"Joker on the Beach"
Disclaimer:
"Scooby Doo and all related characters are the legal property of Hanna-Barbera, Warner Bros. and/or Cartoon Network.
"Ethan" AKA 'Velma's friend' or 'Metal head' is owned by 'littlesoprano' and is used with permission.
"When I Fall in Love" performed by Nat King Cole, written by Heyman and Young, Capitol records, 1956.
"The Party" was inspired by "Gala" from 'Littlesoprano' in the story "Journey of Self Discovery."
Rileigh and Alisa are real people, their names are used by permission. All other characters and locations are figments of the author's imagination.
Author's note: I would like to dedicate this story to "Littlesoprano", not only for permission to use her character, but for the encouraging words, that gave me the courage to write this and my other stories.
Prologue
Mr. Mondavarious was not happy as he looked over the remains of his vacation resort. A lot of clean up and repairs had to be made. Broken glass lay everywhere, every building, it seemed, lay in shambles or damaged to some degree or other. A 'dust devil' picked up loose paper and dirt, spinning it around like a mini tornado.
He turned his head to look at his secretary who walked beside him. She was tall for a woman, five feet, eight if she was a inch. Ash blond hair that rested on her shoulders, then curled to frame her face. Her eyes, the color of the blue ocean that surrounded the Island. The kind of eyes a man could get lost in, if he stared too long.
"Rileigh, what we need is a party" he stated.
"A party?...Now?" she asked, unbelief in her voice.
" not 'now', I'm thinking tomorrow night. A party to lift everyone's spirits and to honor Mystery Inc. for solving the 'problem'. Yes, we need a party."
"Take a memo, Here's what we need to do: repair the stage, get the ballroom ready for a dance, restock food and any other items we need, get everything at least presentable. The gift shop can supply Mystery Inc. with tuxedo's and formals. Anyone who wants to leave, can, I wouldn't blame them if they do. Any one who wishes to stay, can. Find out if we need to order tuxedo's or formals for those guests that wish to order one. Tuxedo's and formals not mandatory for the party, but offer anyway. See if you can contact some of the parents, parents would be a good touch. If you need help, call the mainland, get whatever help you need. Get some help for the gift shop for fitting the tuxedo's and formals."
"Memo two, I want this done for a party tomorrow night. Any and all overtime is ok'd by me personally, and a bonus for everyone if we can pull this off. For you, Rileigh, a raise on top of the bonus."
"How big a bonus and raise?" Rileigh asked.
"Let's discuss that over lunch" he replied.
"Mr. Mondavarious, you just got yourself a party!"
Chapter one: The Party
part one
The night of the party found Mr. Mondavarious in a much better mood. He had walked the grounds earlier in the day finding everything looking good. There was still some clean up and repairs to be completed, but he was satisfied with the work. The men had worked well into the night to get things ready for the party.
Standing on the stairs overlooking the ballroom he made a mental memo. After the party and the guests gone, they would close, get the needed repairs completed, then have a grand re-opening. The publicity department could turn this into a bonanza that would assure a lot of new business.
He took a piece of paper and pen from his coat pocket, wrote the memo and added two figures, handing the paper to Rileigh.
"Here Rileigh, add this to the bonus and raise we discussed at lunch. Take care of the rest."
"That is very generous, thank you" Rileigh said, astonished at the figures.
"Not at all, you and everyone earned it" he replied.
"Do they ever stop eating?" he asked, pointing to Shaggy and Scooby. They had watched as the two had devoured a sandwich that could feed a whole family of four.
"Only when they're asleep" Rileigh replied.
Part two
Shaggy and Scooby finished their giant sandwiches.
"That was a good appetizer, Scoob...guess it's time to get upstairs" Shaggy said, brushing the last crumbs off the tuxedo Mr. Mondavarious had supplied. He had found a honeydew vest with a faint diamond design that complimented the tuxedo and his 6 foot, 160 pound frame.
"You're up first...ready old pal?" Shaggy asked as they walked up the stairs. It was planned that Scooby would be the first down the stairs. When he was about half way down, Fred and Daphne would follow then Shaggy and Velma.
"Ready Raggie" Scooby answered.
They found everything in readiness when they arrived. Daphne and Velma, beautiful in their formals were also a study of contrasts. Daphne with her red hair and love of purple had chosen a mystic purple gown of taffeta, adding flower blossom earrings and matching pendant. She displayed an outward calm that belied the turmoil raging inside.
Velma, a petite brunette had picked a form fitting satiny burgundy gown, adding only gloves and a stole. She demonstrated the nervous tension that permeated the air, pacing back and forth, wringing her hands and constantly adjusting the stole.
"Will you be still, Velma. You are making everyone nervous" Daphne commented.
"I just wish we could get this over and done with" she replied, continuing her pacing.
At long last they heard the M.C. Call for quiet then... "Please welcome...Mystery Inc."
The announcement was immediately followed by the musical cue.
"Well gang, time to meet our public" Fred announced, straightening the tie on his blue tuxedo which didn't need straightening. They all moved into position, Scooby starting down the stairs.
Daphne took Fred's arm, leaning in to kiss his cheek. He looked at her in surprise, touching the cheek she had just kissed. "for luck" she said, smiling.
The crowd erupted into applause at the first sight of Scooby, then a short time later by Fred and Daphne. Velma had placed her hand on Shaggy's arm as they watched their friends walking down the stairs.
"There's Ethan" Shaggy pointed to a guy making his way to the bottom of the staircase. He looked over at Velma who had grown calm at the sight of this new man in her life. "Good luck" was all Shaggy could think to say to this lifelong friend. Velma looked up at him replying "Thanks Shag..and good luck to you and Mary Jane...Jinkies! Isn't it all so wonderful!"
"Yeah, like, wonderful" he agreed, not quite sure what she had meant.
Then, it was their turn...a deep breath and they started down the stairs, waving at their joyous fans. Fred had taken Daphne's hand, the crowd parting as they made their way to the rebuilt stage. At the bottom of the stairs, Shaggy handed Velma off to Ethan. She took Ethan's arm, letting him lead the way to the stage. Shaggy watched the new couple walk away.
"good luck, Velma" he whispered. No one heard.
Shaggy stood alone. There would be no one to meet him. In the past there might have been someone, but his mouth had gotten in the way, killing any chance. He and Mary Jane had agreed to continue seeing each other, write letters and make phone calls, but the letters would diminish, then stop, as would the phone calls.
Part three
He noticed her blond hair first. The last time he'd seen her, her hair had hung to mid back, now it was piled fetchingly on top of her head with a few strands curling downward, caressing her cheeks. Her corn flower blue gown bringing out the blue of her eyes. And she was walking...toward...him!
"M m m mary Jane?" Shaggy was surprised and astonished. Daphne and Velma had been beautiful but here was a vision of loveliness.
"Didn't expect to see me here did you?" she asked smiling. "You didn't think I'd miss this chance to see my hero again did you, and so handsome too. Call me MJ, all my friends do."
"Y...You are so beautiful! Your ...hero?" Shaggy stammered.
"Yes, my hero" she repeated. "Look, like, I know there a lot of things planned for the group...Save me a slow dance. I have something to tell you."
There were indeed a lot of things...pictures to be taken, interviews to be given and a dozen of other things. Shaggy's mind wasn't on the interviews, only saying something, anything to satisfy the person asking the questions.
When the band started a slow dance, Shaggy recognized the song. He looked around the crowd, looking for her. He spotted her standing on the edge of the crowd, holding her hands at her sides. He walked off the stage, taking the steps one at a time. Once on the floor he walked toward her until he stood in front of her. She hadn't moved, waiting for her hero.
"when I fall in love,
it will be forever,
or I wont fall in love."
He admired her for a few seconds. Then reaching out his right hand, he took her left, pulling her gently toward him.
"In a restless world like this is,
Love is ended before it's begun"
"I believe this is your dance" he said, leading her to the dance floor.
"And too many moonlight kisses
seem to cool in the warmth of the sun"
"I promise I wont step on your feet...too many times at least" he joked. She smiled, slipping into his arms, resting her head on his chest. No words were spoken, Shaggy couldn't think of one word to say. His mind raced. He helt her close, feeling her move in time to the beat of the song. He smelt the shampoo she had used, her hair tickling his nose. Then inspiration, born of desperation, struck and he began to whisper the words of the song in her ear.
"When I give my heart,
it will be completely,
or I'll never give my heart.
And the moment I can feel that
you feel that way too,
is when I fall in love with you."
Mary Jane moved her head slightly, whispering back, making it a duet...
"And the moment I can feel that
you feel that way too,
is when I fall in love with you..."
A lifetime later, or at least a few minutes, the song came to an end. Shaggy helt her, his hand still resting in the small of her back, her hand still on his shoulder. He found holding her was exciting and intoxicating. He didn't want this moment to ever end.
MJ waited. Waited, listening to the racing beat of his heart. Waited for him to remove his hand from her back, ending the dance, the moment they had shared. Couples left the dance floor, their place taken by other couples for the next dance. MJ fought to understand the feelings that raged within her calm demeanor. Never had she felt this volcano of feelings...this feeling of not wanting to move, only to stay as long as possible in his arms.
"Is this ...Is this ...love?" she wondered.
"Would you like to go for a walk on the beach?" Shaggy asked, not knowing what to say, only wanting to say something, anything savoring the moment.
"I'm not dressed for a walk on the beach" MJ laughed, spreading her arms, looking down at her gown.
"Like, oh yeah...good point"
"Silly! Come on! Maybe not on the beach...what about your friends?"
"They can handle anything that comes up...besides Velma deserves the attention she has been denied for so long...she can have my part."
No one noticed as the couple and Great Dane slipped away from the party. They helt hands as they meandered down the walkway to the pier.
Part four
"I don't think high heels would be a good idea on the pier" MJ observed.
Shaggy agreed, pointing instead to a bench. They stood, leaning against the back of the bench, looking out over the water. The lights of the ships, anchored in the bay, danced over the waves which lapped quietly on the beach.
"I've always loved the ocean. It's so beautiful, especially at night" MJ said.
"It can be dangerous too" Shaggy observed.
"Dangerous, yes, if you don't respect its power...do you surf? I surf as often as I can."
"I get by...what about sharks?"
"The sharks to look for have two legs and walk on dry land" MJ laughed, a warm, infectious laugh that Shaggy loved, hoping he could make her laugh again, just to hear her laugh again.
"We don't get the big sharks at Campbell Bay. The only shark I've seen was a little Tiger shark that got curious about my board and bumped it. When he found out it wasn't food, he moved on."
"Zoinks! I'd have made for the beach in a hurry" Shaggy said.
"Worst thing you could have done...the splashing would only attract other sharks in the area."
Scooby had been sitting beside Shaggy while they talked. He rose, searching out a new interesting scent.
"So, like, what did you want to tell me?" Shaggy asked, his curiosity still nagging at him.
"I called my parents. They asked if you would like to visit Campbell Bay. They want to meet you and thank you properly for saving my life" MJ began.
"Zoinks!...Really?" Shaggy was flabbergasted.
"Really! My older brother, Bill, left for the Navy, you can use his old room, and the board he left. So what do you think? Will you come?" MJ finished.
Out of all the questions flooding Shaggy's mind, it all came down to one.
"So, like, why me? Why not ask the whole gang?"
MJ had expected that question and had prepared for it...
"I had a little to do with it...I want you to come. It will give us time to get to know each other better...there is one other reason...like you I hang out with some of my friends. Lately there has been something strange going on, water bottles filled with sand, surf boards moved, things like that. I'm afraid that if the whole gang showed up, whatever is going on will just go underground until they leave, then return. I know it doesn't sound like much but I feel there is something serious going on."
"So, you want me to splash around and see if any sharks come around?" Shaggy asked.
"If one person with a reasonable explanation as to why they are there wont cause too much curiosity."
"OK..but one condition...if things get too serious, we call for help...police or somebody, I don't want anything happening to you." Shaggy said.
"Deal! First sign of trouble and I'll yell the loudest."
"I will need to go back to Coolsville for some stuff...I didn't come for an extended stay."
Part five
About that time, Scooby came bounding up, hitting MJ on the back of her legs, throwing her off balance. "YIPE!" she yelled, Shaggy catching her before she fell.
"Scooby! Be more careful!" Shaggy admonished Scooby.
"Rok Ray" Scooby woofed, his eyes downcast.
Helping MJ regain her balance and getting her feet planted on solid ground , Shaggy found their lips only inches apart.
"Thanks Shaggy" she whispered, not moving. "So, will you come visit?"
"I've heard somewhere that a kiss is worth a thousand words."
"So why are you talking so much" she whispered.
He brushed her full lips, letting his arms encircle her waist. MJ didn't resist. Accepting his firm kiss, she placed her arms around his neck. The battle of feelings still raging inside her, she surrendered to his arms, to his kiss. She returned the kiss with a passion that both frightened and excited her.
Scooby watched the young couple a few moments then rose and walked off in search of a new scent.
"Brother! What I do for love!" he thought.
To Be Continued...