Chapter 2
Waiting is boring. Just a fact of life when you are expecting something, really. But for a young colt, such a wait felt like days of mindless tedium. Sure, both of my parents told me that it might be a long day, but there’s a long day and then there’s a LONG day. I moan and bump my forehead into the table again.
“I wish they would hurry up already. I’ve been waiting for hours…” I sighed and drew random circles against the tabletop. This was torture. Sheer torture. I couldn’t go outside without Mom or Dad there, and I couldn’t practice any magic without them either. And doing more chores than I had to do was completely out of the question. So here I was, staring at the door yet again, the soft sound of snow being shoveled by Uncle Stone being the only break in the agonizing boredom that plagued my mind.
“Trickle, for the love of…it’s been twenty minutes! The floor is still drying for Celestia’s sake!”
Has it really been so long since I had any interaction that I was hearing voices? Surely that meant it was too late for me. I will die here. Hungry. Cold. Bored. Maybe my parents would find me as a skeleton? Just hunched over this very table, having succumbed to the elements. I would leave a message, placed under my hoof, that they would open, teary eyed as they realized what a horrible thing they did to me. ‘Oh, dearest husband! If only we had arrived sooner! Maybe we could have spared our poor, wonderful son such an unfortunate and terrible fate!’ ‘Oh, how I know it, dearest wife! Our tardiness has claimed our son long before his time! If only we had known! If only we had KNOWN!’
“Don’ bother, Plum, y’know how colts’re around that age. All energy, no patience.”
“Well, DO something about it! I can’t very well get through to him like this!” She waved to her incorporeal form, an exasperated look on her face. “Come on, you old bag of bones, help me out here!”
A small chuckle answered her in reply as he walked over and gently bopped me on the head. “Snap out of it, colt. You keep lazing about like this an’ yer nana will never stop pestering me.”
“That’s not the reason he should stop, Granite!”
“It’s a good enough reason fer me.”
“Oh, just you wait until I get my body back in shape, I’ll teach you to-“
Grampa leaned down to me and lifted my head of the table. “As much fun as it is ta mess with yer nana, she is right. There’s plenty ta do ‘round here whilest ya wait. Might as well do ev’rything y’can while you still have the abilty ta enjoy it, right? There’ll be plenty of time to mope and moan once yer dead, might’n as well make the most outta life, right?”
I rolled my eyes, not the first time I had heard that speech, but regardless, he had a point. I suppose I could do SOMETHING to help around the place…
The shoveling stopped and a skeletal head poked his way inside, trying to let in as little cold as possible. “They’re back.”
Salvation! Forget cleaning, Mom and Dad are back! I dash past Uncle Stone as he quickly moved away from the door. I thought I heard Gramma complaining behind me, but it really didn’t matter right now! Goodbye, boredom! I raced through the snow, the very wind unable to keep up with my speed! Snow was no match for me! I caught sight of them as they crested the slope, my face erupting into the biggest grin! I waved as I saw them.
“Welcome b-“ It was at this moment that I remembered that trying to run full sprint in snow while simultaneously waving enthusiastically wasn’t mutually inclusive. That was very quickly apparent as I face plant directly into said snow, partially burying myself in the process. I hear both my parents and my other relatives laughing at me, my face and ears burning with embarrassment. I think I’ll just stay here and die now.
The laughter got closer as I feel a large hoof wrap around my barrel, lifting me out of the fresh powder, the snow clinging to my face and body turning my brown fur into white. Well, red and white actually if the burning sensation was any indication.
“We’re back, Trickle. You ok? You had quite an amazing dive there.”
“…I meant to do that.” I look up at my dad, his tired eyes sparkling at me as he laughed, his beard almost as white as I was from the snow. I sneezed and blew some of the powder from my nose onto him, making him laugh harder.
“Hop on, son, let’s get inside before it gets any colder, shall we?”
I nod as he puts me down, hopping onto his back with practiced ease. Once I am comfortable I rub my nose and smile at Mom. “How was your guys’ trip?”
Mom used a hoof to start brushing off all the snow I had accumulated. Turns out I was brown after all, who knew? Her burgundy coat coated as white as Dad’s was. “Well, it was an eventful trip, to say the least. But like your father said, why don’t we get inside first? It’s freezing out here!”
I shudder and realize that, yes, it is indeed rather cold out here. And I ran out without even grabbing my scarf, let alone my coat. “Yeah, let’s do that. That sounds like the plan we should do right now.” Both my parents shake their heads at me and quickly trot the last of the way home.
Once we were inside, I started shaking myself off again before a sharp cough grabbed my attention and I sheepishly smiled at my less than thrilled mother. She didn’t say a word, she didn’t need to, she simply pointed to the bathroom and I found myself marching. I grabbed a towel for myself and two for my parents (how thoughtful I am!) After drying off for a second time today, I ran back to the kitchen, only to find that they had already grabbed a couple that Grampa had apparently already had prepared for them. I just stared at the two on my back and sighed, walking back to hang them back up.
“I appreciate the thought, sweetie!” Mom called after me as put them away. Making my way back for the second time, I looked over at Grampa.
“Why didn’t you tell me you already had towels out for them?”
“I did.”
“What? When?”
“Durin’ yer little ‘episode’.”
My father looked concerned at that. “What do you mean ‘episode’?”
“Nothin’ ta worry about, lad. Nothin’ nefarious, just him leavin’ ta spend time in his own little world”
“Mind bringing me into the loop? Can’t hear anything, remember? Is everything al-“ My mom was quickly interrupted by Dad kissing her. I gagged slightly at the sight.
“Not to worry, Love, everything is fine. Just him day dreaming again.”
She sighed in relief. “Oh, good. Well!” She clapped her hooves together once. “What have you all been up to today? And where is Plum? I thought she was supposed to watch Trickle today?”
“Well, to answer the second question…” I point next to the door at the pile of bones. “Her body is there.” I pointed to the space directly behind Mom, where Granma was currently floating with her forelegs crossed in disappointment. “And she is currently behind you.”
Mom just chuckled and looked slightly embarrassed. “Yes, I should have guessed as much, she’s never not taken care of things, I should really just start assuming that she has things in hoof.”
Without missing a beat both Granma and I said, “Well, one of them anyway.” We looked at each other and started laughing far harder than was warranted, much to the confusion of Mom.
“O…kay then. What were you two up to then?”
“Well…” I walked over to the counter underneath the cabinets. “Mind giving me a boost, Dad?”
He passed a glance at Gramma who gave a reassuring wave. Dad gave a simple shrug before his horn flared and I started floating upwards. Not quite what I had in mind, but it accomplished the same goal. I threw the cabinets open and gestured up at the top shelf where the bread box was held. A moment later I floated up the rest of the way, grabbing the whole box instead of just pulling out the surprise. I wanted to see their reaction up close!
Once I had a solid grip, I felt Dad slowly lower me to the ground. I turned to them, puffed out my chest and slowly walked to the table, holding the simple breadbox as if it were the container containing the elements of harmony themselves!
Dad rolled his eyes at the theatrics, but Mom had an excited look on her face. Gramma looked really smug for some reason. I set the box on the table and gave my hooves a majestic flourish!
“Feast your eyes on something so amazing, so incredible, so…” My words failed me as my brain froze up, looking to Gramma for help. She chuckled and mouthed a word at me. I nodded and continued. “So MAGNANIMUS that it has never been seen by mortal eyes!”
Gramma leaned towards Dad and whispered, “Technically, he’s telling the truth.”
I flicked the door open and pulled out my magnum opus! Such stunning perfection! Such exquisite aromas! I could only imagine the depth and body of flavor…
“Looks pretty decent, son. Bet it doesn’t taste half bad either! Good job!”
I froze for a moment. His words slowly sinking in. ‘Pretty decent’? ‘Taste half bad’? My eyes began to well up tears.
“You…do you mean it?”
He walked over and grabbed a knife, cutting into the bread and removing a small slice. After taking a bite he passed it to Mom, who excitedly grabbed it before eating the rest of it in a single bite.
“Yeah, it’s pretty good. Get some more practice and you might be able to make one as good as your Grandma.”
Mom looked insulted at him. “’Pretty good’? ‘Pretty good?!’ This is AMAZING! Have you no taste buds?”
“You’ve never had Mom’s bread, Harvest. But for a first attempt, this is pretty good. Good job, son.”
I couldn’t believe it. Dad actually liked it? I mean, Mom likes just about everything I make, but Dad? He very rarely ever complimented anything. So the fact that liked it meant more than the most glowing praise from the princess herself! I couldn’t hold back the tears any longer as I ran and hugged him as tightly as I could.
Dad looked taken aback as he looked around the room. “Did I say something wrong?” Mom just smiled and shook her head while both Gramma and Grampa both face hoofed.
~~~
After my little, umm, moment, Mom and I were surprised by a veritable feast that was brought forth by the rest of the family. I had no idea that all this was being done!
Several types of pies were brought out. Potatoes had been baked in a fire pit out back. Uncle Stone had even made some of his roasted pecans! I was so confused as I had never heard him stop shoveling, but here they were. More and more items were brought in, each of my relatives offering Mom a happy birthday, to which Dad passed onto her. Almost everyone who entered had a body, save for Gramma and Aunty Daisy, who managed to completely lose her body, much to the disbelief of everyone. Once everyone had entered and had sat down at the table, Dad rose and quickly walked out, claiming that he had forgotten something important. After a short minute, the sound of rattling bones and jovial voices ringing out. Mom looked a little uncomfortable since she couldn’t hear anyone, but kept her smile easily regardless.
Dad returned with a single plate and placed it in front of Mom. Mom’s hooves shot up to her mouth, tears welling up immediately as the whole room fell silent. On her plate was a simple salad, topped with three raspberries with a light drizzle of olive oil covering the fresh leaves. My eyes widened, how did Dad manage to get such fresh vegetables and fruits in the middle of winter?
“Happy Birthday, love of my life.”
She threw her forelegs around him and kissed him deeply, tears pouring freely. Everyone couldn’t hold back a small chorus of “Awws” and even a whistle from Cousin Breeze. I simply gagged at the sight. Why couldn’t they be lovey dovey where I couldn’t see it? After a few seconds she pulled back, her face flushed in a mixture of joy and embarrassment. After thanking everyone for the wonderful surprise and having Dad say a quick and quiet prayer for those souls that either couldn’t find peace and joy as they had as well as a vow to help any unfortunate souls they could, Dad raised his glass. Everyone else also raised their cups silently, partaking in our nightly tradition.
“Life is precious and must be protected. Death is inevitable, but not the end. Love those that live and honor those that have passed.”
A chorus of affirmations followed and everyone immediately broke into separate conversations. Only the three living partook of the meal, even though plates had been set out for each individual member of the family. Any leftover food was either saved for later, or in the case of a large feast such as this, Dad would give it to the townsfolk the next day. I really wanted to go there someday soon, Dad always had so many interesting stories to tell.
After the meal was over, everypony mulled about and set about to clean up the place. The dead members of our family refused to let any of us help tonight, claiming that they wanted us to enjoy the warmth of life as long as possible, even going so far to shoo us out of the kitchen entirely and into the family room, pushing us onto the couch and swearing consequences if we so much as tried to get up before they were done cleaning up. So I found myself sitting in between both of my parents, warm and full. We each talked about our day and shared our plans for the next. I bolted upright when I heard Dad’s plan.
“You’re gonna teach me how to make a skeleton?!”
“Yep, I have no immediately pressing matters for the next week or so, so I figured now would be the best time to teach you some more nuanced parts of the family art.”
I’m sure that the smile on my face could be seen from Canterlot. Tomorrow can’t come quickly enough!