DAY 1 – BELTANE – PART 1
Daphne: Hey! Velmaaa! Are you still on the line? I need a quick answer, will you take this job or not?
Daphne's question was objective, even so, Velma remained silent for a while, staring at her cell phone screen. She was about to accept a ten-day job Penelope Pitstop´s manor, who is Daphne's southern cousin and one of the richest girls in town. Penelope would go abroad with her parents for a few days, to play a̶ ̶s̶i̶l̶l̶y̶ ̶s̶p̶o̶r̶t̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶V̶e̶l̶m̶a̶ d̶o̶e̶s̶n̶t̶ ̶g̶i̶v̶e̶ ̶a̶ ̶f̶*̶c̶k̶ ̶a̶b̶o̶u̶t̶ ̶ at an international competition, so the Pitstops would need a housekeeper to take care of their mansion.
Velma: Can you repeat all the benefits again? I need to convince my parents...
"I need to convince myself too", she thought secretly. And she was completely right. Take care of a huge house alone would not be an easy task. Plus, it was a huge house… with the reputation of being haunted. About two years ago, Pitstop Manor was the scene of a brutal crime that made all the local and national headlines. Paul Pitstop, the oil tycoon, caught his trusty man Sylvester Sneekly attacking his only daughter, so he didn't think twice and fired several deadly shots on Sneekly. The crime scene looked like a Jackson Pollock painting made of blood. Velma saw the pictures in the newspaper and could not sleep for two days, the silly act of remembering what she saw gave her chills. Since that day, the employees' report supernatural events happening there. They say the phenomena are so frequent that Pitstops have trouble finding people to work at the mansion. So, lately, they have only hired extremely reliable people, usually a person with a glowing reference given by someone close to them. In this case, Velma was the glowing-reference person.
Daphne: Three thousand dollars... and you will have to do nothing but stay there and take care of everything... take it or leave it...
Three thousand dollars is a lot of money for a sixteen-year-old girl. It's a great amount for spending ten days in a luxury mansion doing nothing but enjoying all the nice things the place has. And it´s way more than the money Velma needed to take all science club girls to Silicon Valley for an unforgettable trip. But… it´s a paltry sum for being alone in a huge place with an angry soul. Yes, Velma Dace Dinkley, the skeptic science girl, was really afraid of a ghots, even though she would rather die than have to admit it.
Daphne: Vel, you'll practically be receiving money to stay at a resort...
"A resort haunted by a soul thirsting for revenge," her mind completed.
Velma: Hmm… and what else did your uncle say? Im remember to hear you say something about… uh… Tesla…
Daphne: Oh, sure, Uncle Paul said he'll make an appointment with his friend Elon Musk, so you and the girls can meet him at Tesla... the trip and all the stuff at his expense, of course…
Well, meeting Elon Musk is first step in working with Elon Musk. Working with Elon Musk is the first step in becoming a future technology genius. And becoming a technology genius is Velma's life plan. With a secret smile on her lips, she answered promptly.
Velma: Ok, when can I start?
Daphne: Today at 6pm but… did your parents agree?
Velma: Later I'll find a way to make them to agree...
Daphne: Velma!
Velma: What? You lie to your parents all the times you go out with Fred!
Daphne: I don't lie, I omit the truth, that´s quite different... plus, when Fred and I see each other, there´s no real danger around…
"No real danger other than you getting pregnant," Velma thought, but couldn´t verbalize.
Daphne: … as for you, you know, strange things happen there since…
Velma: Look, that´s the opportunity of my life, instead of scaring and discouraging me, why don't you go with me?
Daphne: I can't… Fred and I are going to a very important event today…
Velma: What? Fred told me his dad would be out of town and he had nothing to do all weekend!
Daphne: That's our very important event... you know, an event with each other…
Velma sighed loudly to show impatience.
Daphne: Can't Shags go with you?
Velma: He has to go to Sugie's dance recital with his parents... and even if he didn't, he would never agree to sleep at a crime scene...
Daphne: Hmm… maybe Madelyn?
Velma: I'd rather jump into a pool filled with alcohol right after having my skin peeled by a cheese grater… besides, she would certainly she tell our parents about this job… anyway, meet you at 6pm in front of Pitstop manor?
Daphne: Vel, you´d better tell your parents so they´ll know exactly what you´ll do!
Velma: Of course! After all, you told your parents exaclty what you´ll do tonight, right?
A long moment of silence draped over them.
Daphne: Okay, meet me at 6pm in front of Pitstop mansion.