out of fabric she'd found in the dumpster--- the remnants of old and discarded costumes--- and was pretty proud of how it had come out. Christmas clothing was cute and all, but Abigail had been right--- it was extremely itchy. Not to mention a little boring. No dress should be limited to just one pattern or color, she thought with a smile. Which was why her new shop's name was so perfect: Patterns and Potions by Sally.”
― Mari Mancusi, Sally's Lament

“Oh, it is good to be home," he declared. And Sally agreed with him. There was so much she loved about Christmas Town. But Halloween Town was pretty great, too. And it was okay, she decided, to like both for what they were. If she learned anything from this adventure, it was that one thing didn't have to define you. You got to define yourself--- in any manner you saw fit.”
― Mari Mancusi, Sally's Lament

“She leaned toward the door, breathing in deeply, rejoicing in the moldy scent of death and decay that lingered on the other side. Ah, home, she thought as she dove headfirst into the abyss.
After tumbling through blackness, she arrived just like before, this time plopping down in a nice thick pile of fallen leaves. She laughed in delight as she rolled in the pile for a moment, enjoying the feeling of fall tickling her cloth skin.”
― Mari Mancusi, Sally's Lament

“The bog bubbled and splashed in her face as she maneuvered, forcing her to swallow a good mouthful of liquid, which turned out to taste like a sugary egg dusted with cinnamon.
Well, if this doesn't work, at least my ending will be sweet, she thought wryly.”
― Mari Mancusi, Sally's Lament

“If you want people to believe in you, you have to know your own worth.”
― Mari Mancusi, Sally's Lament

“All those times she'd watched him waltz into town on Halloween night in all his pumpkin glory--- she'd always been so impressed. He'd been like a rock star to her, larger than life.
But he was also just a simple guy, it turned out. With hopes and dreams and desires, just like everyone else.
And she liked that Jack. Maybe even more than the illustrious Pumpkin King.”
― Mari Mancusi, Sally's Lament

“She knew it too well, that terrible empty feeling that stemmed from loneliness. That desperate desire to be close to something--- someone. Someone who understood you. Someone who allowed you to be yourself without any strings attached.
Perhaps, all along, it hadn't been freedom or adventure they'd truly craved that night in the graveyard, she thought suddenly. Perhaps it had been connection.
She looked up, realizing Jack's face was near hers. He gave her a timid smile, reaching out to brush a lock of yarn from her eyes. Sally felt her leaves swirl, and her first instinct was to jerk away, laugh, break from the moment and make it all a joke.
But no. That was the coward's way out. She needed to face her fears. To be the Sally she so desperately wanted to be. The Sally she saw reflected in Jack's dark eyes.
"Jack..." she whispered. His name felt like a prayer on her lips. "Oh, Jack."
"Sally..."
Jack closed his eyes. Tilted his head. Began to lean closer.”
― Mari Mancusi, Sally's Lament

“Did I hurt you?" he asked worriedly.
She shook her head wordlessly. It did hurt a little, of course--- it always did. But so much less than when Dr. Finkelstein would carelessly jab his needle into her cloth, without caring how she was feeling or even if his stitches would hold for the long haul.
But Jack was different. Meticulous. Gentle. And instead of feeling uncomfortable, she felt a strange warmth settle in her stomach.Soon Jack finished, giving her a shy smile as he tied off the last stitch. And from the look on his face, she realized he'd felt something, too. Maybe it wasn't exactly the same. Maybe not as strong. But something.
Which made her feel even warmer.”
― Mari Mancusi, Sally's Lament

“But first I have to sew my leg back on. Properly this time, so it doesn't come apart again." She reached for her leg, her hands still shaking from residual adrenaline after their near escape. She hoped she'd be able to thread her needle.
Jack placed a hand over her arm. "Allow me," he said, and Sally's eyes widened as he carefully aligned her lower leg with the stub of her knee.
"I can do that---" she started. But Jack put a finger to her lips.
"I know you can," he said, meeting her eyes with his own. "But right now your hands are still trembling from trying to help me up and I don't want you to hurt yourself. So why don't you just rest for a second? Allow me to make myself useful for once." He wagged a playful finger at her. "You don't get to save the day every time, you know."
Sally tried to laugh, but it came out more like a choke as grateful tears began to well in her eyes. A part of her still wanted to argue, to insist she could do it herself. But then, Jack already knew that, didn't he? Even in the darkness she could see his confidence in her, reflected in his dark eyes.
Sally had always hated when Dr. Finkelstein had sewed her back together. It made her feel weak. Helpless. Yet another thing he didn't trust her to do on her own. Another way to retain control.
But Jack wasn't trying to control her, she realized. He was trying to help her. And wasn't it nice, sometimes, to lean on another? To trust that someone cared enough to do the job right?”
― Mari Mancusi, Sally's Lament

“After all, I'm Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King. And you're Scary Sally, the doll who can single-handedly frighten away an entire town just by using her head." He bared his teeth menacingly. "They have no idea who they're dealing with."
A chill spun down Sally's back as she caught the fierce look on Jack's face. It was the kind of swagger he usually reserved for Halloween night, and she had always been enthralled by it. That confidence! That conviction! That look that told her he seriously believed he could achieve anything--- if he just put his mind to it.
And maybe Sally could, too.”
― Mari Mancusi, Sally's Lament

“She stepped under the archway and into the graveyard, a contented sigh escaping her lips. She loved coming out here; it always felt so peaceful amongst the stones and weeds and feral cats that would wander between the graves hunting for field mice and spiders. Even though it was technically a place for the dead, being here always made Sally feel as if she were reborn.”
― Mari Mancusi, Sally's Lament

“I mean, could you imagine? Some little girl waking up on Christmas morning to find you under her tree? She'd probably run away screaming in fright."
"Well, I should certainly hope so," Sally agreed, a little confused. For what could be better than that?”
― Mari Mancusi, Sally's Lament

“We could try something else..." she suggested, not wanting to bruise his ego along with his backside.
But Jack only shook his head, his dark eyes glistening. "Are you kidding?" he cried. "I'm not letting some silly ice skates defeat me!"
Of course you won't, Sally thought fondly, watching him scramble to his feet again, wobbling a bit but somehow managing to stay upright this time. Jack didn't let anything defeat him. It was one of the things she'd always admired about him.”
― Mari Mancusi, Sally's Lament

“This is why I needed you to come with me. Imagine if I had discovered this place all by myself. Who knows how much damage I'd have managed to do?"
"I can't even imagine," Sally said. "Good thing you have me to keep you in line."
"Good thing indeed," Jack said, reaching across the table and placing his hand over hers. His expression turned serious and when he met her eyes with his own, Sally's breath hitched.
"Thank you for bringing me here," he said softly. "This was exactly what I needed."
Sally nodded, not trusting herself to speak. She couldn't believe she'd almost chickened out and stayed behind. Missed out on this special day with Jack. Seeing the light in his eyes. Hearing the joy in his voice. Just the two of them together.
No one knew where they were. No one knew what they were doing. And the only thing that mattered was that they were doing it together.
Maybe she needed to face her fears more often...”
― Mari Mancusi, Sally's Lament

“She brought the hot chocolate slowly to her lips, breathing on it to cool it down before taking a sip. She sighed dreamily as the thick chocolate slid down her throat, sweet and delicious.
"Yum," she said. "Try it again, Jack. You're going to like it."
Jack did as he was told, this time taking a much smaller sip. His mouth curled to a grin as he set the cup back down. "Well, that's pretty good," he admitted. "It's like someone took a pile of Halloween candy and melted it down, then added milk." He sniffed the cup. "Thought it'd be better if they used the expired kind. Then we might get some actual curdles." He took another sip, managing to get a blob of whipped cream stuck in his fake beard. Sally giggled, then grabbed the rag to blot his face.
"You're a mess," she teased. And he smiled back at her.
"I know," he said. "But you love me anyway, right?"
Sally felt her cheeks go red and she quickly grabbed her mug again, bringing it to her face to hide it. She knew Jack was just being silly. But the way he was smiling at her--- as if, in that very moment, she was the only other person in the world--- well, it felt far too lovely.”
― Mari Mancusi, Sally's Lament

“So you really think these all represent different holiday lands?" he asked, pulling open the door with the large bird on it. "What do you think this one could be?"
"A holiday to honor turkeys?" Sally guessed. Though somehow that didn't sound quite right.
"Maybe," Jack mused. "But why would anyone want to honor a turkey? They're such dumb birds. Really, the only good thing to do is eat them." He closed the door, then headed over to the tree with the heart on it. "This one's probably Dissection Town," he decided. "They spend all year long harvesting organs, and one day a year they gather together to eat them."
Sally made a face. "Or maybe it's Love Town?" she suggested. "And their holiday is filled with lots of romantic proclamations?"
Jack looked disappointed by this idea. He moved on to the tree with the four-leafed plant. "Garden Town," he pronounced. "They're completely vegetarian. And they hate turkeys with a passion.”
― Mari Mancusi, Sally's Lament

“She settled down on the coffin-shaped couch against the wall, folding her hands in her lap. Jack held up a bony finger and retreated into an adjoining--- the kitchen, she realized as she took a peek--- then returned a moment later with a steaming cup of what turned out to be rotten mushroom tea. She took it from him gratefully, breathing in the salty scent before taking a long, deep swig.
"So good," she murmured after she'd swallowed, then took a second sip. She hadn't realized how hungry and thirsty she'd been. The sugary snacks she'd eaten earlier hadn't filled her up. But this was the kind of cauldron concoction that stuck to your bones (if you had any, that was).”
― Mari Mancusi, Sally's Lament

“And then there were their dresses. Fancy cotton confections of candy-colored frills and bows, with puffed sleeves and ribbon sashes. Sally had never seen such dresses before, and for a moment, she felt a little inadequate when she gazed down at her own homemade ensemble, rather plain in comparison.
But then, she'd made this dress herself, she thought. And who was to say she couldn't make one of theirs, too, if she just gave it a try? In fact, if she could find the right material, she was almost positive she could re-create one of these ensembles back in Halloween Town, adding her own special Sally touches, of course. For example, their sashes were practically screaming to be replaced by proper spiderwebs. And a few slashes with a serrated knife would give the puffed sleeves a lovely shredded flair. Her mouth curled as she imagined herself walking past the fountain in her hometown square, sashaying in a swish of silk and spiders. Halloween Town wouldn't know what hit them!
And what if, her mind whirred, others wanted a dress like this, too? She could take orders. Charge money. Maybe even eventually open her own shop. Support herself so she would no longer be reliant on Dr. Finkelstein.
She gasped at the idea. This could change everything!
Feeling almost giddy, she studied the dolls' dresses, taking the time to memorize every detail while happily munching on her sugarplums. Christmas Town was truly amazing, she decided. Even if it was very different from home. And while she'd always be a fan of the grim and gruesome, she saw now that fun and festive was actually pretty great, too.”
― Mari Mancusi, Sally's Lament

“Call me old-fashioned," he said, shaking his head. "But to me it isn't really Christmas without visions of sugarplums dancing through your head."
Sally startled. "What did you just say?" she asked, her voice a little hoarse. Visions, sugarplums, dancing! How did he know?
"Oh. It's from a famous Christmas poem," the man explained. "Surely you've heard of it.”
― Mari Mancusi, Sally's Lament

“The town seemed to be full of oddities. Like the garden of strange snow statues, carved to look like little round men with jaunty black hats and carrots for their noses. And the leafy green bouquets with white berries tied up in bows hanging over archways all around town, often with two people smooching beneath them, as if the leaves were sprinkled with some kind of love potion. And then there was the large rotating contraption of wooden animals spinning round and round as jaunty music played from a hidden speaker. Even stranger, several children were riding on these animals, squealing in delight as they spun.
Looks like fun, Sally couldn't help thinking.”
― Mari Mancusi, Sally's Lament

“She didn't know where these visions came from or why they would come. Perhaps it was a side effect of whatever process Dr. Finkelstein had used to bring her to life. Or maybe the old brain he'd stuffed in her head had been psychic when it belonged to its person. Or maybe it was just a rag doll thing; she had no other doll friends to compare to, so she couldn't be sure.
But while she didn't know why the visions came and she couldn't predict when they would come, she was sure of one thing.
They were usually trying to tell her something. Something important.
And she needed to pay attention.”
― Mari Mancusi, Sally's Lament

“Think about what pleases you, not just them." She paused, then added softly. "Even the Pumpkin King has a right to be happy."
Jack nodded slowly, for a moment seeming lost in thought. Then he gave her a shy smile. "You know," he said thoughtfully. "We should talk more often, you and I."
Sally's breath caught in her throat as Jack met her eyes with his own. She'd never seen them so close up, she realized wildly. Or noticed how dark and deep they were. She felt a shiver down her back, not entirely unpleasant.
"I'd like that," she replied, her voice barely over a whisper. "I'd like that a lot."
They fell into silence. Not an awkward silence, like the kind that came when she was having dinner with Dr. Finkelstein and ran out of polite things to say, but rather something almost comforting. As if they were somehow sharing a precious moment beyond words, side by side, under the bright orange Halloween moon.
It was funny, Sally thought. If someone had told her yesterday she'd be out here on Halloween night, staring into the eyes of the Pumpkin King, she'd never have believed it. Up until now, they'd seemed worlds apart.
But she'd seen another side of Jack tonight. And for two people who were so very different, they were more alike than she could have ever imagined.”
― Mari Mancusi, Sally's Lament

“Oh, Jack," she whispered, leaning longingly against the gravestone. "I know how you feel."
Suddenly there was a shift beneath her--- the gravestone crumbling under her added weight. She cried out in surprise, trying to move, but only managed to lose her balance in the process. She was flung from her hiding spot, tumbling forward into a wide-open space.
And when she managed to look up again?
She found herself staring straight into the eyes of Jack Skellington.”
― Mari Mancusi, Sally's Lament