Author´s note:
This is the last chapter of the story, as I´ve said before, it will describe some events about their lives after the Squid Game. This time, instead of apologizing for posting the longest chapter of the story (About 40 pages!), I´ve decided to post it in two parts. Here´s the first part with 2021 events, and the second part will be posted in two or three days. As always, I thank you in advance for the readings, for the views and for the nice reviews :)
Chapter 30 – Epilogue? Part 1
August 28th, 2021
The news headline was in Korean, but I didn't need to be fluent in that language to understand that they were talking about that damn case again. When I saw the image of Alan Mayberry being taken to the Detention Unit of the International Criminal Court in Hague, I turned off the TV angrily. Marcie was visibly offended by my attitude, but her empathy made her understand my anger and not protest.
Marcie: Well, at least he'll get what he deserves, right? He will be prosecuted for crimes against humanity and will certainly spend the rest of his life in jail...
Velma: Surely, but what about the others? Alan didn't create Squid Game, Marcie, he is just one of the VIPs´ servants! Now, he's become their scapegoat, and the VIPs will never pay for their crimes…I don't see the media talking about the VIPs anywhere, THEY HAVEN'T EVEN HAD THEIR IDENTITIES REVEALED! THIS IS NOT JUSTICE, DAMN, THIS IS A COVER-UP! ALAN'S ARREST IS NOT "JUSTICE", IT JUST CLOSES THE CASE THE VIPS WANT TO HIDE!
When I realized, I was talking loudly and gesticulating according to my anger, so I shut up. Marcie sensed my revolt and tried to not bring it up again, she just gathered her belongings and bags in silence, and we left the hotel room to check out. When we got into the taxi, I noticed that the driver was constantly looking at me through the rear view mirror – probably because he recognized me from the TV news – and that pissed me off completely. Marcie noticed my discomfort and patted my hand to calm me down, but when I relaxed a bit, I heard the question I learned to hate:
Taxi driver: Are you Velma Dinkley?
Suddenly, my heart raced and was filled with rage. I felt like yelling "It´s none of your business if I'm Velma Dinkley or not!", or even jumping out of that moving taxi, but my nerves worked hard to make a simple reaction: shake my head briefly and look at the window, far away from his eyes.
Marcie: Yeah, she's Velma Dinkley from the news... but I don't think she is comfortable enough to talk about it right now, I´m sorry...
Marcie was polite and the taxi driver gently nodded in agreement with her request. Fortunately, silence reigned throughout the trip, and the taxi driver's gentleness exceeded my expectations when he left us at a more discreet hospital entrance - instead of leaving us at the main entrance, where dozens of reporters were waiting for our arrival. Marcie and I paid for the ride and thanked him, but when I was about to get out of the car, the taxi driver broke the silence.
Taxi Driver: My daughter Ha-yun disappeared in the year of 2017 at Seoul subway while she was looking for a job. When I heard the news about the game last month, I wasn´t sure if she was really a victim... but last week police told us that she was on the Squid Game 2017 constestant list... so... I know how you feel, Miss Dinkley…
His testimony paralyzed me and made my heart race once more. Marcie continued the conversation with a few words of empathy, but the emotional impact prevented me from paying attention.
Velma: I'm so sorry...
Taxi Driver: The whole world is, Miss Dinkley… yet, all the world´s sympathies are not enough to ease the pain…
I remained motionless, sitting in that taxi, for more than a minute. I only realized that I should get out of the car – or at least say something to him- when Marcie shook my wrist.
Velma: So true… well, thank you very much, sir… I guess we'll meet at the ceremony today, in a few hours?
Taxi driver: Definitely not, Miss Dinkley… I would only go to Silmido if the real responsibles were publicly guillotined in a popular jury, and their heads were later used for bowling… but…go there to watch a simple religious cerimony for the lost souls, while the billionaires who have done this rest peacefully on their private islands? OR TO WATCH AUTHORITIES OF MANY COUNTRIES SET A BRASS PLAQUE WITH HA-YUN'S NAME WHILE THEY PRIVATELY HIDE THE VIPS FROM THE INTERNATIONAL COURT? NO, THANKS…
The taxi driver ended his speech raising his voice and gesticulating a lot, just like I had done before – and like I´ve been doing since I left Squid Game, as a Post-traumatic consequence. I noticed that he got a little embarrassed for showing his anger, even so, he did not apologize for his words.
Velma: I completely understand how you feel, sir… and I agree… thank you for saying what cannot be said… but, unfortunately, I will have to attend the cerimony… I survived Squid Game…
"…unfortunately…or fortunately…I still can´t define…because guilt is as cruel as those games", were the words I wanted to say, but they were so cruel – even for me – that I preferred to shut up. I left the car and said goodbye, and Marcie led me to the hospital quickly, showing that some journalists were coming towards us. In the hospital, I knew exactly which corridors I should take. That was the same route I had been taking every day for a month: Daphne's room, then Fred's room. However, this time, to my surprise, I didn't have to go to Fred's room: when I approached the room where Daphne was in, I saw Fred standing in the doorway, distracted with his cell phone, and next to him was Judy Reeves.
Velma: When did the doctors discharge you?
Fred: Never… in fact, they gave up on keeping me here as a patient… after all, I'm fine…
Velma: There are many concepts to define "fine", but certainly "chemical pneumonitis" is not one of them… and this is what your medical diagnosis says…
Fred: I remember John Hopkins Medical University accepted you, but I don't remember you graduating at it… doctor Dinkley...
Velma: You don't have to be a doctor to know that chemical pneumonitis doesn't cure by itself in less than a mont, you just have to not be stupid! Dammit, stop being stubborn, Fred, you know you need to take care of yourself!
Fred: Shit, I´ve told you I'm fine, I'm on the mend!
Velma: I think your mom disagrees… and she IS a doctor!
Fred: She's an obstetrician, she knows about babies, not lungs!
Velma: And what are you? Other than a giant, 27-year-old, snarky baby? Stop being a jerk, Fred, doctors are doctors!
Judy: Oh, forget it, Velma! I've asked him, I've begged him, I've threatened him, we have even fought... and he just don´t obey!... my hope is that New York´s pollution will worsen his condition and will force him to see a doctor when he arrives home…
Fred: Don't worry, Velma fights against pollution and climate changes, surely she will save the planet along with Greta Thunberg before I arrive home...
Velma: My hope, Ms. Reeves, is that his wonderful health plan won´t cover respiratory rehabilitation, so he will have to spend his entire salary on eco-friendly bronchodilators that leave no carbon footprints in the atmosphere... oh, and they come in recyclable packages, of course...
Judy, Marcie, and I laughed, and Fred scowled at us.
Velma: So, how are the things going? I mean, except for you, Fred… I already know your lungs will collapse in two weeks…and thankfully the republicans will lose one of their supporters…
Fred scowled at me again, but this time we both laughed.
Fred: Well, things are great! Daphne is recovering fast, soon she will wake up and be discharged…I think…
Judy was behind Fred, and while hearing my question, she shook her head negatively and made a pessimistic face. Before Fred realized, she stopped her action and faked a smile, so Marcie and I looked at each other sadly. Fred continued to ramble on about Daphne's progress during the last few days, but my eyes strayed to the image of her lying, unconscious body on that bed, and I couldn't pay attention to anything Fred said. The sadness I felt at Judy's quick response prevented me from approaching Daphne and seeing her close. Fortunately, a nurse appeared to save me, she reminded us that only one person could be inside the room with Daphne, so Marcie, Judy and I left. When we were far enough from Fred, Judy felt comfortable enough to talk.
Judy: Well… It´s been more than thirty days since the rescue… and you're smart enough to know that the more time passes, the less chances of waking up from a coma she has, and the less progress she will have… but he doesn't accept the reality! He sees progress in everything, even in the stupidest things! He bought an engagement ring, while he should be psychologically preparing himself for a brain death… and he keeps telling me: "you are an obstetrician, you know nothing about brains", but the Blakes have already brought neurologists from all over the world, and they all agreed with me… today he dared to tell me that a woman woke up from a coma after 27 years! As if it were a rule, not a very rare exception… and we had an argument, because I think this optimism is irrational and very harmful to his mental health… he doesn´t understand that the doses of reality that I give him every day are necessary… he prefers to live the impossible…
Velma: Well, Ms. Reeves, truth is: it was the impossible that made Fred be who he is now... he believes in the improbable and he fights until the end, so the improbable happens, that's how things work for him... and honestly, I don't think it's a bad thing… he always has a plan, he always finds a way… hours before we were rescued, I was about to commit suicide, but Fred had a plan just because he believed there was a 1% chance to survive… and I'm sure that if Scooby and Gi-Hun hadn't come, he would have saved our lives, like he always does…
Judy: But I'm afraid of how he will react when… uh… well… you know… when the inevitable happens… or even if it never happens… how will he react if this girl never wakes up? Or if she wakes up with serious sequelae?… I feel that he is also afraid, but he refuses to admit it…and that´s not good for him…
Velma: I think the word "inevitable" doesn´t even exist for Fred, Ms. Reeves... and I think he's totally right to not let fear define his life...
Judy got silent, and I realized she felt uncomfortable for being refuted. Suddenly, a hand touched my shoulder, and when I turned, Flim Flam happily hugged me – and, thankfully, his hug ended that discussion.
Flim Flam: Well, well, I´m finally meeting the new head of Interpol USA´s branch! How nice to see you here, Velma… and such an honor to see you at this institution…
Velma: Such an honor to see me at the institution you quit?
Flim Flam: Yes, because now I know it will be a more competent institution at your command.…
Velma: As a chief, you know that I can add you in my team if you change your mind and decide to return to Interpol…
Flim Flam: No way!… I mean… no offense, but right now, collecting sheep droppings at -31ºF and 9800ft altitude in the middle of the Himalayas is a more attractive job opportunity for me than the risk of meeting psychos who enjoy playing games with humans... but I wish you luck and success anyway...
Flim Flam's typical sarcasm made me laugh, but soon our smiles were interrupted by the subject that none of us wanted to talk about.
Flim Flam: How are Daphne and Fred?
Inevitably, Marcie, Judy, and I looked at each other and hesitated to answer.
Judy: Fred discharged himself and he refuses to get medical help... and Daphne... well... she's recovering slowly…
Judy looked at me tenderly while she said that, and I smiled gratefully because she understood what I had said.
Flim Flam: Well, nothing uncommon, right? I can't wait to see Fred accepting Interpol's invitation… we need more stubborn and optimistic people like him at police, Ms. Reeves... if it hadn´t been for your son's insistence, we wouldn't have survived...
Velma: Well, actually, we wouldn't even have joined the game! After all, he did everything Interpol asked him to NOT DO… thats why we ended in Squid Game!
Flim Flam and I laughed in agreement.
Judy: That would be great, but I´m not sure if he will accept… I think he has other priorities right now… especially when this girl wakes up!
Flim Flam: If he is interested in babysitting some sheep in the middle of the Himalayas, tell him to call me… he has my number…
Flim Flam mentioned that he would like to see Daphne and Fred, and he said goodbye to us. Marcie and I took the opportunity to say goodbye to Judy too, as our taxi was already waiting for us outside.
Velma: See you at the ceremony in a few hours…?
I knew my question was rhetorical, but it made Flim Flam stop and hesitate for a moment anyway.
Flim Flam: Will I see the all the VIPs get death penalty?
Velma: You know the answer…
Flim Flam: Then, you also know my answer…
Flim Flam and I laughed and we were interrupted by Judy's surprised expression.
Judy: Oh my God, I forgot to tell Fred about the memorial ceremony! Just wait a minute, Velma, I'll tell him… he may want to go with you…
Flim Flam and I laughed again, and Judy got confused.
Flim Flam: Ma´am, for the sake and the safety of hundreds of hypocritical officials and authorities who will be at the ceremony today, don´t let Fred know about it... unless you want to watch these people get seriously injured, because your son will surely punch all them…
Velma: He knows about the ceremony... but nothing in the world will get him out of that room right now... not even the tempting opportunity to punch a few bastards...
The taxi driver waved and hurried us, so we said goodbye and left. Fortunately, this time, the taxi driver didn't recognize me and no conversation happened during our ride to Seoul Marina. Arriving there, my heart raced when I saw again the places that haunted my memory, and I tried to board the ferry before those emotions made me break down.
On the ferry, I fought against all anger and sadness that those memories caused me, and when I arrived at the island of Silmido, I was scared to see the number of people there. Reporters, families of victims, world authorities, Interpol agents, celebrities, influencers, and the scariest thing was seeing smiles on their faces. Yes, there was peace in their hearts, and there was also an offensive joy in releasing white balloons in memory of the dead, while the murderers were alive, well and unpunished. I don't know if it was due to the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder I acquired, but my first attitude when I arrived on the island was to hide myself from the others and wish desperately to escape from there. Marcie grabbed me by the arm and showed her support as I battled the papparazzi on my way to the ceremony site. There, I met the Fleachs, the Rogers, Crystal, Shaggy and Scooby. To my surprise, my parents were also waiting for me there, even after telling me that they would not "be part of a cowardly and sensationalist attempt to politicize and monetize the tragic event". Everyone welcomed me warmly, and when I finally sat down, the ceremony began. A series of long, pointless speeches started in several languages, and luckily I didn't pay attention to any of them, since my feelings made my psychological time pass differently than reality´s. The only speech that caught my attention was made by Steven Applegate´s son – and the reason was not the speech itself, but the absence of the person who was supposed to speak right after him: George Blake.
Velma: Where are the Blakes?
Angie Dinkley: They refused to come…
Velma: WHAT?
Angie Dinkley: Yes, George wrote a long letter to Wall Street Journal two days ago… by the way, seems like you´ve quit your daily reading habit, uh?
I don't know if it was my expression of anger and disdain, or if it was my mother's realization about the miserable state of mind I was stuck in, but she corrected her haughty attitude immediately.
Angie Dinkley: …but it´s ok, dear, I can tell you about it… in the article, he used all words to describe how absurd is this ceremony… "the world will watch an event similar to a World Cup, but unlike the Cup, the ceremony of Silmido Island will not have champions", was exactly what that he wrote… and, obviously, his daughter's critical state of health didn't motivate him to celebrate…
Velma: Yeah... seems like even the Blakes have evolved... and by his words, I think he will chase the VIPs...
Angie Dinkley: At least economically that's exactly what he has done… more than fifty financial institutions have declared bankruptcy in the last fortnight, while Blake Bank stock has skyrocketed and George has incorporated most of those companies… well, it´s not a life sentence, but for people who are used to having everything and being above the law, bankruptcy is like the electric chair…
The news made me smile a little bit, but soon the tributes began and my smile faded. I tried to not break down in tears, but when I saw the families of Li, Wang, Dmitri, Andrei, Daniel and Vivian receiving medals and honors, I couldn't help it. Unfortunately, Shaggy, Scooby, and I were called out shortly after, and I had to speak with a wet face and red eyes. Despite the emotional outburst, my words came out in a cold and mechanical way while I read the speech Madelyn prepared for me a few days ago (̶i̶g̶n̶o̶r̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶h̶e̶r̶ ̶o̶r̶t̶h̶o̶g̶r̶a̶p̶h̶y̶ ̶m̶i̶s̶t̶a̶k̶e̶s̶). I knew there were moving passages in my speech, but my hurt heart was immune to them all. My distant thoughts also helped me keep my mental integrity, and it only failed when the speech made me mention the names of Daphne, Fred and Flim Flam. The applause at the end of the speech only made me feel relieved: I could finally leave that place. As I returned to my chair, I watched Scooby and Cheol become world heroes, and Mrs. Cho and Gi-Hun also received the honors they deserved. During Shaggy's speech, my eyes wandered around the chairs until they found a middle-aged couple with Latin American features, wearing a T-shirt with Lupe's picture on it. The woman – apparently the mother – looked a lot like Lupe, and the discovery made me cry. Marcie noticed my sadness, and when I showed her the reason of my tears, I made another unfortunate discovery. Three children, aged between 7 and 12, sitting next to each other, accompanied by Servizi Sociali Italian agents. They weren´t wearking T-shirts with pictures, but the little girl's face, identical to Ginevra's, showed me who they were. Inevitably, I cried again, and I was interrupted by applause and squeals of joy.
Velma: What´s going on?
Marcie: Didn't you hear? Shaggy has just proposed to Crystal at the end of his speech! And she said yes!
I smiled immediately, but in the following moment, I felt ashamed and guilty for not doing such a thing during my own speech.
Velma: Oh, what the hell! I can't believe I haven´t done it, Marce, please forgive me! I really, really didn't mean to forget… I… I am so sorry… I can't believe I missed the opportunity to do something amazing for you!
Marcie: I believe! I know the shitty fiancée I have... for ten long years…
We both laughed, but I was laughing nervously.
Marcie: …that's why I bought this ring and I'm proposing to you right now, Velma Dinkley! I don´t want to wait ten more years to marry you.
Mrs. Fleach: Actually, I bought the ring and made up the whole idea, because I know the shitty daughter I have and this proposal would never happen if it depended on her…
Velma: Well, I think that's why we get along so well… we are equally shitty…
Marcie: Anyway, Velma Dinkley, do you want to be my shitty wife?
Velma: Only if you're mine, Marcie Fleach.
Our "yes" and our kiss were applauded and celebrated more discreetly, but they aroused the same joy in our loved ones. When the ceremony ended and we boarded the ferry, we finally hugged Shaggy and Crystal, congratulating them on their engagement – and they did the same. On the way back, Scooby proudly paraded around the ferry, showing off his medals, and received affection from everyone. Shaggy chatted non-stop about his plans for the next few months, and some of them – having a baby – scared Crystal. Marcie laughed at her reaction, and when she brought up the motherhood subject, she tried to tease me.
Marcie: Look on the bright side, Crystal, at least you both are already thinking of starting a family… it will take me about seven business years to convince Velma about it…
Marcie and Shaggy laughed, but instead of scowling at them, I smiled.
Velma: Well, let´s save our time, then… instead of "building" our own kids in a laboratory, how about getting ready-made ones?
I pointed at Scooby-Doo, who was rolling over onto his back, barking, jumping and trying to get the attention of the three Italian orphans who were desolate, sitting on a corner of the ferry. Marcie looked at me with surprised – but at the same time, with some joy – and smiled.
Crystal: Now you´ve scared her, Vel!
Shaggy: Like, it would be awesome of you to do that!
Velma: I have to do it, Shags… or, at least, I have to do something to help them… I´ve promised, remember? So, Mrs. Dinkley-Fleach, what do you say? Ready to learn Italian?
Shaggy and Crystal started laughing and making awkward attempts of speaking Italian words, and Marcie and I ended up laughing along with them.
Marcie: Well, I hope Interpol pays well... because I definitely won´t work and take care of three kids at the same time...
November 25th, 2021
When I finished putting the last sweater inside the last suitcase, I allowed my exhausted body park into an armchair and relax a little bit. In less than five minutes of peace, Marcie came, opened one of the suitcases and dug around until she found her damn gloves. Her attitude was copied by each one of the three children, who also opened their suitcases to get gloves and warm clothes.
Marcie: Honey, it's snowing outside! Why don't you come with us? Let´s make some snowmen!
My tired, sullen expression answered Marcie's question, and she got embarrassed when she realized the mess she and the kids had made - mainly because she couldn't make the clothes fit in the suitcases again. So, her brilliant solution was to piss me off by singing the song "Do you want to build a snowmaaaaan?" in a high-pitched, mocking voice. I rolled my eyes and tried to stay serious, but ended up laughing with them.
Velma: I don't know what are your pedagogical references, but they can't have fun all the time, you know?
Marcie: Oh, come on, I grew up in an amusement park and look at me now! I´m gorgeous!
Marcie and I laughed again, and she threw a coat and a scarf in my direction before dressing the kids. I sighed and put winter clothes too, yet I was not in the mood of building a damn snowman. While I was looking for my gloves, I noticed that my cell phone vibrated. On the screen, I saw that Fred had sent me a message saying "Do you want a good reason to be grateful on Thanksgiving?", and I was surprised that I had forgotten it was holiday.
Velma: Damn, Marce, today is Thanksgiving! How in hell could we forget Thanksgiving?
Marcie: Uh… maybe because we're in a country where nobody gives a shit about this stupid holiday?
Velma: But it's our obligation to remember the important dates of our own country! Damn, we are terrible americans, this way the kids will never learn about our culture!
Marcie: Hey, relax! Next year we'll do something "nice"… like putting our families together at a table... then, they'll learn how to hate Thanksgiving just like we do...
Despite my serious expression, Marcie laughed at her own joke and left with the kids. Before I joined them, I grabbed my cell phone to text Fred, and the image I saw made me squeal with delight: Daphne was awake, smiling and looking fine. I tried to tell Marcie the good news, but when I saw the image of four coats walking away from the house, I gave up. I called Fred immediately, but his line was busy, probably due to dozens of calls he was receiving at that moment. With no other option, I grabbed the phone and went after Marcie.
I had barely put my feet on the frozen grass when I received a snowball hit on my face. The kids laughed a lot, and when I opened my eyes, I saw Marcie laughing, proud of what she had done.
Velma: It will be a challenge to raise a 7, a 9 and 11 year-old while I have a 27 year old wife mentally being 5 years old… you can't teach them the crap you´ve learned with your parents!
Marcie repeated "you can't teach them the crap you´ve learned with your parents" with a mocking voice and everyone laughed. I rolled my eyes and laughed a little too, after all, I had a lot of reasons to smile. Before I could tell the good news, my phone vibrated again and Fred's face appeared on the screen. When I answered the call, the image of Daphne smiling beside Fred, Judy, Delilah, Fred Sr. and the Blakes made me squeal with joy. Marcie stopped her childish games and approached the cell phone screen, and when everyone said "Thanksgiving miracle", she understood the reason for my joy and also squealed. Daphne waved at me smiling and I waved back, but the moment I asked her a few questions, Fred walked away from her with the camera.
Fred: Sorry, no questions, ok?... she's still a little confused… her memory is a bit slow… but she´s back and the worst part of this nightmare is finally over...
Velma: Fred, this is amazing! I'm so happy for you!
Marcie: It´s really a miracle!
Velma: And when did it happen?
Fred: This morning… about eight hours ago... we still can't believe it...
Velma: But… is she okay?
Fred: She's still feeling a little numb, and we are trying to not overload her with too much information… but she's already complained about the state of her nails, so I think she's fine… and how are things there in Italy?
Velma: Well, we have improved our communication with the kids and I think we are getting along well… I´m using my hands to speak now, so I think I´m fluent…
Fred: If it was an Italian joke, seems like you´re internationally not funny now…
Velma: I can curse you in Italian, if you prefer…
Fred: If your Italian speaking has the same quality of the Italian food you cook, please say in English…
Velma: Oh, by the way, they consider my spaghetti offensive to Italian cuisine…
Marcie: Sorry it took me ten years to tell you this, but your spaghetti really is offensive... and I'm not even Italian...
Fred and Marcie laughed at me and I rolled my eyes.
Fred: Please don´t tell me that you´ll live across the ocean now! That would be really offensive…
Velma: No, we will return to USA, but we are still fighting for the kids´ American citizenships… and we are going through all the bureaucracy of an international adoption, so it will take some time…
Fred: So, soon you´ll have 3 kids to take care of? Wow…
Velma: Yes, ten times wow… I´m scared as hell…
Fred: Don´t worry, you´ll be a great mom… all you need is patience…
Velma: Jinkies, that´s all I definitely DON´T have…maternal instinct… patience… joy for being called "mom"… in fact, I think it´s such an absurd to consider myself as "their mom"…
Fred: …but you have love, and that´s enough for them right now…it´s not absurd to care about them, Vel…right now, you are just a group of hurt people struggling to survive a trauma…but one day love will resignify it and you´ll be a family…
Velma: Yes… I guess you´re right…
Fred: I´m always right.
Velma: No way! You were totally wrong when you decided to return to Crystal Cove! Jinkies, Fred, WTF?
Fred: Shaggy told you the good news?
Velma: GOOD? How can "return to Crystal Cove" be considered a good thing?
Fred: C´mon! Shaggy is doing great there… he's happy with Crystal and Scooby… and also with the success of his app… it´s a nice city to live…
Velma: No, it´s not! But I would surely live in Crystal Cove just to continue having you in my life and seeing you everyday…
Suddenly, I finally understood that, for the first time in my life, I would not have my best friends around. And, inevitably, that fact flooded my eyes with tears.
Fred: Please, Vel, come with us… it will be odd without you there…
Velma: Unfortunately, I don't have a choice… Crystal Cove doesn´t have an Interpol bureau…
Fred: Well, luckily I have a choice... and I intend to make better choices from now on... Crystal Cove will be better for me and Daph...
Velma: I'm glad to hear that, Fred!
Fred: …but I won´t give up convincing you and Marce to join us. We need you... and we will miss you...
Velma: Aww, don´t say that, I don´t want to cry in front of the kids! Maybe we will be there for your birthday next January… or for Shaggy and Crystal´s wedding next spring…
Fred: Why not next Christmas? Daphne only needs three more weeks of treatment here in Seoul… I think we will arrive before Dec. 20th…
Judy: Actually, Daphne is fine and she will be discharged in some days… it's his pulmonary treatment that will last more three weeks... yes, he has finally accepted the treatment, and I didn´t even need to threaten him…
This time, Judy and I laughed and Fred rolled his eyes.
Velma: Apparently, the right choices have already begun… I'm glad to hear that, Fred…
Judy: Me too!
Fred: Well, I gotta go now… talk to you later… Happy Thanksgivin g, Vel!
Velma: Happy Thanksgiving, Fred!
By the time I ended the call, my phone was covered with snow. I looked at Marcie impatiently, but she smirked proudly at her action and didn't care at all. When I put the cell phone inside my coat pocket, my hands accidentally touched a piece of paper, and when I took it out, I realized that it was one of Squid Game's business cards. The discovery made me shudder, and immediately I crumpled up that card with rage. Before I joined them in their snow games, I left the crumpled card in the nearest bin – and wished my horrid memories of Squid Game would go away with it.
December 24th, 2021
I heard my cellphone ring inside my purse, but my purse was in a market cart, beneath a pile of toys. When I finally got it, Shaggy´s face on the screen remembered me that I had absolutely forgotten to tell Shags and Crystal that we could not leave Italy for Christmas in USA, so I knew exactly the reason of that call.
Shaggy: Dammit, Velma, like, where the hell are you?
Velma: Oh, Shags, I´m so very sorry, I´ve completely forgotten to tell you that we won´t be with you during the holidays! We´ve asked permission to take the kids to USA, but two days ago the judges denied, so we will have to stay here…
Shaggy: Damn, and you only tell me now? Like, I´ve bought food for 10 people, and now it´s only Scoob, Crystal and me! Such a waste of food!
I would have taken that complaint seriously if it haven´t been said by him while chewing chips with an open mouth – and with the image of Scooby-Doo desperately eating Christmas cookies that were hanging on the Christmas tree right behind Shaggy (and, of course, destroying the same tree in the following moment). Even so, I felt bad for him.
Velma: Oh, Shags, Im so very sorry, I don´t even have words to apologize! I was going to call you, but Giulia had a fever on the same day, and I completely forgot because she just can´t stop coughing…btw, Marce is with her at a pediatrician right now…
Shaggy: Like, I thought I heard you saying one of the boys had a fever…
Velma: No, the oldest had a fever last week, now it´s her turn and soon it will be their little brother, because that´s exactly what kids do: they get sick, get hurt, get bored and get hungry, all the time! And they get me nuts too, jinkies…
I think my tired face convinced him immediately, because all his anger dissapeared and he smiled tenderly.
Shaggy: Yeah, I see… well, Daphne and Fred are still in a hospital in Seoul, so… damn, Christmas will suck without you…I just hope it will be the first and the last Chritmas that we spend far from each other… like, I miss you!
Shaggy´s words brought tears to my eyes, and my heart felt a terrible tightness when I realized that, slowly, life was tearing us apart. The feeling got worse when Scooby looked directly to the camera and cried, showing that he understood that I would not be there for Christmas. Fortunately, the sales clerk called me before that feeling detroyed my ̶l̶i̶t̶t̶l̶e̶ remaining good mood.
Velma: It will, I promise it will! I miss you too! Sorry, I have to go, Shags, these toys will not be paid by themselves… Merry Christmas… love you…
Shaggy: Love ya, Vel!
I was in the middle of the parking lot, on my way to my car, when my cellphone rang again, this time Fred´s face appeared on the screen. During the milisecond in which I took my eyes off the boys to accept the call, they ran past me kicking a soccer ball – and I could do nothing but sigh.
Fred: Hey, where are you? I´m in front of your parents´ house and nobody is home!
And that question made me remember that I forgot to tell Fred, too.
Velma: Oh, Fred, I´m so sorry! I forgot to tell you that I will not be in Crystal Cove for Christmas…
Fred: No way! Damn, Daph will be upset when she knows… she wanted so hard to see you and Marce…and meet the kids…
Velma: Yeah, me too… but I´m glad you and Daph arrived in time, Shags was sad…
Fred: Don´t tell him, it will be a surprise! What about you? When will you come?
Velma: I have no idea… we´re still stuck in Italy… right now, I´m buying Christmas gifts for the kids, yet my mind keeps telling me I shouldn´t pamper them so much…
Fred: Christmas gifts? But you´re the Grinch!
Velma: Maturity makes some things change… but seems like you´ll never know what maturity is like, uh?
Fred: I´m trying… but I won´t mind if you buy me a Christmas gift too…
Velma: You definitely don´t deserve… but you have a chance to show me you´re an adult now: tell me about the proposal! Did you film it? Aww, I want to see it, I´m so glad for you both!
Fred: Well, in fact…
Velma: FREDERICK JONES, I CAN´T BELIEVE YOU DIDN´T…
Fred: Believe me, I didn´t.
Velma: …YOU MISSED THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROPOSE TO HER AT THE HOSPITAL! AND AT THE PLANE! DAMMIT, I CAN´T BELIEVE, FRED!
Fred: Now I missed the opportunity to propose during Christmas with my friends too, guess what? YOU´RE NOT HERE!
Velma: WHAT THE HELL IS YOUR PROBLEM?
Fred: Just kidding… relax… I have a plan… trust me…
Velma: No, thanks, last time I trusted, I ended inside a deadly reality show!
Fortunately, Squid Game memories were so distant at that moment that we both could laugh about them. And unfortunately, on the following moment, that soccer ball hit my hands hard and made my cellphone fall. Again, I could do nothing but get my cellphone back, say in English a few inappropriate words for kids under 14 and sigh.
Fred: You´re cursing in English so they won´t understand? You´re truly a genius!
Velma: I´m just doing my best… I´m glad to see them so excited at Christmas time, even after everything they went through…
Fred: Me too… and you´re doing great, Vel, I´m pround of you… I just hope you return soon, so that you can teach them real sports… no, wait, you´ve flunked P.E. during all school years… and I had to save your ass at Red Light, Green Light because you´d take more than a minute to run 10ft.
I rolled my eyes and we both laughed.
Velma: I´m pround of you too, captain… Jinkies, you´re not my captain anymore! Geez, now I have another reason to cry, I can´t believe I won´t have you bossing me around!
Fred: No… from now on, the most dangerous mystery I want to solve is: "where is Mrs. Dinkley´s cat?"… you know, Crystal Cove stuff like that…
Velma: Or Crystal Cove crimes like: "who stole Mrs. Rogers´ cookies?". The answer, obviously, will be her own son…mystery solved in advance!
Fred: Or her own dog…
Velma: And I will be pround of you anyway… and you´ll always be my captain…
Fred: Nice try, but you won´t make me cry… see? I´m truly an adult!
Velma: I surely will if you don´t propose to her soon, hear me, big boy?
Fred: By the way, I have to go…Daph must be waiting for me… Merry Christmas, Vel…
Velma: Merry Christmas, Fred!
The best Christmas a person can have is having a Christmas after going through some kind of danger that made him/her believe s/he would not live enough to have another Christmas, and that´s exactly what happened to me on Christmas 2021. I would lie if I said it was peaceful, perfect, or wonderful. It wasn´t. Definitely. It had the same Christmas problems of the past years: Putting up with my family issues, enduring my unbearable parents and my annoying in laws, having my family and Marcie´s together for days - and with three extra kids. Plus, dealing with the absence of the ones I always had by my side. But, somehow, it was different, because I was totally different. I was ok enough to honor those small things: the little problems I had and the people I love more. I was in peace. Finally. Peace increased when, before going to bed, I saw a picture of Scooby-Doo and my friends together, celebrating Christmas. And when some hours later, in the middle of the night, I woke up with a photo of Daphne smiling in front of our old high school, with a ring on her finger. Fred´s message just said: "I´ve told you I had a plan! Before you ask and criticize, yes, I proposed to her at school… I know it seems stupid, but it´s what I should have done in that summer night of ten years ago."