//------------------------------//
// The Stand-up 
// Story: A Cause to Die For 
// by Jonah Fun 
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It had been a relatively quiet morning in the pub. Agatha had kept to herself after the argument, much to Keckla’s surprise. What she didn’t know was that Purgley had a few stern words with her after she got back from the market. Keckla didn’t question the cook’s behaviour however, she had a job to do and a home to keep.

Meanwhile, in the corner of the pub, Twilight sat gloomily circling her empty mug and her hoof. She was going to meet up with her brother, but the dummy had done a no-show. It didn’t help that Shining Armour was captain of the royal guard either, that way he always seemed to have convenient excuses to avoid meeting her sister.

Keckla noticed the sad mare sitting on her own, feeling sorry for her. She trotted over to her boss and asked: 

“Hey, Mr Purgley, what do you think is up with her? She was happy enough when she came in...” 

Mr Purgley glanced at the depressed mare in the corner girl. He sighed.

“She’s been let down by someone she regards highly who said they were going to be here. She’s fiddling with that cup as an excuse to keep waiting for whoever it is even though she knows they probably won’t turn up.”

Keckla looked back, her mouth wide open. 

“How do you know that?” she asked. Mr Purgley chuckled.

“When you’ve worked in a public building as long as I have, you learn to know ponies.” Keckla turned back to the mare, and began to trot over to her.

“Stood up?” she asked, sitting down opposite her.

“Yeah. My brother.” Twilight grimly replied.	

“Oh.” Keckla froze, realizing she hadn’t planned this far. She stared at the mare, who was still twirling her hoof and the cup in a mesmerising fashion.

“How do you do that?” she asked suddenly, making Twilight look up for the first time.

“What, this?” Twilight had been spinning the cup and her hoof around sub-consciously until now, her mind elsewhere. However, now that the waitress mentioned it, she realized she had been doing it for at least an hour. She glanced at the clock. It had been just over 3 hours since she left the library. She turned back to the waitress, and then back to the cup.

“I dunno, I just...” Her horn and the cup lit, and the cup began spinning on its edge in circles. Twilight the put her hoof into the mix and it was just as it was before.

“Can I try?” Keckla chirped, making Twilight giggle.

“Of course!” she passed the cup to Keckla who began to spin the cup with her own horn, before carefully adding her hoof as well. Twilight watched, the boredom of the last few hours unnoticeable on her face. 

“Does your brother do this a lot?” Keckla asked, now used to the motion

“No not... well... not most of the time, but more recently he hasn’t shown up. In his letters he says things keep coming up. He has a very important job in Canterlot, see. Did you have a brother growing up?”

Keckla thought of Mika. 

“Sort of.... but we weren’t related. We didn’t talk much either. But I always treated him well. Now that I’ve left my old town I doubt I’ll ever see him again. We weren’t that close though, so no worries.” Twilight nodded and began to talk about how her brother affected her foalhood.

Meanwhile Mr Purgley had noticed Keckla slacking off and talking to the customer she’d asked about earlier. He’d probably have a word with her later about it. No-one was coming in right now, so he might as well let her make new friends. The two mares laughed at something the customer had said. The old pony shook his head and went back to cleaning empty pint glasses.

“You know, you’re still twirling your cup.” Keckla looked down. She was indeed still twirling her cup in the peculiar fashion that had drawn her to this pony in the first place. 

“Actually, I better get back to work before my boss notices me slacking off.  Bye – um, what’s your name?” 

“Haha, It’s Twilight. Twilight Sparkle.”

“I’m Keckla Newfound. Pleased to meet you.”

“Thanks for cheering me up Keckla. I’ll be sure to come again. See ya!” With that, Twilight got up and left while Keckla went back to work.

Mr Purgley had only heard the last part of the conversation, but that was all he needed to hear. Somehow, the young mare had convinced a customer who had just spent 3 boring hours waiting for someone to come back again. That took... something. Purgley wasn’t sure what, but either way, perhaps Keckla’s “slacking” could have a profitable outcome...