Dear Diary...
Hello, my name is Applepie Smith, and today was my 10th birthday. Ma always said that a filly's 10th birthday is special, so naturally, I was extremely excited. Not being the wealthiest ponies, I never expect much, if anything, for my birthday, but Banjo and Shoer always put on something a little special for me.
As always, this morning I woke up at sunrise, not a minute later. While I was still shaking the drowsiness from my head, I had yet to remember what a special day it was.
After I finally woke up enough to open my eyes my first thought was "Why do I always have to wake up ever so early?" And that's when I remembered.
I leaped out of my tent that I shared with Ma, skipping briskly over to the kitchen. I could already smell Ma making apple pies -my favorite- for breakfast!
As I walked over to the fire, Shoer and Banjo leaped up from behind the make-shift table and shouted "Happy birthday Applepie!"
I grinned at their welcome, and trotted over to the fire to give Ma and Pa a big hug. I was still smelling the delicious aromas of the baking apple pies, just waiting for me.
"Thank you so much for the breakfast," I said to Ma, "and thanks for the predictable welcome." I grinned as Shoer and Banjo laughed, knowing full well that I had been completely surprised.
"While the pies are baking, I think it might be time for Applepie to open her gifts, don't you think?" Pa asked, as he looked to me with happiness.
"Oh thank you so much I would absolutely love to!" I replied, and I must say I was quite eager.
Banjo and Shoer went first, they grabbed a small bundle off of the table and handed it to me with a flourish. Whatever was in the package was soft, and wrapped in an old seed bag so I wouldn't know what it was. I delicately untied the knot at the top, trying to hide my excitement. Once I had gotten the bag open, I reached in and pulled out a beautiful red bonnet, just like one I had seen in a market at a small town in Saddle Arabia. I knew that they must have pooled their money and bought it for me when I wasn't looking, and hid it until today.
"Oh thank you, thank you, thank you! I love it so much!" I said as I gave them each a quick, big hug.
"Well I guess you should try it on, don't you think?" Said Shoer as he moved behind me to put it on.
I handed the bonnet to him, and once had tied it on I looked in Ma's precious hoof-mirror. When I saw how I looked, I gasped, because the bonnet was so lovely and made me look older than a just a little filly. After I had admired the hat in Ma's mirror for some time, she came and took it from me, placing in my hoofs another parcel. This one was slightly heavy, and was more rectangular-shaped.
I tore open the package, this time too excited to be careful. I thought it could be... but no it couldn't possibly be... but evidently, it was. Ma and Pa had gotten me my very own journal in which to document all of my adventures.
I flipped the cover open, exposing the clean, white sheets of parchment, just waiting for me to dip my quill in ink and fill them with my thoughts. Tears gathered in my eyes as Ma, Pa, Shoer, and even Banjo wrapped me up in a big hug.
"We love you honey, I really hope you enjoy your gifts and have a great birthday." Pa whispered to me, but we were so close together, everyone could hear him.
As we broke away I was just imagining the possibilities, I could write anything in my diary and nopony would know. I could be completely private, but still be able to express all of my thoughts and feelings. I couldn't wait to get started.
"Alright everypony, the pies are ready! Let's eat!"
***********************
So now it's late, and even Pa has already gone to bed. I'm sitting out in the cold with my blanket, writing this entry by firelight. Ma sat with me for awhile, but she was too tired to stay awake much longer, so she went back to our tent, and is now snug in bed.
I know why she gave me this journal, it's because a few years ago she started to teach me how to read and write, because she thought that everypony should have those important skills. Blank paper and books cost money, money that we don't have. So whenever Ma would teach me new things, we would be forced to write with sticks in the dirt, or to read any small scraps of writing we could find. I always wanted a journal of my own, but I never thought my wish would come true. Apparently I was wrong.
Well that was everything that happened today, other than my usual chores and such. It's very late and I will need to wake up early again tomorrow morning, at sunrise to be exact. I should probably turn in.
Goodnight,
Applepie Smith