Ever so patiently

Painful smile

Journal Entry #17
October 7th, 1941
" Another war has erupted between European nations once again. what happened to " the war to end all wars" my ass, and it came from my country! A couple weeks ago German aircrafts flew over London, they destroyed the city but the people did not roll over and die for them. 56 days they were consistently bombed, I can't imagine how shitty that must be for Arthur. "
Journal Entry #23
June 12th, 1941
"News came of Arthur's health, he is deathly looking, wounds covering his body, his face sunken in and hallowed. Not to mention the defeat at Dunkirk really took a toll on his mental and physical state, but still he didn't back down. England has always been like this, stubborn and loyal at heart. It's really going to destroy him one day. I still remember the speech FDR gave after his election " If Great Britain goes down" he said " the Axis powers will be in a position to bring enormous military and naval resources against this hemisphere." It upset a lot of people but it prepared them. I remember meeting Arthur in March 1941 when we supplied his country with ships and planes, I remember the spark that lit in his eyes and for once we didn't fight he just thanked."
Journal Entry #44
August 4th, 1941
" Mr.Roosevelt and Mr.Chruchill are planning to meet in secret this month aboard a ship off the coast of Newfoundland to discuss war tactics and goals, Roosevelt is happy to finally meet Mr.Churchill, im just happy to get my mind off war preparations and talk to someone from outside of my own country."

It had been a busy while since I had seen England but I'd heard a lot from Mr.Roosevelt about the situation overseas. Even with our aid things seemed to keep getting worse and worse. Which is why I wasn't all too surprised when I saw the state England was in when FDR met with Mr.Churchill who had pushed the broken nation in a wheelchair. It was a surreal moment seeing him in that state. God it was disgusting, bandages wrapped his chin, neck, forehead and over his ears. His arms in slings and legs wrapped under his uniform pants. It's almost as if Mr.Roosevelt read my mind with the sorrowful look he gave Arthur which was returned with a look of shame. I just stood and smiled as they became acquainted with each other being this FDR's first time officially meeting the country and his Prime Minister. He had contracted the paralyzingly disease called Polio back in 1921 which was kept him from meeting to two sooner. " I would like to speak with Mr.Churchill if you don't mind Al." He said bringing me out of thought. " Yea sure thing." I replied realizing I had been staring at England this whole time.

  I wheeled England down the monotone halls of the ship until we were out on the deck. It was chilled for being August but my brothers Northern states have always been much colder that normal. I took the coat off which I always wore with my uniform and placed it over England's shoulders. Naturally he argued with me about it for a good minute and a half. Reluctantly he accepted the jacket telling me how it reeked of gun powder and air plain gas, I told him about all the preparations we were making for war. " So you will join then?" He questioned. " As of now no. Isolationism is still in the hearts of many. They believe that we should stay out, but Germany could strike here next and I would do anything to keep Hitler's filthy hands out of my business." England laughed and mumble some about how he had tried to do the same for his country, which in turn made me feel kind of bad. I leaned against the railing of the ship to face Arthur but he looked passed me to the sea. " I hate this!" He spat startling me for a moment. " God I'm a helpless bloody fool. I'm letting everyone down, Hitler was right at my front door and I had to stir up the ruckus. But what was I suppose to do surrender my people to a totalitarian dictator who is dominating almost all of Europe!" He was breathing heavy now which probably wasn't good. " Arthur, dude it's not your fault. You were trying to protect your people."
" Alfred I'm killing people! My people! Playing this silly little game, god I'm so useless." A tear slipped from his eye.
" Do you know how many men I lost at Dunkirk?68,111 men Al, I lost an entire generation of lads in World War 1, that was 700,000 people, most were boys just graduating from secondary school. I'm a fucking idiot!" He yelled the last part which made him cough and grab his jaw from the pain of talking. I bent over him to pat his back but he just pushed slowly on my abdomen with the elbow of his better looking arm. " I'm sorry, I'm fine now." He said quietly which was an uncommon thing for the usually loud nation. " Look, Arthur. That happens in war, all you can do is keep the people back home safe, that's the main goal right? Men and boys don't join the war knowing that they will absolutely return home, that isn't your fault. You can't put the blame of the entire war on your shoulders dude." I was going to say something about having allies at your side but France was under the control of Germany, Russia was being invaded by none other than Germany, China was barely dealing with Japan, and I was a coward.

We sat outside in silence for a little while longer before England made a remark about being a little hungry. I told him they wouldn't miss us for an hour or two which he replied about needing to stay in place and not leaving the area. " there is this little military bar I once visited with Matthew just around the block, it's not too far and has some pretty damn good food for not being American!" He scoffed at the last part but never the less agreed." First, I would like to try and walk, this contraption is really starting to hurt my bum." He stated but it made me nervous so I turned his wheelchair around and stood a couple steps in front of it. " you don't have to use it if you can walk from there to here." I pointed right in front of me and he nodded.He stood slowly and wobbly, his first step looked rather painful and his knees visibly shook but he still made it to me. I walked him back and sat him down in the wheelchair which seemed to confuse him. Reassuring him I'd be back in five minutes with a pair of crutches I was back in the ship again.