Anne Chan Discovered Part 2
"Anne hurt herself, Pop," Henry said in a serious voice. "I think we need to take her to the hospital before we go to the mall for our costume fitting and gig."
"Ouch! My ankle! It really hurts!" Anne complained.
"I think you're right," Charlie said to Henry. "we'll take Anne to the hospital first."
"But, Daddy, what about our costumes?" 3-year-old Nancy asked.
"Your costumes will just have to wait, Anne's health comes first." Charlie said to Nancy.
"Okay, Daddy." Nancy sighed.
A few hours later at the hospital, Anne was wheeled out with a cast on her right foot, her long black hair tucked back inside her black winter beret.
"So, Anne, what did the doctor say?" Suzie asked.
"Doctor Phillips said," Charlie answered just before Anne could speak. "that Anne has a minor stress fracture in her lower leg."
"Which means... I won't be playing in the snow for six weeks... which is how long I'll have this plaster boot on my right foot!" Anne exclaimed, leaning on her crutches.
After leaving the hospital, the Chan family was on their way to the shopping mall for shopping for the Christmas costumes for their gig.
Stanley spied a Rudolph costume complete with glowing red nose.
"Henry," Stanley asked. "would you like to dress up as Rudolph with me?"
Tom just had to laugh, "Stan, nobody wants to be Rudolph's posterior! And that costume takes two people to wear it!" he reminded.
"In English, Professor." Stanley said to Tom.
"He just said that no one wants to be Rudolph's butt." Flip translated.
"And, I want to dress up as Santa Claus anyway, Stanley." Henry said.
"Oh great," Stanley grumbled. "now what am I supposed to be?"
Anne began to whisper to Suzie about Stanley's costume while Suzie picked out her Missis Clause costume.
"I have a good idea for Stanley's costume, Suzie." Anne whispered.
"Is it that snowman costume? Stanley is much too thin for that, Anne." Suzie laughed.
"Not that snowman costume, Suzie," Anne laughed. "the nutcracker soldier next to it! It is bound to fit Stanley!"
"What are you girls giggling about?" Stanley asked Suzie and Anne.
"Stanley," Suzie laughed. "how would you like to dress like a handsome nutcracker soldier?"
Anne and Suzie had to laugh.
Stanley looked at the nutcracker soldier costume.
"If I have to dress like a nutcracker soldier, Suzie," Stanley challenged. "then Anne has to dress as a Christmas angel complete with a white dress and halo!"
"Gladly," Anne challenged back at Stanley. "if Suzie will do me one favor."
"What kind of favor?" Suzie asked Anne.
"Meet me in the girls' dressing room," Anne said to Suzie in a whisper. "I'll remove my hat in there so you can do my hair in two Japanese double buns and long flowing pigtails."
"Done." Suzie said.
A few minutes later, the Santa Claus costume for Henry, Missis Claus costume for Suzie, nutcracker soldier costume for Stanley, the elf costumes for Alan, Tom, Flip, Nancy, Mimi, and Scooter, and the angel costume for Anne were all paid for.
A few minutes later, Anne and Suzie came out of the girls' dressing room, and the boys couldn't even believe Anne was really Anne, they thought she was a real Christmas angel that one might put atop their Christmas tree.
"Wow! Anne," Flip exclaimed. "forget looking like an angel... you look more like a queen!"
"Thank you, Flip." Anne said.
Charlie clapped his hands to signal his children to be quiet.