Chapter 10
Fred smelled foul. And his breath was absolutely rank. Being embraced in a bearhug from his oldest male friend, Shaggy wondered how long he could hold his breath. Fred was still obviously wearing what remained of the clothes he was wearing when they got to the island 35 years ago. The original cloth was in tatters and patched together using some form of leather threads (probably made from rat skin) and multiple small skins which appeared to also be rat. It was clear that the foundation of the Spooky Island economy was rat.
Finally, Daphne crawled out of the cave. Once out, she got up to her feet, struck a pose, and declared, "At last, I get to reveal to the fashion world my new look, Daphne 2.0!"
Daphne's clumsily-made dress contained no fabric from the original clothing she had worn when they came to the island. It was nothing but rat skins sewn together. The eyelets through which the thinner strips of rat skin were threaded looked to have been gouged out with pointed sticks. The skins were dried but not tanned and the entire ensemble smelled to high heaven.
Both Daphne and Fred were skinny. Not emaciated or sickly but definitely well below norms. They stood erect with no stooped posture and their muscle tone appeared to be excellent for their age.
Daphne's hair hung down to the middle of her back where it was also roughly cut. It was grey but with a reddish tint that hinted at the fiery locks that had once adorned her scalp. Her skin, which had once been soft, smooth, and the color of finest ivory, was now weathered and browned and wrinkled. Fred's was the same.
They were not the beautiful couple they once had been. But they were alive!
Velma got the same olfactory experience as Shaggy when Daphne swept her up into a hug. It was a strong hug and Velma could feel her friends taught muscles rippling under the skin. As formidable as Daphne had always been, this version was more so.
Daphne released Velma just as Velma's breath was about to give out, "How long has it been?"
No way to pull the punch, "35 years."
"Oh my god! How is Nan?!"
At the thought of the woman she had raised, Velma's maternal training kicked in and she smiled, "Nan is a beautiful, smart, strong woman. You will be very proud of her."
Daphne's lips began to quiver and her eyes filled with tears. To hell with the smell. Velma reached out her arms and wrapped them around her friend. As Daphne's tears cascaded into Velma's hair, Velma tilted her face up and whispered, "And you're a grandmother."
Daphne's hug suddenly grew so intense Velma's air was squeezed out of her, "Really?! For real?! I'm a grandmother?!"
"Yes. Your granddaughter's name is Natalie and she's twelve years old. She's also beautiful and she looks a lot like you."
Daphne broke away, "Fred, did you hear that? We're grandparents!"
Fred was beaming with his ugly, yellow teeth, "Shaggy just told me."
The two of them rushed into each others' arms and cried together.
When they settled down, Daphne looked at Velma, "Do you have pictures?"
Velma looked at Shaggy and then back, "I can do one better if you're ready for it. You can see and talk to her right now."
"This island has cell service?"
"Everywhere has cell service. It takes some getting used to. Do you want to talk with your daughter?"
Daphne, who seemed so formidable and strong just a moment ago, wilted liked a plucked flower, "I don't know." She turned to her husband, "Freddy? I'm afraid."
He held her hand and looked her in the eyes, "She's Nan. She's our Nan."
Daphne looked over at Velma with tears streaming down her cheeks, "Yes, please. I want to talk with my baby."
Velma had played and replayed this scenario in her dreams for years. There was one difficult part. She addressed it head on, "Daphne, she calls me 'Mom' and she calls Shaggy 'Dad'."
"What?"
Velma didn't repeat herself. She knew Daphne had heard.
Daphne's voice suddenly sounded like a small child, "Does she know about us?"
"Yes. She always has. When she was around twelve, she asked if she could call us 'Mom' and 'Dad'. She just wanted to be normal."
"I didn't expect that."
"I know. I'm sorry if I hurt you. That wasn't the intent."
Fred jumped in, "No! You didn't hurt us, Velma. None of this is your fault. All of this is the fault of Scooby Doo. He did this!" The vehemence in his voice was frightening and both Velma and Shaggy struggled not to step back.
Daphne nodded, "Fred's right." She looked at Velma, "You raised her?"
"Yes, she was always with us."
"And you've loved her."
"Always. Both Shaggy and I love her dearly."
"She grew up surrounded by love. That's all we could have ever asked of you."
Fred also had tears coursing down his face and into his beard, "Thank you both, so much."
Daphne took a deep swallow, "I'm ready now, Velma. Call my baby."
Velma oriented the A-Eye away from Daphne and Fred and at herself, "Call Nan."
The A-Eye projected its holographic placard up in the air which said "Calling Nan" for a few seconds before Nan's face appeared.
"Hi Mom. I'm a little busy right now. Can I call you back?"
"No, you can't. This is the most important call you've ever gotten."
Nan had known Velma as a mother that smiled and laughed but she also knew Velma's real personality and she especially knew that Velma Dinkley never exaggerated. She leaned out of the view of the holo for a moment and Velma heard the murmurings of a side conversation. Holos didn't show surroundings but Velma could tell from the movement of Nan's shoulders that she had started walking. After several strides, Nan appeared to sit down.
"Okay, I'm alone now. What's up?"
Velma had been rehearsing these words for half her life, "Nan, I would like to introduce you to your mother and father." She turned the A-Eye toward Fred and Daphne and whispered, "Refocus" to it. At Nan's end of the line, two people appeared. Her mouth dropped open and she froze.
Daphne had the same reaction.
Fred looked back and forth between the two, "Nan, I know you don't remember us but I'm your father and this is your mother."
Daphne found her words, "And we've been loving you since before you were born."
Nan knew that she was going into shock but had to get some words out. "Where?... Where have you been?"
"We've been trapped on this horrible island for so long… so very long."
Nan was trying to process so much. Trapped on an island? That was ridiculous. But she could see them and see the way they looked and the way they were dressed. And her mother… Velma… wasn't correcting them. It was true. It had to be true. They had been marooned on a desert island for 35 years. "I don't know what to say."
Daphne was smiling, "You don't have to say anything. We'll be there soon and you can ask us all of the questions that you want and we'll answer every one. And… can we meet Natalie?"
Nan hadn't thought of that, "Meet Natalie? Of course. You have to meet Natalie."
This brought Daphne to tears again which brought Nan to tears which brought Velma to tears. Fred and Shaggy tried to pretend they weren't crying but the glistening sheen on their cheeks told another story.
Velma moved the A-Eye around to be focused on her, "Nan, we'll be back home in a day or so. Can you make it to our house, or do you want us to come to you?"
"We can make it to your house. What about Sarah and Timmy?"
"If you want them there, I'll invite them."
"Yes. This is about family and they're family."
"I like that. Be at our house in two days."
"We'll be there."
The call ended.
Daphne looked up at Fred, "Freddy, that was Nan. That was our Nan."
Fred tried to speak and failed. Emotions had always been a delayed reaction with him, but when they hit, they hit hard.
Shaggy placed a hand on Fred' shoulder, "In a couple of days, you'll be face to face with her."
Daphne perked up, "A couple of days? Do they have rocket boats now?"
"No. Boats are still boats. Well… they pilot themselves now. And planes fly themselves. And cars drive themselves. But we have time later to catch you up on the state of technology. We came in a seaplane. I'm surprised that you didn't see us when we circled the island."
Fred had recovered, "We sleep during the day. More rats come out at night and hunting is easier."
Shaggy gulped, "More rats?! We need to head back right now. I'm not going to be trudging back through more rats than what we saw coming over."
Fred's face tightened, "Back? Do you mean to the other side of the island?"
"Yeah, the plane's moored at the pier."
Fred's eyes narrowed tightly, "Is the dog still alive?"
A heavy silence fell on the group.
Shaggy gulped again, "Yes. Scooby Doo is still alive and I know what he did…"
"If I meet him, he won't be alive for long."
Daphne agreed, "No, he won't. He deserves to die."
This was rapidly getting out of hand. Velma took a deep breath and tried logic, "Guys, that might not be so easy. He's not the lovable, cowardly dog that we once knew."
Fred held his arm up and began pulling back the rat pelt sleeve, "I know that." When the sleeve was pulled back, it revealed a horribly disfigured forearm. It was so sunken in the middle that it looked almost like a hole that went all of the way through. There were places where the bone was clearly visible under the shriveled skin. "This is what happened the last time he and I squared off."
Shaggy turned away.
Daphne stepped next to her husband and ran her hand over the aged wounds, "All of our medical supplies sailed off with our boat that he hijacked. The wound got infected. There was no way to remove the arm and I almost lost my Freddy. If he had died and I had been left alone, I wouldn't be here now. I wouldn't have lasted the first year."
Fred nodded, "Neither of us could have made it alone. Luckily, my immune system was able to fight off the infection and I can still use my arm a little. I can't make a fist but the fingers still move."
Shaggy didn't know if Scooby would even decide to return to the Mainland. But he needed to plan for that scenario. "Fred, we have one plane. If we can find a way to all go back together, then everybody is back in Hawaii by tonight or tomorrow and everybody is back in Crystal Cove in two days."
Fred and Daphne both shook their heads violently. Fred spoke, "No! The dog can wait."
Shaggy looked to Velma to see if she had any thoughts. She shook her head slightly. He had just one option, "Okay. You two go back first and then the plane comes back to get Scooby."
Daphne's jaw jutted forward, "Why? He's the one who wanted to be here. Leave him here."
Velma stepped in, "We're here to rescue everybody. If he chooses not to come, we won't force him. But everyone who wants to go home, goes home. That is not up for discussion."
Another uneasy silence settled on the group. Shaggy summoned up a smile, "Guys, you're going home!"
Fred turned to Daphne, "We're going home."
Daphne repeated the mantra, "We're going home."
They fell into each other's arms again and more tears fell.
It was time for logistics. Velma looked around, "How quickly can you be ready to leave? Do you have anything to pack?"
Daphne looked at Fred, "I don't know, Fred. Maybe we should bring some rat pelts back for the girls. Christmas stocking stuffers."
Velma and Shaggy's mouths dropped open.
Daphne laughed and for the first time her voice sounded like what they remembered, "Relax guys. I'm just joking. We're ready to go right now."
Fred dropped to his knees and reached into the cave, "I'll grab a couple of spears in case… Well, just in case."
Shaggy took a knee next to him, "When we get to the other side of the island, we'll go in ahead of you to make sure and avoid any 'just-in-case' from happening."
Fred's voice tensed, "I'm taking the spears."
Shaggy stood, "I'm not stopping you. I just want to make sure they don't get used."
"Fair."
The walk back around to the east side of the island was a victory lap. As such, it seemed to go more quickly (especially with the short cuts that Fred and Daphne knew through the jungle). The conversation was upbeat with Shaggy and Velma updating Fred and Daphne about the changes that had occurred in the last 35 years. Fred held Shaggy's A-Eye in his hand while Shaggy gave it commands.
Fred was mesmerized, "I never thought that a smartphone would seem antiquated and bulky. This thing is so cool. Can I call my Dad?"
Shaggy smiled, "Of course, dude! We'll stop right now and do it."
Velma still couldn't shake her guilt, "Guys, both of your families have been a part of Nan and Natalie's lives."
Daphne looked skeptical, "My family? Like my sisters?"
Velma backpedaled, "Well… Delilah some… at least when Nan got older… like mid-twenties. Okay, let me rephrase. Both of your fathers have been active in Nan and Natalie's lives."
Fred's smile dropped, "What about my Mom?"
Velma locked up on this answer. So, Shaggy took it. "She visited twice before Nan was three and then stopped. We call her on the phone every year and every year she says 'maybe next year'."
Fred frowned, "Well, some things haven't changed."
"I guess not. Sorry, buddy."
"How's my Dad doing?"
This was better news and Shaggy's smile returned, "He's doing great. He did his best to pitch in on the costs of searching for you and he's not been able to retire yet…"
"Not retired? He's 85!"
"Social Security didn't really work long term. Official retirement age is 80 now and it doesn't pay enough to live on unless you delay retirement to 87. But everybody lives to over a hundred now."
Daphne was caught up in the excitement, "What about my father?"
Velma took this one, "For being 97, he's doing pretty good. He's the one that found the key clue that told us where you were."
Daphne started crying again. Velma began to worry that she might dehydrate.
Fred looked at the A-Eye that he was still holding in his hand, "How do we make a call with this thing?"
Shaggy leaned over to it (an unnecessary action that made younger people roll their eyes), "Call Fred Jones, Sr. Focus on Fred Jones, Jr."
Fred jumped a little when the placard popped up in the air in front of him. Fred Sr's hologram appeared, "Shaggy! Good to hear…" The older man's mouth dropped open. Tears came first and then words bubbled through, "Fred? Is that you?"
"Yeah Dad, they found me. I'm coming home!"
More tears. Lots more tears. Then plans for the next few days. Then more tears. The plans were made that Fred and Daphne would be given a day alone with Nan and Natalie before everyone else would see them. All at once. Huge party. Then more tears.
The conversation ended on a sour note when Fred Sr said, "I'll invite your mother."
Fred looked at him, "Do you think she'll come?"
Fred Sr had never lied to his son and wasn't going to start now, "I don't know, son."
Fred nodded and said with more feeling than ever before, "I love you, Dad."
Daphne was jumping up and down like a school girl, "My turn! My turn!"
Velma pulled out her A-Eye and placed it in Daphne's palm, "Your father has had an exhausting few days. Instead of shocking him all at once, why don't you call Delilah and let her prep him a little."
"He's that delicate?" Daphne was having trouble picturing the towering Barty Blake as a weakened old man.
Shaggy smiled, "I wouldn't use that word around him, but he requires a lot of care now."
Daphne nodded and looked at the small card in her hand, "Okay, I'm ready."
Velma spoke, "Call Delilah Blake. Focus on Daphne."
Again the placard, followed by Delilah's hologram, "Hello Velma. Any news…" Another frozen stare.
Daphne smiled, "Hi Sis. What's new?" You guessed it. More tears. Delilah was more probing than Fred Sr had been and got details of what had happened. This call also ended on a sour note.
After hearing the story of how Fred and Daphne had ended up trapped on the island, Delilah was enraged, "We will get every lawyer Blake Industries has on this. We'll call in every favor. We will get that goddamn dog locked up and we will melt the key down to ashes! He will never see freedom again! He will pay for this!"
Daphne looked at her sister, "I won't stop you."
Velma stepped over next to Daphne, "Delilah, could you do us a favor and have your people call the US Embassy in Hawaii and explain the situation to them. We'll be coming in over the next two days with two or three American citizens with no A-Eyes and no State Department documentation. We'll need some help."
Delilah clearly reacted to the number 'three' but kept her composure, "Will do. Everything will be taken care of by the time you get there."
They rang off and started down the path again. Shaggy tried to sound nonchalant, "So, revenge against Scooby Doo is definitely in your plans."
Fred and Daphne answered in unison, "Yes."
A few more moments passed before Velma's A-Eye announced from her pocket, "Incoming call from Barty Blake." In case you were wondering… more tears.
On finding out Scooby's role in marooning his daughter, Barty had a different take, "There's nothing I can do to change the last 35 years. All I can do is be grateful that I have my daughter back and spend my remaining life letting her know how much I love her."
Daphne ended the call and turned to Velma, "I really like who my Dad has become. But that doesn't change what we're going to do."
Fred nodded, "If the dog leaves the island, then he goes down."
They passed over the last of the craggy rocks and could see the pier ahead. Shaggy turned to Velma and the others, "You stay here, and I'll go ahead. Once everything is clear, I'll give Velma a call and then you head down to the plane. And… first order of business when you get down to the plane involves soap. Lots and lots of soap, and then toothbrushes and toothpaste, and finally Velma will find you some of our clothes to wear.
Now that they were on the eastern side of the island, there was no direct sunlight and the shadows around Shaggy were growing darker as he made his way down the jungle path. He could hear the rustling around him as more and more rats awoke and started their nightly rounds. He tried not to think about it and trying not to think about it made him think about it. And if that wasn't enough, the rats were everywhere. Fred was right. As many as they had seen in the daytime hours, there were far more coming out as the sun went down. The shivers on his spine had shivers on their spines.
He finally made his way onto the flatter terrain near the dock and Shaggy called out, "Scooby Doo! Where are you?"
There was no warning sound until Shaggy heard the voice immediately behind him, "Yes, Shaggy?"
Shaggy immediately remembered that Scooby had called him 'prey' and turned very slowly, "Scoob, I need to talk with you."
Scooby Doo was sitting in the path and appeared calm and composed, "What about?"
"About Fred and Daphne."
"Yes, I smell them."
"Not so impressive, dude. Right now, I can smell them."
Scooby made a sound that might have been the beginning of his patented giggle but it was choked off. "What about them?"
"They refuse to fly with you and I think that it's best if they don't even see you."
"I understand." Scooby sadly turned and began to move off into the jungle.
"Scoob?"
The dog turned back.
Shaggy continued, "We'll take Fred and Daphne today and send the plane back for you tomorrow… if you want."
Scooby sat again, "What are Fred and Daphne's plans when they get back?"
There were a lot of ways that Shaggy could answer that question but he chose the most direct, "They plan on doing everything in their power to get you put in prison."
Scooby nodded, "I don't want to go to prison."
"I know you don't, buddy."
A long, deep breath, "But, if I stay on this island any longer, I will cease to be me. I will be gone. Worse than being dead. Worse than prison. I don't want to live like this any longer. I want to go home, Shaggy."
Shaggy reached out with his hand and stroked Scooby's neck, "Okay Scooby. We'll get you home."
Scooby turned and headed back toward his building. Shaggy called Velma, "All good here. You head on down to the plane."
Shaggy followed Scooby Doo to make sure that he didn't turn back toward the plane. He wondered all the while why he didn't trust his oldest friend. But Scooby himself had said that this was not the Scooby he knew. Maybe someday he would get his friend back but that someday was not today. He waited for about ten minutes after Scooby had gone into his building before heading down the hill toward the pier.
When he got there, Marlo and Charles were standing next to the plane. Shaggy walked up, "Have Velma and the guys come back yet?"
Marlo answered with a wrinkled nose, "You can't smell them? I figured that cloud would linger for a while."
"Where did they go?"
"They took some bars of soap and other stuff and headed toward a freshwater pool they said they knew of."
Shaggy waited with the plane until they returned about an hour later. As soon as he saw Daphne wearing Velma's clothing, he knew that Velma would be starting another diet. Velma's pants were cinched tightly around Daphne's waist which left the cloth bunched up between the belt loops. The fact that Daphne was nearly emaciated wouldn't keep his wife's self-image anxieties from rearing their ugly heads.
Both Daphne and Fred looked like they were chewing an exceptionally tough piece of bubble gum. About halfway down the pier, Fred leaned over the edge and spit a large wad of pinkish-red phlegm into the water, Daphne did the same after a few more steps. They each repeated this disgusting ritual twice more before making it to Shaggy.
Fred was massaging his mouth, "It's been a long time since I've brushed my teeth. My gums feel like they're on fire and I'm pretty sure they're bleeding." Another pink loogie dropped into the water.
"Mine too. I Can't wait to get to a dentist. This is awful." Daphne agreed.
Velma caught up, "Marlo, how soon can we take off?"
"As soon as you can climb in. We've already pre-flighted."
They were in the air within ten minutes. The bathing and new clothes had helped Fred and Daphne's aroma issues but the tooth brushing had only served to make their breaths smell like a sprig of mint growing in a landfill. The odor filled the cabin of the plane and Charles turned the ventilation up full.
From Shaggy and Velma's wincing and the heavy air draft running through the plane, Daphne was able to figure out the problem and became self-conscious.
"Velma, I don't want to go home and see anybody until Fred and I do something about our mouths."
Velma nodded, "I think that's wise. We'll see how quickly we can get you a dental appointment."
The A-Eye recommended that they change their flight plan from Hilo to Honolulu where there would be a wider variety of dentists, including specialists in restorative dentistry. Velma called three and was told no openings for at least three weeks.
Just as Velma was about to go full Velma on the third one, Shaggy stepped in and spoke to the A-Eye, "Excuse me, but would it be possible for me to speak with a human?"
"No sir. I'm sorry. I handle all appointments."
Daphne whispered in the background, "Wait? That's not a person?"
Shaggy maintained his calm voice, "Okay, could you please research the names Scooby Doo, Daphne Blake Jones, and Fred Jones?"
"Certainly, sir." The pause was under a second, "Those three people are former television personalities that disappeared mysteriously 35 years ago. Ms. Jones was also an heiress to the Blake fortune."
"They have been found and the people who need the appointment are Fred Jones and Daphne Blake Jones. They have been marooned on a desert island for 35 years with no toothbrushes or toothpaste. We are willing to pay full fees for the services plus any additional fees that might be necessary for fitting them into your schedule. We would also be willing to allow you to use their names and likenesses for your future advertising. But only if they can both get appointments tomorrow."
"That is very interesting. Give me a moment to check with one of the dentists."
In the era of the A-Eye, it was rare to hear hold music. But apparently, it still existed. They waited for about thirty seconds and the dentist office A-Eye came back on, "It appears that your offer is very exciting to our dentists. We have made appointments at 9:00 AM and 10:00 AM. Does that work for you?"
Shaggy smiled, "That works fine. Thank you."
"Thank you and we'll see you tomorrow."
Daphne looked out at the passing waves beneath them, "I wonder how long it'll take. I've got so much to do. I've got to get my hair done, my nails done, get a skin treatment, and – of course – clothes.
Fred also looked wistfully out the window, "And I am desperately needing to find an ice-cold beer."
