Fred checked the address on his hand-scrawled sheet of paper. "We're here!" he announced, pulling into Abby's driveway. The gang piled out of the Mystery Machine and strode up to the door.
The doorbell had barely finished echoing before the door opened, revealing a plump woman in a frilly pink bathrobe and bunny slippers. "Visitors?" she asked curiously. "If you're selling anything, we've already given to the boy scouts and the police force. And we've already heard the good news, thank you very much." She tried to shut the door, but Fred managed to wedge his foot inside.
"Ms. Kowalski, we're Mystery Incorporated. Your daughter called us to come and help with a mystery here in town."
Ms. Kowalski eyed the sleuths with suspicion before finally recognizing them. "Of course! You're the characters on that one Spooky-Roo show she makes us watch all the time. But I didn't know she called you for anything. I hope she wasn't a bother."
"Oh no, we're glad to help. Would it be possible that she help us with this case?"
"Only if her homework's done. Abby, dear, your friends are here!" Mrs. Kowalski called up the stairs.
"Friends?" Abby echoed. "I'll be right down!" Soon, Mystery Incorporated heard Abby thumping down the stairs, followed by the 'horror-movie-victim' squeal as she saw the gang. "It's really you! Mystery Incorporated really came! Didja figure out who did it yet?"
"Not yet," Fred admitted. "We were hoping you could help us, because you've seen the ghost."
Abby's jaw dropped almost to the floor. "Can I, mom? Can I? Can I?"
Mrs. Kowalski thought for a moment. "Do you have that paper started yet?"
"Mmmmmoooooommmmm," Abby whined, but her mother's tone was firm.
"At least three pages. Then you can go." Grumbling all the way, Abby meandered up the stairs. Mrs. Kowalski returned her attention to the gang. "Well, feel free to take a seat. I would offer you some food, but I've seen enough of the show to know that it would be a very bad idea."
Shaggy and Scooby suddenly was aware of everyone's eyes on them. "Like, what'd we do?"