Chapter 15: Back to school and another transfer

January 6, 1969

It has been more than a week since Shaggy, Scooby, Sugie and Daphne enjoyed their time together at the Ruby Ski Resort, with Shaggy and Daphne enjoying their nighttime skating that night.

After the vacation at the ski resort, the two families returned home to Coolsville in time for New Years Eve and celebrated the transition from 1968 to 1969 together.

Eventually, school was resumed and the kids were back to school.

That morning, Fred was at his civics class as usual and is chatting with Ronnie about his Christmas break.

"So how was your winter break, Fred?" Ronnie asked.

"Well, it was alright, Ronnie. My family and I were at Virginia visiting my grandparents." Fred replied. "There wasn't much interesting aspects of the trip, though, other than the flight on a Boeing 727 to Richmond and on a Boeing 707 back to Coolsville."

"I see." Ronnie nodded. "For me, my family and I were at Utah for Christmas visiting our relatives, so I know what you mean about nothing much interesting."

"Oh, by the way, did you guys hear about another new student is transferring here to Central?" Their friend Eric Staufer asked.

"Not really, although I hear that she's from Ohio." Ronnie replied.

"Yeah." Fred nodded. "That's what I heard, too."

"And I heard that she's a brilliant student in science and mathematics, too." Eric added.

"I see." Fred said. "Looks like we're going to have one great addition to the school's science fair."

"Indeed we are." Eric agreed as the bell rang and Shaggy's voice started echoing through the school speakers with the morning announcements after the national anthem and pledge of allegiance.

As Shaggy finished with the morning announcements, the civics class was getting underway when there was a knock on the classroom door, gaining the teacher's attention.

"Sorry for the interruption, Mr. Stephenson." The guidance counselor's voice can be heard as the teacher steps out. "The final okaying for the approval of Velma's transfer took longer than expected."

"Ah, no worries." Mr. Stephenson replied. "I was just getting started."

After a few exchanges with the guidance counselor, Mr. Stephenson stepped back in, accompanied by a short girl with chin-length auburn-brown hair and wearing an orange turtleneck, a red skirt, orange long socks, a pair of red Mary Janes and a pair of black, thick-framed square glasses.

"Everyone, listen up!" Mr. Stephenson said, getting the class' attention. "I'll like you all to meet Velma Dinkley, a new student that was transferred to Central just this morning. Her family had came a long way from Ohio and I expect all of you to make her feel welcome here."

The teacher then got down to class as Velma took the vacant seat right beside Fred, who glanced at her for a moment.

During the class, Fred was tempted to ask her a question but then decided to instead focus more on the class.

Later after civics class, Fred made his way to his chemistry class together with Eric.

Along the way, the two friends chatted about various topics before arriving at the chemistry lab classroom.

"Oh, look who's in our chemistry class." Eric remarked when he turned to the back and looked.

Fred looked towards where Eric was looking and saw Velma entering the classroom after checking her school timetable.

He raised an eyebrow as he watched Velma walking into the classroom but didn't say anything.

Later after the chemistry teacher introduced Velma to the class and finished going through the lab procedures, the whole class splits up into their assigned groups.

Fred and Eric were grouped together and they made their way to their lab station, but just as they were going to start their lab, the teacher walked to them with Velma.

"Mr. Jones and Mr. Staufer, will two gentlemen be kind enough to guide Miss Dinkley through the lab?" The teacher asked them.

"Why, of course, Mr. Jaffe." Fred replied as Eric nodded. "We're always open to new people in our group."

"Perfect." Mr. Jaffe smiled. "Then I suppose you gentlemen can take over from here."

"Oh, yes indeed, sir." Eric agreed as Mr. Jaffe motioned Velma to join them before taking his leave.

"So I suppose we should introduce ourselves first." Fred said to Velma. "My name's Frederick, but you can call me 'Fred', and this is my friend Eric."

"My name is Velma." Velma introduced herself. "A pleasure meeting you two."

"Likewise." Eric smiled as they shook Velma's offered hand. "And now, for the lab. First, we're going to..."

"Save the explanations." Velma said as she raised her hand. "I've read through the lab outline while I was being introduced to the class, and I know exactly what we're doing for this lab."

"Oh, really?" Fred asked, raising an eyebrow. "Mr. Jaffe mentioned that this is going to be a complex lab, especially since we're doing it right on the day we come back from the Christmas break, so I think..."

"Trust me." Velma said. "I know what we're doing, and it's actually fairly simple. But first, I'm going to get a lab coat and safety goggles, then maybe I'll be the one that does the explanation."

Fred and Eric both glanced at each other and shrugged.

However, it turned out Velma was right. She was one step ahead of the boys each time they came to a part of the lab, and under the aid of her explanations on what they were doing for that part of the lab, their group was the first to finish.

"Wow, turns out you were right, Velma." Fred remarked as they returned to their desks after the clean up.

"Indeed." Eric nodded in agreement. "You sure will make a great addition to our school's science fair."

Velma smiled and nodded at the comment. "I'm sure I will."

As they sat down in their seats and waited for the rest of the class to finish with their labs, Fred asked, "So you're from Ohio, right?"

"Yes, I am." Velma nodded. "My father worked at an aerospace firm based in Cincinnati, which is located in the southwestern corner of the state, before his transfer to firms main office located here in Coolsville, hence the reason why I transferred to Central."

"I see." Fred nodded understandingly. "How do you find Coolsville so far?"

"Well, I'll say that it's interesting, but I do hear that things can be rough around here, especially with some ghostly urban legends that I found to be total nonsense." Velma replied.

"How's that?" Eric asked.

"Well, there's got to be a scientific explanation on all phenomenon." Velma replied. "Those legends are possibly someone just trying to scare others off."

"I suppose so." Fred nodded. "Speaking of which, what hobbies do you have, Velma?"

"Hobbies?" Velma asked. "Well, besides reading technical, engineering and scientific journals, I enjoy reading mystery novels."

"Mystery novels?" Fred asked excitedly. "Same here!"

"Jinkies!" Velma remarked.

Fred and Eric turned to each other.

"Jinkies?" Eric asked.

"Oh, it's just a catchphrase of mine." Velma explained. "I used to say 'Oh my!' whenever I'm surprised, but 'Jinkies' later caught on, since it's more catchy and it simply came to me."

(Does this sound familiar with anyone that remembered or has watched Velma's segment of the CN bumper series Those Meddling Kids, aired in 1998 on Cartoon Network when it aired Scooby Doo works 24 hours?)

"Ah, I see." Eric remarked as he and Fred nodded understandingly.

Later during the lunch period, Shaggy, Scooby and Daphne were seated at their usual table having lunch together.

"Like, I heard that someone transferred to Central this morning." Shaggy remarked after finishing his sandwich.

"Yeah." Daphne nodded. "I heard the new student is from Ohio."

It was then that they saw Fred walking into the cafeteria with Velma, shortly after splitting up with Eric.

"Raybe that's rer." Scooby said when he saw Velma, who is chatting with Fred as they walked over to join them at the table.

"Hey gang." Fred says as he and Velma joined them at the table. "I'll like you all to meet Velma Dinkley. She has recently moved from Ohio and is in my civics and chemistry classes."

"Like, hi." Shaggy smiled as he offered Velma his hand. "I'm Norville Rogers, but feel free to call me 'Shaggy'."

After the handshake, he turned to Scooby and added, "And this is my old buddy Scooby Doo."

"Rowdy do!" Scooby barked as he offered his paw to Velma.

"Hi." Velma smiled shyly as she shook Scooby's offered paw. "Nice to meet you."

"And I'm Daphne Blake." Daphne added as she shook Velma's hand. "Welcome to Coolsville and I hope you enjoy your new home."

"I sure am." Velma smiled as she shooked Daphne's hand. "So far, I'm still adjusting from things in Cincinnati, which is where I'm originally from."

"I see." Shaggy said as he, Scooby and Daphne nodded understandingly. "Like, Coolsville is a great place, aside from the fact that things can get a little rough around here, especially with those spooky urban legends and stuff like that."

"Well, I don't believe that there's such things as ghosts." Velma stated. "For anything that has happened, there's got to be a scientific explanation on it."

"Sounds like you may be interested in mystery-solving, Velma." Daphne commented.

"Well, I do enjoy reading mystery novels." Velma said. "They're really entertaining and is a source of excitement."

"Wow." Scooby remarked as he and Shaggy nodded.

There was some silence as the five carried on with their lunches, during which Velma was observing Shaggy and Scooby eating.

"I sure don't get how can you and Scooby eat that much without getting bellyaches, Shag." Velma commented.

"Like, can we help it if we're hungry?" Shaggy replied after finishing a sub.

"Reah, rungry!" Scooby agreed after taking a sip of water.

Whispering to Daphne, Velma asked, "How does Shaggy and Scooby eat that much?"

"Well, it has something to do with his family's bloodline." Daphne replied. "Which I don't think will be appropriate to discuss at a dining setting."

"Fair enough." Velma nodded as she resumes eating.

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