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.
"Daphne explained that Shaggy and Scooby can eat a lot without getting a belly ache as a result of their fast metabolism." Velma remarked. "But I still find it hard to rationalize how they can eat as much as they did."
"It's not just you, Velma." Fred nodded. "I've been acquainted with them for a long time, and to this day it's still all Greek to me."
"By long time, how long?" Velma raised an eyebrow.
"Since middle school." Fred explained. "We didn't attend the same public school, however, given…well…how often our dads have crossed paths in their respective professional careers in town, it was only a matter of time before he and I crossed paths."
"I see." Velma remarked. "What does you father do?"
"He's a defense attorney with his own practice." Fred explained. "My mother works litigation, and she once clerked for a state Supreme Court justice early in her career."
"Jinkies, how fascinating." Velma quipped. "Has your family always been living in Coolsville, Fred?"
"Not quite." Fred shook his head. "My paternal grandparents are based in New Hampshire, where the family has lived in for generations, while my maternal grandparents are in Newport Cove in Rhode Island. In fact, it was after the war did my parents, upon meeting, decided to settle down here in Coolsville."
"Nice!" Velma nodded.
"What about you, Velma?" Fred asked. "Is your family primarily based in Ohio?"
"No, my dad only settled in Cleveland in university. Before that, he and his family were living in Brooklyn, not far from Elis Island where his parents arrived from Bavaria and got their names anglicized as 'Dinkley'." Velma explained.
"Wow wee." Fred remarked. "And your mother's side?"
"Like my dad, she only settled in Cleveland for university. Before that, she and her family were living in Long Island, where her parents had met. Her dad's family arrived from Serbia, while her mom's family is mixed Romanian-Hungarian." Velma said.
"Holy moly, that sounds like quite the family journey." Fred remarked. "I think from my mother's side, I've got some Prussian ancestry, though we'll be talking at least a century ago when they arrived in the States."
"I see." Velma nodded before asking, "Anyhow, do you have any siblings, Freddie?"
"Well, I've got an older brother named Geoff, who's pursuing his MBA over at Grande Cristal University, complete with a second degree in law." Fred replied. "I'm the youngest."
"I see." Velma nodded. "For me, I'm a middle child. In addition to my older sister Nicole, who is currently second year at Grande Cristal University doing a double major in electrical engineering and physics, 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. "If Shaggy's sister is at Muddlemore Middle School, then it stands a chance they're likely having lunch together at this moment."
Meanwhile, over at Muddlemore Middle School, Maggie was on her way to the cafeteria with her lunch when she accidentally bumped into a girl, causing her to drop her books and notebooks.
with long brown hair and wearing a pair of glasses, white blouse and a pink shirt
"Oh, I'm so sorry." The girl said to Maggie after they collided with each other.
"It's alright." Maggie replied as she helped the girl pick up her belongings. "I should've watched where I was going."
"No worries." The girl smiled as Maggie helped her with her belongings.
As Maggie helped the girl pick up her belonglings, she noticed that she has long brown hair in bunches and wearing a pair of glasses, white blouse, pink dress, purple socks, and a pair of pink dress shoes.
"Thanks for the help." The girl said to Maggie once they finished picking up her belongings.
"No problem." Maggie smiled back before offering her hand and added, "Oh, and by the way, my name is Margaret. Margaret Rogers, but you can call me 'Sugie'."
"My name's Madelyn Dinkley." The girl introduced herself. "I was transferred here."
"Oh, I see." Maggie nodded understandingly. "I should show you around. Are you in Grade 8?"
"Yes I am." Madelyn nodded. "Are you?"
"I am." Maggie replied. "We could be in the same class!"
"Awesome!" Madelyn smiled. "So where are you off to?"
"I'm heading for the cafeteria." Maggie 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." Maggie nodded before following Madelyn to her locker.
Along the way to Madelyn's locker, Maggie asked, "So whereabouts did you transfer from, Madelyn?"
"Withrow High School in Cincinnati, Ohio." Madelyn explained as they arrived at her locker. "My dad got a job transfer to here, so we moved in from Ohio over the Christmas break."
"Wow, sounds like a very long journey." Maggie remarked.
Madelyn nodded. "It was me, my parents, and my second oldest sister that moved over the Christmas break, the oldest is already living in Grande Cristal for her second year at university there."
"I see." Maggie nodded. "What are your sisters' names?"
"Nicole is the oldest, while Velma is between her and me, I'm the youngest." Madelyn explained as she closed her locker door with her lunch bag in hand.
"And what grade is Velma in?" Maggie asked as they headed down the hallway to the cafeteria.
"Grade 10, she's transferred to Coolsville Central High School." Madelyn replied.
"Golly, my brother Norville is also a sophomore in Coolsville Central High School." Maggie remarked.
"Wow wee, what are the chances they're in the same class there?" Madelyn quipped.
"Guess we'll find out after school." Maggie replied as she pushed open the cafeteria door with Madelyn behind her.
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.
"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."
"Groovy." Velma smiled. "Let's go, then."
After closing their locker doors and bidding Shaggy, Scooby, and Daphne goodbye, Fred's led Velma to the science club classroom.
At the classroom, as Fred led Velma in, one of the students in the club saw them and greeted, "Hey Fred."
"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 Dee-Dee, Eric, and I in our chemistry lab." Fred said before turning to Velma and added, "Velma, 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 Fred left with Velma, Shaggy turned to Daphne and Scooby.
"Like, I've got a music club 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 belongings.
"Like, how was the science club, Velms?" Shaggy asked as they walked home together.
"It was interesting." Velma replied. "Mike and Eric were really nice in introducing me to the other people. And I've helped come up with a new hypothesis for the science project to present on."
"I see." Fred nodded.
As they headed down the street, Fred continued, "Shag, Velma mentioned that she has a younger sister named Madelyn, who's in Grade 8 at Muddlemore Middle School."
"Groovy, that's the same school as Maggie." Shaggy beamed as he turned towards Velma and asked, "Is it just you and Madelyn, Velma, or do you have any other siblings?"
"As I've mentioned to Fred before, I've got an older sister named Nicole, who didn't join us on the move over the Christmas break, as she's already living in Grande Cristal for her second-year studies at the university." Velma explained.
"Nice!" Shaggy nodded. "Any chance she may have crossed paths with Geoff?"
"Hard to say, Shag." Fred laughed. "But it will sure be interesting if they did."
Around that same time, over at the downtown campus of Grande Cristal University, Geoffrey Jones and his girlfriend Griselda Kyle were strolling through the university garden after a day of classes.
"What plans do you have for dinner, Geoff?" Griselda asked.
"Um, I was thinking maybe we can grab something at Via Maruo Pizza with their Tuesday Special." Geoff said. "What do you think, Zelda?"
"Works with me, Geoff." Zelda nodded.
As the couple approached a phone booth, its occupant had just finished up her conversation and made her way out, though Zelda was quick to notice something on the phone.
"Hey, I think that girl that was in the phone booth forgot something, Geoff." Zelda said as she gestured towards the girl.
Geoff nodded as he also saw the object on the phone in the phone booth. "I think you're right."
Without hesitation, the couple rushed towards the phone booth with Zelda stepping in to grab the object while Geoff went after the girl.
"Hey, excuse me, Miss, you forgot something in the phone booth!" Geoff shouted.
However, it would seem like the girl didn't hear him, and Geoff quickly took off after her.
"Hey!" Geoff shouted. "Excuse me, you forgot something!"
As soon as she retrieved the object from the phone booth, Zelda quickly joined the chase.
"Miss, you forgot something in the phone booth!" Geoff shouted again, this time gaining the girl's attention.
The girl was momentarily confused when she turned towards Geoff, though when she saw Zelda behind holding an object, she immediately understood.
"Oh my, I didn't even realize I've left my purse at the phone booth!" The girl said once Geoff and Zelda caught up to her and handed her purse over.
After doing a quick check of her purse, she added, "Thank you both so much!"
"You're very welcome." Geoff puffed. "You seem like you're in a rush, Miss…"
"Dinkley, Nicole Dinkley." Nicole finished. "And yes, I gotta go grab supper before my 19:00 class."
"We're also on the way to grab supper ourselves." Zelda said. "Care to join us? We're heading to the Via Mauro Pizza place."
"Oh, that would be wonderful." Nicole smiled as she joined the couple.
As a streetcar cruised by the trio, Nicole said, "Sorry, I don't think I ever caught your names."
"Right, my name's Geoff Jones." Geoff introduced himself. "Second year double major in Business Administration and Law."
"And I'm Zelda Kyle." Zelda added. "Nice to meet you, I'm Second year Finance with a minor in Geography."
"Nice meeting you too, Zelda." Nicole said as she shook Zelda's offered hand. "I'm Second year double major in Electrical Engineering and Physics."
"Holy moly, that's very impressive." Geoff whistled. "How's the courseload for you?"
"Manageable, only thing is that the rest of my family only just moved to Coolsville from Cincinnati over the Christmas break, and I got a little busy showing them around and helping them settling in." Nicole explained.
"I see." Zelda and Geoff both nodded. "By rest of your family, are you referring to your parents and siblings?"
"Yes." Nicole nodded. "I'm the oldest, followed by Velma, who's a sophomore in Coolsville Central High School, then Madelyn, who is in Grade 8 at Muddlemore Middle School."
"Sophomore at Coolsville Central High School, you say?" Geoff asked.
"Yes, what about it?" Nicole asked as they entered the pizza place.
"My younger brother Fred is also a sophomore there, along with two of his closest friends Shaggy and Daphne." Geoff explained.
"And you mentioned Shaggy has a younger sister named Sugie who's also Grade 8 at Muddlemore Middle School, so what are the chances?" Zelda added as they lined up.
"Very interesting." Nicole nodded slowly.
Eventually, the gang arrived at Fred's place, which is located at where Tuna Lane branches off from Circle Drive.
" I guess I'll see you guys tomorrow." Fred said as he headed to his house.
"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."
When Shaggy and Scooby arrived home, Maggie was just finishing her after school snack in the dining room and she perked up when they entered the house.
"Hey Norville, Scooby." Maggie said in greeting.
"Hey Mags, how's your first day back to school?" Shaggy asked.
"Besides my eyes getting a rest from seeing your guitar T-shirt, it was good." Maggie said. "Oh, and someone transferred to my school this morning."
"Oh really?" Shaggy asked as he and Scooby stood at the bottom of the stairs. "By any chance, she wouldn't happen to be named Madelyn and be in Grade 8, would she?"
"Yes." Maggie nodded. "I don't suppose you and Scooby have met her sister Velma at Central High, would you? "
"Re had." Scooby nodded. "Ruite re move over re Christmas break rom Rohio."
"Indeed, not sure if I can imagine how they managed to pull through it." Maggie remarked.
"For sure, Mags." Shaggy nodded as he turned towards the stairs. "Anyhow, 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, Mags."
"Oh, Norville." Maggie laughed as she playfully slapped her brother on the back.
Please read and review!