Chapter 16: Science club
Shortly after finishing his lunch, Shaggy left for the radio station while Daphne and Scooby followed him for the school newsletter editorial office, leaving just Fred and Velma at the table.
"I sure will like to know how Shaggy and Scooby can eat a lot without getting a belly ache." Velma remarked.
"Search me." Fred replied. "He mentioned he has some disorder that runs through his family's bloodline, but it's all Greek to me."
"Oh, well." Velma says as she decided to switch topics. "So what do you plan to do after high school, Freddie?"
"Well, I plan on becoming a lawyer, as well as a mystery writer." Fred replied. "And in case you're wondering, my father is the county district attorney."
"Jinkies!" Velma said. "Now that's interesting."
"Indeed." Fred nodded before asking. "What about you, Velms?"
"Well, for me, I plan on going into engineering for university or college." Velma replied. "In fact, my father is a research aerospace engineer, while my mother is a research chemist. In addition, my older sister Nicole is in second year of electrical engineering at MIT."
"Wow." Fred remarked. "Sounds like you came from a family of engineers and scientists, Velma."
"Indeed I do." Velma nodded before asking, "So do you have any siblings, Freddie?"
"Well, I've got an older brother named Geoff, who's in business studies over at neighbouring Big City." Fred replied. "I'm the youngest."
"I see." Velma nodded. "For me, I'm a middle child. In addition to my older sister Nicole, I've got a younger sister named Madelyn, who's currently in Grade 8."
"Grade 8, huh?" Fred remarked. "Well, Shag's got a younger sister named Sugie, who's also in Grade 8. If Madelyn's in the same school as her, they can be good friends."
"Jinkies, what a coincidence." Velma smiled. "I got a hunch Madelyn must be meeting Shaggy's sister at this moment."
Meanwhile, over at Dawsburg Public School, Sugie was on her way to the cafeteria with her lunch when she accidentally bumped into a girl with long brown hair and wearing a pair of glasses, white blouse and a pink shirt, leading her to drop her books and notebooks.
"Oh, I'm sorry." The girl said to Sugie when they collided with each other.
"It's alright." Sugie replied as she helped the girl pick up her stuff. "I should've watched where I was going."
"No worries." The girl smiled as Sugie helped her with her stuff.
Eventually, the two girls were finished with the picking up.
"Thanks for the help." The girl said to Sugie.
"No problem." Sugie smiled back before offering her hand and added, "Oh, and by the way, my name is Maggie. Maggie Rogers, but you can call me 'Sugie'."
"My name's Madelyn Dinkley." The girl introduced herself. "I'm new here."
"Oh, I see." Sugie nodded understandingly. "I should show you around. Are you in Grade 8?"
"Yes I am." Madelyn nodded. "Are you?"
"I am." Sugie replied. "We could be in the same class!"
"Awesome!" Madelyn smiled. "So where are you off to?"
"I'm heading for the cafeteria." Sugie replied. "Do you want to come along and meet my friends?"
"Of course." Madelyn nodded. "After I put my stuff away in my locker."
"Sure." Sugie nodded before following Madelyn to her locker.
During the afternoon classes, Velma saw that she had shared Math class with Shaggy, Daphne and Fred, while Fred is also in her Physics class.
Eventually after school, the five of them met up together at the locker area.
"So are you guys usually busy after school?" Velma asked.
"Well, I've got football practice after school on odd days, Velma." Fred replied. "On even days or days where we don't have football practice, particularly during the off-season, I'm busy arranging for student events and activities at the student council."
"Cool." Velma nodded and smiled before turning to Shaggy, Scooby and Daphne. "What about you three?"
"Well, I'm usually free after school, unless I've got a deadline to meet for the school newspaper." Daphne replied.
"Like, I'm usually at music practice with the school orchestra and the guitar club." Shaggy added. "At times, I'll be working to arrange to have a popular band or orchestra come to the school to perform at, let's say, a party or fun social event."
"Wow." Velma remarked. "Sounds like fun."
"And Scooby usually assists in the inking and colouring of the editorial cartoons for the school newspaper." Daphne added.
"Like, you should try out in other student activities, Velma." Shaggy suggested.
"No thanks." Velma replied. "I'm more into studying in the library after school."
"How about you go check out the science club, Velma?" Daphne suggested.
"Yeah." Shaggy agreed. "The school's science club is in need of a new member, and you seem like someone who will help the school win first prize in the regional science fair."
"It will be fun, Velms." Fred added.
Velma thought for a while before nodding. "Sure. Does the science club meet today?"
"Yes." Fred nodded. "I'll be happy to show you where."
"Groovy." Velma smiled. "Let's go, then."
She then follows Fred as he leads her to the science club meeting place.
Soon, the duo arrived at the classroom where the science club meets.
"Hey Fred." One of the club members said when he saw Fred entering with Velma in tow.
"Hey Mike." Fred said as he greeted the Mysteries Five member who's also in the science club. "What's up?"
"Everything's groovy." Mike replied. "Except that we're still in need of a new member who can help us compete in the regional science fair."
"Science fair?" Velma asked. "Sounds interesting."
"Ah, and you are..." Mike said when he saw Velma.
"Oh, this is Velma Dinkley, Mike. She transferred to Central this morning and helped Eric and I in our chemistry lab." Fred said before turning to Velma and added, "Velms, this is Michael 'Mike' Hanna. He's a member of the popular school band Mysteries Five and is the head of the school's science club."
"Nice to meet you, Velma." Mike said as he offered his hand.
"Likewise." Velma nodded. "You said that the club is in need for an additional member, right?"
"That's right." Mike nodded. "Are you interested in joining the science club?"
"I am." Velma smiled. "I'll like to see that my new school wins first prize in the regional science fair."
"Awesome." Mike said before turning to Fred and added, "I believe I can take over from here, Fred."
"Groovy." Fred nodded as he took his leave. "I've got to go. I've got a student council meeting to attend to."
"Alright." Mike said. "See you later."
"Talk to you later, Freddie." Velma added.
Fred nodded his reply with a smile before taking his leave.
Meanwhile, after watching Fred leaving with Velma, Shaggy turned to Daphne and Scooby.
"Like, I've got a music meeting to attend to, guys." He said.
"Oh, what's the meeting for, Shag?" Daphne asked.
"It's for the upcoming spring school dance and the student music council has to go through some of the band or orchestra auditioning." Shaggy explained.
"Sounds groovy." Daphne nodded. "Mind if Scooby and I come along, since we've already met the publishing deadline for the school newspaper."
"Like, be my guest, man." Shaggy smiled. "I'm sure you're interested in seeing how the student music council does the auditioning for the bands and orchestras and organizes the musical events."
Daphne smiled and nodded as she and Scooby followed Shaggy to the meeting place. Along the way, they ran into Fred.
"Hey Fred." Shaggy said. "Where's Velma?"
"Oh, she agreed to join the science club." Fred replied. "I've got a student council meeting to attend to, so I left her with Mike and Eric."
"I see." Daphne nodded understandingly.
"Where are you guys off to?" Fred asked.
"Oh, Shag's bringing us to the student music council meeting." Daphne explained. "Scooby and I are interested to see how they arrange and go through the auditions for the bands or orchestras to come and perform at school events."
"I see." Fred nodded before checking his watch and added. "I better get going now. See you guys later!"
Later after their respective meetings, the gang met up at the school's main entrance after getting their stuff.
"Like, how was the science club, Velms?" Shaggy asked as they walked home together.
"It was interesting." Velma replied. "Mike was really nice in introducing me to the other people, including Eric. And I've helped come up with a new hypothesis for the science project to present on."
"I see." Fred nodded before they went on to chat about a few other topics.
As the time went on, Velma started to feel more fit in with the gang as she gets to know Shaggy, Scooby and Daphne more, with the latter mentioning Shaggy's disorder that explains his large appetite.
Eventually, the gang arrived at Fred's place, which is located at where Tuna Lane branches off from Circle Drive.
"So I guess I'll see you guys tomorrow." Fred said.
"Well, I actually live nearby on Circle Drive, just a block away, Freddie." Velma said. "So maybe I might see you around again."
"Wow." Fred remarked. "Maybe I can drop by your place and ask for help on some homework questions."
Shaggy chuckled. "Like, I won't be surprised if you start getting higher marks on your assignments and tests, Fred."
"Yeah." Fred smiled. "Now that will be interesting."
After the farewells, Shaggy, Scooby and Daphne carried on to their homes, chatting about other topics.
"Guess what, Norville?" Sugie asked her brother as he and Scooby came downstairs to the living room after arriving home and heading up to their room. "Someone transferred to my school this morning."
"Oh really?" Shaggy asked. "Who's the new student?"
"Her name's Madelyn Dinkley." Sugie said. "She's from Ohio and is also in Grade 8."
"Oh really?" Shaggy asked. "Our new friend Velma is also from Ohio and has the last name of Dinkley. Did Madelyn mention any sisters?"
"Oh yes, she did." Sugie nodded. "She said she has two older sisters, one named Velma and the oldest being Nicole."
"Like, now that's interesting." Shaggy remarked. "You probably can get a lot of help from Madelyn with your homework and get higher marks than me back when I was in Grade 8, Maggie."
"Oh, Norville." Sugie laughed as she playfully slapped her brother on the back.
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