Ivan sets the box on the floor and tentatively opened Alfred's journal and begins to read. The first couple of pages are about what it's like growing up in his family. Ivan smiles at the child's scribbled handwriting until he gets to a certain page.

  August 15th, 1612 

This new guy came over to talk to Daddy and Papa today. He was really tall. I bet he can reach the sky. I like the sky. I wish I could touch it like him. He was wearing this really long scarf and coat. I thought it was weird since it was so warm out but maybe he was cold. His hair was almost white and it looked really cool. His eyes also looked like Mittie's that was so cool. Mattie's eyes are awesome. I wish my eyes looked like his instead of this boring blue, Daddy and Papa say I should stop complaining about my eyes because they look like the sky. Now that I think about it my eyes are better because they look like the sky but Mattie's eyes are still cool. But they looked even better on the guy that came today. I hope we can become friends. The man said his name was Russia I think but Daddy and Papa called him Ivan. I like that name much better. If he comes back again that's what I'm going to call him.

December 3rd, 1620

He came back. Ivan came back. I was really excited when Daddy and Papa said he was coming. I'm confused though. He keeps calling me America or Amerika, I can't tell. Doesn't he know my name is Alfred.

Ivan frowns and keeps reading. He gets past the parts about Alfred gaining his independence and gets into his more recent history.

April 6th, 1917

Today is my first world meeting. I hope I don't mess it up. Ivan was here and I really tried to impress him. I had moved past wanting to be friends with him when Mattie pointed out that it had turned into a crush. But I don't think my attempts to impress him went well. He kept calling me a Capitalist bastard. Maybe it's a game. I like games. 

I don't know if it's a game. I called Ivan a Communist bastard and he didn't look to happy but he kept playing so I guess it's alright. 

April 23rd, 1917

I met these two girls today. One was very nice while the other one was a little scary. But I'm the hero so I can't be scared, unless it's a ghost but don't tell anyone. The lady with short  hair said her name was Katyusha and the scary one was Natalia. Apparently they're Ivan's sisters. I hope I make a good impression. I think Katyusha likes me but Natalia not so much.  I actually  had a really good conversation with them. I think they both know that I like Ivan. Katyusha seemed really happy but Natalia looked like she wanted to kill me. I like them I hope we can be friends.

Ivan stops. His sister were friends with him. 'Why did they never tell me.'

June 7th, 1917

I've been hanging out a lot with Ivan's sisters. They're really nice, even Natalia after you get passed her obsession. Katyusha has been telling me a lot about Ivan and how she would call him little snowflake and Venya. I really like those names. I hope I can use then some day.

August 12th, 1917

Natalia and I were hanging out today, just us, and she said the most surprising thing. We were just walking through a park when we saw a family of ducks and she told me that if she had to lose Ivan to someone that she would want it to be me. I was speechless as she leaves and I definitely came home with a smile on my face. 

Ivan can feel tears in his eyes. Alfred was friends with my sisters. They knew each other. Why did they never tell me.

December 4th, 1920

Katyusha has been teaching me how to cook traditional Russian food. I've been giving them to Ivan each meeting but he never eats them. I guess he's never hungry. Well I have another container of food to throw into the box in my car. I should really take care of them.

December 12th, 1920

My sunflower garden is finally finished. Its an entire field. Ivan's sisters had told me that he loved them. I also handmade some special  silk ribbon that looks like his flag. It was a lot of hard  work and I can't wait to see the look on his face when he gets them.

January 5th, 1921

Maybe Ivan doesn't like sunflowers. I gave them to him today. Nine sunflowers wrapped in red tissue paper tied up with the special ribbon I made. I found them in the trash. I don't know why I dug them out of the trash and put them in the box. I guess I was just upset. I'll try again next week.

Ivan stopped. He had always ignored the sunflowers. Ivan goes back to reading but stops at a tear stained page.

February 26th, 1947 

Ivan declared war on me today. I don't know why.

August 19th, 1963

I've gotten to know Ludwig pretty well. We've talked a lot. He really misses his brother who has to live with Ivan. I know how he feels. Having someone you care about taken away. I really wish Ivan would talk to me. I keep sending him nine sunflowers wrapped in tissue with the special ribbon that looks like his flag, but they keep getting sent back dead and crushed. But I'll keep trying.

December  25th, 1991

Nine sunflowers a day for  forty four years. 16,071 days. That's 144,639 sunflowers, and each and everyone was returned dead and crushed and each and everyone were put in the box.

December 26th, 1991

I cried today. Ivan finally talked to me today. The war finally ended. The first thing he said to me. "You've let yourself go comrade. You should do something about it, Da?" It really hurt.

Ivan stops. 'Did I really do that to him.'

September 7th, 1996

I've been working hard for five years, and I must say I look good. I hope Ivan likes me better now. I still send the sunflowers and they still come back and they all go in the box. One day. Hopefully.

Ivan frowns and keeps reading.

December 15th, 2003

I finally got it. I was in a bidding war for three days with this guy called Sputnik96 but I got it. I got a bottle of  Kors Vodka Gold. It cost me every cent that I had saved up from working normal jobs but I got it. Ivan is going to love this as a Christmas present.

December 25th, 2003

The world meeting just ended and I was smiling as I handed Ivan the bottle. He gave me a half hearted thank you Amerika. Why doesn't he call me Alfred. Anyways I was so excited to see his face when he opened it but dad called me away. When I turned to go back I didn't see Ivan. I was  a little disappointed  I didn't get to see his reaction.

December 25th, 2003

I found the bottle in the garbage. Maybe he quit drinking and didn't want to tell me. Well that's another thing to go in the box.

Ivan stops and looks into the box. Sitting in the corner of the box was the bottle. Ivan's eyes widened when he looks at the bottle. He was the one Alfred was fighting with to get. Alfred had given it to him as a Christmas present and he had just thrown it away.

December 31st, 2003

Hopefully Ivan will like his birthday present. I couldn't afford anything because of  the vodka. I wish I could drink it because it's just going to sit in that stupid box of failure.  Anyways I don't have any money so I 'll make him a gift instead. I'm going to give him a picture of me with my number so he might actually call me and I remember Katyusha talking about a show Ivan liked as a kid called Cheburashka. I looked up a picture and the material from my bomber jacket should be perfect. I don't want to cut the cuffs and collar off but it will be worth it.

December 31st, 2003

I found my present for Ivan in a puddle in the gutter of the street today. The picture was smashed and the doll had a boot print on it. I was crying as I picked them up. I thought Ivan would have liked them. I guess I was wrong. Again.

Ivan can feel tears running down his face but keeps reading. He had never noticed the pieces of cloth missing from Alfred's favorite jacket. He reads about all the food and sunflowers that Alfred had given him but he always threw away. He stops when he gets to an entry from last week.

July 4th, 2015
Today's the day. My body finally turned 18. I'm so nervous. I'm going to tell Ivan how I feel. Katyusha and Natalia keep telling me that Ivan feels the same. But I'm still nervous. Ivan hasn't seemed to feel the same way but his sisters say I'm just over thinking it. I hope they're right.

Ivan gives a soft sob. Alfred was going to confess his feelings that day and I did this to him. He turns the page and his heart drops when hes sees the paper covered in scribbles, cake frosting, tears, and blood.

July 4th, 2015

Why did it have to be him! Why did I have to fall in love with Ivan! How could I have been so stupid! For 400 hundred years I've been trying to get  to get Ivan to fall in love with me. I was just to stupid to realize that he never would. Why did it have to be him! I could have fallen in love with anybody else! I could have fallen in love with someone else! I could have been happy! Why did it have to fall in love with him! Why!

The entry stops there and Ivan knows it's where he had interrupted him. Ivan lets his tears fall and sobs.

"ALFRED PLEASE WAKE UP! YOU CAN CALL ME SNOWFLAKE AND VENYA! I'M SORRY I DID ALL THOSE THINGS TO YOU! I WAS STUPID! PLEASE JUST LET ME SEE THOSE BEAUTIFUL SKY BLUE EYES!"

Ivan lays his head on Alfred's chest and sobs while begging Alfred to wake up.

"FREDKA PLEASE."