America, better known as the United States of America, was a nation of variety. Each of his states were as different as day and night, so it was not much of a surprise to anyone when they took on personifications of their own. America may not have been the ideal parent, but he loved his kids more than his own freedom. He had started out with only 13 kids, but with each state that came into being a new child was added to his household.
America had his hands full with fifty kids and finally told his boss that he could not handle anymore kids in his house. Territories remained in their own homes while the states lived with him in his mansion, but it had begun to get crowded after Hawaii and Alaska had moved in. He loved his kids, but the house had been built onto several times to make room for everyone and everything they wanted. The mansion sat on 100,000 acres of land and took up 60,000 square feet. The rest of the land was used for farming, live stock, swimming pools, baseball field, football field, skate park, horse trail, and soccer field. Inside the house there were 56 bedrooms, 38 bathrooms, dinning hall, game room, living room, basketball court, movie theater, hockey rink, indoor swimming pool, sauna, hot tub, four laundry rooms, three kitchens, a play room for the younger nations, six garages that housed over 500 vehicles of numerous models and colors, and an indoor garden that sectioned off into gardens modeled after gardens from all over the world.
His house was big enough to house the fifty kids he was now responsible for, but it had taken him nearly 200 years to get his boss to stop trying to make more states out of American Territories. On August 21st 1959, Hawaii got him to that crazy number 50, but by then America was an expert and managing chaos...at least as manageable as he could on his own.
"Come on kids up up up!", he called out into the house using a megaphone.
America had learned a long time ago that his kids loved to sleep about as much as he did, but that was not good for their health nor their chores. If they wanted to sleep, they first had to get their chores done. Being a state was a lot like being a nation. They had duties and responsibilities to their people. A lazy state was a state whose work load would pile up until it effected those around them. So to keep his states from being lazy and letting their work sit around, he made it his business to make sure they did their work when he was home.
"Hey Dad, Johnathan came in late last night, so you might want to take care of that", Delaware, aka Catherine told him as she went to get the younger kids up out of bed.
Delaware was America's oldest daughter and she was his biggest helper all these years. She and the other thirteen states that had begun the family helped him out the best they could, but even then it was utter chaos in the house. Within the first few minutes of the states being woken up the house came alive. Shouts, cries, and laughter rang out from every window as the states were woken up and forced out of bed to begin the day. America sighed as he walked up stairs to have a talk with his oldest son.
The moment he came upstairs he saw his daughter, Mississippi hitting the a bathroom door with a baseball bat. A door that had only been replaced yesterday, so American sprang into action to save the door from his daughter's wrath. With 38 bathrooms in the house and only 32 of them were open for the states to use, it was a mad rush to the bathroom every morning for them. The six remaining bathrooms belonged to the guest rooms and America himself. They were meant only for guest's and America's use. Mississippi and the other states that made up Dixieland were often the last ones to wake up, but when they got up they wanted the bathroom they used to be open and unoccupied right then and there.
"You can only put on so much lip gloss Princess!", Mississippi, aka Clara, growled out as she tried to make a grab for the doorknob to rip the door open.
"Temper Clara", America snapped as he wrestled his little girl away from the door before knocking on it himself saying, "Wrap it up in there, Sabrina!"
"She blew my concentration! Now I have to start all over again!", California, aka Sabrina, cried out in mock distress.
"Just go pick out your clothes for the day", America said ushering Clara back into her room to put on her favorite overalls and boots.
Finally, solving one issue that morning in under two minutes, America hoped that the rest of the day ran as smoothly. He knew he had to talk to Johnathan now while he had the chance, but getting to his oldest son's room was proving to be a challenge. Cause all his kids were rushing about getting ready for the day. Alaska had just come out of her room looking for something, but America didn't really pay his second youngest any mind. She was a quiet girl that did not often speak out unless it was important.
"Dad, have you seen Gasha?", she asked looking up at him curiously.
"No, sorry Sarah...Bethany...Carrie...", he said blanking out on her name from having the others running through his thoughts right then.
"It's Evgeniya", she said sounding very annoyed.
"I knew that", America said before continuing onto his son's room leaving a rather sad looking Evgeniya behind him.
New Jersey, aka Johnathan, had been known to get out of hand from time to time. He was America's oldest son, but he was also the most rebellious of America's eldest children. He loved to go out and party with his people. One could always find him at a wild party, drinking and having a good time with the ladies. He was a playboy to say the least, but America did not agree with his lifestyle. He knew his son needed his freedom and enjoyed the parties, but when those parties got in the way of his stately duties then it was a problem.
"Johnny, I'm coming in", America said opening the door to find Johnathan flopped down on the bed and snoring like a wild grizzly bear.
"Hey buddy", America said pulling the blankets off of him waking him up instantly, "You got caught on 'Dela-Radar' last night. You're not going to have your fall work finished if you keep staying out late the night before the busy season starts. I want you down stairs in ten minutes if you want breakfast."
"I'm not so sure I even want to do this government crap anymore", Johnathan said sitting up and stretching his arms over his head.
"Since when?", America asked getting annoyed with his son's lack of responsibility.
"Since Japan offered be a partnership in the Toyota Auto Industry", Johnathan said looking up at America with a tired, but hopeful look in his eye.
"Hmm, sounds exciting. We'll talk about that after you've done all your work for this season and from now on I want you home by ten on week nights, clear?", America said sternly enough to let New Jersey know that his choice to ditch his state duties wasn't going to fly.
"Got it", Johnathan said with a defeated sigh.
"Anything else you wanna talk about?", America asked to make sure the air was cleared between the two of them before the day started.
Johnathan looked up at his dad with mock confusion saying, "Did I mention that I don't like you very much?"
"Yeah you've mentioned that", America said back mockingly.
"Then I'm good", Johnathan said stifling a yawn.
"Okay, me too", America said leaving the room just as Johnathan flopped back down on the bed in aggravation.
America shook his head as he left his son's room. He would need to have a talk with Japan. While the Asian Island was his best friend, the states were his kids and he wanted to be consulted first before any offers were made to the states. Their stately duties were most important and should not be interfered with. It put him and the other states at risk, that would not fly with the nation.
America made his way down the hall nearly bumping into his son Minnesota who looked annoyed as he carried a pair of destroyed skates in his hand. America also noticed the scatches on his son's face and knew he had been out on the ice training, but obviously he had ran into a little trouble.
"You okay there buddy?", America asked hoping his son had not hurt himself too badly.
"Dude! Two words: Need. New. Skates.", he said his voice laced with irritation as he glared down at the thrashed ice skates.
America laughed saying, "Dude! Three words: Grain Harvest."
Minnesota, aka Paul, sighed in frustration as he went into his room to put away his hockey gear. Minnesota was one of his states that loved hockey almost if not more than he loved football. He and Canada had competed against each other from time to time when the northern nation came to visit America and the kids. It was always fun to watch the two of them go head to head in a sport they both loved. While America still said that Canada sucked at baseball and football, he would admit that the northern nation kicked ass at hockey.
America looked at his watch and saw that it was already 7 o'clock, he would have to hurry if he wanted to get everyone ready and in the kitchen before he had to leave for the meeting in D.C. It had always annoyed America that they had a meeting every month to discuss the changes in their government, financial standings, and how they were dealing with both. It was nice to see the other nations, but America wished he could spend more time with his family rather than go to these meetings. He was a nation and with that comes the responsibilities of a nation, but he knew he was the only nation whom had 50 kids and that had to mean something in the long run.
"Hey Papa, could you help Sam set the table?", came a voice from the main kitchen.
America popped his head into the kitchen to find Alabama, aka Jessica, cooking up a storm. The states had a system that determined who would cook breakfast lunch and dinner to make sure that everyone had a chance to cook and eat what they wanted. Today was Alabama's turn to make breakfast and she looked like she was going all out. Already America could smell eggs, bacon, sausage, toast, grits, and biscuits fresh from the oven. The smell made his stomach growl louder than it ever did when he smelled McDonald's burgers. He loved burgers, but his kids' home cooking was better than any fast food he ever ate. Not that he would say that out loud.
"Sure thing, Baby Girl", America said going to help Kentucky, aka Sam, set the table.
America was lucky to have walked in when he did, cause Sam's arms were full of dishes and had just lost his footing. America leaped into action catching the plates that had gone flying and amazingly caught them all, but of course he was now in a very compromising position. He had ten plates on his head, fifteen in one hand, twelve in the other. thirteen on his knee and one in his mouth. Sam after, righting himself, saw his dad struggling and quickly took as many plates away as he could.
"Sorry about that Dad", Sam said as they finished placing the plates and silverware on the table.
"Don't sweat it, Sammy", America said ruffling the boy's hair.
After the table was set, America went outside to make sure that the states with animals were seeing to them before the came into the house for breakfast. He saw Texas and Montana working with their horses, North and South Dakota were taking care of their dogs, and Louisiana was feeding her alligator, Hoodoo. Anyone that came to visit America asked him what made him agree to let the girl have an alligator for a pet, but America would just laugh saying, "If she can tame it she can keep it. So far that gator is more tame than our dogs." This was mostly true since their dogs were wild and tended to just run loose on the property, but they made excellent guard dogs and playmates for the kids. If America couldn't trust his human security system then he could trust Man's Best Friend to keep his kids safe.
Of course, the kids were well trained in combat and weaponry, they had to be in case America was called away to war and they were left to defend the home front. He still worried for them though, so his house had the best defense systems the world had to offer, hidden weapons in every room, and well trained guard dogs. His states were his world and he knew that every penny spent on their protection was a penny well spent.
"Breakfast!", Alabama called out over the loud speakers that ran throughout the house, causing America to jump out of surprise.
"Why did I buy that system again?", he asked himself placing a hand over his rapidly beating heart.
America let the states enter the house first and hung back at the door for a little bit to watch his family rush around the kitchen. Alabama dished out orders on whom needed to be doing what before they could sit down and eat. Each state was passing the plates piled with home cooked food around the room and down the line towards the dining room. Another group was preparing lunches for the states that had to leave to board meetings with the companies in their state, go out to the fields for harvest season, or had a meeting with their bosses to discuss how to improve the economy in their state and how it could help the rest of the nation. He watched as the states got into a rhythm of passing food and packing lunches, right then was as good a time as any to tell them their schedule.
"Alex, your supervisor called and said that the peaches are ready for harvesting and is requesting a list of where they are to be shipped. Loretta, you have a recording today at ten and another at two, please do not be late. Leanne, you are to be present at the national park opening and I cleaned your saxophone for you, please don't play with gumbo in your mouth again. Harper, the president wanted me to tell you that you are to be on bed rest for the next few day while they are preparing for the Ground Zero Ceremony this month. He says he does not want to put unneeded stress on you, so during this down time I expect you to actually rest. Jessica, you have a State Fair today and a blue ribbon to win for your apple pie. I better see a prize winner on the table tonight for supper", America said winking at his Dixie Darlin.
Alabama laughed while throwing him a thumbs up as she kept passing out food that was being moved to the dining room table. The other states nodded, groaned, or just said 'got it' as they were told their chores for the day.
"Sabrina, your movie is fifty-six grand over budget, so this had better be a box office hit or you'll be grounded for a year before you direct another movie. Luana, you have hula class today at three so you'll be getting on a flight with William who will be closing a deal with the exports to Canada and France. Don't let France intimidate you", America said knowing that he would be seeing France before his son did, he'd be sure to lay down the law with the Frenchman before he got near his little boy, "And we are shooting out Christmas Card today."
"Why do we always do our Christmas Cards in September?", Micheal, aka South Carolina, asked as he buttered the toast that had been placed on the table along with different flavors of homemade jam and jelly.
"Because the earlier we get it done, the bigger discount we get at the printer. Now let's eat!", America said, his growling stomach finally getting the best of him.
With that they all hurried to their seats and began to fill up their plates with the food Alabama had worked hard to make. Grits, hash browns, biscuits, gravy, eggs, bacon, sausage, oatmeal, pancakes, blueberry muffins, freshly ground and brewed coffee, fried chicken, and buttered toast. It may sound like a simple meal, but when the actual State of Alabama cooked it, then a simple meal was worthy of being in a five star restaurant. At least in America's opinion it should be.
"Hey Elliot, pass the hash browns", Iowa, aka Cornelia, asked her brother Idaho.
Idaho glared at her saying, "Stop trying to make a crack at me Corny."
America smiled as his kids went through their motions of stereotypical insults that never meant anything more than harmless jabs. Each of his states was unique and each had their own talents with certain foods. For Wisconsin, aka Madison, it was her cheese and dairy products. For Texas, aka Austin, it was his steak. Even his little Hawaii, aka Luana, had her talent of making Poi and pineapple upside down cupcakes. All of his kids were amazing in their own way, even if those differences sometimes caused fights he knew that they would eventually make up. The Civil War had proven that to a degree, the northern and southern states still had their little disagreements, but nothing as bad as war ever seemed to come back on them.
"Gasha, No! Come back here!", came a familiar voice from the hallway.
No sooner had America turned around to see what was happening, a Lynx cub with amber colored fur came running into the room and leaped onto the table. The force from the lynx cub landing on the table sent several plates into the floor and on to the states. Eggs went flying everywhere because the lynx had landed right into the bowl of scrambled eggs. Of course, smelling the food, the Lynx began to eat the eggs. America wanting to get the lynx out of their breakfast shouted, "Get her!"
It was mass mayhem. The lynx cub was just too fast for any of the states to catch, it ran all over the large dining room table sending food flying and leaving the states covered in it. After trying to catch the lynx for a good two minutes, it leaped from the table and ran into the kitchen. America ran to the kitchen with the states on his tail. The lynx was on the counter sniffing the packed lunches before knocking them to the floor in an attempt to open them.
Delaware turned to Minnesota saying, "Paul, Stick!"
Minnesota threw her his hockey stick as she rushed out of the room to the kitchens only other entrance/exit. She was ready to keep the lynx from leaving the kitchen, but she had nothing to catch it with. Her eyes turned to America who quickly turned to Evgeniya as he said, "Eve, Net!"
Evgeniya quickly handed him the net as she and her siblings watched their dad and older sister go against the out of control lynx. Delaware looked over at her dad and back at the lynx that was distracted by the lunch it had just ripped open. America had to time it perfectly or else the lynx would get away and most likely trash the rest of the house. He watched the lynx turn its attention to him and they both stared at each other. The stare off continued for only a few seconds, but America knew the lynx cub was getting ready to make a run for it. It was time to make his move.
"HAAAAAAH!", America shouted out a war cry as he dove for the lynx.
The lynx leaped from the counter, but America dropped to his knees to use the spilled food as a slide to move faster than the lynx cub. The cub landed right into the net and could not get out now. The other states were cheering, but America was a little less than pleased. His breakfast he had been looking forward to was ruined, the bag lunches were destroyed, the dining room and kitchen were a mess, and his Armani suit was covered in gravy. He knew that yelling at his kids was not the answer, because England had yelled at him in the past and it only made things worse. Turning to see Evgeniya looking scared to death, he decided to do the gentle, but stern approach.
"Put. Gasha. In. Her. Cage. Now", he said the last word softly, but with all the force of a hurricane.
Evgeniya nodded dumbly as she took the net from her father and turned to go to her room. Of course, that just had to go wrong. The end of the net stuck straight out and as the snowy state turned it tore through Delaware's collection of crystal wine glasses and antique tea cups. The whole room filled with silence except of a collective 'ooh' that faded to deadly quiet.
Delaware, not wanting to see the carnage had shut her eyes, silently praying that some of her collection had survived, but she dare not look. "Is everything broken?", she asked keeping her eyes firmly shut. Silence was her answer. "Tea cup with an eagle on it, broken?!" Silence once more.
Alabama turned to Evgeniya with a death glare fixed on her face, "Nice move, Ice Box."
Evgeniya flinched at the cruel nickname before leaving the room with her head hung low. America wanted to address Alabama's cruel choice of words, but one look at the clock told him that it would have to wait. They hurried to get cleaned up and America handed them each some lunch money that would have to take the place of the bag lunches. His new Armani suit was ruined, but he hoped that the dry cleaners he used could handle gravy stains. He hurried to make sure everyone was dressed and ready to go before he hurried them out the door.
"Okay, come on you guys! Let's get a move on", America said as he counted heads out the door.
"For the record, I am so over fast food!", Sabrina said as she took her lunch money from her dad.
"Then go to Subway and get a salad", he said smirking at his Hollywood baby.
America counted forty-nine heads already headed for the garage, but Evgeniya was no were in sight. While he was still disappointed in her, that didn't mean he wanted to leave for his meeting with her thinking he or anyone else hated her. He didn't have to look far, she was sitting on the back porch steps with her lilac scarf pulled up over her face.
"Hey, what's going on? What's wrong with you Evee?", America asked taking a seat next to her.
"Everyone says I don't fit in with this family", Evgeniya said trying to keep the tremor out of her voice, but America heard it all the same.
"You fit", he said pulling her into his arms, "You fit right here."
Evgeniya hugged him tightly and was thankful that at least her dad liked her, but her happy moment didn't last long as two voices could be heard shouting from the first garage. It was North and South Dakota going at it over who was taking the 2012 Porsche to work. America quickly ended the hug and rushed to the garage.
"I called it today!", North Dakota, aka Wally, shouted as he tackled his brother to the ground.
"No, I did!", South Dakota, aka Billy, shouted back as they wrestled on the ground.
Delaware had got back out of her Mustang to try and stop the fighting. Of course, a state trying to get two other states to stop fighting was not easy. "Hey, you two! Knock it off!", she said trying to pull Wally off of Billy, "Break it up!" They kept fighting until a thunderous voice rang out in the garage.
"Wally! Billy! Chill or be chilled!", America snapped as he entered the garage with his briefcase in one hand and his car keys in the other.
The two quarreling states instantly stopped fighting and rushed to two different cars that they had not been fighting over. America sighed as he hurried over to his black Charger and began the caravan of cars and trucks leaving the garage. It was just another day in his house, but he had to admit this one had felt a little different. Kind of like something new was about to happen, but he was not sure what. He only hoped that whatever changes came their way, he would still have his family safe and sound.