G.I. Hailee

~1~

"Okay, men! See if you can take my daughter down!" My dad, General Prescott shouts.

I get into a stance, wearing my military uniform (above, except for the M60 rifle).

I feel someone come up behind me, so I spin on my heel, grab the man's arm, twist it, turn him around, and kick his rear end, so he lands on it.

"Hailee! Dad!" I hear a familiar voice shout.

I turn around to see Jessie.

"Jessie!" I shout and run to hug her.

"Oh my gosh, look how much you've grown!" Jessie says, getting a better look at me.

"Well, I learn from the best." I say, smiling like the Cheshire Cat.

Jessie walks past me to greet my dad, but they salute before hugging each other.

"I've really missed you both." Jessie says.

"Missed you too, pumpkin. Oh, you look great. So sophisticated." Dad complements.

"Thank you. In New York, I buy clothes at a store that doesn't also sell grenades." Jessie says.

Lucky little butt!

"I'm sorry I couldn't pick you ip at the airport, Jess." I say.

Suddenly, a soldier comes up to my side, and I flip him over.

Another one charges at me, and I flip him over on top of the other two soldiers.

"Work's just really been piling up." I say.

"So, how did you know we'd be here?" Dad asks.

"Oh, I just followed the line of soldiers heading to the infirmary." Jessie says.

I nod.

"Welcome home, Jess." I say.

"Sure took you long enough to come back to visit." Dad says.

"Dad!" I hiss.

"This is the first time you've asked me back. I tjought you were still mad that I left." Jessie says awkwardly.

"Mad? Why should I be mad? Just cause you snuck off to New York wjile I was getting my tank detailed?" Our dad asks.

"I didn't sneak. That's sneaking." Jessie gestures behind our father, and he he elbows a soldier, side kicks another, and bashes their heads together.

"See how much fun this is?" He asks. "The Army rocks! I still don't understand why you don't want to follow in my footsteps." Dad says.

"Your footsteps lead to a minefeild, in whicn I'm not sure I want to blow up in, either." I sass.

"Hailee's right, and I wanted to make my own choice." Jessie backs me up.

"I gave you plenth of choices and I'm giving the same choices to Hailee. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines." Dad shouts.

"And don't forget the Coast Gaurd, dad." I say.

"Exactly! There, see? Choices." Dad exclaims.

"Dad, for the last time, I'm artistic and creative. So is Hailee, she loves to dance, that's how she's so flexible. I'm not cut out to be a soldier, and neither is Hailee!" Jessie says.

A soldier comes up behind both of us, and we flip them over.

"Bet that comes in handy in school and on the subway." Dad says.

"You know, the wah you notn flipped those privates, reminds me of my first date with your mom at the drive-in." Dad continues.

"Oh, was it because you were head over heels for her?" Jessie asks.

"Nah, I leaned in for a kiss, and she tossed me into the pickup truck behind us." Dad explains. "Woke up, and I was AWOL in Oklahoma."

"Mom was feisty." I say, looking down.

"That's why I always did the dishes." Dad says.