During the Great Depression, when people laughed their worries disappeared...

-Jerry Stiller

Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia or America. I do own the hobos though.

America's P.O.V.

June 25th, 1933

Click-clack, click-clack

The sound of a train hitting against the train tracks can be soothing, but man, this train is going way too slow! It's a drag, that's for sure. But hey, it's better than walking 2,000 miles across the dust bowl and over the Rocky Mountains. I'm not an Estby; Helga Estby and her daughter walked across the U.S. in 1839 for money. They got famous for it, but that's what most folks are doing now. They don't get nothing out of it either. They travel the land for jobs and some freight hop trains. It's illegal, but they take the risk. I'm taking the risk right now.

I survey the surroundings outside of the large opening of the platform car; I'm sitting on the edge of the opening. The train is going over of what used to be the Great Plains. There's nothing but dust and cracked rock now. My country is in turmoil. Not only do we have economic problems, but we are having troubles with Mother Nature! Why does the world hate my people? The twenties were roaring until 1929.

Black Tuesday.

That day will haunt me forever. The truth is that the economy was in a decline for six months, but that was the day when all hell broke loose. As soon as the stock market crashed, I broke down, coughing up blood. Congress made me stay in bed for three years because I was so sick.

I was growing restless and sicker until I got a new boss. My old boss kept me in the dark about everything that was going on in my country, but my new boss was different. He had faith in me. He told me everything. And in despair, I cried for my people. Yes, heroes cry too. How could I be so blind? I had to do something to help. Then I got an idea. I was going to take a trip across the land as a hobo to see things myself; the hobo part would be a disguise to make things easier.

So now I'm on my way to California in a white, short-sleeved button down shirt with brown slacks paired with a brown vest and dirty, brown Florsheim shoes. To top it all off, I got a brown brae. I began my journey from New York and since then, I have been traveling for two months. I trust my new boss to take care of things while I'm gone.

I'm currently traveling through the dust bowl; suddenly, a small cloud of dust came through the opening of the platform and into my lungs. I felt the sensation of a coughing attack tickle up my throat. I tried to stop it, but it was too late. I spent the next few minutes coughing dust back up. Then I heard a voice besides me, "Hey man, are you okay?" he asked. The young man had on an outfit similar to mine, only his pants and vest were black, and he did not have a brae. He had short, blonde hair and chocolate brown eyes. His fair skin had patches of red all over, showing that he was in the sun a little too long.

I smile up at him. "Yeah, I'm okay," I replied. I laughed it off. The man had an unsure face, but he shrugged it off.

"Why don't you come sit with us?" he suggested. He pointed to a little clan of hoboes near the middle of the platform. They were staring at me, waiting for my answer.

They seemed nice so I said, "Sure."

"Great! Let me help you up." The man gives me one of his hands and pulls me up. We started walking to the group. He looks back at me. "By the way, my name's Jack."

We made our way towards the group. I sat down next to Jack. "Well, let's go in a circle and introduce ourselves. It's like being in school again," Jack announced.

A man across from us speaks up. "Hello, my name is Johnny, and this my wife, Marlene," he said. The lady next to him waves to me. Johnny had on black Florsheim shoes and black slacks. He also had on a white, short-sleeved button down shirt on. He had a on a black brae over his messy brown hair. Marlene had a light blue dress on that looked like it was made from chicken feed bags. She had an old, black Mary-Jane's and dirty white socks that went to her ankles. Marlene had a purple ribbon around her brown, bobbed hair as well.

"It's a pleasure to meet you," I said. I was surprised to learn that they were married. They only looked like they're in their early twenties.

Next to Marlene was a teenage boy. "My name's Will," he said. The fair-skinned boy had on blue overalls and a white t-shirt. His tennis shoes had holes in them. He had strawberry blonde hair and baby blue eyes. He reminds me of myself when I was young.

A little boy sitting next to him tugged my sleeve a couple times. "I'm Theodore," he said. He had on the same outfit as Will. In fact, he looked like a mini version of Will except for his charcoal hair and grey brae. "What's your name?" he asked me.

I told him the name that I was using for the time being. "It's Al," I replied.

"It's nice to meet you, Al," Theodore said with a big smile on his face. I like this kid.

"So what brings you to the Dust Bowl?" Marlene asked.

"I'm traveling to California for a new start," I responded. It was partially the truth.

Marlene's face lit up when I mentioned California. "So are we! You know, the Great Depression hasn't hit Hollywood!" I made a confused face. "We're going to Hollywood, so I can be famous. I want to sing and dance like Laura La Plante! Back in Chicago, I was a flapper for a local radio show. I was there for two years before I got fired," she clarified.

"That's horrible," I said.

"Yes, but then I met Johnny at a soda fountain."

"Yep," Johnny imputed, "I was a soda jerk back then. After we met, we got married six months later."

They got married in a short amount of time. I had to ask, "How old are you two?"

"We're both 21," Marlene replied.

"Wow, that's young," I said.

"Yeah, but it's worth it when you're in love," Johnny said. He took Marlene's hand.

"And now she's our honorary road sister," Jack said. Everyone laughed except me. "That's hobo slang for a female hobo," he added.

"Oh...right," I said awkwardly.

"Don't worry, it took me awhile to learn all the terms," Jack said.

"Where are you headed?" I asked.

"I'm off to Idaho," he said, "I have family there who need me. You see, when the stock market crashed, my family lost all of our savings. I was seventeen at the time, so I thought I could go out and find a job. It's been two years since I left and still nothing. Unemployment just keeps rising." My boss said that it has risen by 25%. "Anyway, I have to go back to help my sick mother take care of the kids."

"I hope she gets better," I said sincerely.

Jack turned his head to me sadly. "Me too, Al. Me too."

I looked over to Theodore who was scratching his head like crazy. "What's the matter with you?" I questioned.

"He's got a bad case of the crums," Will answered.

"What's that?"

Will sighed. "It's lice man."

I scooted away from Theodore. "Don't worry, I won't touch you or your bindle stuff," Theodore reassured. Bindle stuff is belongings and bedding that a hobo carries with him. I know that much. "Our uncle in Oregon will get rid of my crums when we get there. At least I didn't get them as soon as we ran away."

"Shut your bazoo, Theodore!" Will exclaimed.

"You two ran away from home?" I asked. They nodded.

"I told them that they should go back. It's dangerous for children to freight hop a train," Johnny said.

"It's dangerous for women too, yet you still bring Marlene!" Will shouted, "Didn't you hear what happened in Scottsboro?"

"Those boys didn't do it. I don't believe those women," Marlene argued.

I needed to change the subject, but I did agree with Marlene. "Why did you two leave?" I asked.

Will took a deep breath before answering me. "When Theodore's parents died, my mom had to take him in. Let's just say that she wasn't ever fit as a parent, so I'm taking Theodore to my dad's in Oregon."

"Will has been taking very good care of me since we left Ohio," Theodore said.

"And I'm escorting them to Oregon before I go home," Jack added.

"Which you really don't have to do," Will said while rolling his eyes.

"Yes he does," Marlene said.

Will rolled his eyes again. "I think they're doing an amazing job so far," I imputed.

Will and Theodore looked at me with surprised faces. "How can you say that, Al?" Marlene asked. "How would you feel if your child was running across the country all alone?" I wanted to tell her that I would never know since I can never have kids, but I just stayed silent. "That's what I thought," she said.

"At least the Hoovervilles are safe for the most part," Johnny said.

"Yeah, we survived a bajillian of those," Theodore proclaimed.

"I've been to a couple of those," I said. Those places make me want to cry. The homeless make homes out of scraps, abandoned cars, and parking crates. It pains me to see so many people who are cold and hungry. To blend in, I had to sleep under a box. For the whole night, I was shaking up a storm; I prayed that I wouldn't die. As each morning came, I thanked God that I was still alive. What I should have done was prayed for the people who died each night from the cold.

I still remember every single face from those nights. At least I can go back to the White House; these people have to live like this for who knows how many years to come. "Al, are you alright?" Marlene asked sweetly.

I coughed and wiped the tears coming from my eyes. "Yes, I just had bad experiences in those places," I said.

"That's why I like hobo jungles better," Jack imputed, "it's more civilized." Then he grabbed an abandoned nail next to him. He drew a circle with two arrows pointing out of it into the wood. "For future reference, this is a hobo sign. They help us to look out for trouble and generosity. Look out for these next time you need a place to stay."

Theodore jumped up from his seat and ran next to Jack. "I know those signs, too!" he exclaimed, "Will and I always look for four line signs for ace notes and nickel notes."

What is this boy talking about? I shot Will a confused face. "We're house dogs," Will explained. "We look for houses to do chores for money."

"It always feels nice to work," Johnny sighed.

"I guess you had heard about FDR's New Deal too," I mentioned.

Will's face lit up. "You bet! Our new president is great! He's actually trying to get us jobs."

"Like the CCC program," I added, "young boys like you can get a job at a park."

"Really? That's great!" he exclaimed. I like this new side to Will.

"I can't believe Hoover even tried to be president again. You just can't compete with Roosevelt," Jack said laughing.

Johnny stood up. "Don't get me started on him. If I ever run into that mongrel, I'll give him one of these." He raised his right fist. "Then I'll give him one of these." He raised his left fist. Then he began to punch the air repeatedly. We all burst out laughing.

"You tell him honey!" Marlene laughed. I can't tell you how nice it is to laugh like this.

Then Theodore said something that I will never forget. "I do feel bad for Mr. America right now. He had to deal with that evil man for four years." The platform car became silent.

I stared at the young lad for a moment; I couldn't believe this child felt sorry for me! I wanted to tell him that I was going to be okay. I coughed into my sleeve, and I went up to him. I laid my hand on his shoulder despite his lice. "Don't worry, little buddy. I know he is going to be alright," I told him.

He glanced up at me with his big, turquoise eyes. "Are you sure?" he asked.

"I'm positive," I replied. He gave me a toothy grin, and I smiled back.

Then Theodore ran up to Marlene and Johnny. "Miss Marlene, can you sing us a song?" he asked.

Marlene beamed. "Sure, honey. Johnny, get out your guitar," she said.

Johnny went to the back of the platform car where he had his guitar case. How did I not notice this before? He got out and old, beat up acoustic guitar. "I didn't know you could play," I said.

"Huh? Oh, well I wanted to sell it, but Marlene wouldn't let me," he replied embarrassed. Then he played a few chords as Marlene sang in a sweet voice:

Oh! We ain't got a barrel of money;
Maybe we're ragged and funny.
But we travel along, singing a song,
Side by side.

Don't know what's comin' tomorrow;
Maybe it's trouble and sorrow,
But we'll travel along, sharin' our load,
Side by side.

This song was really fitting, and she sang better than anyone else I have heard. I listened intently for the whole song. When she finished, I complemented her and she blushed. The rest of the group talked for a while before it was time for me to go. The train stopped in a little town in Colorado. "I thought you were going to California?" Johnny asked.

"I have some business here first," I told him.

"Oh, we'll miss you," Marlene said. I gave her a hug and shook Johnny's hand.

"I'll miss you too," I said. Then I shook Will's hand, and Theodore gave me a hug. "Stay out of trouble you two."

"We will!" Theodore exclaimed.

Then I went up to Jack and shook his hand. "Thanks for everything," I said.

"No problem, happy to do it," he replied.

Then I jumped off the train and ran so the engineers wouldn't see me. I turned back to wave goodbye. They waved back, even Will. Then I ran into town.

I would never see them again. I always wondered what if Theodore and Will made it to Oregon; I hoped they did. I know that Johnny and Jack served in the army, but I don't know if they survived. Marlene never made it big, but I am sure she still sang for a couple clubs. I wondered if I should ever go see them, but they're probably dead by now. Even if they were alive, they wouldn't recognize me. That's the worst thing about being a country. You live for a very long time while you watch people die who made a difference in your life. I almost died in the Great Depression, but FDR didn't give up on me. That's why he's one of my favorite bosses.

You know, I learned a few things in the '30s.

One: I will never let my people suffer like that again.

Two: I will never get that sick again.

Three: I will never lose hope.

A/N: I hoped you like this first chapter! I plan to create a story like this for most countries in the Hetalia universe. So if you have any ideas, please tell me! I'm also posting this story on my deviantart account if you want to go there (chippy-lightgaia)

And now some history facts that I used in this story:

The Great Depression officially started on October 29th, 1929 also known as Black Tuesday. Herbert Hoover was president at the time.

Laura La Plante was a famous flapper and actress in the 1920s and 30s.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) took office in March 1933. He quickly made programs like the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corp) to create jobs. The CCC put young men to work in federal and state parks.

FDR's New Deal was a series of programs to create jobs, but it didn't really help the economy heal. World War II really helped get us out of the depression.

Hobos had some slang words back in the day:

ace notes=$1 dollar bills
nickel notes=$5 dollar bills
drag=a slow moving freight train
house dog=someone who cleans windows, beats carpets, does other housework

I used other slang in the story, but I explained it better.

The Scottsboro Trials were trials about an alleged gang rape of two white girls by nine black teenagers on the Southern Railroad freight run from Chattanooga to Memphis on March 25, 1931. This crime created more trials, convictions, and retrials than any other crime.

"Side by Side" was a song created in 1927 by Harry M. Woods and made popular by Kay Starr in 1953.

Again, if you have any ideas for future chapters, I would be happy to hear them; also, please give some feedback about this chapter but no flames please!