Chapter 5: The piano-playing

September 9, 1968

That late afternoon, the Rogers were making preparations to head over to the Blake mansion across the street for the dinner invitation, though to describe Shaggy as being in the contemplative stage of preparing for the dinner invitation is a bit of a stretch, as shown when Maggie walked in to find her brother searching through his closest.

"Still couldn't find a dress shirt to wear, Norville?" Maggie asked, prompting her brother to pause and turn towards her briefly. She was wearing a dark brown dress, complete with a green scarf nearly identical to the one worn by Daphne.

With a sigh, Shaggy shook his head as he resumed searching. "Don't suppose a little bit of drastic measures are in order."

"Drastic measures?" Maggie raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean by that..."

Maggie trailed off when her brother pulled something out from the closest with a triumphant "A-ha!"

When Shaggy turned around, Maggie's face turned pale as she sputtered, "...oh no."

He was holding a black T-shirt with a tux design printed on it, and he looked really proud as he quipped, "Like, I can't believe I didn't think of this earlier."

Maggie only blinked at her brother in response before she shook her head and said, "No."

Shaggy only glanced at her with a raised eyebrow. "No?"

"No." Maggie repeated, this time more firmly. "Daphne's definitely gonna have your head if she sees you wearing that hideous piece of rag, Norville."

"Come on, Mags, it can't be that bad." Shaggy protested, only for his sister to storm over and snatch the T-shirt from his hands.

"Norville, perhaps you've haven't been searching at the right places for your dress shirt." Maggie said. "And I'm gonna keep this for safe-keeping."

Shaggy was on the verge of retorting, but thought better of it and instead only shrugged at her ludicrously.

A few minutes went by before his sister pulled out a light green dress shirt and shoved it into his hands. "Wear that."

With a shrug, Shaggy conceded and proceeded to get changed and his sister walked out of his room, passing by Scooby along the way.

Having had caught the last patches of Maggie's conversation with Shaggy, Scooby only giggled as Maggie paused by him and said, "With any luck, hope Norville's future girlfriend and wife doesn't have to put up with his shenanigans, Scoob."

"Rhe rouldn't want rim to rave ra wardrobe ralfunction." Scooby agreed.

Having had heard the last bits of his sister's conversation with Scooby, Shaggy called out, "Et tu, Scoob?"

Scooby laughed in response and Maggie simply rolled her eyes before heading back to her room.

Later at 17:30, the Rogers, all dressed formally, arrived at the Blake Mansion across the street.

Sam, who was dressed in a suit with tie, knocked the front door and was answered by the Blake family butler Jenkins.

"Mr. and Mrs. Rogers, I presume?" Jenkins asked with a noticeable British accent in his voice.

"Yes, we are." Sam nodded before gesturing at his children and Scooby, adding, "And this is our son Norville, daughter Maggie and family pet Scooby Doo."

"Excellent. Master George Blake and Lady Elizabeth Blake are expecting you in the living room." Jenkins nodded as he motioned the family to enter.

Upon entering the mansion and taking off their shoes, the family were promptly greeted by George Blake at the main hallway.

"Well, well, if it isn't Sam Rogers!" George said in greeting, prompting Sam to step forward and extend his hand.

"George Blake, it's been a long while, haven't seen you in a dog's year!" Sam responded enthusiastically as George shook his offered hand and tugged him closer for a shoulder clasp. "And thank you very much for the invitation, it's also definitely a great time for us to catch up."

"You're very welcome, Sam." George agreed as he turned towards Wendy and added, "And you must be Wendy."

"That, I am." Wendy smiled as she shook George's offered hand. "Sam's told me a lot about you and what you guys did during your downtime in the war."

George chuckled. "Hope it was all good."

Turning towards Shaggy and Scooby, George continued, "And hello boys."

"Hi Mr. Blake." Shaggy responded as he shook George's offered hand. In addition to the light green dress shirt, he was wearing a pair of brown trousers, complete with a belt and a brown bow tie.

"And you must be Margaret." George added as he turned towards Maggie.

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Blake." Maggie said shyly.

"I'm glad you three could come, and I must say that's a really nice green scarf and brown bow tie." George said, nodding at the bow tie and scarf.

"Thanks, Mr. Blake. It's my favourite bow tie, and I'm sure Mags likes her scarf very much." Shaggy said as he nodded towards his sister.

"Come in, come, come!" George said as he ushered the family into the living room, where Elizabeth and Daphne were waiting.

"Well, hello there." Elizabeth said in greeting as Daphne stepped forward.

"My wife Elizabeth and daughter Daphne." George introduced as he gestured towards them, then he turned towards them and said, "Elizabeth and Daphne, Sam Rogers, his wife Wendy, their children, who Daphne has already met, Norville and Margaret, alongside Scooby Doo."

"Nice to meet you." Elizabeth said as she shook hands with Sam. "George's been telling a lot of stories about you and your exploits during the war."

"All of them good, I'd imagine." Sam chuckled.

Elizabeth nodded as she turned towards Wendy. "It's nice to meet you, Wendy. No doubt you've done a very good job bringing up Norville to be a nice gentleman."

"Just doing my job." Wendy smiled as she shared a brief embrace with Elizabeth.

"And Her Majesty has the Princess Royal for support as well." Sam jokingly added as he gestured towards Maggie, prompting laughter from the others.

"We really couldn't thank you and Scooby enough for the support you've given to Daphne, Norville." Elizabeth said as she turned towards Shaggy, who nodded shyly.

"Like, we're just glad to do what we gotta do to help, Mrs. Blake." Shaggy said.

"And you must've been a very good puppy, aren't you, Scooby?" Elizabeth turned towards Scooby and rubbed his head.

"Raww..." Scooby blushed.

"And I must say you've got a really great taste, Margaret." Elizabeth finally turned towards Maggie and nodded at her green scarf.

Maggie nodded shyly before Elizabeth suggested, "Why don't you kids go and have fun while we chat?"

"Groovy idea, Mom." Daphne smiled as she beckoned Shaggy, Maggie, and Scooby to join her.

"And all the while, we've got a lot to catch up on, Sam." George suggested as he reached for a bottle of bourbon. "Care for a drink?"

"Well, neither of us are driving, so I don't see why not?" Sam responded as Jenkins handed him and George each a glass.

Thanking Jenkins, George suggested, "Perhaps you could go over to check on dinner, Jenkins."

"Of course, Master Blake." Jenkins bowed and took his leave.

As Daphne led them to the library. she nodded at Shaggy's outfit and said, "Must say you look really handsome in that outfit, Shag. I liked the bow tie, by the way."

"Like, thanks, Daph." Shaggy smiled. "Maggie suggested me to wear it, though it's not like I'm going to head out for a date."

Daphne and Maggie both laughed at Shaggy's last remark as he gestured at his brown bow tie, and Maggie said, "Oh, Norville, if only you knew to keep your dress shirt in the designated place instead of having to rush through in search for it in the last minute and coming dangerously close to burning my eyes with your 'drastic measures'."

"What sort of 'drastic measures' are you talking about, Sugie?" Daphne raised an eyebrow.

"Only that Norville came close to having a wardrobe malfunction." Maggie rolled her eyes, though she was still smiling.

Feeling his cheeks burning, Shaggy swiftly took a seat on the stool in front of the piano.

Noticing the way he was looking at the piano keys, Daphne asked, "Any chance you play the piano, Shag?"

"I do, Daph." Shaggy nodded. "I've taken piano lessons when I was younger, starting at the age of five. Same with Mags."

"Norville's really talented on the piano, Daphne." Maggie added. "He has taught me and Scooby to play several pieces, and I play because of his lead."

"Rlay ra riece, Raggy." Scooby encouraged.

"Alright." Shaggy nodded as he turned to face the keyboard.

After a brief thought on what to play, Shaggy gently placed his hands on the keys and after a pause, his fingers pushed down on the keys as he began playing Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 in C-sharp minor.

(Note: Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 is the piano piece Tom performed in the Tom and Jerry short The Cat Concerto, a piece that was also played by Bugs Bunny in Rhapsody Rabbit and Mickey Mouse in The Opry House.)

There was some silence as Shaggy performs the famous piano piece flawlessly, key-by-key.

Outside the mansion, Tom and Jerry were chasing each other on the nearby sidewalk when they heard the familiar-sounding piano music.

The playing of the music instantly triggered their memories, with Jerry recalling how Tom woke him up and disturbed his nap in that piano performance, while Tom recalling how Jerry subsequently sabotaged his performance on stage.

Resuming his chase of Jerry, Tom came close to crashing into Fred, who was arriving at the mansion with his family.

"Watch where you're going, guys!" Fred shouted to the duo, prompting the duo to pause and shrug at him apologetically before resuming their running.

"Gotta say someone in there really knows their piano repertoire, enough to trigger those two to coming close to mowing you down, Fred." Fred's older brother Geoff remarked.

"Tell me about it." Fred agreed. "That said, someone in there's really talented with the piano."

"Indeed." Their father Skip agreed as they made their way through the main gate.

Back in the mansion, Shaggy started playing the friska second section of the rhapsody, and he seemed like he's really enjoying the music.

Maggie, Scooby and Daphne were evidentially enjoying his piano-playing and listened silently as Shaggy continued with the playing.

A few minutes went by and Shaggy eventually played the final fifteen notes before lifting his hands in the air in a ceremonial fashion, prompting Scooby, Maggie, and Daphne to clap their hands in applause.

"Jeepers, that's really marvelous, Shaggy!" Daphne said as they all clapped their hands.

"Like, thanks, Daph." Shaggy smiled as he got up, only for Daphne to place her hand on his shoulder to keep him seated.

"How about playing another piece?" Daphne suggested.

Before Shaggy could answer, the doorbell rang.

"Oh, must be Fred." Shaggy said as they exchanged looks before they got up and headed out of the library to the main hallway.

Sure enough, Fred and his family were on the other side of the front door when Jenkins went to open it.

"Well, well, if it isn't Alvin Jenkins." Skip said as he spread his hands, prompting the butler to smile.

"Skipper Jones." Jenkins smiled back as they shook hands and shared a brief embrace. "I must say it's been a dog's year, to quote Master Rogers."

Skip agreed as everyone else arrived at the main hallway, and having had saw him and Jenkins briefly embracing each other, George raised an eyebrow.

Seeing the questioning look on George's face, Jenkins explained, "Master Jones was an exchange officer from the US Navy when I served on board HMS Magnificent during the war, Master Blake."

"Ah." George nodded understandingly before he extended his hand and said, "Mr. Jones, so glad you and your family can join us."

"Thank you very much for inviting us, Mr. Blake." Skip smiled as he and his family were ushered in, then he gestured towards his wife and sons and introduced them. "My wife Peggy and sons Geoff and Frederick."

"How are you?" Peggy smiled as she and the boys took turns shaking hands with George first, followed by Elizabeth.

Seeing Elizabeth and Daphne, George gestured towards them as he introduced, "My wife Elizabeth and daughter Daphne, who Frederick has already met."

Introductions between the Blakes and Jones over, Skip turned towards Sam and his family.

"Chief Rogers." Skip said in greeting as he offered his hand.

"Mr. Jones." Sam responded as he shook his hand. "Glad to be able to meet under...more pleasant circumstances for a change."

"You've got that right." Skip chuckled before he gestured towards his family. "My wife Peggy, and the two boys Geoff and Frederick, who no doubt your son Norville and family pet Scooby has already met."

"Nice to meet you all." Sam smiled as he gestured towards his family. "My wife Wendy, daughter Margaret, and Norville and Scooby, who no doubt your son Fred has already met."

Fred nodded as he pointed at Shaggy's bow tie and said, "I like the bow tie, Shag."

"Thanks, Fred." Shaggy responded. "Ascot's fit you better."

"And is it just me, or is your sister and Daphne wearing matching scarfs?" Geoff asked as he gestured towards Maggie's scarf.

The two girls exchanged looks briefly before Maggie replied, "Glad you've noticed."

"Come, dinner is almost ready." George said as he ushered the adults to the living room.

"Come along, guys." Daphne said as she led them to the library.

Along the way to the library, Shaggy turned towards Geoff and said, "And it's nice to finally meet you, Geoff. Fred's mentioned you plenty of times."

"The good things, I'd imagine." Geoff said as he shook Shaggy's offered hand.

"Are you in Grade 11 or 12, Geoff?" Daphne asked.

"Actually, I'm in second year at Grande Cristal University." Geoff replied. "Pursuing my MBA with a little law studies on the side."

"That's impressive." Maggie remarked.

"Indeed it is." Fred smiled as he turned towards Maggie and said, "And it's also finally nice to meet you in person, Maggie. Shaggy's talked about you plenty of times."

"I'm sure he has." Maggie smiled back. "And also, Daphne's given me a new name."

"Oh really?" Geoff raised an eyebrow.

"It's 'Sugie'." Shaggy explained as he ruffled his sisters's hair. "Which fits her well."

"That's good." Fred nodded before he asked, "So who was playing the piano when we arrived a few minutes ago?"

"Oh, that would be Shag." Daphne replied. "He's really talented in the piano."

"I see." Fred replied as they arrived in the library and approached the piano.

"How about you play another piece, Shaggy?" Geoff asked.

"Like, sure." Shaggy nodded as he sat back down on the stool and turned towards the keyboard.

After a brief thought on what to play next, Shaggy's fingers pushed down onto the keys as he gently started playing Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata.

It was mostly silent as Shaggy gently played the adagio sostenuto first movement, which was mostly very quiet.

The allegretto second movement was mostly calm and sounded more cheerful than the slow-moving first movement, and Shaggy couldn't resist the temptation to raise his hands a bit during the playing of some sections of the movement.

However, it was the playing of the stormy presto agitato final movement that was the highlight, with Shaggy completely absorbed by the intense playing of the stormy notes.

During the playing of that movement, Shaggy heard someone else playing the same notes as him on another piano and when he looked up, he saw Daphne seated in front of the second piano across from him, playing the same notes of the stormy final movement as him.

Daphne smiled as she looked up to Shaggy, and he smiled back at her as they continued playing.

After five-six minutes of playing, the duo finally ended their playing of the Moonlight Sonata as they hit the final three notes.

"Wow, very impressive!" Fred said as he, Maggie, Scooby and Geoff clapped their hands after Shaggy and Daphne finished their piano-playing.

"Thanks!" Shaggy smiled as he and Daphne got up. "And that's using the good ear, Daph."

"Great hearing and coordination, too." Maggie added as Fred nodded in agreement.

"Thanks, Sugie." Daphne smiled.

It was then that Jenkins entered the library and informed them, "Dinner is served!"

"Oh, groovy!" Daphne smiled. "I sure can't wait to eat."

"Like, same here, Daph." Shaggy added as they promptly made their way to the dining room.

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