A Punishment Delivered
During supper that night, Charlie Chan heard the telephone ring.
"I'll get it, it could be Officer Jones with some information for me." Charlie said, standing up from the dinner table.
But when Charlie answered the telephone, he was shocked to learn that it was not Officer Jones calling him but that it was Miss Thomas, the English teacher at Golden Brook High School calling him.
"Mr. Chan," Miss Thomas said. "I need to talk to you."
"What is it, Miss Thomas?" Charlie asked.
"Alan & Anne fell asleep in English, later on, in Mr. Redmond's history class, Alan fell asleep again, and Mrs. Curtis caught Anne gabbing with Suzie in her science class!" Miss Thomas said to Charlie.
"I see, Miss Thomas," Charlie said. "what must I do?"
"If I were you, I would punish them," Miss Thomas said to Charlie. "at least until they learned not to stay up so late on school nights!"
"Okay, yes, I understand," Charlie said. "good night to you, Miss Thomas."
"Good night to you as well, Mr. Chan." Miss Thomas said.
Charlie came back and he gave Alan & Anne a stern look.
"Oh," Scooter laughed at Anne & Alan. "somebody is in trouble."
Charlie gave Alan & Anne another stern look.
"Alan, you are banned from inventing, and Anne, you are banned from bike riding and going to the Young Women's Center of America to play sports," Charlie said sternly. "for three days, that means from now until you go back to school on Monday!"
"Maybe if Alan stops inventing for a few days and gets more sleep he won't make another Chan Plan X!" Flip joked.
"But Pop!" Alan protested.
"What about our birthday?" Anne protested to her father.
"Your birthday is two weeks away," Charlie said to Alan & Anne sternly. "so, your punishment will be through by then, now go up to your rooms and get some rest."
"Yes, Pop." Anne & Alan sighed, slowly walking up the stairs.
"But, Pop, who will read me my bedtime story tonight while Alan is having his early night?" Scooter asked, now feeling concerned.
Tom put his left hand upon Scooter's right shoulder, "Don't dispair, Scooter, I will read your bedtime story tonight." he said.
"Thanks, Tom." Scooter said.
"Anytime, Scooter." Tom said kindly.