Big-Top Scooby Read Free Page B

fancy motorcycle parked in the center of the ring. “It went like this,” she called, hopping on the motorcycle. The rest of the gang watched as Daphne drove the bike up a ramp, through a hoop, and along a narrow cable. As a finishing touch, she guided the motorcycle around an upside-down loop and skidded to a stop an inch from Marius.
    â€œRight,” he said, impressed. “That will do.”
    Marius turned to Shaggy, Scooby, and Velma. Velma scooted behind Scooby, trying to hide. Shewas much more comfortable solving mysteries in her favorite skirt and turtleneck.
    â€œUnfortunately,” Marius said, looking at Scooby, “I’ve phased animal acts out of my circus, but I could make an exception.” He looked at Shaggy and said, “Your friend here seems very well trained.”
    Scooby was sure Marius was talking to him. He smiled at Shaggy, and then patted him on the back. “Roh, he is. Shake, Shaggy.”
    Shaggy shook Scooby’s hand.
    â€œReg.”
    â€œLike, please, please, please!” Shaggy said.
    Scooby gave Shaggy a Scooby Snack and ruffled his hair. “Rood boy!”
    Marius looked confused. “Uh, just for the sake of tradition, maybe you” — he pointed to Scooby, who was still patting Shaggy on the head like a good dog — “maybe you should do the tricks.”
    Shaggy nodded. “That’s probably a good idea, ’cause, like, Scooby does more circus-y stuff than me. Show him, Scoob!”
    Scooby hopped up on a giant ball and dancedaround on it, and then juggled a bunch of stars in the air before he finally somersaulted backward toward the others. “Ra-daaaa!” he cried.
    Marius looked at Shaggy and said, “You’ve taught him all this?”
    Shaggy pouted and said, “Like, Scoob tried to teach me all this, but I just can’t get it.”
    Scooby patted Shaggy’s back comfortingly.
    â€œAnd you …” Marius looked at Velma, who was hiding behind a giant post. “Hello?”
    â€œHi,” Velma said, peeking out at him nervously.
    â€œIf you’re afraid, I could put you on the churro cart,” Marius suggested.
    â€œNo, no! I can do it.” Velma tried to sound confident.
    â€œDo what?”
    Velma shrugged. “I don’t know. Something.”
    Marius looked at a list. “There are still a few acts I could use. How about knife throwing?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œSword-swallowing?” Marius suggested.
    â€œNo.”
    â€œFire eating?”
    â€œNo!” Velma’s eyes grew wider.
    â€œBullet catching?”
    â€œNO!”
    â€œHmm,” Marius said thoughtfully. “The only thing that’s left is … the Human Comet.”
    â€œThat doesn’t sound so bad,” Velma muttered.
    â€œYou get shot out of a cannon,” Marius said.
    Velma looked like she was going to be sick. “Uh …”
    â€œOh, look,” Marius said, suddenly distracted by the sound of cars outside the tent. “The rest of my performers are starting to get back from town. I have to get everyone prepared.” He hustled the gang out of the circus tent. “Meet me here in the morning.”
    â€œWhat time?” Shaggy asked with a yawn.
    â€œFive o’clock,” Marius said.
    Shaggy snorted. “There is no five o’clock in the morning !” He laughed at the idea of getting up that early. Then he looked at his friends, and no one else was laughing. “Like, is there?”
    Scooby shook his head. “Ri have a bad reeling about ris….”

T he next morning, the Mystery, Inc. gang dragged themselves back to the circus tent at the crack of dawn. Everyone was yawning, except Fred, who was ready for his big day on the trapeze.
    Shaggy was still half-asleep as they ambled up toward the big top. He kept falling behind the others. He would never have made it out of bed if Scooby hadn’t grabbed his shirt in his mouth and