Chapter 36: A Meddling Graduation
Velma's family was driving her and Tucker to whatever place they and her friend's family rented for their graduation. With them was Velma's younger sister Madelyn Dinkley, who was Shaggy's date. To Tucker's surprise, they stopped at Coolsville High. "I thought you were homeschooled." Tucker commented.
"It doesn't stop us from renting an actual school for the graduation ceremony, Tucker." Velma's Mom explained.
"And there's some sort of symbolism by choosing this place since Velma and her friends used to attend Coolsville High before dedicating their lives to mystery solving." Velma's Dad added.
The three teenagers got out of the Dinkley's car. "One more thing, Tucker." Velma's Dad warned. "Keep your "too fine" tendencies to yourself."
"Y-yes, Mr. Dinkley." Tucker fearfully answered. 'Will I ever be able to live it down?' Tucker mentally asked.
After Velma and Madelyn's parents left, the girls and Tucker saw a limousine arriving. "It must be Fred and Daphne." Velma commented and they went to greet their friends.
"Thank you, Jenkins." Daphne told the driver after he helped her and Fred out of the limousine.
"At your service, Ms. Blake." Jenkins formally answered. "I'll be picking you and your date at the time set by your parents."
"See you later, Jenkins." Daphne said.
"Yes, Ms. Blake." Jenkins replied, entered the limousine and drove away.
"Hi, Daphne. Hi, Fred." Velma greeted her friends.
"Velma, how long were you, Madelyn and Tucker waiting for us?" Daphne asked.
"We came right before you did, Daphne." Velma answered.
"Where're Shaggy and Scooby?" Fred asked and then they heard a car arriving. Shaggy and Scooby came out of it.
"Have fun, Norville." Shaggy's Dad said.
"Please, don't call me "Norville", Dad." Shaggy asked, not liking his actual name. he then heard Scooby laughing. "Something funny, Scoobert?"
"Scoobert?" Tucker asked.
"That's Scooby's formal name, Tucker." Velma explained.
"Oh, you're all here?" Shaggy was surprised. "How long were you, like, waiting for us?"
"Not much." Madelyn answered. "Shall we get in?"
Inside, Tucker saw something that scared him. "Aaaaaaahhhhhh!"
Out of instinct, Scooby jumped at Shaggy. "Did you see a ghost?" Shaggy asked.
"Worse!" Tucker exclaimed. "I saw Castle Cone Ice Cream!"
To the techno geek's surprise, Shaggy and Scooby eagerly helped themselves. "Wait a minute. Do you guys like that thing?"
"Yeah." Shaggy answered.
"Reah." Scooby added.
"You know that's Brussel sprout flavored ice cream, right?" Tucker asked.
"Yeah, Scooby and I were, like, afraid of it at first but it changed after we tasted it." Shaggy explained.
"I never tasted any of those weird flavored ice creams." Tucker stated.
"I get it, Tucker." Shaggy commented. "Scoob and I were, like, initially afraid of tasting Crubeens and Farl until we went to Ireland and met a chef who, like, insisted a lot."
"And you like Crubeens and Farl now?" Tucker asked.
"No, but that's not, like, the point." Shaggy answered. "The point is that we now, like, know we don't like Crubeens and Farl and you should at least, like, try those exotic flavors to know which ones you like and which ones you don't."
"Is there any left?" Tucker asked and Shaggy and Scooby realized they ate it all.
"Oops, sorry." Shaggy said.
"Rorry." Scooby added.
"I see you guys haven't changed a lot." They heard a bulky red-haired boy say.
"Red Herring?" Everyone but Tucker asked.
"In the flesh, gang." Red Herring answered.
"What're you doing here, Red?" Daphne asked with a frown.
"My job." Red answered and he showed his uniform. "I work at the catering service hired for your graduation."
"Do you mean you, like, work with food?" Shaggy excitedly asked.
"Food I'm not allowed to eat, Rogers." Red pointed out.
"Oh, right." Shaggy sadly said.
"For the record, I'm only doing this until I get the required knowledge and experience to be a party planner." Red said. "I even have a planned party scare."
"Like what, Red?" Velma asked.
"Like…" Red was then interrupted by the arrival of the graduates' parents.
"I thought they went home." Tucker commented upon seeing Velma's parents.
"No, they and the other parents just wanted to give some finishing touches." Velma explained.
The Principal of Coolsville High made an announcement. "Now, to honor the fact four former students are graduating and their families rented this place for the graduation ceremony, I'm calling them one by one to get their diplomas. Blake, Daphne."
"Yippeee!" Daphne exclaimed and got her diploma.
"Dinkley, Velma."
Velma just calmly walked to the podium. "Congratulations, Ms. Dinkley. But be warned. The M.I.T. allowed that Too Fine creep to join as well."
"Uh, she's dating him." Daphne pointed out.
The Principal then looked at Tucker. "He's even geekier than the girls who reported him suggested." He commented.
'And that's because he didn't come with the Iron Boy armor.' Velma thought in dismay. "He's not that bad once we get to know him."
"Whatever." The Principal muttered. "Jones, Frederick."
Fred Jones then showed up. "I hope your career involves something better than the National Exaggerator."
"Hey!" Fred's Uncle Ed protested.
"Any news about Elvis' alien half-brother lately, Jones?" The Principal mockingly asked.
"It's all on the National Exaggerator, Principal!" Ed proudly answered. "He's suing a rival newspaper from Edge City to make them say he's not marrying Bigfoot. He's just the best man."
The Principal pinched his nose in frustration. "Are you for real?"
"Is it so hard to believe?" Ed asked in confusion. "It's not like in the old days back when people didn't know aliens are real."
Tucker had to agree with Ed Jones. Especially after everything he and Danny experienced with the dating service.
"Last and probably least, Rogers, Norville." The Principal said.
"Like, thank you." Shaggy replied.
After the graduates got their diplomas, there was a dance and, afterwards, everyone left. "That was unusual." Velma commented.
"I know." Tucker replied. "Homeschooled students celebrating her graduation at an actual school?"
"No, I mean the part about no ghosts, real or fake, showing up." Velma corrected her boyfriend.
"That too." As an Amity Park resident, he understood what Velma felt and that saddened him.
After their conversation ended, the Dinkleys gave Tucker a ride to the bus station so he could return to Amity Park.
End chapter
Answer to Leonardo (Guest): Capítulo escrito. Obrigado e também fiquei surpreso. A Backupsmore, conhecida na dublagem Brasileira como "Qualquer Nota", é de Gravity Falls: Um Verão de Mistérios". Tivô Ford foi para lá após não ter sido aceito na West Coast Tech. Sim, foi uma referência à Bonnie Rockwaller.