//------------------------------// // California Farewell // Story: A Thanksgiving to Remember // by The Blue EM2 //------------------------------// The night of Thanksgiving was a beautiful one. Sweet Apple Acres was beautifully decorated, and everybody was dressed in their Sunday best. Babs and Apple Bloom were on door duty, whilst Applejack and Big Mac were busy shipping plates and food to the table. The family had decided to invite Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle and their families. That, naturally enough, meant Rainbow Dash as well. Sure enough, there was a knock at the door. “Ah’ll get it!” called Apple Bloom. On the other side of the door was Scootaloo and Cheerilee, dressed...somewhat less formally than the Apples. “Happy Thanksgiving!” the girl said. “Happy Thanksgiving to you too!” Scootaloo stepped in through the threshold of the door, and hung her coat up. She suddenly noticed how everybody else was dressed. “Did I miss something?” she asked. “The dress code only applies to the Apples,” Apple Bloom informed her. “Babs is wearin’ slacks, so yer fine.” Cheerilee suddenly looked relieved. “I’ve haven’t really had a chance to chat to her yet.” “Good evening!” said Grand Pear. “Where’s yer dad, Scootaloo?” “He’s still in Germany, and apparently won’t be back till Christmas.” “I’m sorry to hear that, but I send him my best.” Sweetie Belle and Rarity were the next to arrive, with Hondo Flanks and Cookie Crumbles shortly after. They were rather...overdressed, with Hondo in a ridiculous suit of grey, Cookie in a long dress, and Sweetie Belle and Rarity looking they had stepped straight out of the pages of Little Women. “Er...that’s a lotta finery,” was Bloom’s only reaction. “Only the best will do for this sort of thing, darling!” Rarity told her. “Only problem is I can’t see my feet,” Sweetie Belle cut in. “Is that a problem?” asked Hondo. “It is if I trip over something!” “I’m certain you won’t trip over something!” Cookie reassured her. The two kids shuffled into the living room, to see Babs dressed in her slacks and striped shirt from earlier. “I told you we didn’t need to wear these ridiculous things!” Sweetie Belle complained. Rarity just sighed. “At this rate, I’ll start calling you Repeaty Belle.” Sure enough, everybody was there and ready, enjoying the Apple’s (strictly non-fizzy) cider. “So, I here we have a New Yorker among us!” Hondo said. “I grew up there in the 1970s.” “It’s got a lot better since then, I can assure you!” Babs laughed. “Have they fixed the subway?” “They’ve got some new stock, but it needs some more investment as its seen better days.” “Do you understand any of this?” Cookie asked Cheerilee. “Yes,” Cheerilee answered. “I suspect Scootaloo gets her fascination with it from me.” “Soup’s up, y’all!” The families gathered around the dinner table, ready for the evening’s festivities. Upon taking their seats, Apple Mac stood at the front of the table, and placed his hands together. “Could y’all please take a moment to join me in prayer?” he asked. It was as he said. “Dear Lord,” he said, “Thank you for providin’ us with the bounty of your beautiful Earth. Please guide and strengthen us in the days ahead, and for the rest of our lives. Help us to remember and appreciate the brave sacrifice of those pioneers who held the First Thanksgiving all those centuries ago, and ensure that we never forget that which we hold most dear, our Families. Amen.” “Amen,” everybody echoed. The meal proceeded without incident, and afterwards they trooped off to the barn, for another American tradition; the barn dance! But the final proceeding of the day was a performance of the Crusaders, who had picked out a song just for the purpose. And who should be leading, but Babs Seed: 2 days later, the Apple family gathered at the railway station. “Well, this is goodbye,” said Bright Mac. Babs smiled. “Thanks for the visit, it was nice you letting me stay for a few days.” “No problem Sugarcube,” Applejack told her. “Remember, tell yer parents that they are welcome to come over too. And of course, yer always welcome here.” Apple Bloom had tears in her eyes. She ran over to Babs and hugged her. “Ah’m gonna miss ya!” she sobbed. “And so will Dinky!” “Hey, I’ll stay in touch, whether through Steam or through the landline,” Babs answered. “I’d never leave my favourite cousin in the lurch.” “She’s yer only cousin,” said Big Mac, visibly confused. Just then the train pulled in, and the family helped Babs load her baggage onboard. The whistle blew, and Babs went to the window, pulling it down. She waved as the train pulled out of the station. Apple Bloom stayed and watched, as the train vanished into the distance, until it was little more than a tiny dot on the horizon.