(A/N: Absolutely everyone and his (pardon the pun) dog has a variation on how Scooby and the gang met. So I made my own, because I could.)
"It seems like we've had Scooby forever," remarked Daphne, pulling a scrapbook from the shelf and blowing off the dust.
"Do you remember the first day we saw him?" Velma asked. "That day at Grillo's Pet Store?"
"I wonder what Ms. Grillo will have us do today," Fred mused. "I hope she'll have us looking after the puppies. I was reading in the National Exaggerator about how the Perilous Puppy People from Pluto are coming to take over the world by disguising themselves as innocent household pets!"
Daphne rolled her eyes. "Freddy, please! There are no such things as 'Puppy People from Pluto!' Besides. I'm sure we'll be working with the soft, fluffy kitties and tying their cute hair in little lavender bows."
"I've been most excited about engaging in the herpetological side of the pet shop," Velma chimed in from the back, to the confusion of the rest of the gang. "The reptiles…" she translated with pursed lips. "What about you, Shaggy?"
"Like, the break room!" Shaggy replied. "Like, you know Ms. Grillo makes the best cookies for us when we're off the clock."
The rest of the gang rolled their eyes and continued walking to the shop.
Arriving at Grillo's Pet Store, the gang was greeted by a terrifying sight! The front of the shop had been marred by graffiti! Red spray paint scrawled dire warning and threats all over the store's plate-glass window.
"Jinkies!" Velma shouted.
"Velma said jinkies!" Daphne exclaimed. "She must have found a clue already."
Velma shook her head. "No, Daphne. That 'jinkies' simply meant that I'm shocked. The 'jinkies' when I find a clue is usually much higher-pitched."
"…Thanks for…clearing that up?"
"We can debate about catchphrases later," Fred announced. "Ms. Grillo needs our help!"
Ms. Grillo, a plump woman in a blue Grillo's Pet Store apron over a pink-and-orange flowered dress, dunked a stained sponge into a bucket of soapy water and scrubbed viciously at the M in the word DOOM. Her salt-and-pepper hair, usually tied in a bun, had come loose and was cascading down her back.
Ms. Grillo's assistant, Mack, a tall young man with black hair, aimed a hose at the word BEWARE. He wore a blue Grillo's Pet Store apron over his white T-shirt and black pants.
"What happened here?" Fred asked, jogging up to the scene as quickly as his little legs could carry him.
Ms. Grillo sighed, wiping the sweat off her brow. "Hi, kids. Thanks for coming. I'm really sorry you had to see this."
"It's okay, Ms. Grillo," Velma said. "How can we help?"
Ms. Grillo waved them to a stack of buckets and sponges used to bathe and groom the pets. "Just grab some supplies and get started, please. It shouldn't take too long when everyone helps."
"I can handle this, Ms. Grillo," Mack interjected. "Why don't you take the kids inside? I'll finish up out here."
"Are you sure?" Ms. Grillo asked. "I don't want you to get heat stroke."
Mack waved a hand dismissively. "I'll be fine. But these kids don't need to be out here – and neither do you." His tone left no room for arguments.
"Well, okay…" Ms. Grillo replied, still not convinced. "Take a break if you need to. Drink plenty of water." As Mack returned to the graffiti, Ms. Grillo ushered the gang inside.