"Hello?" Tino answered the phone warily.
"Hi... Tino. It's me."
Tino recognized Eduard's voice. Fear momentarily gripped him before he could reply. "What is it Eduard?"
"He got me, Tino." The voice on the other side sounded as if it were sobbing. "I had to do it, he's just to strong."
"Oh, Estonia!" Tino cried. "What has he done to you?"
The sobs stifled. "Nothing much... really. I just agreed to let him build bases in my country. He had me surrounded!"
"Dammit!" Tino sputtered.
"I'm sorry, Tino, I have to go. He's watching me."
The Baltic hung up before Tino could say anything else. It had only been a month since the Soviet Union first invaded Poland. As far as Tino was aware, Poland was still under invasion by both Germany and Russia.
"Why can't Estonia grow a backbone?" Tino sighed, but really he shaking. It had been awhile since he had gone head to head with Russia. He wondered if Russia would knock before entering his house or if he would blow his way in. It was hard to say.
With a sigh, Tino went back to drawing figures and battle plans. He wondered if he was kidding himself.
Russia stared at the land of lakes and snow. He was unruffled by the cold, so used to it at his home.
"Where is everyone?" Russia asked no one in particular. "Perhaps they are already celebrating Christmas. I hope they have vodka. Ah, well, it's time to break up the party."
Russia shouldered his lead pipe and strolled casually into Finland.
"Holy Martin Luther! That was loud!" Tino yelped. He hastily grabbed his binoculars and peered out his window. Through the billowing column of black smoke he could see Russian forces advancing.
"They're here already? But he only just finished invading Poland!"
Tino hastily grabbed the scribblings on his desk and hurried to the phone. After a few hurried calls he grabbed his snow white parka and rushed outside.
Hiding in the snow, Tino watched Russia stroll in confidently. Tino had been underestimated too many times. Anger gnawed in his belly. He vowed to himself to show them all. He wouldn't let Russia take him. He would finally be able to prove his strength.
"Were could Finland be hiding?" Russia said in an excited voice. "I did not know this was a game of hide-and-seek. I like this game, because I always win!"
Tino couldn't take it anymore. He pulled the trigger of his rifle. The gunshots confused the Russian forces. They couldn't see him in the snow. They split up to search for him, which was just what Tino wanted.
"Find him," Russia ordered. "This is fun, da?"
Russia continued to stroll easily through Tino's homeland. Tino ignored him. He had to take out the big guns first. He circled around to reach a small group that had separated itself from the larger forces.
Jumping out of his hiding place, Tino surprised them. They panicked and began to fire wildly, wasting ammunition. Tino dodged the bullets and fired careful shots into the fray. With an enraged war cry, he managed to scare away what was left of the small section. In their haste to get away, they left supplies lying around. Tino grinned, picking up and advanced Russian rifle. Things were going well for the little man.
"There you are!" Russia cried in excitement. With a pleased grin, he swung his pipe. Tino dodged at the last second, drawing his sword.
"Become one with me!" Russia cried, swinging the pipe again.
"No!" Tino screamed back, blocking the pipe with his sword.
"Kol, kol, kol. Do you think you can beat me with that?" Russia laughed, putting his weight on the pipe.
Russia was too strong for him. Tino felt his body buckling under the weight of the large country. Thinking fast, Tino slid out from under him an darted to the side. Russia was barely able to catch himself from falling on his face.
Running wildly, Tino jumped into a ravine and hid. Panting heavily, could hear the Russian's footsteps crunching in the snow. His breathing stopped as he heard Russia stop at the edge of the ravine.
"That was fun," Russia called into the Finnish wilderness. "We should do it again something." Laughing, Russia walked away to gather his forces.
Tino let out a sigh of relief and headed home.