//------------------------------//
// 7 - After-School Schooling 
// Story: Spring and Spanner 
// by CodenameOne 
//------------------------------//


Chapter Seven

After-School Schooling






Another day had come, the day's schooling already over, and Spring Blossom had quickly gone home. It was a cloudy day, but thankfully there hadn't been any rain yet. Spring hoped it would stay that way; she wanted to play outside later in the day.

She trotted into her home and called "dad, I'm home!" before shrugging off her saddlebags. She looked up at the wall to her right, still amazed that her dad had a window inside his house. There was no glass in the window, and all it did was open up on the living room, but it was still cool to her. "Dad?"

"In my room, Springy" she heard her dad say, and she headed for his room. He'd taken to calling her 'Springy', a rather cute nickname that Spring really liked. The door to her dad's room was open, so she just trotted in. Her dad was sitting in his chair, reading a book. "Hello, Spring, did you have a good day at school?"

"Yup! What are you reading?" Spring asked, and sat on the floor in front of Spanner.

"A history book. Here" he said, and gave it to Spring. The title was 'A History of the Lineage of the House of Alicorns', and it was rather thick. "It's a chronicle of Alicorns from the first two, all the way down to Princess Twilight. There's 1,500 years of history in that book, going back to when Celestia and Luna defeated Discord, to Nightmare Moon's rise, to the millennia that Celestia spent alone. I believe it goes all the way up to Princess Twilight's marriages."

Spring looked the book over. She knew all the Princesses names, but not all of them were Alicorns. "It doesn't mention Princess Sunset or Princess Fluttershy?" Spring asked.

"No, because they're not Alicorns. Well, the book does mention them, but only when necessary. You're welcome to read it, but it might be a bit much for you, with how long the book is" Spanner said.

"I like to read, but, I only really like story books. I didn't know there were ponies that liked to read real stories when they're not in school" Spring said.

"The term you were looking for was non-fiction, dear. Fiction means fabricated, made up, like Prancey Drew and The Hardy Bucks. Non-fiction is what I like to read. As you'll learn, truth is more interesting than fiction, and usually a lot stranger" Spanner said.

"Are all the books on your bookshelf non-fiction?" Spring asked, and Spanner nodded. She looked it over, from top to bottom, every shelf packed end to end.

"There's books in here that encompass everything. History, philosophy, literature, culture, a few on coins and economics, et cetera. You'll learn all about all the things in those books in school, I'm sure" Spanner said. "Speaking of, did you learn anything interesting today in school?"

Spring shook her head. "Nah. I paid attention and everything, but it was kinda boring" Spring said.

"I understand."

"I'm kinda hungry, though, can I have a snack?" she asked, and Spanner nodded. She trotted out to the kitchen, thinking about what she wanted. She was in the mood for a banana, so she trotted up to the fruit bowl on the counter. There was a little of everything in it; two apples, two banana, a bunch of grapes, a pear, etc. She heard Spanner open the fridge as she grabbed the bananas, and pulled them apart.

There was something crawling on her!! She screamed and dropped the bananas, and brushed at her hoof. A spider fell off, and scurried back to the bananas! She looked at Spanner, surprised and a little afraid. Spiders were so gross! "What happened?" Spanner asked, by her side in an instant.

"There was a spider on the banana!" she yelled, and Spanner picked the bananas up. The spider crawled slowly around the banana, and a shiver ran through Spring. Spanner gently set the bananas down on the counter, and the spider stopped moving.

"That's a Nephila, Spring. Or gold weaver, as some ponies call them. They're harmless, but they tend to spend a lot of time on bananas. A lot of insects make their homes on or near fruit and vegetables, so usually it's a good idea to inspect your food before you eat it" Spanner said. "Do you want a closer look? I promise it won't hurt you."

"No way! They're so gross and weird looking!" Spring said, keeping her eyes on the spider. It hadn't moved since her dad set the bananas on the counter, but she wasn't taking any chances.

"Are they? I happen to find gold weavers to be quite pretty. Beauty comes in many different forms, Spring. For example, you're very cute, while gold weavers have an array of golden-yellow spots all along their abdomen that creates a rather dazzling effect" Spanner explained.

Spring blushed at the off-hoof compliment, and looked at the spider again. She guessed it was kinda cool looking. "It can't hurt me?"

"That's right" Spanner said. "Gold weavers are harmless to ponies. They might bite if they're afraid, but their venom is harmless to ponies, and usually they'll run away if threatened."

Spring scoffed. "Why would a spider be afraid? They're the scary ones."

"Spring, you're hundreds of times bigger than it. A spider like the gold weaver has much to be afraid of."

"What about other spiders?"

Spanner seemed to think about it for a moment. "There are a lot of spider species out there that aren't afraid of ponies. In fact, there are many species that are very aggressive and dangerous, so if you don't know any better, then it's probably a good idea to keep your distance."

So she was right to be afraid of the gold weaver! Except, if it isn't harmless, then...should she have been so afraid? She guessed that if she saw a bug she didn't recognize, then it was OK to be afraid of it, but maybe she'd be OK if she didn't go near it. "How do you know so much, dad?"

Spanner just smiled. "Every day's a school day, even at my age. Since you don't want the spider around, I'll take it outside." Spanner picked up a towel and covered his hoof with it, and gently coaxed the spider onto his hoof. He pushed the backdoor open, and slowly tipped his hoof until the spider scurried off and into the grass, quickly disappearing from sight. "Many ponies are deeply terrified by bugs like spiders, centipedes, and bees, and will kill them without hesitation, but usually it's not necessary. Insects, like everything, are just looking for shelter and food most of the time. If I know an insect won't be a nuisance or a threat, then usually I leave them be and eventually they go on their way. Flying insects are what drive me insane."

Spring frowned, thinking. She hadn't wanted to kill the spider, but mostly because she hadn't wanted to touch it at all, especially since it had crawled on her! She just didn't want it around, but the spider probably hadn't understood what was happening. It had just been sitting on the bananas, and when Spring had suddenly picked the bananas up it had probably been scared and started running.

"I don't hate spiders" Spring said. "I just don't want them near me. Is that OK?"

Spanner laughed. "Yes, that's OK, dear heart. It's OK to not like something you still respect, but you'll understand that more when you're older" he said. "Now, still want a snack, or do you want to play a game together?"

"I still want a snack, but I think I'll have something else. Uhm, I also want to write a letter to Morning."

"Alright, pick what you want and then I'll let you write to your friend."

Spring quickly grabbed an apple and cantered to her room, keeping the door open. She set it on her desk and pulled out a quill and parchment, and got to writing.





Later in the day it was getting near dinner time, and Spring couldn't wait. She was so hungry! The apple she'd eaten earlier had kept her sated for most of the afternoon, but now that dinner was nearing food was all she could think of. She'd spent most of the afternoon just reading, though she thought that maybe her appetite had gotten so worked up over that game of catch she'd played with Spanner.

Her clock said it was just about 7:00pm, so she figured that dinner was almost done. She set down her book and trotted out in the hall, a faint sound of boiling water now audible. She entered the kitchen and Spanner was standing upright by the stove, pasta spoon in his hoof, looking to the side. "Is it almost done?" Spring asked.

He didn't respond.

Spring turned her head to the side and trotted up to Spanner. He was rooted in place, eyes wide, staring at...a pot? Spring looked at the pot, afraid there was some huge spider on it like earlier, but there was nothing there. "Dad?" she asked, and still there was no response, and he was beginning to scare her. With a quivering lip she again said "...dad?" and poked him, and he flinched. His eyes snapped to hers and after a brief second her dad's expression warmed, and he smiled.

"Springy! Sorry, I was just thinking about something. Come to check on dinner? It should be just about done" he said, and stirred the pot. Spring was confused and a little scared, but she was more hungry than anything. Over the past six weeks something like this had happened once or twice, but Spanner had always snapped out of it when she called his name before. She figured it was just some adult stuff, but it did make her a little nervous.

A few minutes later dinner was done, and despite herself Spring grinned. Spanner had made spaghetti, which Spring had long ago determined was one of her favorites, from living at Small Steps. It was always hot and moist, and Spanner always sprinkled on just the right amount of parmesan cheese. Spring was a little picky about sauce, though; sometimes she wanted it, sometimes she didn't. Tonight she went without it, but every bite was sure to be a delight. Her dad set the table, and they each took a seat across from each other. She had thought about asking him if he was alright, but he was acting like his usual self still, so she let it slide.

There was something on Spring's mind that she did want to ask, though. "Dad? Why did you adopt me?"

Spanner paused just as he was about to take a bite of his spaghetti. "I wondered if you might ask me this question. I suppose you're wondering why I picked you over all the other foals there at the orphanage?"

Spring nodded.

"I told you that first day that you weren't afraid, or shy. Each time I saw you, you looked right at me and smiled. Some of the other foals looked at me, some even waved, but... I think a lot of ponies are wary of me. I talk to very few in town, and I have few friends."

No friends? Spring found that very sad.

"When I fostered you for that weekend, I wasn't sure if I was up to being a dad. I didn't know if you'd get along with me, or if I'd get along with you. I was lonely, but I couldn't connect with any of the adults I knew, so I started going to the orphanage. You see, some ponies have trouble accepting other ponies for what they are, and try to convince them to be something they're not, and I find it so tiring. When that Friday came around, and we played all day, and I showed you my coin collection on the subsequent Saturday, I knew. You've never wanted me to be anything but what I already am, and that's so much more important than you realize. It's why I made that promise to you then. You are such a bright and cheery young filly, Spring Blossom. Don't ever let anything change that."

Spring felt like she was about to cry, but she managed to keep her tears at bay. She hopped down off her chair and gave her dad a hug, which he returned. "I'm glad you adopted me."

"I'm glad, too, Spring. More than you realize. I'm so very happy I have you in my life."

There was something else Spring felt she should say, but she found that she couldn't. It was three simple words, but she couldn't manage to get them out, and as the moment passed she began to think it would be awkward if she said them, so instead she decided to hold onto her dad just a little while longer.

And that was OK, too.