Chapter 3: Photocopier malfunction and meeting the opponent

Back in City Hall, Fred Jr. was still staring at his fathers election brochure, unsure what to do.

"Like, don't worry, Freddie." Shaggy said as he took the brochure from him. "Once we're done with the brochure, we'll be out of here in no time."

"Yeah." Velma agreed. "After all, it's just producing copies of the brochure."

"I suppose so." Fred Jr. nodded as he took the brochure to a nearby photocopier and placed the brochure on the scanner zone.

However, Shaggy noticed how old the photocopier looked and wondered if the staff bothered to replace it with a newer model.

"Uh, Freddie." Shaggy says. "Perhaps we should use a newer photocopier machine to produce copies of your fathers election brochures."

"Reah." Scooby agreed. "Rhat one rooks quite rold to me and ris rin need of serious repair."

"Don't worry, guys." Fred replied confidently as he pushed a few buttons on the controls. "I'm just producing photocopies of the brochures. Nothing can go wrong."

However, just as Fred finished his sentence, the photocopy machine started producing some smoke as it tries to process the order.

"Uh, Freddie, maybe you should stand back..." Velma says as she stepped in to pull Fred Jr. away, but just as she did so, the machine blew up, splatting ink all over the duo while Shaggy and Scooby ducked with a "Zoinks!" and a "Ripe!"

When the smoke cleared, Shaggy and Scooby looked. Both Fred and Velma were covered in ink, and there were still some smoke coming from the now-broken photocopier.

"Looks like Scooby and you were right, Shag." Fred remarked. "Now I've got ink all over myself and Velma!"

"You don't say." Velma said as she tried to get some of the ink off her clothes.

"Yeah." Shaggy replied, trying hard not to laugh. "Like, that photocopier looked really like it's a dinosaur and should've been replaced a while ago."

Scooby nodded as he took a look at the photocopiers manufacture plate, indicating that it was manufactured almost 20 years ago.

"Of course." A voice suddenly said, and as everyone turned and looked, it was a man wearing an olive-green suit. "Many of the City's equipment are due for an overhaul or replacement, but that hasn't occurred at all under Mayor Jones' watch."

"Like, and if I'm not mistaken, I've read in the paper that the city's sewer expansion plan has been plagued by cost-overruns and delays." Shaggy added.

"That's right." The man nodded. "It's because of Mayor Jones' endless campaigning of and focusing on the town's tourist attractions as opposed to paying attention to more urgent issues like the city's crumbling infrastructure and growing crime rate. In fact, I don't see how you kids kept supporting a man like him for mayor."

"It wasn't our choice, Mr. Avocados." Velma replied, having had remembered his name from reading his mayor election campaign ad, which has his name and photo on it, on the newspaper. "Our friend here is Mayor Jones' son and is insisting him to help out."

Mr. Avocados nodded understandingly just as the mayor exited his office.

"What in heavens name is going on here, Avocados?" Fred Sr. asked when he saw his opponent speaking with the gang. "And don't tell me that we've got another photocopier to replace."

"Ah, Jones." Mr. Avocados said as he turned to greet the mayor. "I've just been lecturing the kids on just how out of touch with real issues you are, like that photocopiers urgent need for a replacement."

"Huh, that sure explains the dirty attack ads you've been paying the radio and local television stations to air as well as the newspaper to publish." Fred Sr. replied.

"Well, if you're insisting on running a dirty campaign like this, then two can play the game." Avocados replied as he walked away.

Seeing his son and Velma covered in ink, Fred Sr. commented as he turned to face the gang. "Well, it looks like you two will need to take a shower and get your clothes in the laundry."

"Yeah, Dad." Fred Jr. nodded. "And Mr. Avocados sure seems determined to replace you as mayor."

"Yeah." Fred Sr. agreed. "He considers himself a shoo-in to the mayors office, just because his father, Theodore Avocados, was mayor before."

"Like, looks like he's trying to establish a political dynasty here in Crystal Cove, Mayor Jones." Shaggy commented.

"Yeah, although that 'political dynasty' will be built on a bad reputation." Fred Sr. said. "Theodore Avocados was forced to resign from office a year into his second term after leaked documents from City Hall surfaced that he had illegally contributed to President Nixon's re-election campaign back in 1972."

"Jinkies." Velma remarked.

"And that's not all." The mayor continued. "Those leaked documents also tied him to the theft of a priceless diamond that was stolen from the city's main bank several weeks earlier, a diamond that was never recovered. That connection was the last straw and he resigned and was tried for corruption, although George, his son that is running against me, insisted that the trial was politically motivated, as the trial took place during the term of his long-time opponent, who was elected subsequently in a special election that was called after the forced resignation of the deputy mayor."

"Jinkies. That sure must be one black eye in Crystal Cove politics, Mayor Jones." Velma remarked.

"Yeah, although that was back then." The mayor replied. "I'm the only person that is capable of moving this city forward towards the future, which is also why it is important that you kids help me out in the campaign."

Shaggy and Scooby turned and looked at each other. Looks like they probably won't have time to pay Daphne a visit in the afternoon.

Again, I apologize for the shortness of this chapter, but I can assure you all that the next chapter is where the main action starts taking place.

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