Chapter 8: The Halloween party
October 31, 1968
It has been two-three weeks since Shaggy, Scooby, Daphne and Fred met Henry Chan and his siblings. During this time, Henry fit right in at Central High, and he had also made plenty of friends.
Also, as Shaggy predicted, Henry's father Charles fit in working for the Coolsville Police Department. Since his transfer and under his partnership with Lieutenant Tucker, the number of cases closed by the police experienced an increase, which worked perfectly well with the police chief.
That day was Halloween, and the students and faculty were encouraged to come to school in costumes, and there is a Halloween party to be held later that afternoon.
Shaggy was dressed as a masked cowboy with his costume consisting of a green shirt, brown jeans, black shoes, a brown vest, a light-brown cowboy hat, his brown ascot and a green mask, which reminds one of a masked cowboy hero like the Lone Ranger.
He also carried his guitar with him, which also gave the impression of a singing cowboy.
As for Scooby, he, too, was dressed as a cowboy, only that his costume is more simple (Consisting of a blue bandana replacing his trademark dogtag, a white shorter cowboy hat and a brown vest) to give the impression of him being Shaggy's sidekick in fighting outlaws in the Old Wild West.
The duo were walking down the hallway when they encountered Debbie, who was dressed as a costumed heroine.
"Howdy, Shaggy, Scooby." She said. "I liked your costumes."
"Like, thanks, Debbie." Shaggy smiled. "You look really good in that costume, too. Kind of reminded me of Batgirl."
"Thanks." Debbie smiled. "So are you guys looking forward to the party?"
"Like, we sure are, eh Scoob?" Shaggy replied.
"Reah, reah, reah!" Scooby nodded excitedly.
"And besides, I've arranged for some Halloween music to be performed later during the party." Shaggy added.
"I see." Debbie nodded. "Who's coming over to perform?"
"Like, just wait and see." Shaggy replied with a wink. "It won't be the Mysteries Five, though. They're currently in Los Angeles for the regional school band competition, which is to be wrapped up on Saturday."
"I see." Debbie nodded understandingly. "Wish them luck."
"Reah, rame rere." (Yeah, same here.) Scooby nodded.
After the conversation with Debbie, the duo soon ran into Fred, who was dressed as a sheriff and sporting a yellow star on his brown vest, as well as a fake mustache. However, his face impression looked like that of a corrupt sheriff that does nothing in enforcing the law.
"Howdy stranger." Fred said to them. "Don't reckon that I ever see you in this town before."
It was then that Shaggy took off his mask and said, "Like, it's me, Fred."
"Oh, hey Shag. Didn't recognize you for a moment." Fred remarked. "You two looked nice."
"Thanks, same with you, sheriff." Shaggy replied as he and Fred high-fived each other. "Now, down for business."
"Right." Fred smirked before continuing, speaking with a mock western accent. "How long you suppose you're staying here?"
"In the next while, stranger." Shaggy replied with a smirk.
"Oh, is that so?" Fred asked. "Around here, my word is law, stranger, and this town ain't big enough for the two of us plus your sidekick here. What do you say about that?"
"Like, I say we draw our weapon." Shaggy replied.
"Fine with me." Fred nodded before the two school rivals prepared for a mock gunfight as students nearby watched with interest and excitement.
With their backs facing each other, the two rivals each took ten paces in the same time.
Then, when it came the moment to draw their weapons, they each took out a sketchbook and a pencil and started drawing.
Fred was the first to finish his drawing and showed it Shaggy. It was a sketch of himself in a combat pose as if he knew martial arts.
"How's this, stranger?" He asked.
"Not bad, sheriff." Shaggy nodded before showing his own drawing.
It was a sketch of himself and Scooby preparing to do some fighting together, with himself being dressed like the Green Hornet while Scooby takes the role of Kato.
The sketch was quite realistic and has a 3D look as opposed to the cartoon look of Fred's sketch of himself.
"Like, how's this?" Shaggy then asked.
There were a sea of "Whoa!" coming from the students as they saw Shaggy's sketch.
Fred whistled when he saw the sketch. "Holy moly! That's really realistic, Shag."
Shaggy nodded his thanks as it became clear that he had won the mock gunfight. "Like, the Green Shaggy-net and Scooby Ka-Doo, to the rescue!"
"Reah! Scooby Ka-Doo ro re rescue!" (Yeah! Scooby Ka-Doo to the rescue!) Scooby barked.
"You've won, Shag." Fred said. "But next time, I'll make sure to beat you in drawing after I finish my drawing lessons."
"Yeah, like, good luck with that." Shaggy smirked.
After the mock gunfight, which was nothing more than a drawing contest, the trio hung around to chat about other topics.
"By the way, Shag, with your guitar, you quite reminded me of a singing cowboy when you don't have your mask on." Fred remarked.
"Oh, really?" Shaggy laughed. "Like, in that case, I probably should be hanging out with a cowgirl and asking her to look me up when she travels to Texas sometime."
(Note: If You're Ever Down in Texas, Look Me Up is the song sung by Tom in the 1950 Tom and Jerry short Texas Tom when he tries to woo a cowgirl)
At that moment, Tom, dressed as a cowboy, was chasing Jerry, also dressed as a cowboy, down the hallway, nearly crashing into Fred.
"Like, watch it, guys." Shaggy said to the cat and mouse duo.
The duo paused and nodded, with Tom also giving a look as if he was saying, "By the way, guys, nice costumes."
Jerry nodded as if he was adding to Tom's statement, saying, "Yeah, especially yours, Shaggy."
"Like, thanks guys." Shaggy nodded before the duo resumes their chase.
"Well, it seems like those two never stops chasing each other, guys." Fred remarked as they watched the cat and mouse duo racing down the hallway.
"Reah." Scooby agreed, just as a crash was heard from down the hallway.
Looking down the hallway, the trio saw Tom walking around in a dazed state with stars orbiting around his head after colliding into a support column while Jerry was laughing his head off.
"Has it ever occurred to you that Tom has a hard time catching Jerry even though a cat who can catch mice never speaks?" Huckleberry Hound, who was dressed as a mad scientist and was passing by when the crash occurred, asks as he faced forwards (Breaking the fourth wall).
"It sure amazes me how Tom never gives up in chasing Jerry even though he had gotten himself hurt plenty of times while trying to catch him." Fred remarked as the duo resumed their chase.
"Yeah. Like, he must have a lot of endurance." Shaggy agreed.
It was then that Daphne arrived at the school and went over to join them.
"Hey guys." She smiled as she walked over. She was dressed as a witch with a broomstick and wearing mostly purple.
"Like, hey Daph." Shaggy smiled. "I like your witch costume."
"Rit rook really rice." (It looks really nice.) Scooby agreed.
"And the broomstick really completes the picture of a witch." Fred added.
"Thanks, guys." Daphne smiled. "I liked your costumes, too, especially Shag's."
"Thanks." Shaggy nodded. "Like, maybe if I sing If You're Ever Down in Texas, Look Me Up, then my portrayal of a singing cowboy will be complete."
"Ah, there's no need to do that, Shag." Daphne laughed. "You already look really good with your costume and guitar."
Later that early evening, the school's Halloween party was well underway as students and faculty, all dressed in costumes, met in the school gym.
There were refreshments and food, and the people were chatting and were having a great time together.
Mark, who was dressed as a doctor, was chatting with Fred at that moment, while Shaggy, Scooby, Tinker and Henry were chatting together near the refreshment stand. Tinker was dressed as a mechanic while Henry was dressed as a noir detective.
"Man, I sure can't wait for the costume contest." Henry remarked as he sipped a cream soda.
"Like, same here, man." Shaggy nodded before taking a bite of his sandwich. "Everyone's costumes look really groovy, so it's beyond my guess on who will have a good chance at winning."
"And I can't wait for the Halloween music to be played by whoever you've arranged to come over, Shag." Tinker added.
"Yeah, same here." Shaggy agreed as he took a sip of his soda drink.
Meanwhile, at another part of the gym, Daphne was chatting with Debbie, Arlene and a few other girls.
"This Halloween party sure is groovy." Arlene remarked. She was dressed as a cowgirl for the party.
"You said it, Arlene." Debbie agreed. "Sure can't wait to see the band Shaggy has invited over to perform for the party."
"Same here." Daphne nodded. "And wish the Mysteries Five luck in the regional school band competitions in Los Angeles."
"Yes. To the Mysteries Five." April, one of the other girls in the group and is dressed as a ghost, nodded as she raised her drink of soda.
The other girls followed suit and after clinking each other's glasses, they each took a sip of their respective drinks.
Soon, the Halloween costume contest was underway, and several of the highly popular students, including Shaggy, were entered into the contest.
Also in the contest were Taffy, who was dressed as a detective, Shelly, who happened to be dressed as a maid, Yogi Bear, who was dressed as a forest ranger, and a few other students.
Shelly happened to be right next to Shaggy and Yogi while on the stage and when she saw the former's costume, she huffed.
"A masked cowboy with a guitar, eh?" She remarked to Shaggy. "That's really nothing, unless you're up against the smelly ranger."
"Well, at least I get to sing, and, like, Yogi gets to keep the peace in a national park while you get to clean a place up." Shaggy replied, earning some laughs from his peers, including Yogi.
"Right there, Shaggy." Yogi nodded. "Because I'm smarter than the average bear!"
"Yeah, right." Shelly huffed under her breath. "Just wait until they chose me as the best-dressed student for Halloween."
Soon, the contest was under way, and after several rounds of voting, which was done through ranking ballot, the costume contest was down to three contestants: Shaggy, Yogi Bear and Shelly.
As everyone waits for the voting results for the best Halloween costume in the final round, Shelly turned to Shaggy and Yogi.
"I'm really surprised you guys stayed on." She said. "I was very sure the faculty will chose a beautiful-looking maid like me over a bunch of losers like the two of you."
Shaggy and Yogi simply ignored her. Like everyone at school, they were fully aware on how vain and spoiled she is, and even Tom couldn't stand the prospect of her making fun of or insulting Jerry, even though he was his rival and was the one that often gets him hurt during chases.
On the main floor of the school gym, Daphne was chatting with Fred and Scooby.
"I'll bet the money I've saved in my piggy bank that Shag wins this contest." Fred remarked.
"Same here, although I think Yogi Bear stands an equal chance in winning." Daphne nodded.
"Reah, Ri liked ris ranger rostume." (Yeah, I liked his ranger costume.) Scooby agreed. "Rut ri'm rot rure rif Ranger Rmith rill rike rit." (But I'm not sure if Ranger Smith will like it.)
"Okay, students and faculty, listen up!" The school principal Joseph Spears, who was dressed as a mad scientist, announced, getting the attention of all of the students and faculty. "The final round of the student Halloween costume contest is now under way and we're down to three contestants: Norville 'Shaggy' Rogers, Central's Fastest, Yogi Bear, who's considers himself to be smarter than the average bear, and Shelly Sandez of the Neptunes!"
There were cheers from the students as the principal announced the three names, although the cheers died down when Shelly's name was mentioned.
"Oh, come on. I'm sure you all liked my costume." Shelly said when there was barely a cheer from the crowd when her name was mentioned.
"And now, the vote counting results are in!" The principal announced as the president of the student council hands him the results.
With his reading glasses on, the principal started reading the results. "Coming in third place goes to Shelly Sandez, who received 15 votes!"
"You got to be kidding me." Shelly muttered when she learned that she have been placed third place among the three remaining contestants.
"Second place goes to...Yogi Bear, who captured 298 votes." The principal continued.
There were some cheers as Yogi bowed at the crowd.
"And finally, the first place goes to...Norville 'Shaggy' Rogers, who captured 300 votes!" The principal announced, and the crowd erupted into a huge round of applause and cheers.
"Way to go, Shag!" Daphne exclaimed as Shaggy bowed at the crowd upon learning that he had won first place in a close race between him and Yogi.
"Roy boy!" Scooby barked excitedly as Shaggy shook hands with Yogi. "Scooby-Dooby-Doo and Raggy, too!"
After the cheering and applause died down, the principal walked over to Shaggy and announced, "So our winner for tonight's Halloween costume party goes to...Shaggy!"
Just as he started to shake Shaggy's hand in congratulations, the lights suddenly went out!
There was a huge gasp as the whole gym went dark.
"Holy moly! What's going on?" Fred asked.
"I don't know." Henry replied, but before anyone could figure what happened, a creepy noise crept in.
"Beware!" A ghostly voice hollered.
"Z-z-z-zoinks!" Shaggy exclaimed in fright. "What's that?"
"Beware, Central!" The ghostly voice said, and as everyone looked up, they were all shocked to see a slightly-glowing, ghostly-looking figure floating in the air. "I have come back from my grave to warn you that revenge will be mine!"
"Great Scott, I don't believe it!" Principal Spears exclaimed in surprise. "It's the Ghost of Paul Wilkins, a star player of the Coolsville Central Devils football team when I was a student here years ago!"
"The guilty one will pay the price!" The Ghost continued. "Beware!"
The ghost then disappeared in the darkness as it flew higher into the air and behind the scoreboard.
Before anyone can take sense of what has happened, the lights were restored, the ghost was nowhere to be seen, and then there was a huge gasp.
"The 1930 State League High School Football Champion Plaque! It's gone!" Someone shouted.
Shaggy, Scooby, Daphne and Fred turned and looked.
Sure enough, in between the football champion plaques for the 1927 and 1931 seasons stood a blank area supposed to be occupied by the plaque for the 1930 season.
Uh, oh. Someone has stolen the 1930 football champion plaque during the ghost appearance. What will happen next? Stay tuned!
To all of the readers, I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!