Finding The 4077th

Happy Thoughts

“I-I didn't d-drink any.“ Chris added timidly.

“Only because I stopped you, young man. Don't even try to justify what you did.“ Hawkeye said sternly.

“No, s-sir.“ Chris responded. “I'm s-sorry.“ He quickly looked away from the angry glare his dad was throwing his way.

Hawkeye took a hold of Chris's chin and made him look up again before he said. “You better be sorry. I'm not at all happy about what you were trying to do, Mister. Not happy at all! You should thank your lucky stars you told me the truth otherwise you'd be standing bent over right now.“

Tears filled Chris's eyes and his flush returned. “Daad!!“ He whined softly. “Please don't be mad.“

“Don't be mad? I'll be as mad as I want to be. You are the one misbehaving!“ Hawkeye said sternly to his son, who looked absolutely dead on his feet. “I'm letting this go with only a warning because this is your birthday but I'm also sending you to bed right now.“

Hawkeye released Chris's chin as the boy gasped. “Dad! nooo.“ He whined. He still had over an hour left before he normally was sent to bed, it wasn't fair. Especially not on his birthday.

“Christopher Wouter Pierce!“ Hawkeye snapped, seeing his son flinch at the use of his full name. “You better not start whining and complaining to me. I don't want to punish you but I definitely will if you don't do as I tell you. “

“Y-yes, sir.” Chris said in a soft voice. “P-Please don't.. “

“Then you better get moving towards the Swamp. “ Hawkeye added as he guided the child back towards the Swamp. He was following close behind his son with his hand on his shoulder and said in a gentler tone. “Don't mind your presents, BJ and I will get them for you. I want you to get ready for bed while I get some water for you to brush your teeth.“

Chris nodded before he sighed defeated and put Cinderella in her new sleeping place. The little bantam ruffled her feathers before she started exploring the new surroundings while she was softly clucking.

“I'll be back soon and you better be in your pajamas when I get back.“ Hawkeye said. He tried to sound a bit gentler but he was still a bit pissed about what his kid tried to pull. He couldn't punish his kid on his birthday but he wanted to be very clear about him not being happy about what the boy did.

He fetched some water and when he came back he was relieved to see that his son listened to him. Chris looked ready for bed. He was still sniffing a bit and had glossy eyes but at least he wasn't crying. He didn't want his son to cry on his birthday. He hated that he had to be so strict sometimes, but he knew he wouldn't have gotten away so easily with trying to sneak in a drink at that age. He knew that because he tried the same thing but then at twelve and his dad had definitely strong feelings about the subject and wasn't as nice about it as he was.

After Chris brushed his teeth, Hawkeye threw away the rest of the water outside the tent and walked back to open his blankets for him and made a gesture for him to get in bed. Chris looked at him with pleading eyes but his dad simply glared back so he decided it wasn't worth the fight. The fight he would probably lose anyway. He climbed in and he felt the relief radiating from his dad as the man put the blankets snugly around him.

“I'm sorry. ” Chris said again, he never wanted to be bad today and pick a fight. He was just curious about it but now he felt really bad.

“That's okay, Kiddo.“ Hawkeye said as he smiled. Chris wasn't stuttering anymore so that meant he was feeling less nervous. “I'm not happy you did what you did, but I'm proud of you telling me the truth. Next time however I will not be as nice about it, you understand me? I will be spanking your ass if I find out you drank alcohol without my permission. “