Chapter 249
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Eve had off on July 4th 2035. The new Ebbets Field was still uder construction, but was sufficient for the game. Eve could remember some similar things from when she was little. When the Phillies left Citiens Bank Park and built Veterans Stadium ii, named after their old stadium. So far today the game seemed to be going well. Sector guards and patriotic collectivist prisoners mingling, getting along. Councilman Wilkins came with his family, mayor Ford with his husband. Amanda and her associates were here, providing little luxuries to customers, giving some freedies to council members, and ofcourse taking bets on who would win the game. Eve wanted to root against the sector guards, despite her job. But, more important than who won, Eve looked forward to sitting down with a kosher hot dog and soda, and enjoying the game. Before the game they played the star spangled banner, not the collective national anthem. Even if Jenkins allowed that, this would've proven difficult. Some states and groups adopted their own anthems, claimed they were the official anthem of the CSA. Some fans were heard singing these particular songs but quietly. Before the game mayor Ford gave a small speech.
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Ford: My friends, thank you for coming. This last year has been hard, on all of us. We fought honorably, as did the loyalists. Although we lost, we stood up for our principals. There has been enough loss, the time for reconciliation is now. In Sangala, both loyalists and collectivists worked together to save innocents from genocide. During the plague, doctors from both sides shared intel to stop the virus. Despite everything, we must work together, everyone. Loyalist and collectivist, christian and muslim. The most harmed were the least deserving of tragedy, the innocent were the most vulnerable during the war. For their sake, peace must last. If we can't live together, we will all die alone.
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Eve enjoyed the game. She rooted for the home team, the patriots. Her team was clobbered by the sector guards, but it was still a pleasant afternoon. Eve still looked back fondly seeing Phillies games with Adam and/or their parents. When she was very young her parents would bring Eve's toys and she would play with them if the game got boring. Everytime she did this Adam would scold her for not watching the game. Even after 2/4 there was something inspiring about baseball continuing. Eve had seen footage of Los Angelas, as Mason came to accept Douglas' surrender. Loyalist and collective soldiers broke the ice by playing baseball together. Today, patriots and collaborators were playing together. Maybe this was a good sign.