Principal Hopkins was supervising the homecoming committee. She was checking the banners when she saw a box that said, "Frankin B. Dough Baking Goods," which made her feel suspicious. In the crate, she couldn't help but notice one thing strange. "These are counterfeit," she said to herself. "Someone is smuggling counterfeit dollars." She turned back to see if any of the other students noticed the counterfeit dollars. Fortunately, they were too busy putting the last adjustments to the dance together. "I better get the Klue Queens fast," she decided.
XxoxX
At the Lititz Heights Library, Estrella and her girlfriend, Helen, were both studying for a math test. After they finished up, they both peck cheeked. "Hey, Helen," said a blond handsome boy with blue highlights. "I'm sorry I'm late. I had a little traffic trouble."
"Hayes!" Helen proudly exclaimed as she hugged the boy. "Estrella, you remember my big brother Hayes?"
"Yeah," Estrella recalled. "You're a theater major at Clarion University. What brings you back to Lititz Heights?"
"After the final encore presentation of the prison show 'Anything Goes'," answered Hayes, "the warden forced me to bring home a psychopathic puppy who was serving time handing out snacks."
Helen and Estrella didn't know what he was talking about. "Puppy power!" shouted the puppy. "Hey there, kid," the puppy continued. "How about you and me arm wrestle here?"
"This is a library," said the librarian, "not a pub. So I'm gonna have to ask you to leave."
"Is that Scrappy-Doo," asked Estrella, "former member of Mystery, Inc. until they got fed up with his unruly behavior?"
"That he is," Hayes replied. "I had to bring him. I just couldn't bare see any more townspeople get harassed by his antics."
"Hey there, Hayes," said Scrappy. "Isn't that your sister and one of them Klue Queens you told me about?"
"That it is," Hayes replied. "Now let's get out of here before the library sues us."
XxoxX
Outside, Swinger was hanging in a tree when he saw Estrella. He spotted them with Scrappy, much to the latter's confusion. "What is a monkey doing here?" asked Scrappy. "Shouldn't he live in the zoo?"
"Scrappy," Hayes said, "Swinger is Estrella's pet monkey."
Just then, they ran into Leah, who had great news. "Issac just gave me a homecoming proposal via note in class," she explained. "But don't worry - he did it before class got started. We didn't want to get in trouble."
"That's very sweet, Leah," Estrella replied. "What about Martin and Rylie?"
"Martin and Rylie did one this morning," Leah answered. "Martin got Rylie a cake that says, 'Will you go to homecoming with me, Rylie Phelps?'"
"Wow," Estrella said. "Creative."
"That reminds me," recalled Helen as she kneeled down and took Estrella's hand, "will you go to homecoming with me?"
"Si, mi novia," Estrella replied as she hugged Helen.
"It's amazing what having a lesbian cheerleader sister could do to you," Hayes said to Scrappy.
"Lesbian?" Scrappy asked. "I thought you meant 'thespian'."
Just then, Leah and Estrella got an email from Principal Hopkins.
Dear Klue Queens,
I know homecoming is tomorrow night,
But someone has been smuggling counterfeit dollars into the school.
Come quick.
Sincerely, Principal Lynda Hopkins.
Scrappy was so stoked about solving his first mystery since his service in jail, that he picked up our heroes and ran off.
XxoxX
At the school, Principal Hopkins was waiting for the Klue Queens outside when she saw Scrappy carrying Leah, Estrella, Swinger, Helen, and Hayes.
"So this is Lititz Heights High," Scrappy said. "Not as shabby as Coolsville High."
Principal Hopkins noticed Scrappy putting down our heroes and walked up to him. "Scrappy Cornelius Doo," growled Principal Hopkins. "I heard about your little act on Spooky Island."
"I swear," he said, "I'm not doing any crimes this time, lady. So move it and let me catch this counterfeiter."
"Scrappy, stop," snapped Hayes. "You promised to be on your best behavior."
"I kinda like him," Tokkori replied as he flew in. "The way he rushes into finding the culprit and keeps snapping at other people for no reason."
"You like my insults?" Scrappy asked.
"You betcha," Tokkori answered. "And I thought I was the only one who keeps making fun of these no-brain bozos here in Lititz Heights."
Hayes started to get annoyed by this. "So," he asked, "any suspects?"
"Mostly the faculty who are supervising the homecoming committee," Principal Hopkins explained. "As principal, every club must have ONE faculty advisor."
Suspects
Ms. Garrad (10th-grade creative writing teacher) - Has been avoiding her duties and being with Coach Kirk.
Norah McCall (11th-grade music teacher and Merritt's mother) - Always shows up late for the committee.
Mr. Eldred (12th-grade drama teacher) - He always pays more attention to the budget than the students.
Mr. Hailey (10th-grade art teacher) - He was sneaking around the place while the students work on the decor.
XxoxX
The janitors came in with the box of counterfeit dollars. Kirby thought they were candy bars, so he tried to eat one of them, but Tania, Rylie, Paige, and Kaylin rushed up and grabbed him. "Kirby," chastised Rylie, "we don't eat clues."
"Talk about a money moocher," Scrappy laughed.
"I like your humor, Scrappy," Tokkori laughed.
Tania observed the fake bakery box. "Franklin B. Dough Baking Goods?" she asked. "That sounds more like Ben Franklin. And the word 'dough' - that's a slang term for money."
"Listen here," Leah said to her co-detectives. "Principal Hopkins told us that the four most-likely suspects are the advisors for the homecoming dance. Kirby and I will handle Mrs. McCall, Kaylin and Rylie will handle Ms. Garrad, Helen, Estrella, Hayes, and Scrappy handle Mr. Eldred, and Paige, Tania, and Tokkori handle Mr. Hailey."
Leah and Kirby were at the community center. They remembered hearing from Issac that Mrs. McCall took aerobics there on Fridays. Kirby was so amazed by the catchy Zumba beat in the aerobics, he started bouncing up and down like crazy. That was, until he accidentally bumped into Mrs. McCall. The aerobics teacher decided to stop for today due to Kirby's uncontrollable behavior.
"It's my fault," Leah confessed. "Kirby just couldn't help listening to catchy tunes."
Mrs. McCall was confused on what Leah and Kirby were doing here. "I've seen you do your aerobics class here before," Leah said. "And I have to ask, why do you keep showing up late?"
"I was showing up late for the committee because of extra homework some of the students have and my overdue bills," Mrs. McCall explained. "I couldn't pay off Merritt's college education alone now, could I?" Leah and Kirby decided to give her an alibi because paying off education was important.
XxoxX
Meanwhile, Estrella, Swinger, Helen, Hayes, and Scrappy were going around an LGBT neighborhood. "Here we are," Estrella said. "Stonewall Street. After the Stonewall Inn break-in during the late 1960s, the town opened a town where openly gays can call home."
"Mr. Eldred is gay?" asked Scrappy.
"He is," Estrella replied. "We've seen him flirt with male makeup artists at the community center. He's also one of Eli's dance students."
XxoxX
At Eli's home, Eli was pleased to see Estrella, Helen, Hayes, and Scrappy. Eli was teaching Mr. Eldred some new modern dance routines for the homecoming dance. "I know some people hate Scrappy," Eli said, "but I think you're awesome. I've seen the videos on the Jailhouserock Facetube channel."
"Is that the channel where choreographers teach criminals some dance routines," asked Helen, "without breaking them out of jail?"
"That's the one," Eli replied.
XxoxX
While Helen and Hayes were explaining to Eli about the thefts, Estrella noticed that Mr. Eldred had a Ben Franklin t-shirt on him, making it feel more suspicious. "Oh me" Eli replied, "Well I better get back to teach Mr. Eldred one more dance routine before the dance. I promised Rusty I would go out with him to Ramen Noodle bowling alley for our date."
When they left the house, Estrella told them about the workout shirt that Mr. Eldred was wearing, "Mi Amor" she said, "A lot of people wear Ben Franklin shirt."
"Maybe so" Estrella replied, "But there is something strange about this."
At, Kaylin and Rylie were at the front of El Pueblo De Pepper when they saw a familiar face with a Yorkshire Terrier with a Strawberry tag, "Nathaniel," Kaylin smiled as she hugged her boyfriend, "You came."
"Dad gave me permission to go to your homecoming dance" Nathaniel replied, "I'd even brought my dog, "Magie" with me."
Magie came up and kicked at Kaylin's face.
"After the creator of Monopoly, "Lizzie Magie," asked Rylie.
"That's her" Nathaniel replied.
"Hey," said Kaylin as she peeped into the window of El Pueblo De Pepper, "Is that Miss. Garrad holding hands with Coach Kirk"
"We know he's divorced" Rylie recalled, "But I think he wanted to start dating again."
"But isn't it against the rules for faculty to date each other?" Nathaniel asked. "I remember my old art teacher and music teacher from the 10th grade getting fired for this."
"Not unless it's okay by the principal" whispered Kaylin, "But I think we should leave them alone, don't want to disturb their dating."
Paige, Tania, and Tokkori were at the library looking for Mr. Hailey. Paige and Tania remembered seeing her check out some books on art for class. When they saw her, she said to the librarian, "Sorry I'm late" Mr. Hailey said as he got out Art Therapy for Morons, "I misplaced my overdue books somewhere at the school again."
"It's been about three weeks since the due date" the librarian answered, "And you owe me 7.00"
"I know" as she got out a five-dollar bill and two one-dollar bills, "I had to spend the last three weeks going around the school looking for Art Therapy for Morons. I was lucky I found it in the lost and found. I was so busy with homecoming, I didn't think of checking it in the lost and found."
Paige and Tania were surprised, Mr. Hailey needed to find a misplaced library book. "Sounds like he's should've renewed his brain" whispered Tokkori.
"Tokkori" whispered Tania, "We don't want to offend Mr. Hailey, he's might teach Art Therapy next week so students can control our anger."
XxoxX
At Roadhouse Fantasia, the Klue Queens met up with their sweethearts. Rick and Tokkori were there to help the workers with a little inventory management, "Any bits?" asked Leah.
"Nah" Estrella replied, "Except the part where Mr. Eldred wore a Ben Franklin shirt. It sounds too coincidental."
As Estrella was about to sit down, she saw Kirby sleeping, "That gumball sure is a heavy sleeper" Scrappy admitted.
"Gumball is one of the nicknames I give Kirby" Tokkori recalled.
"I'm telling you" Tania replied, "Tokkori and Scrappy together is like having a Tokkori marathon"
"And I see that Nathaniel is here for the homecoming dance," said Issac.
"Wouldn't miss it" replied Nathaniel, "I'd even brought my dog Magie with me. Who to thought that The Bauer would allow pets."
When Kirby woke up, he saw Nathaniel showing pictures of Magie on his phone. Kirby started feeling a bit upset, "What's wrong with Kirby?" asked Leah.
"Kirby once befriended a robotic dog that was really a bomb from nightmare enterprises" Rick explained, "He never got over its death."
"That's so sad," Leah said.
That's when Martin got an idea, "I'm gonna get ready for the dance" said Martin, "I'll see you guys at the school."
"See ya, Martin," said Rylie as she blew a kiss at him.
XxoxX
The next night, everyone was decked out in formal attire, including Hayes. He told the others that Scrappy loves to make an entrance and will meet them at the dance. "Speaking of puppies," asked Helen, "Where's Martin?"
"Right here" shouted Martin as he carried a robotic dog.
The robotic dog looked like Robopup, a one-time friend of Kirby, "Kirby" he said to the puffball, "I know that you can't replace Robopup, but Robopup 2. 0 would make a good friend to you."
Kirby smiled and hugged Martin. "Since I am starting to get a bit of a dog allergy" Martin replied, "I'm going to keep him."
Kirby was fine with that since Robopup 2. 0 is Martin's creation.
Just then, Scrappy came out in rapper apparel "DJ Scrappy in the house" shouted Scrappy.
He looked up to see that the theme turned out to be Childhood Toys, much to his dismay, "This is the lamest Homecoming theme I've ever heard." Scrappy growled,
"It isn't lame," Mr. Hailey said as he came in, "The school board knew that teens wouldn't want to grow up and stay young forever. So we decided to give them a little nostalgia."
"More like a nose job" Scrappy growled, "Them nose-picking nincompoops should act like babies."
Principal Hopkins was coming in to see that Scrappy is the DJ she hired by mistake, "Oh no" she asked in horror "Who let that dog out. I thought I hired DJ Scrub?"
"Apparently, this is what happens when you call the poorly heard administration team at The State Correctional Institution in Marienville, PA" Hayes answered, "It was the 50th prison in the country that couldn't take Scrappy's annoying behavior. Without a choice, they legally let me be his guardian. Plus you might've used a phonebook? I remember you hiring an expensive catering company by mistake during my Junior Prom."
"Hayes Blanch" Principal Hopkins recalled, "Leading male for two years in a row and head of the drama club at the time."
"That's him" Scrappy shouted as he landed on Hayes' shoulder "As for me, I'm a bit of a crime magnet" Scrappy explained. The boys at the California State Prison taught me some of the basic thievery skills."
XxoxX
Meanwhile, Paige was at the punch bowl when she came across Mr. Eldred. She remembers from Peter that he was a theater instructor, "Didn't you teach theater at State Correctional Institution in the 90s?"
"I was" Mr. Eldred replied, "Until they transferred me to Lititz Heights High, so the criminals won't get ideas of a real bank rob scene."
"Reality check, man" replied Paige, "Those movers who sent the Franklin B Dough boxes must be really good actors."
"Knowing them." Mr. Eldred said, That Franklin B Dough makes a lot of bread"
Paige snapped, she knew that "Bread" is hippie slang for money. She started to realize that Mr. Eldred stole the money. "Kirby" Paige shouted, "Like, suck it up."
Kirby was finishing his sandwich when he heard his trigger words. With one gulp of the balloon decor, Kirby turned into Balloon Kirby. "Finally, some real action," Scrappy said, "Let me at him, let me at him!"
He made some balloon monkeys that attack Mr. Eldred, "Miss. Hayato," he growled, "What is the meaning of this?"
Robopup 2.0 did a supersonic jump and started pouncing on him. This gave Scrappy an idea to attack, "Da da da da da da!" shouted Scrappy as he started bouncing up and down on him, "Puppy power!"
"Don't be a bagged out bozo, man" Paige replied, "I like to know you smuggled counterfeit dollars into the school."
"Okay, okay" growled Mr. Eldred, "I smuggled counterfeit, money into the school."
"Nice job ladies," Principal Hopkins said, "But what clues did you find that Mr. Eldred was smuggling counterfeit dollars?"
"First there was the name of the company, "Frankin B Dough Baking Goods" Ben Franklin is on the 100 dollar bill and Dough is a slang term for money" Tania explained, "Then Estrella saw Mr. Eldred with a T-shirt with Ben Franklin on it, she had a feeling that he might be involved in this sort of scheme. Finally, you blow your cover saying "That Franklin B Dough makes a lot of bread." which is another slang for money."
"Dude" Paige finished, "You like totally should learn to keep your mouth shut."
"Before that" Estrella replied, "Tell us why you smuggled counterfeit dollars into our school?"
"All I wanted to do is to impress my students at SCI," explained Mr. Eldred explained, "So I decided to replace the real homecoming budget with counterfeit dollars, to prove what a real robbery scene is about."
XxoxX
Later, Chief Hess cuffed him, "Perhaps a little theater service in jail will help straighten you out." he said as he took Mr. Eldred to the police car.
Scrappy and Tokkori blew raspberries at him, "Now the only problem is now" Tokkori said, "Who is going to teach those dunces theater arts?"
Helen found her brother and got an idea, "Say Hayes" Helen said to her brother, "Maybe Monday, you can be the new Drama teacher."
"I don't know" Hayes nervously replied,
"Come on Hayes" Scrappy said to Hayes, "I never thought I say this but, you're my best friend."
Hayes was amused by what Scrappy said, "I'm your best friend?" he said, "Oh Hayes."
Hayes and Scrappy hugged.
Inside the school, Issac kissed Leah, Kaylin kissed Nathaniel, Estrella kissed Helen and Rylie kissed Martin. Tania and Paige were amused by this, "Like are they groovy together or what?" asked Paige.
"They are groovy" answered Tania.
"Alrighty, folks" shouted Scrappy at the turntable, "Now that Elderly Eldred has gone to the pokey, let's have a little slow dance."
He started playing High School Musical's Can I Have This Dance. Paige and Tania sat this out due to them being single.
Scrappy saw Hayes in the corner and winked at him. Hayes was proud of Scrappy for calming down at the homecoming.
The End.
