SimStoCreMo Drabble - Fireside Chat
Mar. 31st, 2012 10:12 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
silverbelleljLast drabble is done! And thus, I win CreMo this year.
Warning: Spoilers ahead. Well, sort of. I'm just following history here, so if you didn't see this coming shame on your US history teacher!
--
Nick was packed and ready to head back to SimHarvard to start his sophomore year of college. The night before he left, Cindy and James invited the Alcotts and the Seiffs over for dinner to give the eldest son a proper send-off.
Despite the relative festiveness of the occasion, conversation was anything but light. Two days ago, they’d learned that Simmany had invaded SimPoland, in defiance of the Treaty of Simsailles that ended the Great War. That morning, word came that Simland and SimFrance had declared war on Simmany. After dinner, everyone gathered in the parlor of the old farmhouse, waiting to hear what the President had to say when he addressed the country over the radio. They listened to the voice through the crackle of the static, wanting to know what the events occurring in far away SimEurope meant for them.
“I don’t think that he means to get us involved,” James said to Taddy and Sterling.
“James, hush,” Cindy said gently. “I can’t hear.”
“It is right that I should recall to your minds the consistent and at time successful efforts of your Government in these crises to throw the full weight of the United States into the cause of peace.”
“See, I told you!” James boomed.
“I doubt it will end up being that simple, James,” Sterling replied. “Simmany seems hell-bent on dominating SimEurope, and if it comes to that you know that Simerica won’t leave Simland in the lurch.”
“Will you two hush up?” Viola asked. “Save the commentary until after the speech is over.”
“Let no man or woman thoughtlessly or falsely talk of America sending its armies to European fields. At this moment there is being prepared a proclamation of American neutrality.”
Taddy snorted. “Hard to remain neutral when so many of us can trace our roots back to one of the countries involved.”
James opened his mouth to reply, but a hard glance from Cindy stopped him.
“… I cannot ask that every American remain neutral in thought as well. Even a neutral has a right to take account of facts. Even a neutral cannot be asked to close his mind or close his conscience.
I have said not once but many times that I have seen war and that I hate war. I say that again and again.
I hope the United States will keep out of this war. I believe that it will. And I give you assurance and reassurance that every effort of your Government will be directed toward that end.”
After the broadcast ended, the adults in the room, Nick now included in that group, looked at each other.
“I hope we can stay out of it,” Viola sighed, her thoughts on her son Howard. Calla nodded in agreement, as her son Gilbert was almost the same age as Howard.
Cindy’s eyes strayed to Nick. He had a serious expression on his face, but that was nothing out of the ordinary. She wondered what he was thinking.
Nick looked at James. “I’d have to go, if we get involved, wouldn’t I?”
James’ mouth suddenly went dry, and he could only nod in response to his son’s question.
“It’s nothing you need to worry about now, Nicky,” Cindy cooed, slipping and calling him by his childhood nickname. “It will probably get settled before it comes to that.”
“I hope so, Mama. But as Uncle Sterling said, Simmany wants what’s not theirs. Someone has to stop them. And if it comes to that, I’ll volunteer. I could probably be of some use, with the medical training I’ll have.”
Cindy managed to keep her voice steady as she replied. “That’s very honorable of you. But let’s not put the cart before the horse and worry about things that might not even come to pass.”
Nick nodded and said no more. Not long after, the guests excused themselves to go home, each of them worried about how much closer the problems of the world seemed to their doorsteps that September night.
*Italicized portions are direct quotes from FDR's Fireside Chat on September 3, 1939 about the European War. I got it from here.
Warning: Spoilers ahead. Well, sort of. I'm just following history here, so if you didn't see this coming shame on your US history teacher!
--
Nick was packed and ready to head back to SimHarvard to start his sophomore year of college. The night before he left, Cindy and James invited the Alcotts and the Seiffs over for dinner to give the eldest son a proper send-off.
Despite the relative festiveness of the occasion, conversation was anything but light. Two days ago, they’d learned that Simmany had invaded SimPoland, in defiance of the Treaty of Simsailles that ended the Great War. That morning, word came that Simland and SimFrance had declared war on Simmany. After dinner, everyone gathered in the parlor of the old farmhouse, waiting to hear what the President had to say when he addressed the country over the radio. They listened to the voice through the crackle of the static, wanting to know what the events occurring in far away SimEurope meant for them.
“I don’t think that he means to get us involved,” James said to Taddy and Sterling.
“James, hush,” Cindy said gently. “I can’t hear.”
“It is right that I should recall to your minds the consistent and at time successful efforts of your Government in these crises to throw the full weight of the United States into the cause of peace.”
“See, I told you!” James boomed.
“I doubt it will end up being that simple, James,” Sterling replied. “Simmany seems hell-bent on dominating SimEurope, and if it comes to that you know that Simerica won’t leave Simland in the lurch.”
“Will you two hush up?” Viola asked. “Save the commentary until after the speech is over.”
“Let no man or woman thoughtlessly or falsely talk of America sending its armies to European fields. At this moment there is being prepared a proclamation of American neutrality.”
Taddy snorted. “Hard to remain neutral when so many of us can trace our roots back to one of the countries involved.”
James opened his mouth to reply, but a hard glance from Cindy stopped him.
“… I cannot ask that every American remain neutral in thought as well. Even a neutral has a right to take account of facts. Even a neutral cannot be asked to close his mind or close his conscience.
I have said not once but many times that I have seen war and that I hate war. I say that again and again.
I hope the United States will keep out of this war. I believe that it will. And I give you assurance and reassurance that every effort of your Government will be directed toward that end.”
After the broadcast ended, the adults in the room, Nick now included in that group, looked at each other.
“I hope we can stay out of it,” Viola sighed, her thoughts on her son Howard. Calla nodded in agreement, as her son Gilbert was almost the same age as Howard.
Cindy’s eyes strayed to Nick. He had a serious expression on his face, but that was nothing out of the ordinary. She wondered what he was thinking.
Nick looked at James. “I’d have to go, if we get involved, wouldn’t I?”
James’ mouth suddenly went dry, and he could only nod in response to his son’s question.
“It’s nothing you need to worry about now, Nicky,” Cindy cooed, slipping and calling him by his childhood nickname. “It will probably get settled before it comes to that.”
“I hope so, Mama. But as Uncle Sterling said, Simmany wants what’s not theirs. Someone has to stop them. And if it comes to that, I’ll volunteer. I could probably be of some use, with the medical training I’ll have.”
Cindy managed to keep her voice steady as she replied. “That’s very honorable of you. But let’s not put the cart before the horse and worry about things that might not even come to pass.”
Nick nodded and said no more. Not long after, the guests excused themselves to go home, each of them worried about how much closer the problems of the world seemed to their doorsteps that September night.
*Italicized portions are direct quotes from FDR's Fireside Chat on September 3, 1939 about the European War. I got it from here.
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no subject
on 2012-04-01 03:33 am (UTC)no subject
on 2012-04-01 11:10 pm (UTC)no subject
on 2012-04-01 05:36 am (UTC)no subject
on 2012-04-01 11:12 pm (UTC)I figure it's time to start bringing in what's going on in the larger world into the plot line, as it will affect what's going to happen to the characters.