Katie Amanda Final : Scooby Gang

 “Hey kids, brave uncle Scooby’s coming up next, and he’s gonna splat those ghostlies and mash those monsties, so stayed tuned for Scooby Doobie Doooo… we got some work to do now, Scooby Dooby Doo where are you, we need some help from you now…”.

Fred hit the mute button. He scrunched up his beer can and threw it onto the mountainous pile beside the couch.

Just as he was reaching for another can, a huge violet blob blocked his view. Given he’d already had a few it took Fred a few seconds to realise the huge blob was actually his wife. The second clue for this retired member of Mystery, Inc. was the pile of washing that landed on his lap.

“Fred! Would you quit watching that crap. And I’m done sorting your greasey work overalls! Can’t you just wear something else at the garage?”

Fred wasn’t so much paying attention to the words that were coming out of his wife’s mouth, but the little chocolate bits that were flying out of it with each exclamation.

“And...munch…you…munch…know it hurts my feelings…munch…when you watch…munch…old footage of me. I have so many more wrinkles these days, it’s…munch…just not fair!”

Yes, blame the wrinkles.  Not the 50 pounds of flab rolls for the stark contrast with the youthful version of his wife playing on the screen. Fred thought it best to keep quiet. He nestled back into the couch and cracked open another beer.

The loud ring of the phone sounded as Fred found the remote again…“Well you know they would have gotten away with it, if it hadn’t of been for us meddling kids…”

In a darkened street corner, not too far from the suburban sprawl in Coolsville,

Scooby lit up his cigarette. He watched as Shaggy crawled down a vine terrace, from the opened attic window.  “You seen anything yet?” whispered Shaggy as he scanned the darkness with his torch. Scooby shook his head and Shaggy ducked beneath the bush.

Moments later he appeared clutching two wrapped paintings. “The other stuff is by the front entrance, be quick Scooby, we gotta be out in five”. Scooby stuck his nose in the air, “I’ll do it for a Scooby snack”. Shaggy shook his head as he sarcastically replied “real cute Scooby”. Scooby took his last puff and tossed the butt into the same bush Shaggy had just emerged from. The bush went up in a whoosh of smoke. “Better destroy the evidence, last thing we need is some meddling investigators digging up your footprints. He strolled across the grass grabbing the remaining items, as he heard Shaggy scrounging around in his overcoat looking to silence his ringing phone…

It was an undeniable fact that with her dark bowl haircut, a face hidden in thickly framed glasses and a shapeless figure dressed like a tangerine, Velma was often the awkward fifth wheel on the Mystery Machine. If it wasn’t for her ability to see through an unexplainable crime and unmask supernatural wannabes, Velma doubted whether she wouldn’t have been stuck at home on those outings. With a name like Velma Dace Dinkly, Velma didn’t really think she ever had a choice of the part she played. Three laser eye surgeries later, a team of hired stylists and one bow-flex body, Velma was done playing the sweet crime fighter. If you can’t be bothered beating them, join em she thought as she hung up the phone…

Shaggy and Scooby waited anxiously on the doorstep, staring at the big knocker. Before they could lift the heavy weight and break the still air with a bang, the door slowly opened. Shaggy couldn’t help but smile at the figure standing in the door frame . Gone where the knee high orange socks and the thick glasses. The Velma that greeted them, as much as her botoxed face would allow her too that is, was decked out in leather. She turned and led them down the dimly lit corridor. As they entered the fire lit room Shaggy scanned the room to find the entire Scooby gang, gathered around the table. “The Scooby gang back together…munch…one last time”, Daphne laughed as she munched a chocolate bar.

 The flickering fire gave the room a sinister a feel. Velma sat up from the dining table and without hesitation began to address the rest of the Scooby gang. Her black leather glowed against the fire embers. Puzzled looks crossed Daphne’s and Fred’s faces. All of them asking the same question, “why are we here?”

 “I have asked you here today for one last Scooby hoorah. For years I have played the smart nerdy one, and have put up with the sympathy looks but enough is enough”. “Tomorrow night is the Diamond Ball Art Charity Gala… and tomorrow night we will steal the painting from right under their noses”. Blame it on the botox, but Shaggy couldn’t decide if Velma was serious enough.

Before he had time to ask, the front door flew open. Outlined by the flames of the fire, stood five, eerily familiar figures. An expressionless, yet shocked Velma was the first to speak.  “Who do you think you are?” she asked the gang before her. “Who are we?” laughed the tall blond Fred look-a-like. “Thelma, Jed ,Japhne Rooby and  Shag-Lee. We’re the Rooby Roo gang, ready to bring justice to washed up crime-fighters, like yourself.”

Velma, finding it hard to scowl as she was driven away, cuffed in the back of a police car, had only one prevailing thought We damn near would’ve gotten away with it if it wasn’t for those meddling kids.