Delirium In The Night Part 2

In Alan's memory, it was Monday February 4th 1980, Charlie was listening the news on the radio when his ten children & James showed up in the mansion's den wearing their Winston Prep Academy uniforms for winter.

"And now for that list of school closers." the radio announcer said.

"Yes! School closers!" the four youngest kids exclaimed, high fiving.

"Oh no," the eight oldest kids & James groaned in disappointed unison. "not school closers!"

"Every public & private school in the city of Sacramento," the announcer over the radio said. "including Winston Prep Academy, is closed!"

"Oh well," James said. "I guess we had better go and change out of our school uniforms, eh, Mates?"

"Right," Flip cheered. "Snowball Fight City!"

All the children went upstairs to change out of their uniforms.

Everyone except for Alan & James came out in their snowsuits.

"Alan, James," Henry asked. "aren't you going to play Snowball War with us?"

"Sorry, Henry Mate," James said. "but I have to work in the restaurant."

"And, I have to do some tinkering with the Chan van." Alan said, what Alan didn't tell Henry was that he was making two new Chan plans for the van, hoping to please his oldest brother because the Chan plan X incident did not go over so well with Henry.

"Oh, I see," Henry sighed. "how about you, Annie, will you be joining us out there?"

"I will be going outside, Henry," Anne answered. "but I will not be going out to play today at the very least."

Henry was confused.

"What will you be doing instead?" Henry asked Anne.

"Since Richard's shoulder is bothering him," Anne answered Henry. "I'm helping him out with shoveling the front walk and he even agreed to pay me for it."

"Oh, I see." Henry sighed, he was disappointed that not all of his brothers & sisters could join in the fun of snow play.

"Tell you guys what," Anne said. "after I finish shovelling the snow, I will help Elizabeth out by making all of us a nice warm lunch, how does that sound?"

"Bonzer, Sheila," James said to Anne. "does that mean you will be making your speciality chilli con carne with cheesy garlic breadsticks?"

"Sadly, no, James," Anne confessed. "because I am all out of the ingredients I need to make it."

Flip, Nancy, Mimi, and Scooter all groaned in disappointed unison.

"No chilli con carne with cheesy garlic breadsticks? Oh no!" Mimi, Scooter, Nancy, and Flip sighed in unison, they really wanted some of Anne's speciality chilli con carne with cheesy garlic breadsticks for lunch on a warm snow day.

Scooter was going to be 7-years-old in December of 1980.

"But don't worry, Scooter," Anne said. "after I finish helping Richard with snow shovelling duty, I'll look around the kitchen for something else to cook."

After she was finished shovelling the walk, Anne found everything she needed to fix chicken noodle soup & grilled cheese sandwiches.

After lunch was ready and on the table in the dining room, everyone was at the table ready to eat but Alan & James who were still too busy working.

"Where are Alan & James?" Henry asked.

"They're probably still busy downstairs." Mimi guessed.

Henry gasped, "I'll get them!" he exclaimed.

Henry rose from his chair to race down to the basement until he was halted by Tom.

"Sit back down, Birthday Boy," Tom told Henry firmly. "I'll get them."

"You win, Tom." Henry sighed.

Henry sat back down as Tom went to get Alan & James just in time for lunch.

Tom went into the resturant to tell James that it was time for lunch.

"Hey, James, take a break," Tom advised. "it's time for lunch."

"Cool, Mate," James said. "what has my Sheila made for lunch today?"

"Anne has made homemade chicken noodle soup & grilled cheese sandwiches." Tom answered James.

"Oh, yum," James exclaimed. "that sounds good! Let's go get Alan!"

Tom & James found Alan putting the finishing touches on Chan plan H which would turn the van into a hot chocolate cart, he had already finished Chan plan I which would turn the van into an ice cream truck.

"Whew," Alan said, wiping his sweaty brow. "I am finally finished with Henry's birthday Chan plans."

"Hey, Alan," James said. "it's time for lunch."

"Awesome," Alan said. "what has Anne made for lunch today?"

"Anne has made homemade chicken noodle soup & grilled cheese sandwiches." Tom answered Alan.

"Oh, yum," Alan exclaimed. "I'm hungry! Let's go!"

The three boys raced up to the dining room to eat lunch with the rest of the Chan family.

"Thank you for joining us Tom, Alan, and James." Stanley said.

"So," Henry asked his brothers & sisters curiously. "what are you giving me as presents this year for my birthday?"

"Oh no you don't," Suzie scolded Henry. "you will have to wait until after your fresh fruit dessert for your gifts!"

After a dinner of orange chicken & brown rice with mixed vegetables with a hint of ginger and a dessert of light fresh fruit, it was time for Henry to open his birthday gifts.

From Stanley, Henry got a brand new wristwatch since the one his father gave him stopped ticking.

From Anne, Henry got a new finger printing kit.

From Tom, Henry got a deck of holographic playing cards.

Flip, Nancy, Mimi, and Scooter made Henry a tribal carved pencil holder out of clay.

And from Suzie, Henry got the long sleeved cotton plaid shirt.

"Wait, Henry," Alan said. "my gifts for you are two new Chan plans for the van."

"They had better not be another Plan X incident, Alan." Henry warned.

"Come on down to my workshop and see them for yourself." Alan said.

Henry went downstairs with the rest of his siblings following him.

Henry pressed the letter "I" button on the van's keypad, "Oh wow! An ice cream truck!" he exclaimed.

"I knew you'd like it," Alan said to Henry. "now, hit Chan plan 'H'."

Now, Henry pressed the letter "H" button on the van's keypad, "Way groovy! A hot chocolate cart!" he exclaimed.

Charlie & Rosa came down to the basement area with their gift for Henry.

"Not so fast there, Henry." Rosa said.

"That's right, the best is yet to come," Charlie said to Henry. "open this, it is from Rosa and me."

Henry opened the box to reveal a new pair of black ice hockey skates.

"Oh, wow," Henry exclaimed. "new skates for ice hockey! Now I can pass my old ones down to Stanley!"

"Wow," Stanley said. "thanks, Henry."

Anne gave Henry a look of disappointment, "What about me, Big Bro?" she asked him.

"Sorry, Annie, but girls can't play either roller hockey or ice hockey," Henry said. "you'll get yourself injured, and I won't have Little Sis Athlete injured!"

Henry just hugged Anne.

"Yeah, Anne," Tom teased. "why don't you stay with the other girls where you belong and practice your figure skating?"

Anne was beginning to cry into Henry's broad right shoulder, "Hold me just a bit longer." she said, sad tears falling from her cheeks.

"Tom, you fink," Henry scolded. "you should really apologize to Anne right now!"

Tom walked up to Anne who was still being held within their eldest brother's firm embrace, "Sorry, Anne." he apologized, he meant it too.

"That's okay." Anne said to Tom, drying her eyes.

"Good, and now that that's taken care of," Charlie said. "what do you say we all go to the park for some twilight hockey and figure skating practice before Henry's birthday ends?"

"Right on!" Henry, Stanley, Suzie, Alan, Anne, Tom, Flip, Nancy, Mimi, and Scooter all exclaimed in unison.

After changing into their snowsuits, the ten Chan children & James were ready to go to the pond.

Once at the pond, Henry hit the Chan plan H button on the van and transformed it into his new hot chocolate cart.

"Henry Mate," James asked. "aren't you going to practice with us?"

"The rest of you go right on ahead," Henry said to James. "I'm going to be manning my new hot chocolate station here."

"Sounds like a plan," James said. "we will come to you when we will need to be warmed up."

All during ice hockey practice, all Alan could do was watch Anne practicing her triple axel with a half flip, his head obviously was not in the game.

"Wow," Alan sighed. "I would like to try that."

Alan saw Anne attempt to land but she fell flat on her bottom.

"Hey! Wake up, Alan!" someone called.

Alan turned to see Flip sliding him the puck.

"What is it, Flip?" Alan asked.

"Get your head back in the game!" Flip said to Alan.

Alan tried hard to keep his head in hockey, but try as he might, his thoughts kept wandering back to his sisters and their figure skating as Anne fell on her bottom again.

"Darn it! I can't believe I fell on my bottom again!" Anne exclaimed.

"Anne," Nancy laughed. "you know what they say about succeeding."

Anne stood up on her white ice skates, she was discouraged, "If at first you don't succeed... try try again." she sighed.

Anne then tried her triple axel with a half flip again, but before she fell again, somebody caught her.

"Don't worry, Annie, I've got you." the voice said calmly.

Anne felt a tad shaken, "Henry?" she asked.

"Nope, sorry." the voice said gently.

"Stanley?" Anne asked.

"Uh... guess again." the voice said gently.

"Alan!" Anne exclaimed.

Alan placed his sister down on the ice in a standing position.

"Mind if I give that a shot," Alan asked. "figure skating looks like a blast!"

"It is a blast, Alan," Anne said. "even when you don't have all the moves down and you keep on falling, you should try it."

"Even if I could, figure skating is not for boys." Alan disagreed with Anne.

Anne decided to encourage her twin brother to try something new as well as comfort him, so she tried in song.

Anne: You're at this moment;

When you must decide;

To take a step forward;

Or run away and hide;

You step on the ice;

Though you feel your heart race;

And your knees won't stop shaking;

You can't find your brave face;

But you just gotta take a leap;

Throw your doubts away;

Take a leap;

No matter what they say;

Now's the time to let them see;

The person you were meant to be;

Throw your doubts away;

And take a leap today;

"What if I can't do it, Annie? What if Stanley, Tom, Flip, and Scooter all laugh at me?" Alan asked.

Anne could tell Alan needed more encouragement, so she continued to sing to him.

Anne: You spin through the air;

And it's like you can fly;

The great rush that you're feeling;

Is cause you gave it a try;

Suzie, Nancy, and Mimi now joined Anne in encouraging Alan.

Suzie, Nancy, Anne, and Mimi: That's why you gotta take a leap;

Throw your doubts away;

Take a leap;

No matter what they say;

Now's your moment in the sun;

And it's only just begun;

Throw your doubts away;

And take a leap today;

Throw your doubts away;

And take a leap today;

Alan: I've got to throw my doubts away;

And take a leap today.

Alan then leaped in the air, did a double axel, and landed perfectly in his hockey skates.

"Wow, Alan," Nancy exclaimed. "that was amazing!"

"Thanks, Nancy." Alan said.

Alan came out of his memory to hear Anne's gentle whisper.

"Alan, I am glad you are here with me," Anne said. "you and Henry give me all the bravery I will ever need."