Ditzy flew along her mail route, going more by rote than anything else. One eye was on the path before her, the other turned to the side as she thought about what to get Raindrops for Hearth's Warming.
On the surface, it should be easy. On one hoof, Raindrops' love of rain, puddles, and romance novels were almost common knowledge among their friends. On the other hoof, such gifts would almost be too easy to get. Ditzy let out a nicker as she approached the front door of Quills and Sofas, the last stop on her route before lunch. She smiled as Davenport, the store owner, opened the front door at her approach. “Hi, Davenport.” She opened her saddlebags, pulled out several letters, and one package. She then extracted a clipboard. “Sign here, please.”
Davenport barely nodded to her as he signed his name at the bottom. “Thanks,” he mumbled, before looking back at the main showroom and frowning.
Both of Ditzy's eyes turned forward. She followed his gaze. Instead of the usual array of furniture placed at strategic spots along the showroom, most of it was empty, save for a long table set up near the back. Posts with ropes tied between them formed an easily-recognizable path for a line to snake its way through. “What's going on?”
Davenport looked back to her. “Oh, it's a book signing. Ripped Bodice's latest work, 'The Countess' Conquests', is coming out.” He turned and pointed out two freestanding shelves flanking the table. “Her agent got in touch with me about it. Normally I wouldn't do something like this, but Tinny thought it'd be a good little bit of publicity, get Quills and Sofas' name out a bit more.” He smiled slightly. “Ah, that stallion can talk me into anything.”
Ditzy stared at the table and shelves. Her eyes crossed as she thought, dredging up half-remembered conversations and snippets that she had overheard. Raindrops is working overtime tonight with weather duty, if I remember correctly. She won't be home until late. And she'll be bone-tired, too.
She slowly turned her head, glancing out at the street from the corners of her eyes. Ponies had already begun to gather around the Quills and Sofas' storefront, despite it not being open for another hour. Several of them had books tucked into saddlebags, but all had some form of writing implement clearly visible on their body. “Davenport, how much would one of those books cost? And can I buy one now, please? I think I've got the perfect idea for a Hearth's Warming present for a friend.”
A slow smile crept over Davenport's muzzle. “Hardcovers are twenty bits, paperbacks are nine.” He stepped aside and let Ditzy inside the store proper. “One of the first things I do when coming down is setting up the till.” he trotted across the showroom to a cash register on a counter near the back.
Ditzy, meanwhile, floated over to one of the bookshelves. She pulled out a purse and opened it up. “Thank you for the early Hearth's Warming bonus, Silver Script!” she crooned out as she pulled out a twenty-bit coin. “And thank me for getting all the rest of my shopping done already, Hearth's Warming or otherwise.” She grabbed a hardcover off the shelf with her primaries and walked over to the register. She placed it on the counter. “Thank you so much for this, Davenport.” Her brow furrowed in thought. “Wait, how long does the signing go on for?”
Davenport deftly pressed the buttons on the register. It chimed and the drawer opened with a clang. “Well, technically five o'clock, but Ripped Bodice insisted that anypony in line at five get an autograph, no matter how long it is. She's very appreciative of her fans, you see.” He tilted his head back and forth. “She's a pretty nice mare, overall. Do you want a bag?”
Both of Ditzy's eyes wobbled as she went over her schedule for the rest of the day. “Oh, oh yes! Silver Script said I could knock off early when the post-route checklist is done. Maybe a few more things, let Dinky know what's going on, but I should be able to make it here in plenty of time.” She looked at Davenport as he stood there. “Oh, and yes. I'd like a bag, please.”
Davenport chuckled as he slid the book into a bag. “Lyra told us about the gift exchange you six were doing tomorrow. Sounds like a fun idea, if a bit short-notice.”
A sigh escaped Ditzy. “Yeah, I know. Spur of the moment and all that, I guess. What's your family doing? Any traditions or anything like that?”
There was a pause before Davenport spoke. “Oh, yes. We like to open one Hearth's Warming present the night before. Sort of a warm-up to the main event the next morning. Lyra gets so giddy, I swear. Skyla's in town, too. She's visiting Curry and Honeydew today. I think she's even more excited than Lyra, if that's possible.” He looked up at Ditzy and smiled. “Anything else, Ditzy?”
Ditzy glanced up at the ceiling with one eye, the other locked firmly onto Davenport. “All set for now, Davenport. See you later! And Happy Hearth's Warming!” And with that, she flew out and back to her route.
*****
Silver Script slid one more manila folder into a filing cabinet. “And with that, we're done.” He turned and looked to Ditzy, standing near his office door. He chuckled and waved a hoof at her. “All right, all right! We're all done, Ditzy. Get going, and Happy Hearth's Warming.”
Ditzy flew over and wrapped her forelegs around his neck in a hug. Thanks, Silver Script! Happy Hearth's Warming to you, too!” With that, she let go, turned, and sped off, sending up a breeze as she flew up a set of stairs near the back of the building to the second floor and the apartment she and her darling daughter Dinky lived in. She opened the door. “Dinky?” she called out, both eyes going all about.
Dinky walked out of the kitchen. “Hi, Mama!” She trotted over. “Is work all done?”
Ditzy dropped to the floor and wrapped a wing around Dinky. “Yes, but I have an errand to run. I'm not sure how long I'll be.”
Dinky leaned into the hug. “That's fine, Mama. I'll be here.” She glanced to the side and pointed at the book sticking out of Ditzy's saddlebag. “Is that part of it?” Her eyes narrowed slightly. “'The Countess' Conquests'.” She turned back to Ditzy. “Is it for Raindrops?”
Ditzy let out the most imperceptible of sighs. She's growing up too fast. “Yes, muffin. I'll–”
“Explain when I'm older?” Dinky said, looking up at Ditzy and smiling ever so slightly.
Ditzy nickered. “Yes, Dinky. I shouldn’t be long, but don’t stay up too late if I am long. I love you.” She gave Dinky another hug before turning and flying out of their apartment. She left the post office proper. Within minutes she was on Mane Street, making a beeline for Quills and Sofas. She glanced up at the clock tower above City Hall. Only Three-thirty. Plenty of time, for once!
She looked ahead, spotting a small line snaking out of Quills and Sofas' front door. She touched down behind Rarity. “Hi!” Ditzy said.
Rarity turned, smiling. “Darling, hello!” She leaned forward. “Are you here for the book signing? I didn't know you read Ripped Bodice's work!”
Ditzy shook her head. “It's a gift for Raindrops.” She pulled the book out of her saddlebag. “My friends and I are doing a gift exchange this year.”
Rarity grinned. “Trust me on this, darling. She is going to love it!”
The line slowly but steadily moved along. Several others took their place behind Ditzy. Inside, she spotted a violet-coated unicorn sitting at the table, with the cutie mark of a typewriter. She nodded, said a few words to the pony standing in front of her, signed a book, then repeated the process. Each meeting took only a minute or two.
Very quickly, Ditzy stood in front of Ripped Bodice. She looked up at Ditzy, smiling warmly. “Hello, darling.” Her horn glowed as she gently took the book from Ditzy's wing. “Who shall I make it out to?”
Ditzy blinked. “Oh, my name's Ditzy, but this isn't for me. It's a Hearth's Warming gift for a friend. Not that you needed to know that...” She blushed. “Sorry, Miss Bodice.”
Ripped Bodice chuckled and waved her off. “Not a problem at all, Ditzy! This is wonderfully thoughtful of you.”
Ditzy let out a breath. “Thank you. And it's for my friend Raindrops.”
Ripped Bodice's brow furrowed. “Raindrops? Pegasus? Three raindrops for a cutie mark?”
Ditzy's ears folded against her skull. “... Yes?”
Ripped Bodice grinned. “She's the president of my fan club in this province. An absolutely wonderful mare, that Raindrops.” She opened the book and wrote, the pen traveling down almost the entire length of the inside cover. She then floated it back to Ditzy. “Please give this to her with my thanks, Ditzy.”
Ditzy took the book back with her wing and slid it back into her saddlebag. She waved a good bye to Ripped Bodice before literally skipping out of the store, head held high and mission accomplished.