Chapter 1: Good Morning

It was a brand new day in a nice quiet neighborhood. Within this neighborhood was the home of the world famous detective, Charlie Chan.

Also within this home lived his ten children known as the Chan Clan: Henry Chan, Stanley Chan, Suzie Chan, Alan Chan, Anne Chan, Tom Chan, Flip Chan, Nancy Chan, Mimi Chan, and Scooter Chan. Each child was beginning the day in his and her own way.

Youngest daughter and second youngest child, Mimi Chan, was out selling girl scout cookies around the neighborhood while her younger brother and youngest Chan child, Scooter Chan, was delivering newspapers around the block as part of his job as the paper boy. Unfortunately for Scooter, his older sister had a nasty habit of being incredibly bossy, particularly towards him.

"Scooter," Mimi called from across the street, "don't forget to look both ways before crossing the street and don't take too long. Suzie will have breakfast ready soon."

"Aw, you're always telling me what to do," Scooter pouted as he continued his paper route. He tossed a newspaper to his house and it was immediately caught by his second oldest brother and sibling, Stanley Chan.

"Alright!" Stanley quickly opened the newspaper. "It's Sunday and that means….Sunday comics!"

Inside the Chan household, the eldest daughter and third eldest Chan child, Suzie Chan, was preparing breakfast for her father and siblings. Although breakfast wasn't quite ready just yet, the ever-hungry eighth child, Nancy Chan, was already at the dining table waiting to be served. With her was the family pet dog, Chu-Chu, whom was already dining on a delicious ham bone in his dog bowl.

Outside, on the other side of the block, the eldest of the four youngest Chan children, Flip Chan, was returning from a video store after renting a new Dick Tracy movie. Suddenly, his eldest brother and sibling, Henry Chan, passed him while out on a morning jog.

In the backyard of the Chan family's home, the fifth child and athletic tomboy, Anne Chan, was watering the vegetable garden the family was growing. Exhausted by the summer heat, she fanned herself with her cap.

"Whew!" Anne panted. "It's not even noon yet and it's already 100 degrees."

Surprisingly, the moment Anne placed her cap back on her head, the water from the hose immediately stopped running. "What the…?"

Unbeknown to Anne, her elder brother and fourth Chan child, the inventing genius, Alan Chan, had teasingly placed his foot on the other end of the hose. Anne continued to shake her end in confusion, then looked inside the hose. Just then Alan took his foot off the hose as Anne turned around in time to see her brother innocently walk away. Anne remained suspicious, but before she could think any further, a large amount of water sprayed all over her.

"Gee, Annie," Alan snickered, "Pop said to water the garden, not yourself."

"ALAN!" Anne quickly pursued after her brother, chasing him into the front yard. The two then accidentally collided into their younger brother and sixth Chan child, Tom Chan, the most intelligent of the Chan Clan.

"Sorry, Tom," said Alan.

"Yeah, sorry," said Anne.

"Quite alright," Tom responded as he picked up his magnifying glass and the family laptop. "I've just finished studying the Hymenoptera in their cone-shaped mound of debris within our premises."

"What?" Anne stared in confusion.

"He's finished watching ants in their anthill in front of our house," Alan translated.

"Oh," Anne retorted. "You really need to learn to speak English, genius."

Before their conversation could go any further, Suzie came outside. "Come in, everyone! Breakfast is ready!"

Anne, Alan, and Tom entered the house. "Better switch into dryer clothes," Anne thought to herself. She walked past Suzie heading upstairs. Suzie quickly noticed Anne's soggy clothes.

"Goodness, Anne, you're soaking wet!" the eldest daughter gasped. "You'd better switch into dryer clothes before you eat."

Anne stopped in frustration. "Why didn't I think of that?" Anne growled in sarcasm. She then continued upstairs, while Alan snickered his way into the kitchen with Tom.

Stanley soon entered, still reading the comic section of the newspaper. "Boy, that Dennis the Menace! He kills me!"

Soon after, Henry and Flip entered. Flip took his seat at the dining table next to Nancy. "Let me guess: You're the first one here?"

"Hey!" Nancy pouted. "Suzie's having strawberry pancakes today! No way I'd miss that!"

Scooter, after finishing his paper route, ran right in. "I'm here!"

"Scooter Chan!" Mimi entered afterwards. "How many times have I told you? Don't run in the house! You could hurt yourself."

"You better quit telling me what to do," demanded young Scooter.

"Knock it off, you two," Flip ordered his two youngest siblings. "It's too early for this. Let's just eat."

"You said it!" Nancy agreed.

Scooter and Mimi took a seat at the table the moment Suzie started serving pancakes with scrambled eggs on the side to everyone.

Anne eventually entered, now wearing dry clothes and took her place at the table. Last, but not least, their father entered the dining room.

"Good morning, children," Charlie Chan took his seat at the dining table.

The Chan Clan all greeted their father. "Morning, Pop!"

As everyone sat and ate, Charlie had a pleasant reminder for his kids. "Don't forget, children. Today we go downtown to the mall to get new clothes, so within a few days we'll be ready to take a new family photo."

"Yes, Pop!" the Chan Clan replied.

"Oh, gee, Pop, I don't know," Anne stuttered. "I really don't know if I can take a picture with the family. I…uh…uh…I promised a friend I'd…uh…help her…uh…with her packing. Yeah, that's it! She just moved in the neighborhood and I'd promised I'd help her unpack. That'll probably take all week."

Alas, Mr. Chan could easily see through his young tomboy's fibs. "Sorry, Anne, but I'm afraid you're coming with us today and like it or not, you're still wearing a dress for the photo."

Anne groaned in frustration and hammered her head on the table.

"Oh, come on, Anne," Suzie said as she started taking her finished plate to the kitchen sink. "You need to get in touch with your feminine side every now and then anyway. Besides, I'll be there to help you find a good dress."

Anne rolled her eyes, annoyed. "That's exactly what I'm afraid of."

Later after breakfast was finished, the Chan family all headed to the Chan Van to go to the mall. Stanley was still carrying and reading the Sunday comics. "Boy, I love that Peanut gang! That Charlie Brown and his 'Good Grief.'! "

"Sheesh!" Henry rolled his eyes as his brother laughed at the comics.

"Mr. Chan!" a voice shouted from next door. It was the Chans' grumpy old neighbor, Mrs. Cantanker. "I was out getting my morning paper and I almost tripped over this baseball! I know this belongs to one of your children!" The cranky old bitty held out a baseball.

Sadly, she was right. It belonged to young Scooter. "Oh, sorry, Pop," Scooter apologized as he took his ball back. "Flip and I were playing baseball yesterday and I guess I forgot to get it."

"Yeah," Flip sighed, "I'm sorry, too, Pop."

"It's alright, children." Charlie easily forgave his children, but Mrs. Cantanker wasn't so forgiving.

"It's not alright!" the old woman complained, waving her brown and white-tipped cane in the air. "I could've fallen and broken my neck! And another thing, stop putting my paper so far from my door! I'm an old woman, for crying out loud!"

"Sorry, Mrs. Cantanker," Scooter groaned. "I'll try."

"Well, see that you do!" Mrs. Cantanker walked back inside her house and slammed her door.

"Boy, what a grouchy old bat," said Stanley.

"You said it," Henry agreed. "All she does is complain."

"Now, now, children," said Charlie. "Let's not let Mrs. Cantanker upset our day. Let's just go to the mall."

Charlie got inside the Chan Van and the family drove off.