The things we do

by technicscratch

I don't need any surprises in my life

Disclaimer: I do not own my little pony friendship is magic or any of the pony's. They are the property of Hasbro

It was a typical day, wake up, go to work, come home, and write in my journal. Nothing really ever changed around here, but really that was part of the beauty of living here, "the slums" as most people would refer to it as was really an unseen gem in my own eyes. A strange satisfaction of knowing what life has in store for you, and not having to constantly strive for excellence. No, here everybody worked at a pace of mediocrity and nobody saw fit to need to push for anything else. I had ended up here shortly after getting my degree in human services, along with a few studies in the field of psychology. Don't be impressed... By the time I was ready to start work the bombs started dropping, and i fled here. Ever since I haven't been able to make enough money to get out, so I'm pretty much stuck. I take a small sip of the flat sprite that typically sits on the left hand corner of my desk and chuckle as I notice a small black ant greedily drowning in a tiny pool of the sugary beverage. I grab a paper towel and quickly wipe up the spilt drink, frowning as I notice a light phantom of the mess. A stain. I sigh, and go back to my writing, quickly realising that I had lost all interest in pumping out anything special in my journal today. There was always tomorrow anyway.... I decided to go for a walk, an exercise that I was all to familiar with.

The warm breeze hit my face as I walked out onto the cracked streets of Abbotsford. I look around, once again chuckling to myself. "Cue dog barking, and random police siren" I whisper to myself only to follow with a couple more chuckles. Its one of those neighbourhoods, you know what I'm talking about. The kind that a group of not so fortunate orphaned kids might find themselves after a tragedy takes their family. Except I'm no orphan, nor am I a child. I could take care of myself and rent was staggeringly cheap if you knew how to do it. Sure work was a drag, and getting myself up in the morning was like trying to swim to the surface for oxygen with a ton of cement around your feet, but I've managed to.... well... manage I suppose... By the time I had noticed I had started walking, I was already halfway across town. I raise my head slowly to see a couple of sketchy looking individuals duck into ally ways, like a vampire hiding from the sun. Luckily it wasn't these kind of individuals that you had to worry about, it's the ones that ignorantly refuse to avoid the sun. "What is up with me and comparisons today?" I mumble to myself, allowing my conciousness to slip back inside of my own thoughts.

I'm nearly all the way to work at this point, the cracked side walks have given way to gravel and the thick smell of burning rubber, and rotten.... something, forces its way into ones nostrils and makes itself cozen. I shudder, attempting to dispel the scent with minute twitches and focus. I hear the sound of an engine starting behind me, followed by a roar and screaming. I duck to the right, grabbing a small pipe, and holding it with two hands. Its not long before I notice who broke my stream of thought. Marcus, and his pack of goons...... Marcus was the closest thing to a "friend" I had out here. I mean, if you can call someone that steals your money, try's to beat you up on occasion and then shows up at your door because some gang wants him dead a friend... "What the hell Marcus! Don't sneak up on me like that." His truck roles slowly towards me before coming to a lazy stop. The first thing I look at are his eyes, their clear. Well, just about as clear as someone that's been shooting up and blazing it for 6 years can get. He was a heavier set guy. I wouldn't go as far as calling him fat, but he had some weight on him (and quite a bit of weight on me). He typically wore T-shirts and shorts, and he pretty much always carried a blade on him, be it a pocket knife or a sword. After all, law has almost but all left here.

"Come with us man! Were gonna go play some Xbox and smoke up!"

"You know I don't do that shit Marcus.." I look to the passenger seat to see another friend of mine Roger. Roger was a little more level headed then Marcus, although he is easily persuaded and has gotten into drugs because of it. "and besides, I gotta go check my work schedule." I yell, maintaining a strong stance the best I can.

"Screw work! Hey and screw you then!" Marcus Revs his engine angrily and peels out by me, nearly hitting me. I shake my head. Marcus also had anger problems, and paired with his "hobbies", he's been a stick of TNT for quiet some time now. I continue down the path when a small vibration in my hoodie pocket stops me. I pull out the phone, and realize who had texted me. Although I already knew who it was seeing as she's the only one that has my number. Natalie, my Girlfriend. Probably the most potent fuel to keep this living fire alive. She wanted to go out today..... I look down at myself, stained hoodie, ripped jeans, old sneakers..... I quickly type out "Need some time to make myself presentable." I look up to see that I was by Gladwin St. Work was only a 5 minuet run away, and then 15 minuets home. I think to myself, although by the time I had made my full decision I had already begun jogging down the gravel.

I was greeted by the same service I always am when I get to work, "why the hell are you back so early?" It was Denise, while a little vulgar on first glance, she was really a sweetheart on the inside.

"I just need to glance at my schedule sugar." I smile as the last word drips off my lips.

"Dont call me that David!"

"I know you love it!" I look back to see a small blush forming on her cheeks as I go deeper into the factory. To check recover the oh so sacred schedule book. "That which shalt determine when thou art free." I stifle a laugh, while also scolding myself for saying something that stupid. I find the book after the passing the third division on my right, my division. Its funny really, how much you can bond with a place that you hate so much. I guess that would explain family? Ahhh who cares! I grab the book and quickly flip through the various plastic sleeves, searching for my last name. "P, p, p, p, p........ Ah." I discover that I get next Wednesday and Thursday off, and give a little cheer. Its not ofter that one gets two consecutive days off in a row, let alone one day out of the week. Sure this place is a bit corrupted, but if nobody felt like facing off with the 12 gauge hanging ever so proudly at the service desk. Like I said earlier, kinda like family right? I chuckle some more, and receive a couple of odd glaces at my cheery attitude. Matt removes his welding goggles from around his head, to get a better look at me, dark circles under his eyes, but slightly above burned a strong fire. Matt was the kind of person that you should never say, or infer that something is impossible because he will find a way to do it. He was an overall great worker, and you never heard a peep or complaint from him.

"What d'ya have gold in your shoes or what?" He raises his eyebrows and sets his welding torch down.

"Code X Matt" I smile at him proudly "I got Wednesday and Thursday off".

"Again? What kind of lipstick do you put on?"

"Lipstick?"

"Yeah mate, to kiss the boss's ass!" He elbows his co worker and they all start laughing

"Ahhh, whatever man. Enjoy your shift guys!" I can faintly hear a rustling chuckle around me as the words drip out of my mouth

"Like that'll ever happen!" And just as fast as the uproar of laughter had begun it had subsided to the regular sound of machines and fire.

I jog past Gladwin, taking time to remember my encounter with my "friends" and continues north towards my apartment. I needed to shower, and get changed, probably pick up something for her. Flowers? No... to cliché..... "Woah!" I nearly trip over a small bundle of rags sitting on the sidewalk. I stop in my tracks starring down at it with wonder. It was moving, but just ever so slightly. The outline of whatever was in there seemed to be about the size of a small child, and yet, something so powerful drew me towards it. I shake my head and attempt to continue on my way, only to once again be halted by some invisible force. I try to push it out of my mind, and I eventually pull myself away from whatever it was. Its not common for children to live, or even be traveling around these parts, and I feared the worst. Although it did appear to be breathing... Was I seeing things? I continue on my journey home, now picking up the pace to a full fledged run.

I arrive home minuets later, tired and sweaty. I strip off my hoodie and quickly step into the bathroom before noticing my open journal. I go into the bathroom fully but peek my head out for a double take. I let out a sigh that could have blown a cup over, and sat down quickly scribbling some words into it.

I close the book and quickly hop into the shower, allowing the thoughts of the strange encounter with the pile of rags to seep deeper into my consciousness. "I hope I'm not too late Natalie..."