Chapter 2: At the theater and the interview

(Fred's Point of View)

I let go of Rogers and pushed him towards the nearby table behind him and watch him fall before the gang and I turned and walked away.

That stoner jerk is always looking for trouble at school, and I rarely see him with any friends.

Sure makes me wonder why a jerk like him doesn't bother skipping classes if he doesn't like to be in school. My bet is that he probably prefer staying in classes just so that he could continue to get other students stoned or something.

"That Rogers guy sure is one devil of a nincompoop, Freddie." Red said to me as we sat at our usual table for lunch.

"He sure is." I nodded. He never bothered fighting back whenever the gang and I went to him. I guess he doesn't want to get into trouble with the principal, and his skinny appearance sure makes me wonder how much of that stuff he consumes everyday.

Oh well, no time to think about that nincompoop. The gang and I got an important football meeting to attend, and Coach Welker will be frustrated if we're late for the meeting.

It didn't take long for us to reach the gym locker room where the other guys and the coach are waiting.

"Took you boys long enough." The coach said as we entered the locker room. "What was the holdup?"

"We just gave that hippie that got Rhino stoned a warning, Coach." Red replied. "Jones warned him not to get anywhere near freshmen and getting them stoned or risk getting suspended."

"I see." Welker nodded. "So anyways, you boys ready for tonight's preseason game against William Hanna High?"

I looked towards the team captain Peter Higgins, who nodded. "We sure are, coach!"

All of us nodded confidently. We spent almost every afternoon practice for the game, and we don't intend on letting that school make fools out of us.

(Third Person)

After lunch, Shaggy was on his way back to his locker when his sister raced off to him.

"Why didn't you stand up for yourself, Norville?" She asked as she stopped him.

"What do you mean, Mags?" Shaggy asked.

"You know what I'm talking about, Norville." Maggie replied with her hands by her hips. "Why didn't you stand up to that jerk?"

"You know I'm not the type that likes to invite trouble, Mags." Shaggy folded his arms as he replied. "Besides, I don't want you to run afoul of his gang if I do fight back."

Maggie nodded and snorted but didn't reply, and Shaggy felt bad for coming up with such a terrible excuse for not standing up for himself.

Adding to his bad mood was that his final afternoon class, Grade 11 English, is shared with a certain brown-haired girl who he wished he didn't share any classes with.

Velma Dinkley, who's known for her bossy attitude and being quite the know-it-all.

While she never interacted with him in class, he find her sarcasm annoying, primarily when she answers a teacher or corrects the teacher during class, which makes him dread English class, as all of this question-asking in class and sarcasm annoys the stuffing out of him and makes him feel that the class is being dragged for too long and taking over the entire afternoon.

At least in Music class, he can relax more. His classmates respects him and the teacher is aware of his family situation, particularly the Rogers' history with the Blakes, which allowed him to act like himself more.

Very few people in school know this, but Shaggy is a very skilled guitarist and pianist. The teacher, Mr. Abbado, considers Shaggy as one of his best pianists and has him playing solo piano parts during practices and recordings of piano pieces and piano-based orchestral pieces, such as piano concertos.

Playing the piano and guitar also offered a way for Shaggy to relax and hide the pain he has to endure as part of him keeping up with his (rather) infamous reputation.

Of course, his playing of music isn't limited to classical music. He's a rock fan and also listens to (And plays) rock and pop music from since the 1950s. Among his favourite bands includes the Beatles, KISS and Simple Plan.

Anyways, it felt like that his favourite classes always doesn't last as long as he hoped. Next came English, which he dreaded a lot, expecting the class to become annoying and boring as usual.

Sure enough, English was a pain in the neck for him as Velma was, well, her usual self. Shaggy really can't help but wonder how did the teacher have the patience to deal with Velma's debating and questioning.

At least school was over, but the same can't be said for Shaggy's day.

After grabbing his belongings and backpack at his locker, Shaggy met up with Maggie.

"I'm off to the theater, Mags." He said.

"Okay." Maggie nodded. "Be careful and have fun, Norville."

Shaggy nodded before they split up, with Maggie heading straight to her part-time job at the public library in downtown Coolsville.

The Joseph Barbera Theater is located just a few blocks away from school, and Shaggy was able to get there in ten minutes.

Very few people in school know this as well, but Shaggy has been volunteering at the theater, where he was trained in various acting techniques, helped out in various theater productions and did some voice acting practice under the guidance of Cameron Kasem, a famous DJ, radio host, theatre and movie producer and voice actor who is also known for his liberal political views. (As a matter a fact, the famous DJ sounded almost just like Shaggy)

Like Sam, the famous DJ is a vocal critic of Congressman Barty Blake and has been volunteering in Blake's main opponent's election campaign.

Among Kasem's criticisms of Blake includes the Congressman's denial of climate change, disdain towards actions on environmental protection, Blake Industries' environmental records and its treatment of its labour force and the local people living near his company's establishments, particularly in developing countries overseas.

Kasem was also acquainted with the Rogers. Prior to becoming an actor, he served in the Army with Sam, specifically in the military police, and their company went on a tour in the Gulf during the 1991 war. A war that contributed to the solidification of his liberal political position and growing disdain towards the government, especially on its environmental and foreign policies.

Kasem nodded as he saw Shaggy arriving at the theater.

"Good afternoon, Shaggy." He said. "Just to let you know, the newspaper is sending a reporter to interview us later at four as we prepare for our upcoming first screening of our production of The Dog Ranger Strikes! at the Leonard Weinrib Memorial Park this weekend."

"I see, Mr. Kasem." Shaggy nodded. "Which paper is interviewing us?"

"The Coolsville Gazette." Kasem replied. "And if you don't feel comfortable, I can leave your name out of the paper. You know, to help you keep up with your reputation cover."

"I know." Shaggy said. "It's just that...well...I'm getting really tired about have to keep up with this laid-back, slacker and stoner reputation. Don't get me wrong, Mr. Kasem, I enjoy acting and doing what I do, but I really wish I can express my true self freely."

"I understand." Mr. Kasem nodded understandingly. "It's just that since your mother's murder, your father has been anxious about you and your sister's safeties and will do anything for you two to stay safe and okay."

Shaggy nodded as Kasem placed a hand on his shoulder.

(Shaggy's Point of View)

Time sure went by fast. Before you know it, it was time for the interview with the Coolsville Gazette.

During this time, I spoke to Mr. Kasem and we decided that I can be photographed on the condition that I'm not named (Being referred to simply as his assistant) and my face doesn't get shown in the photos.

Anyways, it was four o'clock when we saw an attractive-looking redhead wearing a white dress shirt, a green tie that matches the colour green of my own shirt, a purple dress coat, a black skirt and wearing a purple hairband and shoes arriving at the theater.

In addition, I thought I noticed a logo for some prestigious private school on her dress coat. Must be one of those students from wealthy families attending one of those prestigious private schools in town.

Wait a minute, I thought to myself as she approached Mr. Kasem. That girl looks familiar...It's like I've seen her before.

"Mr. Cameron Kasem?" The girl asked. She was holding a notepad, one Dad knows that reporters often use, yet she looks...young, maybe in my age group. How is it that the newspaper is hiring people who haven't even graduated from high school?

As I wonder about that last thought, Mr. Kasem nodded. "And you are?"

"Daphne Anne Blake. I'm from the Coolsville Gazette." The girl introduced herself and at that moment, I realized why I recognized her.

She's Congressman Barty Blake's youngest daughter.

"I assuming that you're interning at the paper, right?" Kasem asked as he shook Daphne's offered hand, noting the girl's young age.

"That's right." Daphne nodded. "I'm a junior at the Dudley Taft Academy, and my father is..."

"Congressman Barty Blake." I finished. "I've noticed the resemblance, Miss Blake."

I kind of wished that I have kept my mouth shut, because the redhead turned her attention towards me and shot me a glare.

"I wasn't speaking to you, you hippie." She said crossly. "And I'm sure Mr. Kasem will appreciate that you get out of here before you get his people stoned!"

I folded my arms as she made the remark. Once again, I was viewed as a drug dealer. The type of people her father really despises.

Not surprised by the way she's speaking to me. Like father, like daughter.

"He's working with me, Miss Blake." Kasem quickly said, coming to me defense. "Now, are you going to do the interview or not?"

Daphne stopped what she was doing and paused before turning her attention back to him and nodded as she took out her pencil and notepad.

After finishing with the interview, Daphne packed up her belongings and before she left, she took another look at me.

"I see why you took that hippie in, Mr. Kasem." She said. "You're trying to prove that Leonard Jackson can help solve the state's problems if he were to be elected to the House of Representatives and replace my father by bringing in this loser."

Leonard Jackson is her father's main political opponent who is running to represent Coolsville's congressional district in the House of Representatives and replace Barty Blake.

Dad was acquainted with Mr. Jackson. Prior to his current efforts in running for the House of Representatives, he was the city's district attorney (And before that, a civil rights attorney) who made cleaning up corruption in the city a top priority, a goal also shared by Dad before Mom's untimely demise.

I understand why Mr. Kasem will support the man for his campaign to be elected to the House of Representatives. From what I've read in the newspaper and what Dad told me, he's accomplished a lot while in office, relentlessly prosecuting crooked City Hall officials and crooked police officers with good results, even if they were hampered by the corrupt establishment at City Hall and Dad's workplace. Even with all those death threats against him, he remains defiant and I sure admire his courage and integrity.

He also campaigned on the promise in making the state government introduce tougher environmental protection laws, as well as making the state follow Europe and Colorado's lead in decriminalizing certain illegal drugs that I know are far more beneficial than the legal mainstream drugs produced by those big pharmaceutical corporations.

The main thing is, he's a man of integrity. Just like the junior Democrat Senator representing Vermont in the Senate in Washington.

She then huffed as she made her way out of the theater as she continued, "Well, I tell you what. No way will that work out well. He's bound to be crooked, just like anyone of his kind. You're making a mistake if you think he can be rehabilitated."

Mr. Kasem sighed as we watched the redhead leave the theater. At least she didn't recognized me as a member of the Rogers clan, nor was my name ever mentioned during the interview.

"Well, that sure was some interview." Mr. Kasem said to me with his arms folded.

I shrugged. "Well, she's a Blake, Mr. Kasem. It shouldn't be much of a surprise for her to act the way she did when she saw me."

In fact, I won't be surprised if that redhead is a spoiled Daddy's girl.

Mr. Kasem nodded, and I can guess that he's glad that all those acting lessons allowed me to simply just move on after insults like that.

Daphne sure is rude and spoiled in this first encounter with Shaggy, and don't worry folks! The next chapter will bring in the main mystery of the story that will bring these four vastly different kids together, along with Scooby.

Stay tuned, and please read and review!