Lotus Eclipse paced back and forth in front of Donut Joe’s Donut Shop. Every few steps she would glance at the clock in town square, only to grow more anxious each time she did so. Joe had never been this late before, in fact he had never been late at all, and this was starting to make her worry about him.
She sat on the sidewalk facing the direction of the tall clock tower which stood a block away. Nervously, she started chewing on her hoofs, a practice she had picked up from her sister when they were both younger.
She had moved on to her other hoof when she finally spotted Donut Joe wearily trotting his way down the street. Her relief was almost instantly replaced with concern. Joe didn't look very good. His usual merry trot had been replaced with a slow heavy walk. His head sagged so far that it nearly touched the floor. As Joe got closer, Lotus also noticed he had bags under his eyes. His mane and tail were a mess as well.
Lotus began to move toward him. Once they were within talking distance she asked, “Is everything alright Joe?”
Donut Joe started. His eyelids shot wide open while he searched the street for the source of the voice. When his eyes rested upon the young dark blue pegasus walking toward him, Joe relaxed. “Oh it’s you. You really scared me there.” Joe picked up his hat off the ground in his magic and placed it back on his head. “How are you doing this morning Your Highne-” Joe shook his head, “I mean, Lotus.”
Lotus gave him a friendly smile before she answered, “I’m doing very well thank you for asking.” Then her face grew more concerned, “But you don’t look so well, is everything alright?”
Joe mustered up a weak smile. “Everything’s fine, just didn't get very much sleep last night.”
“Are you having nightmares again?”
“No, no. I was just up too late working… again.” Joe answered her before he continued past her to get to his shop. Lotus fell in step beside him.
“Cherry didn't show for work?” Lotus asked.
Joe gave a short nod and sighed. “This is the third night in a row. She hasn't been taking her job seriously anymore. If she even bothers to show up to work she hardly does anything. She daydreams in the kitchen when she’s supposed to be cooking, she disappears from the counter when there are customers waiting to order, and if her friends come in, she talks with them for hours on end instead of working. I've had to take on her jobs as well as my own and it’s wiping me out.”
By this time they had reached the front door of Donut Joe’s store. He reached into his saddlebags with his magic to grab the key only to end up dropping it on the ground a moment later. It fell with a loud clang which caused both the ponies to wince. Joe muttered under his breath as he reached out with his magic again, this time concentrating on the task. He placed the key in the tumbler and turned it to unlock the door. He held the door open for Lotus with one hoof while he placed the key back in his bags.
“That’s terrible.” Lotus replied. Returning to their earlier conversation. “Why is she acting this way?”
Joe shook his head. “I wish I knew.” He walked behind the counter, placing his bags on one of the stools as he did so.
“Could you not just hire somepony else?” Lotus asked.
“That’s the issue. I barely make enough bits as it is to pay her. I don’t have enough to offer another pony a job. I would either have to fire her or keep her. And we both know how well that went last time.”
Lotus nodded, she remembered. It had taken Joe nearly a week for his black eye to finally fade. Lotus hopped up on one of the stools at the counter. “You know Joe, my offer still stands.”
Joe stood in the open door of the freezer, a jar of raspberry filling in his telekinetic grasp, and sighed. “I know Lotus. You remind me every morning. I appreciate the offer, I really do, but it wouldn't feel right unless I earned those bits myself.”
Now it was her turn to sigh. “Right… you remind me of that every morning.”
They were both silent for a while, the only sound made was that of Joe going about his work. After a few minutes Donut Joe looked up from the bowl of dough he was kneading, “The usual?”
Lotus was snapped out of her thoughts when she heard the question. “Y-yes, please.”
Joe nodded before he continued with his work. “Well what about you?”
Lotus blinked a few times in confusion, “What about me?”
“How is your job? You don’t talk about it very often.”
Lotus rested her chin on her hoof and sighed. “That’s because I hate it. It’s so… boring.”
“Mhmm, being a princess.” Joe placed a plate holding three freshly baked maple donuts on the counter. “Must be the most boring job in the world.” He finished with a sly smile.
Lotus picked up a doughnut with her hoof. “Hey! It is! All I do is sit in meetings all day and then at night I sit by myself in the tower. You’re about the only friend I have, and you work all day.” Her expression turned solemn as she held the doughnut in her hoof. She stared at it, turning it over and over in her hoof.
Joe nodded as he placed the pan of fresh dough into the oven. “Wow, that sounds awful.”
Lotus nodded and sighed. “I would love to do what you do Joe. You must meet so many different ponies here every day. All I've ever known are those stuck up nobles that live in the castle, and all they want to talk about is how much money they have.”
Joe looked up from his work. He noticed Lotus’ depressed face and the way she pushed the empty plate around. He set the timer on the over before he walked up to counter and placed a comforting hoof on Lotus’ shoulder. She looked at him from the corner of her eye.
“I have an idea…” Joe said. He paused for a moment to make sure that he had her full attention before he continued. “You’re looking for something else to do right? Something more interesting?” Lotus nodded. “And I need some more help around the shop…” A smile slowly formed on her muzzle when she realized what he was hinting at.
“Y-you want me to…work here?” Excitement crept into her voice and shone in her eyes. “Really? What about Cherry?”
“I think it’s about time I let her go.” He smiled “And I would love to have you here. If you’re willing, of course. I would have to train you on doughnut making, how to wait tables and how to work the cash register but I think we could-” He was cut as a pair of dark blue forelegs wrapped around him.
“Oh, thank you so much Joe! You won’t regret it! I’ll be here first thing tomorrow morning to help.” She squealed as she skipped toward the exit. “Oh!” Lotus stopped in the doorway and galloped back to the counter. She reached under her wing and pulled out a small bag of bits before laying it out on the counter. “Thanks for the doughnuts. Bye!” With that she flew out the door and climbed through the air before banking toward the glittering castle in the distance.
Joe chuckled to himself as he watched her go. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” The oven timer chimed at that moment. Joe sighed before he turned back to the kitchen to begin his long work day.