Two days later…
Twilight Sparkle, a researcher to her core, tended to go through lots of paper and quills. It was most fortunate that her position as both the Ponyville librarian and student to Princess Celestia entitled her to a very generous wage-slash-allowance. It meant that she didn’t have to do such mundane things as worry about credit and tabs for her finances. It also meant that certain stores in town found themselves sitting on very comfortable profit margins.
One such store was the rather unique retail outlet known as Quills and Sofas. Owned and operated by a handsome brown Earth stallion known as Davenport, or Dave for short, had discovered one of the more…interesting niches in the magical land of ponies. Apparently writing implements and pony-centric furnishings meshed remarkably well, for despite early ridicule his business flourished to the point where it was one of the best non-food related shops in town.
Twilight Sparkle, who was particularly fond of a particular ink that only could be bought at this one store, happily trotted there that early afternoon. As she entered the shop she paused to take a long inhalation through her shout. The pleasant (in her mind, at least) combination of leather and ink lightened her already bright mood. She headed straight for the shelves that held various bottles of ink in a myriad of colors when…
“That will be…eighteen bits please.” The raspy, youthful voice caused the lavender mare to stop in her tracks and snap her head towards where the cash register sat. She knew of only one young pony who spoke with that halting speech, but the fact that the voice came from behind the register as opposed to in front of it threw her off. She trotted to the source of the sound, and what she saw surprised her to say the least.
“Thank you…for your business. Please…come again!” There, having to make use of a small stool in order to reach comfortably over the counter was a familiar grey Earth colt with dark eyes and a dark mane. Attached to his chest was a small badge reading “Hello! My Name Is: Peppermill Apple”
“Peppermill?” exclaimed an astonished Twilight.
“Hello Twilight. How…may I help you?” asked the grey colt cheerfully.
“You’re…working here?”
“Of course…why wouldn’t I…be working here?”
“Well, for one thing you are a bit too…well, young to be at a job….”
“This isn’t…a permanent position Twilight. Mr. Davenport only…needs a bit of…extra help for the…next two days while…he does his monthly…inventory. By running the…register he can…do that without…risking losing a…potential sale.”
“Well, that is nice of you to help. But what do you know about quills? Or sofas for that matter? You are a cook, after all.” Twilight decided not to bring up the fact that she was absolutely certain that there had to be some sort of law against employing a pony as young as the youngest Apple in the first place.
“I’m not expected to…sell anything. I just…have to collect…the customer’s bits. As long as…I have this book…to go by…I’ll be fine.” Peppermill lifted a sizable tome onto the counter, whose title Twilight was able to read (upside-down) as “Sales Catalogue”. “Besides…if I do run into…any trouble Mr. Davenport said…I can call on him. So far everything has been…fine. “
“And believe me Miss Sparkle, I appreciate the effort.” This comment came from the brown Earth stallion with the collar and tie approaching the pair. “Inventory can be quite a trying time when you tend to be your one and only employee.”
“Davenport, are you really sure this is such a good idea? I mean, I know Peppermill is smart and responsible, but he is still just a colt…” In response, the stallion motioned for the mare to follow him. The unicorn obeyed, and left Peppermill to deal with another unicorn mare levitating a small cushion towards the cash desk.
“I can understand your concern Twilight. But as I am sure he explained I only need a bit of help for two days at the most. And that colt can be remarkably…persuasive. He mentioned something about needing money for a pan or some such thing…”
“A pan?”
“That’s what I understand. Besides, the duties I assigned him are as easy as it gets around here.”
“Excuse me?” Twilight and Davenport turned to find the unicorn mare that had passed by them moments earlier before them looking a bit agitated.
“How can I help you miss?” Davenport immediately went into selling mode, for which he was exceptionally good at.
“I just want to buy this one cushion, but the…um…cashier says I can’t.”
“Well, let’s see what we can do to help you miss.” Davenport led the mare to the cash desk while Twilight decided to keep one ear tuned to the situation, a look of concern on her face.
“Peppermill? Is everything ok?” asked the stallion, noticing a unhappy frown on the colt’s face.
“The customer is asking…to buy that cushion…separate from the sofa…it belongs to. There is no…sign of that…cushion in…the book, and you told me…if it isn’t in…the book I can’t sell it.” explained Peppermill.
“Yes, I know I told you that.” agreed the stallion. “But above all is the need to satisfy the customer. If madam wishes to purchase just the cushion, then we will see to it she gets what she wants.”
“Well, then what…good is having this?” exclaimed Peppermill indignantly. “You told me…as long as I…followed what was…in this book…I’d be fine. Now you are…telling me is is…useless?”
“It’s not useless. It’s just a guide. Sometimes you have to substitute or use your own judgement…”
“I hope…you aren’t trying to compare…selling sofas to…cooking. A meal with…a change to its ingredients…is a far cry from…a sofa with a…missing cushion.” Peppermill’s voice was getting more and more raspy, a sure sign of his growing ire.
“I guess retail and hospitality are a little like apples and oranges.” It was meant as a joke to lighten the mood on Davenport’s part. Unfortunately, the small giggle from both the customer and Twilight had the opposite effect on the cook. With a stony expression, the colt carefully removed his nametag and placed it on the counter. With as much dignity as he could push through the anger he spoke evenly to his apparent ex-employer.
“I’m sorry…Mr. Davenport but I think…I should try some other…way of earning bits than this. I…appreciate your…help. I don’t think…I worked long enough…to justify a paycheck. Good day ma’am.” And with that Peppermill stiffly went on his way, leaving the three adult ponies to look at each other with expressions of surprise and guilt.
“I...I didn’t mean to cause any trouble.” insisted the unicorn mare unhappily.
“No,” sighed Davenport. “I’m afraid this is my fault entirely. I guess I hadn’t counted on this particular situation to arise.”
“I’m sure Peppermill will be okay. He’s just…well, I think he’s just a little too focused on his goal right now.” explained Twilight. The stallion nodded as he approached the cash desk to ring up the purchase for the mare. In doing so, he removed a small hoofful of bits and offered them to Twilight.
“If you wouldn’t mind Miss Sparkle, I’d like you to make sure Peppermill gets this. He still did some excellent work for me, and I refuse to let him go off without a little bit of compensation.”
“I’ll see to it he gets it Davenport.” agreed Twilight, levitating the coins out of his hoof.
“I can’t help wondering about this pan he seems so keen on. It must be quite impressive for him to want one so badly.” remarked Davenport in a thoughtful voice.
“I’m beginning to think so too.”