Arabella's POV

Schwoz, my dad, and I had just returned from our camping trip. It was great, until a bunch of squirrels attacked me and I got scratches and cuts everywhere, and I mean everywhere.

Going to the bathroom for a week will be a blast.

I returned first and saw Henry and Charlotte. They saw me and both smiled.

"Hey, how was your camping trip?"

"Great! Until a group of squirrels decided to attack me and I tumbled down a mountain!" I exclaim with irritation and I marched forward. "And my dad and Schwoz were no help whatsoever!"

"Are you okay?" Henry asked.

"Yeah! All these scratches and cuts feel fantastic!" I snap and drop my bags on the floor.

"Sorry for asking." Henry apologized and I huffed.

"Do you want me to get you anything?" Charlotte asked and I nod.

"A bunch of bandages would be nice. Thank you." I smile and Charlotte goes into the back to get some.

My wrist was bleeding and I winced in pain.

"Hey, you're bleeding. Here..." Henry gently grabbed my wrist and I looked up at the him. He picked up a rag and gently dabbed it, until the bleeding slowed down.

"Thanks..." I awkwardly say with pink cheeks and remove my hand from him.

"Anytime.."

It became awkward until Charlotte returned with bandages and I was relieved.

"Here."

"Thank you." I say and start to wrap my arms up with the bandages.

The alarm beeped and my dad and Schwoz got shot down the tubes with their bags. They both had beards, because they couldn't shave them on the trip.

"We're back!"

"Hey, how was your camping trip for you two?" Charlotte and I sniffled.

"Oh, it was so much fun!" Schwoz smiled. "I went swimming in Lake Swellview.

"Which would've been great if he'd brought a swimsuit." My dad mocked.

"What's wrong with swimming naked?" Schwoz asked.

"Everything!" I exclaim and finish wrapping up my arms. The cuts still sting, but at least they are covered. "You were scaring the fish."

"Sweetie, how are you?"

"Damaged!" I remark and my dad kissed my head. "You let me get attacked and then fall down a mountain!

"I...I was making sure the squirrels weren't stealing our food!" He protested and I stared at him, before rolling my eyes. "You'll be fine, injuries heal."

"But the memory is permanent!"

"I love you?" He questioned and I moved away from him.

Schwoz walked by me. "I'm going to my room and shave off my beard."

My dad laughed. "You call that a beard?"

Schwoz turned around. "Yeah. What else would I call this?"

"You could call it a face brush!" Henry suggested and I snickered.

"I'm just saying 'this' is the start of a real man's beard!" My dad laughs, gesturing to his larger beard.

"Psh!" Schwoz said. "I can grow more hair on my rump than you can grow on your face!"

"That's gross." I mention and Charlotte agreed.

"Your rump is no match for my face." My dad snarled.

"All right, boys, let's not go getting all stupid." Charlotte objected and I gasped.

"You should have a beard battle!" Henry and I both suggested and then hi-fived each other.

Great minds think alike.

Schwoz and my dad both pointed at us.

"Yes!"

"Guys!" Charlotte said with disbelief and I looked at her.

"What?"

My dad stared at Schwoz. "Six weeks. Whoever grows the biggest beard wins!"

"And the loser..."

"Has to eat the winner's beard hair!" My dad declared, finishing Schwoz's challenge. Henry and I laughed as Schwoz and my dad shook hands.

"It's a bet!"

"No, no, I said, don't go getting all stupid." Charlotte mentioned and I giggle.

"But it's fun!"

——

This beard growing competition was getting intense. It's been a few days and Schwoz and my dad's beard have grown immensely. I've never seen my dad with so much facial hair, it's disturbing. Charlotte and I were watching Schwoz attach balloons to his beard and he let them free so they could stretch his beard hair.

"Ow..." I muttered and we turned to my dad who was lifting a barbell with his beard.

Oh, it's disturbing. Very disturbing.

While this was happening, Henry was coaching Piper's basketball team and I bet he was having a better time than me and Charlotte.

——

The next day, my dad and I had returned from Suburban Outfitters and we see Schwoz with his face in the B.E.D. The Beard Enhancement Device.

My dad motioned me to be quiet and we set down our bags as my dad quietly snuck up behind Schwoz.

"SCHWOZ!"

Schwoz fell out of the chair and stood up, putting his hat back on. "Hi! Hey there! Hey!"

"Cheater!" My dad accused. "You're a dirty cheater! You're using the Beard Enhancement Device!"

"No, I'm not!" Schwoz protested. "I swear to the gods it's not! I swear on my life! I swear on Bella's life! I'm telling the truth!"

"No, you're lying!" My dad objected.

"Ah, so what!" Schwoz yelled in irritation.

"You listen to me you fuzzy little cheater!" My dad snapped. "I-"

"Hey!" I yelled and got their attention. "There was never a rule against using beard enhancement devices."

My dad gawked at me as Schwoz laughed.

"Ha!

"Oh! Okay! Fine!" My dad agreed. "I thought we were having a fair and natural beard growing contest, but since we're not maybe I'll just use this thing myself!" My dad ran over to the device to use it and Schwoz tried to protest and get him away of it.

Instead of helping, I just pulled out my phone and recorded the whole scene. I giggle when Schwoz jumped on my dad and attempted to move him away.

"This is comedy gold..." I grin.

——

The following day, Charlotte and I walked into the Man Cave after seeing a movie. We were both drinking Wahoo punch and we pause when we see my dad and Schwoz.

"Hey."

"Hello!"

Our eyes widened at the sight of two enormous beards coming out of their faces. Both of us opened our mouths and punch poured out, getting on our clothes.

"The Beard Enhancement Device works really well." My dad mentioned, but we were still speechless.

"Also, you both dribbled on your clothes." Schwoz added and we looked down to see punch on our clothes.

I didn't even care. I was in to much shock.

——

The following day, Charlotte and I were getting ready to measure my dad's and Schwoz's beards so we can end this contest. It was fun, but now it's annoying and I want it to end.

"Beard contest." Charlotte sighed. "Dumbest thing I've ever heard."

"I know right."

"It was your idea!"

"No need to point fingers!"

I heard the elevator doors opened and I assume my dad and Schwoz were back.

"Hey, Bella, Charlotte."

"Hi, Bella, Charlotte!"

"Hey, we're ready to-"

I paused when I show zero beard hair on their faces and Charlotte and I were both shocked.

"Notice anything different?" My dad smiled.

"Yeah, what happened to your beards?!" Charlotte asked them.

"Well, they were too long and itchy." My dad scoffed.

"Yeah, so uncomfortable." Schwoz agreed.

"Yeah, that whole beard contest thing was a stupid idea." My dad laughed and Schwoz agreed.

"So stupid!"

"Oh really?" Charlotte asked.

"But, you know that woman, Vasilla, who knows how to knit?" My dad asked and handed Schwoz the white box that I just noticed.

"No." We both say.

"Well, she's a woman." My dad repeated and opened the box. "And we had her make you two these!" My dad pulled out two large black sweaters and we were confused.

"Ta-da!" They say and we still didn't get it.

"It's two sweaters."

"Made from our beard hair!"

"Oh, thank you, daddy!" I beam with sarcasm.

"Thank you so much!" Charlotte said with the same tone as me.

It's disturbing, it really is.

——

Well, Charlotte and I reluctantly put the sweaters on and it was extremely uncomfortable, itchy, and disgusting. I hated it, but it's from my dad so I'm wearing it.

My dad, Charlotte, and I arrived at Swellview Junior High where Henry was coaching the basketball team at their game. My dad entered the gym when the game ended, but Charlotte and I stayed put because we didn't want to be seen.

Charlotte and I watched my dad and Henry talk and my dad calls out to us.

"Bella! Charlotte!"

We reluctantly walked in and Henry was confused while my dad smiled.

"What are you two wearing?" Henry asked and I gave him an uncomfortable look.

"Beard hair."

My dad chuckled, touching his own face as Henry cringed.

"That's disgusting."