Russia pulled China closer, and kissed him passionately. "China, will you marry me?" Russia asked.

China drew back, horrified. "No! Of course not!"

"Why?" was the reply. "It's not right! And aiyah, I enjoy not being unmarried." China glanced at the clock, and left the house.

Someone saw.

That night, dinner was quiet. It was nothing abnormal. Dinner was always quiet. There was no conversation, no friendly laughter, only five silent, unhappy people with some occasional nervous trembling. They always sat in the same formation: Russia sat in the middle with Estonia and Latvia to one side, and Lithuania and Belarus to the other side. Frequently, Belarus would ask to trade seats with Lithuania, and Lithuania would always consent to his love

For some mysterious reason, Belarus was generally a more ominous presence than her brother. That was a subject Estonia generally thought about at dinner. And that night, Estonia sensed Russia's nervousness more than ever.

"I'm done," Estonia quickly excused himself, sensing a commotion to come. No commotion came, but the atmosphere became so tense, that Latvia left, quickly followed by Lithuania, leaving Russia and Belarus alone.

" Brother," Belarus said. "I want an explanation." Her voice was dangerous. Russia began to leave, only to be dragged down by a hand. "No, Brother," Belarus insisted. "Stay."Russia obeyed, but reluctantly. "Why did you propose to someone who would surely refuse, Brother?"

Russia made no reply. "Speak, Brother. Only little children keep quiet when they are spoken to. You know that. Reply."

Russia still kept silent. He found his eyes wandering all over the place, anywhere but this little sister he had always hated, and feared. "Look me in the eye, Brother. And why are you silent? Reply!"
Russia began to cry.

The next day, it seemed a fresh leaf. Latvia was his usual trembling self; it was possible Estonia was in love with his books; Lithuania was as worrisome as ever; Russia had the same intimidating aura; and Belarus clung to him like a barnacle (only there was no mutualism).

The five played their normal routine so well that all worries were forgotten. Excess worries, that is. After dinner, the routine broke. Oh, Belarus was innocent. And the Baltic States were certainly not to blame.

"Latvia!" Estonia looked up from his book abruptly. "What's wrong?"

"Oh, Estonia," Latvia panted. "He did, at last; I can't believe it; he did it! Oh, Estonia; you cannot believe what he did!"

"Is it Master?" Estonia replied.

"Yes!"

Estonia jolted up. "What happened? Is Lithuania alright?"

"Yes, I think. It's Miss Belarus. Master's dumped her!"

"Where?" Estonia sat Latvia on his lap [Estonia's].

"In the snow." With every moment, Latvia got more and more excited. "How do you know?"

"Master stripped her, and took her out when she was sleeping. When he came back, he was all alone!"

"Don't tell Lithuania," Estonia ordered. "Not a word."

Estonia was no friend of Belarus, but he felt sorrow kindling in him. "Oh," he murmured. "To think that Russia would be so cruel; to think of little Belarus out in that cold, cold snow; to think of her consuming heartache; to think of her inevitable death..."

He wiped a tear away.