Ch. 9 Tomato Lovers Club
9foxgrl
Note: this and the next…3-4 chapters will all take place around the same time that Italy was racing Indiana.
"Get off me you affectionate bastard!" Romano hissed as the duo reached the glass green house with the Roman numeral for 3 hanging over the door.
They had been escorted through a flower bordered courtyard where Poland and Lithuania were running from Alaska and the four puppies at her heels.
Washington led them to where four greenhouses stood labeled one through four. They all jumped at the loud roar from the first one.
"Yeah…I wouldn't go in there…like dad said; God only knows what Maryland is growing."
"Umm…does that happen often?"
"Well…she is the mad scientist of our family." Washington said uneasily. "Even Tony is scared about entering her lab without body armor."
"Tony?"
"The alien."
"…"
"Gray guy, with huge eyes, no mouth?"
"…"
"Crash landed in Roswell, New Mexico?"
"…"
"Remind me not to let you met New Mexico. He might try to blast you guys to Mars or something…" Washington said as he left Romano and Spain at 3 then took Russia to 4.
The two paused to read the plaque beside the door.
Greenhouse
III
Vegetable Greenhouse
Underneath that was a piece of paper.
TOMATO LOVERS CLUB
President and Club Founder
New Jersey
Members
Ohio
Arkansas
Tennessee
"Well, I guess we can go in." Spain said opening the door…
Only to get a tomato to the face.
"OHIO! CALM DOWN!"
"That was sour!"
"So? That was only one!"
"Now let's calm down brothers…" said a deep country voice.
"CAN IT SPARKY!" shouted three voices.
Romano just stared at the scene before them while Spain wiped the tomato off his face.
There were four boys standing at a long table with several tomatoes.
The one at the head of the table had dark auburn hair like his, but it curled up at the ends similar to Spain's.
One of the two boys on his left looked like a violet eyed version of Switzerland, while the other was a country looking boy who had red hair that was sticking up. And the final one, who much to Romano shock, looked exactly like a young version of France.
Behind them was a medium sized tree with tomatoes of all things growing on the branches, with some smaller plants growing off to the side.
'That's it…after this…I am going to drink and take a looong siesta.' Romano though.
"Calm down New Jersey. We have guests!" the France look alike yelled.
'New Jersey' raised a brow, and then grinned.
"Hey! What's up! Come in already fellow lovers of the tomato!"
"It's nice to see that America's states actually have this kind of club."
"We're all members because we love tomatoes so much that they are our state vegetables." New Jersey said. "Heck, Ohio's state beverage is tomato juice."
"Who's Ohio?"
"That would be me." The Switzerland look alike said.
"…"
"Sorry for not introducing ourselves!" the France look alike said. "I'm Arkansas."
"I'm Tennessee!" the red head said. "That's New Jersey, also known as Jersey!"
"Will you guys stop being a cafone and pass me the canasta hermano!" New Jersey snapped as he headed to the next plant to collect some more tomatoes to sample.
Ohio tossed him one and muttered about bipolar older brothers.
"You speak Spanish and Italian?" Spain asked.
"Like yeah, I have a huge Spanish-Italian population!" New Jersey said with a wave of his hand.
Romano nearly fainted on the spot.
"But…you sound Polish." Spain pointed out.
"Well, I do have a large Polish heritage too."
"Wasn't there supposed to be another one here? Uh…Florida?"
"Yah, but she bailed out the back after she caught sight of Spain." Tennessee said casually.
"She's normally a walking holiday, but the second someone mentions ya, she is gone." New Jersey said as he set down another basket full of ripe tomatoes.
Arkansas and Ohio split them up and began to cut them into quarters.
Suddenly there was an explosion over the east wing of the estate. They all heard America in the distance screaming "AND THIS IS WHY THE TERRITORIES DIDN'T WANT TO COME OVER ON NEW YEARS EVE!"
"Oh boy, looks like the DRT have come up with another harebrained scheme to drive Pa up the wall." Tennessee said as he opened the glass door.
"YOU WANKERS OWE ME A NEW TEA SET!"
"Someone pissed off Massachusetts…I hope he doesn't curse the dinner table again…" Ohio said.
Yeah, it was bad enough last Halloween with our chairs constantly spinning in midair the second we sat down."
There was a crash from Greenhouse 4 as a stray firework hit it.
"AND THIS IS WHY WE CAN'T HAVE NICE THINGS!"
"…well damn, they pissed off Missouri too?"
Suddenly two girls, one holding a chainsaw, went running pass the exterior of the greenhouse towards an old wooden fort on the edge of the property with Pennsylvania and Prussia right behind them.
Ohio raised a brow. "Hey…wasn't that British Columbia and Ontario?"
To be continued….
Brief State Bios!
New Jersey- Alphonso Jones
History- Former name; Province of New Jersey. Member of the Original 13, was 3rd to join the Union December 18th, 1787.
Alphonso can be a bit hotheaded but usually has his heart in the right place. He's very proud of his mixed heritage, including his large Spanish/Italian culture. He loves tomatoes, pasta, and horses. His mortal enemy is the Jersey Devil.
Ohio- Lenz Jones
History- Originally part of the Northwest Territory. Was originally declared the 17th state March 1, 1803, however due to an oversight it was never made official until August 7th, 1953.
Sometimes…okay, several times he is overlooked by his family, to the point he has two birthdays. However they always seem to remember him either at election time or when his Swiss blood goes on overdrive when he gets a gun. Rumor that's why America is hesitant to take him on a father & son hunting trip. He is a leader in the "green" economy and works with several large industries. Loves to fly.
Arkansas- Jean Jones
History- Originally part of the Louisiana territory, became the 25th state June 15th, 1836.
He is not a 'dumb banjo picking hillbilly' and does not appreciate being stereotyped as such. Jean is a real people person and likes to try new things. Best friends with West, mainly because of their mining industries, and the stereotypes they face. His hobbies included spelunking, and enjoying the night with his bat Petite.
Tennessee- Hunter Jones
History- Originally part of the Southwest Territory. Admitted to the Union as the 16th State June 1st, 1796.
While Hunter may seem like a stereotypical country boy who owns a truck, can strum a guitar and sing, he is actually quite intelligent, and handy with electricity. So much that he assisted with the Manhattan Project during WWII. It is said that his red hair sticks up because of all the times he was shocked. Like his siblings North and South Carolina he is proud of his Scottish and Irish roots. Was BFFs with Elvis.
9foxgrl Rants
9foxgrl: for those of you who pointed out to me that Ottawa is in Ontario and not Quebec, thanks for pointing that out to me.
Quebec: it's not like anyone cares. Most people know moi anyway.
-Suddenly a teen girl with a chainsaw runs in and grabs Quebec by his collar.-
Ontario: What do you think you're trying to take from me?
9foxgrl: Oh snap, I'm outta here!