Chapter 3: Driving training class and the first encounter with the Railway Phantom

May 5, 1969

That morning, Shaggy woke up at the usual time and went through his usual morning routine before settling down at the dining table to have breakfast.

His police chief father was seated at his usual spot reading the morning newspaper as he finishes his coffee.

As Shaggy sat in his seat, his eyes caught on the headline on the front page, which read:

"MYSTERIOUS 'SUPERMAN' APPEARS IN METROPOLIS

Flying man dressed in red and blue with red cape stops mad scientist from destroying Metropolis"

(Note: Dimension Four also contains the Super Friends franchise, as well as the 1940s Superman cartoons, although the timeframe for the latter is moved to the late-1960s, in time for the 1973 Super Friends series. All DC-related works for D4 also incorporates elements from the DC Animated Universe, particularly the seriousness and realism)

"Like, mysterious 'Superman'?" Shaggy asked as he grabbed his bowl for his cereal.

"That's what the press has been calling him, Norville." Sam replied. "My contact at the Metropolis Police Department, Inspector William Henderson, told me about this flying man and he's done to the city so far. While he was been doing some good, we still don't know what his motives are and has urged his men to remain vigilant."

"Interesting." Sugie remarked before digging into her cereal.

Much of the day went by as usual for Shaggy. He had lunch with his friends and the classes were just the same for him.

Eventually, time came for him to go to his driver's training course.

On his way to the assigned classroom, he ran into Daphne as she heads for the main office for the newsletter editorial room.

"Hey Shag." She smiled. "Heading for your driving class?"

"Yeah." Shaggy replied as he stopped to chat. "Heading for the newsletter editorial room in the main office?"

"You got that right." Daphne nodded. "I've got a few deadlines to meet and Scooby's still working on the editorial cartoon."

"Like, that sure explains why I didn't see him at the lockers earlier." Shaggy remarked. "Well, anyways, have fun!"

Daphne smiled and nodded as the two friends went their separate ways.

Shaggy eventually arrived at the classroom where the driving instruction class was to take place.

He recognized a handful of classmates and the driving instructor was happy to see him in his driving class.

May 19, 1969

The first two weeks of the class were spent in the classroom, mainly for theory related to driving.

The class went through rules of the road and road signs, as well as symbols of the traffic signals, in addition to vehicle maintenance and insurance.

In addition, there were assignments to complete in class, and at times, the class will head outdoors for the instructor to demonstrate parts of the car.

Eventually came the on-the-road driving training Shaggy was looking forward for.

It wasn't that he didn't enjoy the in-the-classroom instructions, even though he had resisted the urge to fall asleep during class. It's just that he looked forward to the actual on-the-road driving training.

He occupied the 15:30 time slot for on-the-road driving, which places him after Tinker, who occupies the 14:30 time slot.

As he hangs out outside with his friends while passing the time as Tinker took part in the driving training, Shaggy looked towards the sky and remarked.

"Seems like it's going to rain later in the afternoon." He said as he took note of the dark grey clouds forming in the horizon.

"Yeah." Skip nodded. "Hopefully, it doesn't get too stormy, because I sure will hate to drive when it's raining cats and dogs."

"No kidding." Biff agreed. "It will be really difficult to see through the windshield in that kind of weather."

As he finished the remark, it started to get windy before some raindrops can be heard and felt.

Seeing the dark clouds forming above in the sky, Shaggy narrowed his eyes as he took note of the clear skies in the horizon.

"Like, the rain wouldn't last long." He said. "I can see a clearing in the distance."

"That's good." Skip said. "We wouldn't have to worry about driving in the heavy rain."

After several more minutes of discussion, Tinker has returned as the rain stopped, although it was still cloudy.

"How was it, Tinker?" Biff asked as Tinker got off the driver's seat.

"Given that this is my very first time driving a car, I have to say that you really have to focus and keep things in control if you want to be a good driver." Tinker replied. "But other than that, I thought it was alright. The instructor gives you instructions on what driving moves to do, such as doing proper turns, obeying the speed limit and road signs."

"I see." Shaggy nodded as he saw the driving instructor motioning him to get in the car.

Moments later, Shaggy was making a left turn at a curve as the instructor looked on.

"That was a brilliant turn, Mr. Rogers." The instructor complimented. "Now, at the next intersection with the stop sign, do a left turn."

Shaggy nodded as he drove on, reaching the speed limit before slowing down in time for a complete stop at the red stop sign with the left signal light flashing.

After he made the left turn, they were driving through a wooded area, during which the instructor noted that it's getting foggy.

"Turn on the headlights, Mr. Rogers." The instructor said. "It's getting foggy ahead."

"I can see that, Mr. Jaffe." Shaggy replied as he turned on the headlights before slowing down.

Soon, they approached the railway grade crossing where the fatal accident was said to have occurred years ago, during which Shaggy started to feel chilly.

"Like, is it just me or is the air conditioner is too intense?" Shaggy asked.

"That's not possible." Mr. Jaffe replied. "I didn't have the air conditioner on. Must be the weather outside that's making things chilly around here. Anyways, that grade crossing's lights are flashing now. Remember to stop."

Shaggy nodded as he slowed the car down and came to a complete stop as they waited for the train to pass through.

They waited and waited, but neither of them heard a train horn or whistle, nor did they hear anything that will suggest that a train is approaching the crossing.

"Now that's strange." Mr. Jaffe remarked. "The train should be here by now."

"Like, perhaps the signal is defective." Shaggy offered.

"That's not possible." Mr. Jaffe replied. "I had Tinker drive by here an hour ago, and the crossing signal was working just fine."

Shaggy didn't question Mr. Jaffe's remark. Everyone in class knew that he also worked at the Coolsville Central Railway as a signals technician.

"I'm going to take a look at the signalling system." Mr. Jaffe turned to Shaggy. "Stay here and don't drive off until I return. You know what to do, do you?"

"Indeed I do, sir." Shaggy nodded as he flashed the right signal light, indicating that he's going to pull the car over.

After the car was pulled over, Mr. Jaffe got off the car as he said, "I shouldn't be long."

Shaggy nodded as he watched the instructor closing the front passenger door and disappearing into the fog with his flashlight on.

A few moments went by and Shaggy checked his watch. 16:02. He's been gone for at least five minutes and they should be on their way back before 16:30.

"What's taking him so long?" Shaggy wondered to himself. "I'm sure there's a signal box around here."

Just then, he started hearing what sounded like a ghost holler.

"Zoinks!" He remarked. "What's that?"

The holler continued, then a ghostly voice hollered, "Beware!"

"Mr. Jaffe?" Shaggy shouted after rolling the window down. "Are you done?"

There was no response as the ghost holler continued.

"He's not here." Shaggy thought as he turned towards the front, in time to see a dark-looking figure standing in the fog walking towards the car.

Shaggy swallowed as the figure revealed himself through the car's headlights: A pale-looking ghost wearing rags as if he had went through a car accident and survived with serious injuries.

"Beware!" The ghostly-looking figure hollered as he walked towards the car. "I have come back from my grave for revenge! Anyone who crosses into the Railway Phantom' territory will die!"

"Zoinks!" Shaggy exclaimed as he started the engine, shifted the car to reverse and then stomped onto the gas pedal, forgetting about Mr. Jaffe's instructions.

The ghostly figure attempted to chase, but Shaggy managed to back the car further away from it, where he then shifted the car to drive, did a three-point turn and then drove off in the opposite direction, only for him to get the car wheels stuck in a ditch.

Seeing the ghostly figure behind him, he quickly shut off the engine, got off the car and raced away from the scene before the ghost could grab him.

A few minutes later, back at the school's side entrance, Tinker, Biff and Skip were waiting with Scooby and Daphne. Then, they heard someone running and panicking.

"Jeepers! Someone's having quite the run!" Daphne remarked. She and Scooby had finished handing in their assignments at the school paper's editorial room and decided to meet Shaggy after he finished his driving training.

"And look who it is!" Tinker added as he gestured towards the source of the noise, in time for all of them to see Shaggy racing down the driveway before coming to a stop at the entrance.

"It's Shaggy!" Biff said as Shaggy catch his breath. "He raced all the way from wherever he was!"

"What happened, Shaggy?" Skip asked.

"And where's Mr. Jaffe?" Tinker added.

"Like, you guys wouldn't believe what I just saw." Shaggy replied as he walked towards his friends.

"Was it a ghost, Shaggy?" Daphne asked, judging from the look on his face.

Shaggy shook his head. "It was the Railway Phantom! Mr. Jaffe and I drove by the nearby railway grade crossing when the signals started flashing. However, no train showed up, so he got off and went to inspect. But then, this creepy, ghostly-looking guy wearing rags with pale skin shows up and I didn't see Mr. Jaffe anywhere."

"Ripe!" Scooby exclaimed in fright.

"Jeepers!" Daphne agreed.

"What did the ghost say?" Tinker asked.

"Like, he warned me to stay away from the area and that anyone who trespasses on his 'territory' will die." Shaggy replied as Fred and Velma joined them. "I tried to drive back to the school, but then the car got stuck in a ditch, so I made a run for it."

"Can you get us to the grade crossing where you spotted him, Shag?" Fred asked.

"Yeah, sure." Shaggy nodded. "It's not actually that far from here."

"First thing we're going to do is to find Mr. Jaffe!" Biff said. "He could be in danger with that ghost haunting the area."

Everyone nodded in agreement before following Shaggy's lead.

Uh oh. It looks like the gang's got another mystery in their hands!

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