Once Ryan was upstairs, the dining room was set for four. Ryan also got a chance to meet AJ’s older brother Big Macintosh. He was a large red furred pony who was very very quiet. So far the only word Ryan got to get him to say was “Eeeyup.”
Ryan took his place at the table and sure enough, he was seated next to Applejack.
He noticed her blushing a little when he sat next to her and he couldn’t help but blush a little too.
Granny smith and Big Macintosh walked in with a pot of stew and an apple pie; it gave a visible vapor of steam which smelt very delicious.
Ryan helped himself to a little bit of stew; it appeared to contain peas, corn, and potatoes. He had to admit, even though it was meatless (in the town where he came from, not putting beef in a stew was considered blasphemy), it was very delicious! The potatoes were well done and the corn and peas actually complemented each other. It was far better than the stew he was served at the army base where the cook always burnt the food and when it wasn’t burnt, it was served cold.
Ryan was the only one at the table using utensils and even then, they were his, standard issue ration utensils which every soldier had. Applebloom kept staring at the way Ryan ate his food.
“Applebloom what did I tell you about staring!” Applejack scolded to her sister.
Applebloom pouted and folded her ears back.
“I’m sorry Applejack, it’s just I ain’t never seen no human before.” She responded.
Ryan smiled at the little filly’s innocence. Granny Smith seemed to agree too.
“It’s true Applejack.” She said as she took a careful sip of her stew. “We ain’t seen a human in these parts since I was a teenaged filly.”
“Oh really?” Ryan asked with interest as he ate a small piece of potato.
Granny Smith nodded with a hum.
“Oh yes! When we first started selling our famous zap apple cider, we came across an interesting human,” she explained. “His name was J.D. Fuller I think.”
Ryan dropped his spoon at this statement. Granny Smith knew J.D. Fuller? The richest man in the USK? The man who founded the United Trading Corporation, the largest consumer goods corporation?
“You met United Trading Corporation owner and founder, J.D. Fuller?” Ryan asked with excitement.
This is incredible! He thought to himself.
Granny Smith nodded as she took a bite of potato.
“Darn tootin’!” she exclaimed. “But back then he was just a yerng eccentric entrepreneur. Had this crazy idea for an import/export and he loved our zap apple jam. So we sold a few jars to him and then he imported them to Karelia.”
“Nice!” Ryan replied as he wiped his hands with a napkin. Applebloom suddenly raised her hoof and began jumping with excitement.
“Have you ever been on a farm before?” she asked with excitement and curiosity.
Ryan put down his napkin and his face kinda sunk in for a bit. Remember his life on his uncle’s farm brought back memories. Some good; others bad.
“Why yes. I was raised on one actually.” He explained as he took a piece of bread and buttered it. “My parents died in a car accident when I was only a child and my uncle adopted me.”
Applejack and Applebloom lowered their ears and gave a very sad expression.
“Awe that’s horrible sugar cube,” AJ said with condolence in her voice.
“Yeah, our mama and papa died when I was a filly too.” Applebloom said as she tapped her hoof on the table rather slowly. “N’ I don’t even remember them much because I was so little.”
“Yep.” Big Mac replied in agreement. Even Granny Smith seemed as if she was upset by this story.
“Oh well my condolences.” Ryan replied very respectfully. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”
But Applejack returned with a smile and so did the rest of the family.
“Aw it’s no problem sugarcube. Continue your story.” She said with much enthusiasm.
Ryan smiled back and nodded.
“Well, my uncle took me in and I was raised on his farm,” Ryan said as he dipped his bread in the stew to moisten it and then took a bite. “Of course, his farm wasn’t as big as yours.”
“What kinda orchid did he grow?” Applebloom asked practically jumping up and down in her seat.
Ryan laughed at this question.
“Uh, my uncle didn’t have an orchid. He was a beef rancher.” He answered.
The entire Apple family tilted their heads with a questioning look on their muzzles.
“Uhhh… what’s beef?” Applebloom asked in confusion.
Ryan looked back kinda awkward. He wasn’t sure how to explain to the vegetarian ponies how cows were raised for their meat in the human world.
“Uhhh…well, cows.” He answered hoping it would just end there. But Granny Smith was the one who understood.
“Ohhh, that’s right!” she exclaimed “Ya humans are omnivorous!”
“What’s omnivorous?” Applebloom asked looking more confused than ever.
Applejack was the one to answer.
“It means they eat both meat and plants Applebloom.”
Applebloom suddenly became scared by this statement. She looked at Ryan nervously.
“You… don’t eat ponies don’t you?” she asked shaking in her horse shoes.
“Applebloom!” Applejack yelled at her.
But Ryan just laughed it off.
“Don’t worry Applebloom. Ponies, aren’t really popular foods.” He said with a smile. In all honesty, he liked this family! Ryan hadn’t had a good time well, since…that day.
Eventually the meal was finished and Granny Smith and Big Mac took the dishes away. Ryan helped AJ and Granny Smith with the dishes in spite of AJ’s response that he didn’t need to do such a thing (“it’s the least I can do”).
Once dinner was finished, the Apple family gathered in the living room and sat down with each other. Because ponies didn’t have any TV’s or computers, they had relied on each other’s company to keep each other entertained.
Applebloom was telling her family about some sort of complex plan she and her friends devised to get their cutie marks. As much as Ryan was happy to have such company, he was getting tired.
“Well, I’m gonna turn in for tonight.” He said as he yawned and stretched his arms over his head.
Granny Smith and AJ nodded in approval.
“Alrighty then, if yer still looking for a phone sugarcube, I’ll escort you to the mayor’s office tomorrow,” AJ said with a smile “I believe she has a phone in her back office.”
Ryan got up and nodded with the brightest smile.
“Thank you. Again, I am so grateful you have provided me with shelter in my time of need.” Ryan practically exclaimed with happiness. “I can never repay you.”
Applejack blushed again although this time she tried to hide it from her family.
“Aw shucks, it was nothing sugar cube.” She said covering her blushing cheeks with her hooves.
“Exactly!” Granny Smith added with compliment. “We Apples are the most loyal and honest ponies you’s ever gonna meet! We always help those in need.”
Ryan closed his eyes and smiled with a hum.
“Well goodnight!” he hummed happily as he turned around and headed for the basement door.
“Goodnight!” All the Apples said back as he opened the basement door and then closed it behind him.
Applejack couldn’t help but stare at him as he left. Hay, ever since she first laid eyes on him, she couldn’t take her eyes off him.
“Hey Applejack!” Applebloom suddenly awoke AJ from her hypnotic gaze.
“Huh what?” she said practically lost in confusion.
But Applebloom just smiled back.
“I was just about to finish ma story!”
Applejack nodded with a faux smile. “Oh, alrighty then, continue little sis.”
Ryan reached his crude bed and sat down on it. Pulling off his boots and hanging up his army jacket, he climbed into bed and just spent the next few minutes relaxing and staring at the ceiling. But for all the good that had came to him, something troubled him inside. It was Applejack again, there was just….something about her.
Ryan had difficulty grasping this, but it was pretty clear, he was sad that he was probably gonna leave this family in a few day. But he was too tired to think right now.
With a yawn, he pulled the covers over him and went to sleep, his tired head filled with thoughts of his uncle’s farm.
And Applejack.