"Are you kidding me?! Time and time again I tell Fred to quit this mystery malarkey and there he goes against my word once more! I'm sick and tired of this! How am I supposed to help him grow into a better person if he can't even listen?!" Mayor jones asked as he listened to the sheriff's words down the phone. He was currently pacing back and forth in the town hall with one hand running through his hair, the other clutching his phone tightly. Bronson listened with his usual resting unfazed look. Hearing the mayor stress and yell about his son was a common occurrence
"Mr mayor please, I have this under control." He began as he looked in the cell at the proclaimed meddling kids and Scooby of course. Fred was stood with his usual dumbfounded smile, probably raving about how his trap worked. It was funny really. Bronson had always considered Fred like a son, what with all the times he'd had to care for him way back when. But even still now, he had to make an effort for the mayor's sake.
"I know you do...you always do..." Mayor Jones breathed down the phone, a tone of gratitude within his remark. Without the sheriff he had no clue where he'd be. "I'll be right over..." he muttered before putting down the phone.
He was supposed to be the mayor of Crystal Cove. A leader, a role model and a trusted member of society to his citizens. He was supposed to make decisions to benefit the town, to make people feel comfortable in the space they lived in. On the whole , the majority of the town supported him, they looked up to him for guidance. And he was able to give them the confidence boost they needed. So why couldn't he do that for his own son?? Why couldn't he provide the emotional support that he needed??
He could remember one night. He could remember it so clearly. When Fred was just a young boy, small with an unruly mop of blonde hair. He remembered tucking him into bed, sitting on the edge of it as he read him a bedtime story. As he read he watched his son's eyes move back and forth, from the pictures on the page, to the role model before him. Fred loved his dad. He may not have had the typical relationship that a father and son usually had with him, but he cherished the time they did spend together. Upon finishing the story, Fred tugged on his father's sleeve
"dad..." he began, looking up at him with his big beady eyes. Mayor Jones glanced down at his son and sighed. He knew that look, he knew he was probably going to make a remark about a net or how to set up the perfect trap.
"yes son?..." he asked, dreading how long he'd be sat there listening to his rambling.
"do you...love me?...Yknow...like other dads love their sons?.." he asked, burying his face down into the duvet as though he was ashamed of asking the question. But the truth is, Fred had no reason not to ask. He was never given a kiss goodnight, if he was it was in the presence of others like the sheriff. Hugs were short and sweet and not meaningful, and anything he had to say was seen as a burden on his father. Although, that wasn't always the case. The truth is, Mayor Jones carried a heavy burden himself. Taking Fred as a young child sickened him to think of, knowing that he wasn't the real father he needed or deserved love from killed him. It always came back to haunt him. The memory of that day, holding a bundle of joy in his arms that wasn't even his. It sent chills up his spine. But what is a father anyway?? Someone who is connected to you through blood?? Or are they someone who can provide the care and love you need?? That question often pondered on the mayor's mind.
"aw don't be silly Fred- heh- of course I love you!" Mayor Jones quickly added as he brushed his son's hair out of his eyes. Fred Just looked at him with year filled eyes and distrust. It would take more than just saying it for Fred to believe him. The mayor stood up, looking down at his son with a small smile "give me your hand.." He would say calmly. Fred hesitated before reaching his small hand up, grasping onto his dad's and standing up as he did. He picked up the young blonde and carried him towards the window, pointing up at the starlit sky "Fred, tell me what you see up there.." he'd say softly, looking at his son and awaiting an answer.
"They're...stars..." Fred would reply, completely mesmerised by it all.
"Well, the thing with stars is, there's so many of them right? So many that you couldn't possibly count them all. Each is similar in the way it looks, the way it sits in its canvas and the way that it serves its purpose. Stars all have one thing in common. They shine bright, but eventually, they become insignificant up there in the abyss." Fred gave him a confused look. He wasn't sure where he was going with this
"my point is Fred...you have so much meaning and purpose to my life...you're my son! You could do no wrong in my eyes. You're a bundle of joy, the happiest fella I know! And if your mother could see you now boy...she'd say the same..." he smiled slightly. Of course, Fred's so called mother wasn't at all his mother. The truth was the Mayor had never had a partner by this point. So the lie thickened with every mention of her. "I may not show it...but I'm proud of you..each and every single day...I couldn't be happier to have you as my boy...and while I think the trap obsession is- slightly out of the ordinary...I think you're going to go on to achieve great things someday! And I'll look back and think how lucky I was to be a part of your life..."
"thank you papa..." Fred whispered in a sleepy voice as he buried his face into the crook of his father's neck. His eyes went droopy, all he could manage to say was "I love you..." before he drifted off to sleep. Mayor Jones carried him back to bed and tucked him in, kissing his forehead as he did
"I love you too my little superstar.." he whispered before stepping back, feeling a lump form in his throat "I'm so sorry..." he whispered to himself. He felt like staying any longer would cause him to choke. So he left while he could, before he got sucked in further and further to the guilt in which he held.
As the mayor arrived at the police department, he watched as the other parents came to collect their children. First the Blake's, who were clearly making rude remarks towards his son and Daphne's clear obsession with him. Then the Dinkley's, who would be heading for work at the museum. And then of course the Rogers family, practically having to drag Shaggy and Scooby along. All that left was Fred.
"He's not mad...is he?.." Fred asked anxiously as he looked at the Sheriff. Bronson turned to face him
"Let's just say he wasn't impressed when I called him." He muttered. He did feel for the kid deep down, but he'd never audibly admit it, what with caring about the mayor. Mayor Jones entered the room with his arms folded
"Get to the car now young man." He sighed as he watched his son sulk. He hated to be stern, but he couldn't afford risking his career all for his son's silly mystery solving dream. It embarrassed him sometimes. As Fred trudged out, Mayor Jones turned to the sheriff "Thank you Sheriff. Sorry to have to inconvenience you again." Bronson tried to keep a straight face before sighing
"Look while I despise each and every one of those kids, one of them's yours, and I have to keep him in check for your benefit so- I'm happy to help" he smiled. Mayor Jones gave a brief smile back before quickly heading out of the room. So much for there being nothing Fred could do wrong. His father could be full of such lies sometimes.