Independence Day always had a special place in Nick Riley's heart, having served his beloved country throughout her bloodiest war.  He felt pride surge through him as the "Battle Hymn of the Republic" was played.  Beside him stood Dan, who felt nothing in him that day; the United States held no special meaning for him.
     "C'mon, Dan," Nick urged, "at least try to have a good time!"
     "I just don't see the big fuss, Nick," Dan admitted.  He shrugged and walked away.  Nick watched him for a moment, trying to understand the boy's feelings.  Understand Dan? he smiled to himself, that'd take a miracle!
     "Enjoying yourself?"  That was Jo Bhaer's voice.
     Nick turned instantly and nodded with a warm smile. "It's a nice party," he said.
     "Every year since—" Jo shrugged, "oh, I don't even know since when.  Anyway, they've had this celebration for as long as I can remember."
     "Dan doesn't seem too thrilled."
     "Dan's never seen the good side of our country."
     "What a beautiful day for a party!" Bess Laurence sighed dreamily, rolling eyes in delight.
     Nan Harding licked her ice cream and shrugged.  "I guess so," she said, "but I don't really care about the party.  It's the food that I like!"
     "What about everything else?" Bess questioned.  "The quilt shows, the dances—" she hesitated "—the boys."
     "'Boys'!?" Nan sputtered.  "What do I care about boys?"
     "Oh, Nan," Bess said, "don't you understand?"
     "Nope."
     "Well. You will someday."
     Just then, Dan and Nat passed by and called to the girls. "Come see the horse race!"
     "Who's running?" Nan asked.
     "Mr. Laurie," Dan answered.  "C'mon, Bess, you gotta watch your father!"
     "I suppose," Bess groaned.
     They hurried off to the races and watched breathlessly as the gun was fired and the horses took off.  The neat line of ten horses broke into a dead run.  Their riders leaned forward and loosened the reins to get them to go faster.
     Bess sat in silence as the other three cheered and yelled.  You would think Nan is a boy, she said to herself, the way she acts.
     Laurie gritted his teeth and ignored the dust that was being kicked up into his eyes, only concentrating on going faster.  He passed one horse . . . then two . . . three . . . he was neck-and-neck with the leader.  "Come on, Charlie," he urged quietly, "faster, boy, faster."  He loosened the reins so much that they nearly dropped, and Charlie charged forward with a surge of energy.  The crowd roared as Laurie passed the finish line first.
     "Your father won, Bess," Dan told her.
     "What did he win?" Bess asked.
     "The horse race!"
     "I know that." Bess shook her head. "I mean, what is his prize?"
     "Oh, I don't know," Dan said, "probably a ribbon or something."
     Nat and Nan raced over to Laurie and congratulated him immediately.  "That was a great run, Mr. Laurie," Nat said.
     "Thanks, Nat," Laurie said, "but I think Charlie did all the work."  He leaned over and patted his horse's neck.  "Not bad for our first race, huh, Charlie?"
     "Your first?"  Nat's eyes widened.
     "I'll say 'not bad'," Nan said. "C'mon.  We'd better go before Dan and Bess get into some trouble."
     Nick watched Dan walk along the river, tossing rocks into it casually, seemingly deep in thought.  He wondered about the boy's past, what he had gone through in his young life. Too much, he decided, for someone so young.
     "Dan," Nick said.
     "Hey, Nick."  Dan turned and put his hands in his pockets.  "Is it time to go?"
     "Yeah."  Nick clasped Dan's shoulder and tilted his head, a concerned expression on his face.
     "What's wrong?"
     "Aw, nothing," Dan answered, "I'm just not into all this stuff that's all."
     "Sit down."  Nick sat first and Dan followed, curious.  "I'm gonna tell you something that might change your mind about this whole Independence Day thing . . . " 

  Ten Years Earlier

     A young Nick stood on the deck of the USS Cumberland that April of 1862, breathing in the fresh air and closing his eyes.
     His best friend, Robby Cook, stood beside him and smiled. "Sure is a nice day," he said.
     "Wonder if we'll ever see any action," Nick said.
     "I 'spect so," Robby said.  "The Cap'n says we will."
     And then they heard the lookout tell their captain something mysterious: "I see somethin' o'er there, Cap'n.  Can't tell what it is though."
     "Let me take a look."  The captain held up his telescope, then brought it down quickly.  He pointed to something far away.  "That thing that lies floating—that looks like some turtles back—it's that infernal rebel steamer.  They call her Merrimac."
     "The Merrimac?" Nick mouthed to Robby.
     "To your posts!" the captain shouted.
     Nick and Robby raced to their positions and listened as the Confederate captain told their leader: "Haul down your flying colors now.  Or I'll sink your Yankee boat."
     "We don't stand a chance," Robby whispered, "the 'Merrimac' is an ironclad."
     "It doesn't matter," Nick said, "we're on the right side, so even if we die, at least we died fightin' for what's just."
     "My men," the captain spoke, "are brave and loyal.  And before I'll strike my colors down . . . you make sink me in the sand."
     The Merrimac backed off for a ways, Nick held his breath in anticipation for what would come next.  The whistle screamed into the air as the Merrimac raced toward the Cumberland, striking her hard and killing many sailors.
     Another explosion shook the ship, and their beloved captain fell beside Nick and Robby.
     "Captain!" Robby gasped.
     "His arms!"  Nick couldn't tear his eyes from the sight of his captain, his arms were gone.
     Lieutenant Mason took over the Cumberland, and now he was faced with a horrible decision.  He turned to the crew and said calmly: "I'll never strike my colors down while the Cumberland rides the waves; I'd rather go down with her.  But you—my loyal comrades, you may seek your lives to save."
     There was a moment of silence, then Robby called out bravely: "We'll never leave you, Mason!"
     "We didn't join up to run away!" another yelled.
     "For the Union!" Nick shouted.
     Over and over again, the Merrimac hit the Cumberland, then she sank slowly.  Nick grabbed his bleeding arm and crawled to Robby's still form, clutching his friend.  "Robby!" he sobbed, "wake up!"
     "He's gone, Sailor!" another man said.  "C'mon, we gotta go!"
     Nick nodded and ran alongside the other sailor, leaping into the ocean as the Cumberland sank to the bottom of the sea . . .

Present

     "And then what happened?" Dan asked.
     "I was captured," Nick answered, "stayed in a Confederate prison for almost the entire war.  But that's not my point, Dan.  The point is, we live in such a great country, that men—no, boys like Robby were willing to give their lives for it."  He patted Dan's shoulder.  "Remember that."
     "I will, Nick."
     And then they went home.

THE END.