Scampi: You know what that is?

 

Peter: What?

 

Scampi: It’s Orion’s belt.

 

Peter: Yes. I did know that.

 

Scampi: I bet you haven’t seen the stars this clear in a million years.

 

Peter: Well,

 

Scampi: Oh, don’t start tabulating. I’m just saying it’s pretty.

 

Peter: Yes.

 

Scampi: Have you ever heard of St. Patrick’s Battalion?

 

Peter: I have not.

 

Scampi: A bunch of them were Irish defectors from the U.S. Army.

 

Peter: When?

 

Scampi: A hundred and fifty years ago. There were African-American slaves, and Germans and other Roman Catholic types, too. They fought for Mexico in the Mexican-American War. Yup. They were all granted Mexican citizenship, too.

 

Peter: Mm.

 

Scampi: Their flag was ultra-Irish. Green and gold with “Erin Go Bragh” on it.

 

Peter: Meaning?

 

Scampi: “Ireland forever.” You knew that.

 

Peter: Slightly.

 

Scampi: Americans said they were traitors. But the Mexicans said they were heroes.

 

Peter: That tends to be the way of things.

 

SCAMPI HUMS A SONG ABOUT HEROES.

 

Peter: Why are we doing this again?

 

Scampi: Because we can.