BJ’s howling reprimand resounded through the kitchen, yet Erin’s eyes clung to Hawkeye’s figure, doubled over in laughter. She pursed her lips, avoiding the wrinkled paper her father was holding up under her nose.
“Are you out of your mind? Erin, do you know what this is? Do you?”
She had to bite her tongue as not to smirk. His bobbing mustache provided a hilariously peculiar contrast to the anger on his face.
“It’s a perfect lawsuit,” he continued, “A conglomeration of illegalities. Medical malpractice, Erin. I,” he stuttered, “I-”
“I am so proud of you”
Two faces snapped to Hawkeye, who threatened to dissolve into giggles yet again.
“What?”
“Hawkeye!”
He wiped the tears off his face, stabilized himself on the counter and pointed towards BJ.
“Beej, you’re the one who brings up the risk of brain injuries when Erin talks about football at school. You got scared at her enrollment that she’d be a professional athlete someday. So what if she takes matters into her own hands”
He smiled at Erin, who could only stare back unbelievingly. Her father on the other hand shook his bowed head, before he spoke on.
“With a doctor’s note to skip gym class… And seriously? Osteoporosis? Diagnose yourself with something believable!”
“Like... what?”
“Are you crazy? I’m not inspiring the next permission slip. You’re grounded!”
She sighed; A battle fought and a battle lost. As she slowly dragged herself up to her room, she saw Hawkeye in the corner of her eye, giving her a wink.
Grounded now, but not for long.