Ever so patiently

Waltz with me

Journal Entry # 68
"Surrender has always pissed me off, no matter what anyone else said, I feel weak and helpless. It's a last resort I never wanted to use. The battle of Wake island didn't end how we had planed. 1,100 Americans engaged and 2,500 Japanese. We wiped out far more of them but we still lost the battle. Way to make an entrance Alfred! England is gonna be pissed I can feel it. But I don't feel bad."

America
I sat tiredly in the destroyer on the way back to the states, it was the night of the 23rd but it didn't feel like winter. The Gulf was warm even at night, I couldn't wait to get back home where it was snowing, the perfect Christmas setting. Apparently Mr. FDR is having a "party" at the White House for the Allies national leaders and hopefully I will get to see some friends. Hopefully is the key word, I haven't talked to anyone but England in person since the war started. France and I would occasionally talk, even before the war, not so much since the capture of Paris. It'll be nice to see him and the others again.

When we docked I hopped off and headed home, tomorrow would be a big day and it was already 3am. I probably won't sleep tonight, I'm still too energetic and even if I do get tired I'll just drink a cup of coffee and watch a baseball game. Wait scratch that there wasn't anyone to play anymore so I'd watch something else. It hadn't quite started to snow on my way home, just little flurries here and there, tomorrow would be Christmas Eve and I was praying there'd be snow everywhere. It would be a nice setting for a ball? A cotillion? An event? Well whatever it was it would be nice and I needed sleep to BE nice so the second I got home I went to my room, striped and went to bed not even bothering to shower which I desperately needed I'd end up taking it in the morning.

I had forgot to set an alarm that morning so of course I woke up late. So many things I was suppose to to and not enough time to do them, it always seemed to be this way, a life style that never changed. Meeting with FDR before the event tonight was top priority to me right now or I might not come tonight. Forgetting the shower I pulled on a pair of pants, socks, shirt and suspenders. Grabbing my coat and hat I was out the door, until I remembered I forgot shoes. After my hectic morning everything went smoothly, I helped the First Lady with some housework, played for a while with their dog ,Fala, out in the snow, and finally I sat down and did paperwork with the president. He made note of the dirt sporting on my cheeks.
"Alfred did you just get home?"
" Yes sir actually a little less than 5 hours ago." I smiled at his look of disgust.
"Alfred go take a shower and rest or you won't be attending tonight."
" but what about the paperwork-"
"Go home Alfred." He said, I sat there for a while before giving my thanks and heading out the door.

The White House was only an hour or so walk for my house, depending on traffic of course. I never found myself wasting money on a train or bus ticket, or even gas for my car, I simply just walked. Getting home and actually taking a shower was even better, I wasn't dirty to the point that the water was discolored but I felt that dirty. After my shower I threw on a sweater and slacks, something I normally wore that was quite comfortable. Sitting in the kitchen I found myself overly amused at the passing people through my large window. Sometimes I would sit and wonder what it would be like to be human, like them. Dying, loving, having children, marrying not because of politics but out of love. I've started "The Great Gatsby" by Fitzgerald countless times only ever making it half a chapter short of the halfway mark. I never got to read how it ended, it was unfortunate but there was only so much I could do and I was already unbelievably busy as it was.

When my coffee was done I made a sandwich and decided to eat in the living room, maybe something would be on tv other than the war for once! I highly discarded that thought but it never hurts to try. By the time I was done watching what was on the tv it was around 4 o'clock, nearly as dark as night and not evening yet so I decided to get ready. Choosing a suit was hard, I had many types of suits. White suits, black suits, army suits, casual suits, ballroom suits, Sunday lunch with the president suits, I mean you name it! Mixing it up a bit I put on black formal pants, black shoes, a white under shirt, white suit jacket, and a black bow tie. I felt really fancy besides the fact that my hair was in a ruffle and my glasses were crooked. Straightening everything came first, then brushing teeth, then buying time. By the time I was done with everything it was only 6 and I had another hour to spare with nothing to do. I was always one of those people who got ready too early and then couldn't find anything to waste the time. I'd try to read some of the Great Gatsby, for being the personification of a country I wasn't very up to date on literature. I could never finish anything that was my real problem.

  I only got about halfway through chapter 7 by the time I needed to leave. This time I would take my white 1940 New Yorker Chrysler. I thought it would add to the bold of my outfit, and it was snowing so I didn't want to ruin my suit by walking. When I arrived I wasn't greeted by the host. Rude Mr.Roosevelt! I shook hands with some people and talked to some countries, I felt so happy to talk to Francis, and I'm never happy to talk to him.
"I'm so glad you are finally with us Alfred." He smiled and patted my back.
" I know, I'm sorry for being so late. We should have done something sooner."
"No. It wasn't your fight to begin with. You did what was best for your country and that's your duty right? Yet Angleterre was enthralled when you said you'd join. He actually wouldn't shut up about it. Going on and on about how you'd end the war in a split second." When he smiled the bandages around his nose and jaw would pull lighting at his skin creating weird lines in his face.His body was mangled, head to limb. Not as bad as Artie was at first but his face was weathered, tired, scared. The poor man could hardly breath without a hitch in his breath, like his lungs were filled with gas. I didn't want to know how many bandages, bruises, stitches and cuts were under his clothes.
" well I don't want to keep you too long. Francis have you seen Arthur? Or my brother for that matter."
"I actually saw them together earlier by the foods table. I'm sure they are still there!" He smiled before walking, more like stumbling, away to join in another conversation. He makes me feel bad, I look around at these other nations and they have the same appearance and physic as him, yet I stand here hardly scathed. As I made my way through the crowd I spotted a far too familiar head of hair. It was my brother.
"Mattie!" I yelled before engulfing him in a hug
"How have you been baby bro?"
"Fine Alfred thanks, but that actually hurt a bit." I didn't realize till now how tense he was in my arms.
"I'm so sorry, you know how I forget things sometimes."
"It's quite alright really, I'm glad to see you. Such a good change in scenery." His smile was painful too, like everyone else's. There came a small coughing noise from behind him. A smaller blond stood by Matthew almost hidden.
"Artie! Ya miss me?" I said smashing him into a hug as well.
"Get off me! Bloody grizzly bear." He pounded on my back.
"Well that's rude."
"It's rude for you to squeeze the life out of the injured as well!" He made me chuckle
"Well I'm glad you could both make it." I smile as they straightened their ties and jackets.
" Mattie you look sharp with your hair slicked back, here to impress anyone?" Elbowing my broken brother in the side.
"Ow! No! God you brute, I just thought it'd be nice to just dress up!o No one usually notices it." He rubbed his side which made me think he had a couple broken ribs because I hardly tapped him.
" Well I am going to try and find France, there are some things I'd like to talk to him about." He patted my shoulder before leaving the Brit and I alone.
"Alfred what's this?" He reached up and touched the gauze going around my head.
"I slipped and fell." I laughed trying to hide the lie in my voice.
" are you lying to me? Because I-"
"Let's go dance!" I said cutting him off and dragging him with me. Mr.Rossevelt had gotten together some of the nations top performers and singers for this party, there's no way that I wasn't going to dance to there tunes. I found the Rumba a beautiful dance and just had to do it with a partner.
" Follow my lead." I pronounced as England's face went slack.
" Alfred, I don't know any of your dances!" He cried.

England

I swear he was swing me around like a rag doll but the people were watching, whether we were doing good or because we were two men I couldn't really tell. With every move there was a slight pain in my legs but I wouldn't let that spoil his fun, not when he looked so happy. Even with the gauze wrapped tightly around his head he still looked so handsome. I hadn't even realized how much he had grown, didn't pay attention to the glasses that magically appeared on his nose.
" You are god awful." He laughed and shined his pearly whites
"Well if I had a better lead that wasn't stepping on my foot then maybe I'd be a little better." I smirked as he snorted. The Rumba soon ended and a slower paced song came on, thank god for my knees. It was easier to rock back and forth, resting my head on his shoulder I thought back to the night we were at that little bar in Canada. I always think back to that night and Alfred singing, especially when in the midst of a battle at night when everyone was alert but so damn near sleep.
"Is this a little easier on ya?" The American whispered and I just simple nodded.
"Come with me Artie."
"Let's go for a ride."