Hetalia: The Fifty Stars

Chapter 20: Teddy Bear

Mississippi. The 20th state is often seen as an eyesore due to being known for obesity, poor education, and anything else negative or below the national average. Despite such negative tags to her name, this Southern gal does her best to solve such problems while also trying to promote the greater culture she has to offer.

Her Southern hospitality is well-known among the states. Often having many visitors coming to her home, she does her best to accommodate her guests with comfort and care. Such guests include President Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt who was invited by her boss on a hunting trip. That November sparked an event that led to the creation of the most classic toys in the world: the Teddy Bear.

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"Ugh! Missy! Could ya get your butt off that chair and help me out here?" Alabama grunted, attempting to carry a heavy, cardboard box while making his way down a flight of stairs.

Despite his audible pleas from the nearby parlor downstairs, Missy was busy humming to herself, admiring and organizing her chinaware into boxes for packing. Sadly for Alabama, he was the only one to arrive at Missy's home to help her move to her new house. To why their Southern friends didn't come is a mystery to Missy, but for Alabama he kinda knew their reasons for not helping his annoying neighbor.

As careful as Alabama was carrying the large box down the stairs, his right foot miscalculated the next step, slipping off the step by the edge of his heel. He didn't bother to hide his curse before his entire body tumbled fifteen steps toward the bottom of the stairs. The giant box he held in his hands slipped, flying in the air for a second before crashing with the Alabamian in a loud thud onto the ceramic, tiled floor. The box's contents spewed forth from the top opening, scattering a bunch of miscellaneous items from newspapers to beaded necklaces across the hall.

Lying on his back, Alabama couldn't believe what just happened. Not long after his fall, Missy appeared from the adjacent parlor, gasping in surprise to the giant mess at the front entrance of her home.

"Abram!" Missy carefully stepped over the mess before coming to Alabama's aid. "Are you alright? Why didn't ya call me for help?"

Alabama gave her the stink eye as he steadily got up from where he fell. Luckily, it didn't appear he broke anything. Although okay, his freckled face was red and fuming. "I did call for ya help, dummy!" he huffed upset.

Missy frowned. "You did? Well, sorry about that."

He furiously shook his head. "Why couldn't ya hire some movers to help move your stuff?" he grumbled.

"Well, I thought my friends would come and help me move. Especially the Carolina Sisters since they were the ones to nearly burn my house down. I wouldn't be moving if it weren't for them," she pouted.

Missy's recent Southern Summer Solstice made the mistake on letting the Carolinas do all the baking in the kitchen. Next thing everyone knew, the east side of Missy's plantation home became engulfed in an inferno blaze. After the firetrucks doused the flames, nearly half of Missy's house was in ruins. With the costs exceeding the amount she can pay in her bank account, Missy found herself having to move to her disappointment. It didn't help Alabama was the only one to show up in helping Missy move. Nevertheless, she was thankful for his help.

As the two were cleaning up the scattered belongings, putting them back into the box, Alabama noted the weird items that were originally inside the box. Colorful party beads. Old mason jars; some already cracked upon crashing onto the tiled floor. Tangled wire hangers. Picking up a beige, wrinkled newspaper that had the headline, "PRESIDENT M'KINLEY SHOT BY A LUNATIC", Alabama waved the paper for Missy to see.