Fireplace

"England."
"Hm?"
(I'm reading, can't you see?)
"Just wondering... do you ever miss me?"
"...Miss you? What do you mean?"
"Ah, nothing."
"Oh."
(Back to reading.)
"I don't live at your house anymore. Don't you ever get lonely?"
"You've never lived at my house to begin with."
"Hu, is that so...?"
(What is he trying to pull?)
"America, you should remember you've always lived at your place."
"Ha... right. It's true."
(You spoil all the fun.)
(What was that for?)
"Say England, you still have the boats I gave you?"
"Boats?..."
"Those Indian boats I gave you."
"Oh, those. I suppose one of my museums has them."
(I kept them for so long.)
"Really? Are you that fond of them?"
(Be quiet.)
"..."
"I carved them myself."
(Well, my people did.)
"Yes, it did come to my mind that they are quite crude."
(That hurt my pride.)
"..."
(Good.)
"Englaand, hey..."
(Not surprising.)
"Why've I never lived at yours?"
(Put the book down, got your attention.)
"Because you've never wanted to."
"Tell me more."
(Climb down the chair, sit on the ground before the fireplace.)
(Feels good...)
"You used to be my colony. I gave you all of me. Actually..."
(Laugh and sound so relaxed and at ease. Rare for you to do around me.)
"I've read a few statistics not so long ago. They say most of my emigration went for you, no matter what period. Before people started coming to me, of course."
(Bitter.)
"There's always been a lot of British coming to me."
"True. I'm still sorry I couldn't visit you more often back then."
"Hm."
(Me too.)
"But those were great times. Truly wonderful."
(Until.)
"Colony...?"
"Yes, colony. That's why you've never lived at my house. You had your own place to stay, and your own people to take care of you."
(Lean against my legs like you don't notice.)
"It never was about the taxes, you know..."
"Yeah... I know."
(But most people still think so.)
"I couldn't work without a government. You never understood so I had to..."
(Apologetic undertone.)
"I know."
"England?"
"Yes?..."
(Crackling of the fire.)
(Reach back, take my hands and drag them around your shoulders.)
"You had a lot back then, didn't you?"
"I indeed did."
(Lean forward and hug you from behind.)
"Mm..."
(It's too nice to talk.)
(Lay my head on my upper arm.)
"The fire's nice."
"Yeah..."
(You smell lovely.)