I know what the other countries say about me… I know that I'm weak, I know that I'm gullible, and I'm pretty sure that none of the other countries sleep with a nightlight…except maybe Sealand… but I'm not stupid. I know that I act like a little kid a lot of the time, but I'm not that useless, not that incompetent. I know I let all the stronger, bigger countries throw me around like a rotten tomato. Romano says I need to stand up for myself more.

I've never told anyone this, but I do it for a reason. When Doitsu first agreed to become my friend, I was happy. And then Romano told me that I was so weak that Doitsu probably wouldn't want me around. I was really, really, really scared after that. I still am. I'm scared that one day, Doitsu will just leave me. So sometimes, I let mean Mr. England or Big Brother France or Mr. Bulgaria or even Fratello beat me up. And Doitsu always comes to save me. It makes me happy. I know he's going to stay with me and be my friend for another day.

Once, after World War Two, I asked him if we were still friends even though so many bad things happened, partially because of me. He got all red and flustered and he said something in German that I didn't understand. He wouldn't repeat it for me, but I know it mean that we were still friends. I knew he still wanted me around. I was really, really scared.

I still get scared sometimes. I'm scared that Doitsu will lock me out of his house at night and I'll have to sleep all alone. I still let some of the other countries beat me up. Just to make sure Doitsu still wants to save me.

I'm not that useless, but sometimes I pretend to be just so he'll stay by my side.