David flung himself backward onto the bed, pinning Grant under him. They rolled one over the other for a moment, David landing back on top. He laughed victoriously as he pounded his fists against his brother’s shoulders.
All of a sudden, as David hovered over him, Grant sprayed David’s face with spit, and David moved away with agility that he didn’t know he possessed.
“Did anyone see that?” he pointed, outraged as he grabbed his shirt off the floor and began frantically wiping his face.
“Gross, Grant,” Joanna sighed.
“Dad, did you see that?” David exhaled, with the conviction of a tattling toddler.
“Better you than me,” Randy shook his head. “If he ever dreams of spitting on me, he’s seen his last sunset, my friend.”
“Oh, trust me; he’s gonna die,” David nodded.
Grant let out a half-laugh, half-scream as his brother charged back at him.
“Okay, enough!” Melissa called as the fighting intensified. “I’ll sleep on the floor if the bed means that much to you guys! The two of you can cuddle!”
“Boys, don’t force me to get involved,” Randy bellowed. “I’ll knock you both out.”
“Come-on, Dad,” David panted. “Help me finish him off.”
David, standing over top of his brother, had the clear advantage. After a short struggle, he slung Grant off the bed, and Grant hit the hotel room floor harder and more awkwardly than David had meant for him to.
Grant screamed in agony as he held his shoulder.
“Oh my gosh!” Melissa exclaimed. “Is he okay? David, what did you do?”
“He’s fine,” David rolled his eyes as he crawled into bed.
Grant began to sob as he thrashed on the floor.
Nora stepped out of the bathroom in her pajamas, her hair in a towel. “What is the matter with him?” she panicked.
“He’s fine, Honey,” Randy smiled as he leaned back in his chair. “Grant, you’re scaring your mother. Get up.”
“Dad, it really hurts,” Grant cried, his tearful plea breaking a few hearts.
“Grant?” David gulped as he moved to the edge of the bed and peered down at his brother on the floor.
Grant screamed in pain as he sniffed back tears.
“Stop that, Son. People are trying to sleep next door,” Randy said calmly.
“Randy, do something,” Nora begged.
“Dad, I think he’s really hurt,” David sighed.
“He is not.” Randy shuffled the cards. “Grant, get up here…we’ll play Blackjack.”
Emily hid her eyes against Rachel’s arm as she began to pray silently.
David knelt down on the floor next to Grant. “Bro,” he sighed, “I’m so sorry. I swear I didn’t mean for you to hit the ground that hard.”
Grant sat up slowly. “Just help me up,” he gulped.
“Where does it hurt?” David asked as he pulled Grant to his feet.
“Idiot,” Randy mumbled with a disappointed shake of his head.
“You tell me,” Grant smiled as he planted an uppercut into David’s gut. He shoved David to the floor and grinned as he crawled into bed. “The best man always wins,” he shrugged, fluffing his pillow.
“Grant, that was not funny,” Melissa exhaled. “I thought you were really hurt.”
David took a moment to catch his breath, then peeled himself off the floor. “Those were real tears, you little psycho; how did you do that?” he huffed.
“Sucker,” Grant winked.
“I swear, Grant,” David shook his head. “You scared me to death.”
Grant laughed as he began singing the theme song to Cops.
“Dad?” David grumbled.
“Don’t Dad me,” Randy smiled. “I saw it coming from a mile away. Don’t worry, David; I’ll save you a nice place on the floor.”
David stared angrily at Grant. He shifted his gaze to Joanna, and she only shrugged.
“Grant, one day you’re really going to hurt yourself, and nobody is going to believe you,” Emily scolded.
