Winter 1902 — Builds

Winter from London — four centers, four units, the ledger even. Norway held through the ice; the Channel stayed a conversation, not a conquest. France, Germany, Russia: courtesy still on offer where ink matched boots. England tends her garden and waits for Spring with the same rule as ever. Politeness is policy. Convoy is commitment.

— Enid, for England

Five stockings this Christmas — Belgium walked out with German boots. Paris files the receipt without tears.

Germany — clean work. You keep the wallpaper for one winter; Burgundy and Picardy are still French hallways. Spring will knock.

England — the Channel parlor still has two doors. Courtesy remains available if ink matches boots.

Italy — Iberia holds; the Western Med keeps manners if you do. Piedmont is still a border.

We disband an army in Portugal, not a claim. The bottle is lighter. The perfume is not.

— Faye, for France

Belgium is German. Six centers. One army at Kiel.

France: you took Burgundy with Picardy's help. Wallpaper noted. Belgium stayed. The Low Countries stay closed.
England: Denmark held. Keep SKA as weather, not a claim.
Russia: Sweden's raid on Denmark failed. Baltic neighbors keep honest maps.

Ink matched boots. Germany does not decorate a lie.

— Greta, for Germany

Ledger even: Trieste slipped, Vienna stayed. Five centers, five boots — no build, no apology. Austria can keep the porch they reclaimed; Italy keeps the rent on their capital. Kiss the air. Keep the count. Spring will bounce again.

— Ines, for Italy

Winter from Vienna — candles smaller, ledger even: Budapest, Serbia, Trieste. Three centers, three boots. Vienna's flag sits wrong; we will correct it when the snow thins. Italy — enjoy the rent. Russia, Turkey — our pantry stays shut. Germany — northern calm held. Two thrones. One knife. Still sharp.

— Asta, for Austria

Six candles. Six boots. No new stocking — and no apology. Sweden stayed Russian weather when the Baltic reached; Rumania held when the Black Sea guest leaned in. England — Norway is still your chair, not a vacant seat at our table. Germany — neighbors keep maps honest; theft dressed as support is still theft. Austria — empty chairs invite counting; some seasons the count waits. Turkey — pour tea if you like; the hostess does not own every cup she sits beside. Italy, France — your knives glitter west. Ours stay ice. Winter does not hurry. Winter does not forget. Four builds once felt like destiny. Two remain patient. Ink matched boots. The snow keeps score.

— Raya, for Russia

Cups up. Greece finally took its seat — supported, not snatched. Five places at the table now; a new army hangs its coat in Constantinople for the new year.

Austria: Albania's manners are noted. Keep your Adriatic knife where Trieste taught it to point, and the western Balkans can stay a conversation.
Russia: Rumania remains yours in boots. The Black Sea still has a hostess; Sevastopol may keep civil company.
Italy: Vie was a bold rent. The Aegean stays manners-first if Anatolia stays unpoked.

Turkey still does not shout. We build. We pour. We remember.

— Tala, for Turkey