//------------------------------//
// Crossing Paths 
// Story: Summers of Change 
// by Silver Letter 
//------------------------------//

	There was a lovely party held in Pixel Wavelength’s honor. With so many friends and family, there were no shortages of pats on the back, hoof shakes or friendly smiles. There were all there to celebrate her acceptance of the 100,000 bit scholarship from Spark Industries. Pixel decided already that she wanted to go to Manehattan where the university there was highly lauded by the company which headquartered at the city. 

With everypony assembled in the backyard, two long folding tables were put end to end to seat them all. Her father decided to read the acceptance letter and then a short speech after. Pixel was a bit overwhelmed by it all but it was normal for her family to celebrate big when they found something to celebrate over. They even bought a cake with a picture of her on it of course. It was when she was small with smears of dark grease on her face like the mechanic she could have been if things had turned out differently. It was all worth just seeing his happy face. He didn’t look like a weighted and troubled stallion but he was the stallion he used to be. It was a most unexpected but favorite guest. 

A couple of her old teachers were there; they were kind friends that taught her math and science. A few pals from the school clubs came too. There were no hard feelings from those that also wanted that scholarship. Even Potato Mash, who she had befriended some years ago, had come to her in private and had given her his personal congratulations for finally escaping the quicksand like grip the town had on ponies. Last but not least, her best friends were there the entire time. They rehashed and spoke of old times while gazing at the sunset. Pixel even tried to take a photo of it but realized that she had run out of film. One hundred photos already taken on close ups with her guests and family, and of herself with the certificate, wireless device, and the cake of course. 

She excused herself from her friends which lazed on lawn chairs and went inside the house where her mother was in the kitchen. 

“What are you doing inside?” she asked as Pixel closed the door. “Where are your friends?” 

“I ran out of film so I came to get some more.” 

“That’s good. Got to save those memories.” She then pulled a glass bottle from one of the lower cupboards where she was crouching down. It was a bottle of Pink Quartz Champagne from the Horseshoe Bay. It was pretty expensive as far as those things went. 

Pixel was surprised to see her pull it out but did laugh. “Mom? I thought you were saving that for your fiftieth anniversary?” 

Her mother looked at it as if it was as full of memories as carbonation. “I know, dear. But all things considered, we can always get another bottle. We want to celebrate something as unprecedented as this and your father and aunt remembered that we had this lying around.” 

“Okay. Save me a glass,” Pixel said half-jokingly. Her mother merely nodded and Pixel headed upstairs to search for some film in her room. It had more boxes now than furniture as she was so excited already for her imminent move. She went and sorted through her effects in her dresser but found none. She did find the personal letter she received from Ferris. She knew that the hoof writing inside wasn’t from a secretary. She could still smell something like wood polish as if he had put the paper down on a newly cleaned desk and the faint trace of smoke. He told her inside that he well awaited what she would do with that 100,000 bits and more than that, to develop a new version of her operating system and maybe even come up with a name for it. 

Not finding any film, she sighed. She considered all the places a spare roll might be and ended up considering her parent’s room. Their short bureau was a good place to start looking. She brushed aside some items on top until she found a roll of film but at the end of the bureau, she saw an open letter. It was addressed to her dad which was strange; he seldom got mail. Her natural curiosity took over and she skimmed it. But soon, her very heart sank. The letter was a notice of termination. Her dad, a stallion that gave over 20 years of his life to the company, was let go like a child would with a stray animal. She didn’t know what to do. Her dad obviously wouldn’t wish to speak of it. He was a prideful stallion, one not relying on emotion too often. But her family didn’t reject his faults. They would be there for him even if he only wished to surround himself with the better memories of the last twenty years. Because after all that time, there was nothing left for him but family. She would be there too. She put the letter down and blinked her eyes until they were once again dry. Then she recomposed herself and went out again and laughed and enjoyed herself until the early morning.