Revolution, eh?
England was browsing in a bookstore (He already had a great many, but was of the general opinion that you really could not have too many books) when he caught sight of a book entitled simply 'Common Sense' by Thomas Paine. He picked it up, thinking that he might buy it for America, goodness knows the boy needed some, and started to read the first couple pages.
As he read, he realized that it was not commonsensical at all. This writer, this Thomas Payne, he thought furiously, was implying that it was common sense for America to rebel against him! His mental rant was interrupted by the bookshop's owner. "Are you going to buy it then, sir? You seem pretty interested in it." "What? Oh, yes I think I will buy it."
After purchasing 'Common Sense' (and a couple of other books that he had picked up), he left the bookstore and headed back to his and America's house. He continued to read as he walked and was reminded again (for this was not the first time he had attempted to walk home and read) that this was a bad idea.
When he got back he was furious from what he had read. He burst in and stormed over to where America was sitting and reading by the window. Had England been calmer, he would have noted that this was quite unlike America, who would normally prefer to be outside. England, however, was not calm in the least, and neither noticed that nor the book that America happened to be reading, which was one that France had given to him, written by Montesquieu.
England slammed the little book down on top of America's, startling him.
"What is the meaning of this?" England demanded.
"The meaning of what?" America looked up at him, innocently, apparently confused as to what England might be going on about now.
"Oh, come now. Don't play dumb with me, boy. You know what I'm talking about." England did not like this, not at all.
"Britannia, you can't exactly hold me accountable to everything that my people write." America replied calmly, knowing what England was so angry about.
"I know that. But this Thomas Payne is implying that it is common sense for you to rebel and become independent. Surely you cannot possibly be considering this." England knew, but did not want to acknowledge that if it was written by his people, and widely circulated like it appeared to be, then yes, America most likely was thinking about it.
"Well, y'know it would be nice to have a bit of representation in Parliament." America said wistfully.
"Oh, not this again. Don't you believe me when I say that you don't need it, that Parliament decides in your best interests?" England was frustrated by the fact that America seemed to bring that into every disagreement that they had.
"No, not so much anymore."
"I'm sorry to hear that, but you are still not going to get representation."
After a moment, America said thoughtfully, "Revolution, eh?"
"Not if I can help it." England snarled.
This is something that I wrote up a while ago, and figured that I should finally post.
Historical note:
America is reading a book by Montesquieu, who wrote about the importance of different branches of government, and having each section check on the others to balance out their power. What this means is that America is definitely thinking about revolution.
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