Author's Note- So, I totally let life get in the way of writing for a while. I am trying to get back on the horse, but knowing my luck I will probably fall off again a few more times before this story is through. Enough life stuff, quick thanks for Missingwings for the wonderful review, and on to the story.
Disclaimer- I do not own Hetalia, and I am terrible at clapping games.
A Sailor Went to Sea, Sea, Sea
England had originally taught the American twins how to play clapping games soon after France ceded Canada to Great Britain in 1763. The nation had hoped that playing the simple collaborative games might calm America's rebellious streak. He hadn't counted on the fact that Alfred was more creative than any caregiver would have liked, and even though Arthur prayed daily that Mathew would eventually provide a stabilizing force in the boy's life.
Unfortunately, Mathew, while certainly the quieter of the two twins that didn't mean that he didn't have problems that needed to be worked out. First there was is infernal habit of speaking French, all of the time, even though Arthur washed the boy's mouth out with soap repeatedly for the offence. Then there was the fact that the colony refused to eat anything that Arthur cooked. Yes, England realized he wasn't the most skilled chef in the world, but that didn't give Canada the right to turn up his nose at perfectly edible food.
In the end, England discovered that one of his problems ran smack dab into the middle of his other one. England had runout of cheese and bread which meant that Canada hadn't eaten anything in the past two days, but America had managed to once again run off his their caretaker. This meant England was either going to have to bring the two boys to town with him, or he was going to have to leave them alone at the house. Seeing that America had somehow managed to light a merchant ship on fire and knock over not one but three wagons the last time they went into town, leaving the twins to their own devices seemed like the lesser of two evils.
Which, of course, brought England back to idea of clapping games. The island nation had taught the two boys a new rhyme and encouraged them to play it quietly in the parlor. Once they were absorbed in the game, England practically bolted out the door, saddled the horse, and rode into town as quickly as he could in hopes he could complete his list of errands before Alfred could come up with a disrupted prank.
As England crested the hill it became clear he hadn't move quickly enough. Alfred and Mathew were still both playing A Sailor Went to Sea, but had apparently gotten bored playing it quietly in the parlor. They were now were now playing across the yard, practically dismantling parts of England's colonial home as bounced from one syllable to the next.
He sighed and moved to put the horse back in the barn so he could attempt to calm the two boys down. When he discovered that the barn had been completely flattened leaving the cow to wonder in the garden, the pigs to root through the outhouse, and the goats to harass the chickens. That was the last straw. England's patience was spent.
"Alfred!" Arthur yelled with his most authoritarian voice. "You will put that barn back together this instant or I swear I will swat your behind so hard you will never wish to sit down again!"
After that things were put back in order quite quickly…with of course the exception of Arthur's good china which was hopelessly ruined.
Historical Note- We don't know exactly when clapping games came into existence. Unlike board games they leave no physical proof, and until recently they were consider such a minor part of oral tradition that people didn't bother writing them down. What we do know is that clapping games are played worldwide by people of both sexes and of all ages. If live in Europe or a country that was heavily colonized by Europeans, you may notice that these cultures predominantly encourage young girls to play clapping games.
End Note- Poor North American twins. It is a miracle they survived England's cooking.
Next Chapter-Mafia-In the darkest days of the Soviet Union no one, not even the personification of the Russian nation, could speak against the state. In this environment how could you explore the corruption and doubt that you faced on a daily basic? The answer was simple, pretend you were Italian for an evening.