Just a Teaspoon of Sugarcoat
Inspired by the Sour Sweet Stories by Nico-Stone Rupan
“And this is your full welcome package. Of course we’re exceptionally happy to see you here at Everton University,” the far too peppy University Advisor said.
Sugarcoat pushed her glasses back up, looked at the material, and then at the University Advisor again.
“You’re trying to sell the whole college experience thing too much. Most students that are coming in will be forced to pay back a debt that they can never really pay back, and that is regardless if they graduate or not.”
The University Advisor shifted in her seat, trying to keep the far too sweet and friendly smile on her face, “Yes, well, what do you say we pick out some classes?”
Sugarcoat reached into her handbag, pulled out a small slip of paper, and showed it to her.
“My parents and I went over the class list already. These are the classes I’d like to take.”
“Ah, o… of course. Excuse me a moment.”
Sugarcoat watched as her advisor got up, walked out of the room, and headed toward what she assumed was her director’s office. It didn’t matter, not really. It’d been like this since she could remember. She’d be prepared, throw her new guidance counselor off, and then she’d have to speak directly to her guidance counselor’s higher up.
The last time that had happened she had to talk to Dean Cadence, and at least she was nice enough to help her set her priorities instead of merely sticking to the preformed plan her parents had given her. Her arms reactively hugged herself as she sat there. She needed to feel comfort, and right now she felt alone.
The calculating and logical Sugarcoat, needing attention, needing a friend, and she couldn’t have either, or at least not right now. She heard the door open, and then she smelled gingerbread cookies. Who walked in was a heavier set man, most likely in his late thirties, a pleasant smile on his face, and a plate of what smelled like fresh, and warm, gingerbread people. He looked at her, took a seat, and sat the plate between them.
“Morning!”
She raised an eyebrow at him, “Good morning, I assume that you’re here because the other advisor was uncertain.”
He laughed, a sound that actually sounded like it belonged to Christmas. It was pleasant, jolly, and soothing.
“Something like that. You’ll have to forgive Pho, she’s a sweetheart, but her parents named her a little too accurately. Now, before we begin I’m going to warn you. I’m not just your advisor, I’m also your connection to some of the best gingerbread cookies on campus. Go ahead, have one.”
She looked at him, and then at the cookies. She picked it up, sampling the edge of the cookie. It had a wonderful full bodied taste, the icing wasn’t over the top and sugary, and the cookie itself practically melted when she bit into it. Years of manners, of proper etiquette, and of course Principal Cinch’s own demand for perfection in everything demanded that she take her time, eat the cookie like a lady, and politely refuse another.
The part of her that wanted to make a connection, needing comfort, and wanting to feel accepted screamed that she devour the cookie like it was the last thing she’d ever eat again. And she settled between the two, eating the cookie in a mere four bites instead of one, and giving the advisor a brief, but thankful smile.
“Ah, much better, and please have another when you’re ready for one. I usually bring about two or three dozen of them up here every Monday. Now, Sugarcoat, Pho said that you’ve got your entire first year preplanned, is that right?”
Sugarcoat passed him the class list she, and her parents, had put together. He studied it for a moment, that gentle smile never wavering.
“I see you have the kind of parents that pay special attention to detail, and there’s nothing wrong with that,” he said as he began to work on his terminal, “But tell me, what is it that you want to do? What does Sugarcoat want?”
The question caught her off guard, “My father and mother want me prepared for business,” she began before he held up his hand.
“No, no, that’s not what I asked. Sugarcoat, you’re here on a Scholarship, a full ride one, and trust me you get that only if you’re in the top three percent of your graduating class, and then only if you manage to meet the criteria for it. You’ve earned a place here, and that’s saying quite a bit. Now, if you could be anything in the world, what would you want to be?”
She stopped, her thoughts going deep inside of herself, and then looked up at him, “A teacher. I think that I’d like to be an educator.”
His smile never wavered, he didn’t look disappointed, and at no time did he question her decision, instead his entire demeanor became even warmer, “Okay, so, let’s build your education around that.”
Ten Years Later
The faint smell of gingerbread cookies floated out of a homeroom class for Canterlot High. The teacher, a strict, but pleasant, woman stood in front of the board. She had asked to keep the original chalk boards in place, not because it was any easier, but rather she felt that they were more conducive toward a learning environment. The few people that knew her, including the new Assistant Principal, Sunset Shimmer, could barely believe she was the same person that had been part of the Friendship Games over ten years ago.
“Ma’am, Ah’m mighty powerful sorry ‘bout being late. My Pa and Ah jest moved here, and we’re a stayin’ with some of mah family out on their farm.”
She turned toward him, and what he saw was a very attractive woman, in her late twenties, she wasn’t overly thin, but rather she’d filled out nicely, her clothes were similar to the style of dress commonly expected at Crystal Prep, but none the less she looked warm and inviting.
“For today that shall be forgiven, now, take a seat… I believe your name is Rusty? Rustycoat Apple?”
The boy nodded, “Yes ma’am, Mah Pa, Braeburn Apple, he dun thought that it’d be a good idea ta move here. What since Aunt Applejack talked so nice ‘bout this place and everythin’.”
She grinned, “And it is a very nice place, and a decent school. Now, I expect you to be here earlier tomorrow,” and a glint of a harder edge came to her eyes, “And know that I keep tally on all of those who are consistently late. Consistent tartiness typically means lower scores, and that will not be tolerated,” her smile became warm again, “But today, we’re going to mark this down as a fluke. Have you had breakfast?”
He shook his head. She opened a drawer in her desk, and took out a small tin box. She opened it revealing a collection of gingerbread people, “Have one, and then we’ll get you set up with an account in the cafeteria.”
Rusty looked around to see other students silently eating on some gingerbread cookies, and like them he began to do the same. He looked back at the teacher who finished writing on the board, and looked at the words there.
“Nosce te ipsum,” he said, trying to sound out the words.
“Very close, and very good. Now, who knows what this is?”
A young girl raised her hand, “I do!”
“And your name is?”
The young girl grinned, “Flurryheart. My name is Flurryheart, Ms. Sugarcoat.”
“Very well, and Ms Heart, what is that, and what does it mean?”
Flurryheart beamed proudly as she stood next to her desk, “It’s Latin, and it means means, Know thyself.”
“Take a seat,” she said as she pointed back at the chalkboard, “Ms Heart is correct, this is Latin, and it does mean Know Thyself. Now, most teachers wouldn’t expect a group of eleven and twelve year olds to know exactly what it means to know who you are. Most wouldn’t, but I’m not most teachers. I had to learn very late what it means to know who you really are, and I do not intend to send you into the world unprepared,” she began to look a little strict, “So, the next year is going to be spent finding out what you are good at, and what you enjoy. This homeroom class is going to be more than a simple study hall. It is going to be a place of self reflection. When we are done here this school year, I can promise that you will be closer to knowing what it is you want to become.”
Flurryheart looked confused for a moment, “Ms. Sugarcoat, does that mean that we’re going to have homework from homeroom?”
Her smile brightened, “Oh yes, you’re going to have homework, and then some, but not all of it will be book work. Now, for your first assignment, I want all of you take out a sheet of paper, and I want you to do the following. Make two columns. The first column is for what your family expects of you, and the second, well the second is what you want for yourself. This is due tomorrow, and we will be passing it to each other. This exercise is going to help you build some much needed friendships.”
There was a loud groan, something she had expected, but all of the students began doing exactly what she asked. She took a seat, opened the drawer, and put the tin back. She looked at the pictures she had inside of it. There was Sour Sweet, Lemon Zest, Indigo Zapp, Sunny Flare, and herself along with Second and his cousin Third. The picture had been taken after their first semester at college, and even then she looked different than she had at Crystal Prep. She looked… Happier.
The second picture was of a very sweet older man. Below it was an obituary.
“June 29th, 2023,
Everton University mourns the loss of University Advising Director Santy Kringle. Mr. Kringle was known well among the students of Everton as a jolly, and personable man, that enjoyed helping students break out of their shells and having them examine what it was they truly wanted to do with their lives.
Kringle leaves behind a wife, daughter, and hosts of friends….”
She didn’t read anymore of the obituary, she didn’t need to. After all, she had been at the funeral, she had been at his bedside when he passed. Santy had been one of the most passionate men she’d had the pleasure of knowing, and he had been the driving force that made her complete her college career. He was never too busy to talk, never too ill to help her figure out what she wanted to do. And he had always greeted her with a warm gingerbread cookie, a smile, and the reassurance that she’d find herself.
She looked at the students there, before her, and she knew he’d been right. She did find herself. She found exactly what she was meant to do, how she was meant to help, and how she was forging her own destiny. Her parents had been disappointed that she didn’t want to be an accountant, like her father, and mother, but in the end they respected that she was at least in the educational field.
She heard a slight ding from her tablet, checked it, and saw that her lunch date today was still happening. Everyone was coming together to meet at Sugarcube Corner. She reaffirmed that she was going, and then she took one more look at her students. Before her she saw not just the random collection of children from various folks, but instead there was a group of invested, and interested, people that were taking the first steps in truly figuring out their individuality. With some luck, and a little guidance, they’d figure out where they were supposed to go.