Emotional Scars Never Heal
"That's right." Mr. Chan said.
"Splendid!" Mimi exclaimed she & the others were now finished with their lunch & were all waiting on Scooter to finish his up.
Alan & Anne now joined the others back in the living room, their faces were tearstained from their pathetic sobbing.
"Pop," Alan asked. "may Annie & I go down to the corner store?"
"What do you need from the corner store anyway?" Charlie Chan asked the oldest of his twins.
"We would like to buy a get well card for Scooter." Anne said.
"I don't have to be a detective to know what this is really all about," Charlie said to Alan & Anne gently. "and trust me... you will not necessarily have to worry about that."
"What do you mean Pop?" Alan asked giving his glasses a good cleaning.
"I'm with Alan... what do you mean?" Anne asked.
Detective Chan looked at his son & daughter.
"Mrs. Van Inkley will never replace your mother." Charlie said to Alan & Anne.
"Wow Pop," Alan & Anne asked in unison. "how did you know?"
Charlie simply laughed.
"I do not have to be a detective," Charlie laughed. "to know when my children are missing their mother."
"Oh Pop!" the ten Chan children laughed.
Three days later on a Tuesday, Henry was putting a roll of cough drops into Scooter's backpack.
"Come on everyone," Henry said. "it is time to get a move on! Or else we are going to be late for school!"