//------------------------------// // Return Of the Prodigal Daughter // Story: The Pink Haired Woman // by Seran //------------------------------// “Wow. Dewford,” said a clean shaven man driving a top-of-the-line sedan. “It’s been years since I came to visit,” he continued talking to the woman in the passenger seat. “How’s Joshua doing? Is he still the rebel of the house?” The woman continued to look out the window as they turned off the highway and entered the mountain road with a sign labeled ‘Dewford: 12 miles’. She stared out the window with hope shining in her eyes. “Andrea,” the man pushed her to get her attention. “Are you listening?” “Sorry, Will,” Andrea shook from her trance and smiled at him. “I was just thinking of someone,” A childish smile grew on her face. “Someone I’m hoping to see when I get back.” Will got a large grin on his face. “Oh really? Is it Boogerface Mc’gee or Turnbuckle Stan?” Will said in jest. Andrea wasn’t too pleased with it. “Will… Ew…” After a chuckle from Will, Andrea got the courage to tell him. “His name is John. He moved in just about three years ago.” “John, eh?” Will was curious about her choice. “What’s he like?” “He came from California as a retired police officer. You should meet him. He makes the best Mexican food. But I guess that’s because he is Mexican.” “Mexican?” He responded, “Joshua wouldn’t like that very much. What does he do?” “He mostly works in the farm as the supervisor for the field workers. But I heard he helps around town whenever he can. He has a sweetheart and is always willing to help our family.” “He seems like a nice guy. Are you sure he hasn’t met anyone yet?” Will responded, tormenting her hopes. Andrea pouted crossing her arms, “I hope he left himself open for me. I told him I would be waiting for him.” She remained quiet for the following minute, thinking of what to tell him if he had someone else in his life. Suddenly she got an idea. “Will,” she called to her eldest brother “Yeah?” “Mind if we make a detour before going home?” “Sure, where to?” _________________________________________ The room was filled with discomfort. John stood in the kitchen preparing the cream of wheat as slowly as he could. He couldn’t stop thinking about last night. As he stirred the pot he couldn’t help but think, ‘How drunk was I? I haven’t kissed anyone since Lucia. And her, why does she attract me so much?’ His hand stopped moving as his eyes slid closed. He let out a sigh, thinking of things that could be. He remembered her smiling face appearing every time he was down. Her consoling words that brought him out of his sorrows always made him smile. He continued to think how Fluttershy was a lot like her. “I can’t get attached to her. She is leaving next month.” He said aloud. His nose alerted him to the smell of burning milk. With haste, he turned off the flame and removed the pot from the stove. He cursed himself out loud for his carelessness. Fluttershy heard the commotion in the kitchen, however she did not respond as her mind was drifting, wondering why John had spent the whole morning avoiding her. The bags under his eyes made it seem he had not slept well since the incident from last night. The fact that it was almost noon didn’t help. Her mind sped as she recalled what had occurred that night. “John had a bad life,” she told herself softly, “he has a lot to deal with his brother coming here. And that kiss…” She stopped as she saw him exit the kitchen holding two large plates, each with cream of wheat and two orange halves. John set Fluttershy’s food on the table as he continued on into the living room. Fluttershy stared at him as he set his food down and turned on the television. The focused glare on his face was enough to show how bothered by the situation he is. She sat looking at her plate, not knowing what to expect. She couldn’t look at John the same way after last night. She knew killing was bad in Equestria and the punishment was drastic. However this was a strange new world for her and she was unaware if killing was seen the same here as it is back home. She would need to stay on her toes. As she ate her breakfast, she smelled the burned wheat. It was good, but she couldn’t help but think John was being clumsy this morning. ‘Perhaps he stopped caring.’ A knock came from the front door. John slowly moved to check who it was as he reached for the bat beside the door. ________________________________ “So this is the place?” Will surveyed the area. He paid extremely close attention to the car. The beat up Honda Civic with paint marks on the door raised his suspicion. “I guess he isn’t very clean.” “Oh shut up, he just has trouble with the neighborhood kids.” Andrea protested. “But I’m sure he still likes me more than anyone else in town. I’ve always treated him like a person rather than just a neighbor.” The door opened a crack as the nose of a Hispanic male appeared from behind the door. “Who is it?” he asked. “It’s Andrea.” Andrea answered with a smile. “And the other one?” John continued interrogating. “Uh, I’m William Evans, her brother.” Will was confused from the first impression. John looked at them for a few seconds before opening the door. “Come on in.” John said as he placed the bat down. Andrea walked in as a smile was wiped from her face as she saw an image that disgusted her. Across the room she could see a woman with hair as pink as a swollen thumb eating at the dinner table. Andrea could not comprehend why this strange woman was here in pajamas. “Don’t mind the mess, I don’t get many visitors.” John said out of habit. Will looked around and the only mess was that of the food on the coffee table. “I don’t… mind.” His confusion continued. “Have a seat on the couch,” John offered as he continued on to his seat. Andrea continued to glare at the stranger at the kitchen table as she sat down. “So,” Will started as he looked over to the kitchen, “Who’s the girl?” He looked over to his sister who had her head twisted towards the dining room. John eased out of his mood as he felt shame that he was ignoring Fluttershy. "This is Flu..." He stopped himself, "Mary, an old friend from California." John was still not good at telling that lie yet. Andrea looked back at John, reading the shame on his face. "Why is she here?" She asked abruptly. Will turned sharply with a look of disapproval. John remained silent as he tried to remember their lie. The pair looked at him with anticipation, slowly growing suspicious of his intent. Suddenly he broke out with the first thing he could think of. "She's visiting for a month. She came to me for help with..." His head hurt from the drinking last night and lack of sleep. "With some thugs back home." As he looked at their faces hoping to get a positive reaction from them. "So," Andrea spoke first, "is she some sort of prostitute?" "'Drea!" Will was enraged by the comment. "What? I've never seen anyone with pink hair like that before, so i just thought..." Andrea tried a defend herself. John was silent as he heard Andrea's words. “If you only knew,” he whispered to himself. He sat filling with rage as that one word buzzed through his head. Will noticed. "Calm down, she didn't mean it," he said with great worry. "She didn't mean it" "That is her natural hair color," John protested, “she was born that way and had always been teased for it. She became very defensive about it, enough that she is afraid of rejection." John sat still hoping his tall tale was believable. Andrea stood up and looked John in the face with her hand rustling through her golden brown hair. "Sorry, Johnny," she apologized with a seemingly mocking tone that only Will noticed, "I should know better than to talk before hearing the whole story." Will rolled his eyes. John sighed as he looked at Fluttershy. She had been listening to the conversation between tasting the burnt cream of wheat. Worried about her reputation, John felt the need for her to talk. He silently headed over to the table and stood beside her. She looked back at him weary of what to expect. John felt an awkward breeze come from her as he tried to talk. "Listen, Flu... Mary, we have some new visitors. Why don't you..." A knock came from the door. "Ah, who could it be now?" John said angrily. _______ "Okay Mickey," said an off-duty officer Bridges at the door of the Alvarez residence, "you can do this. Just ask her out, you've done in high school, you can do it now." The door swung open to the sight of an irate Mexican who calmed down as he stood by the door. "Oh, officer... Mitch?" John said as he tried to remember his name. "It's Michael." He replied with little confidence. "What can I do for you?" "Well... I, um," Mike tried to bring his words together. His mind was filled with unpleasant memories of dealing with fathers. John tried to guess why he was here, he had a good idea. "You're here for Mary aren't you." John said in a flat tone of displeasure. Mike twitched at the comment. He didn't expect to be so obvious. Then again, he was cleanly dressed with a button-up shirt and khakis. His hair was well groomed and he stank of cologne. Honestly, John could see the shameful face of a teenage boy desperate for a date. With a heavy sigh he stepped out and closed the door. "Mike, look." John started softly. "I can tell you have a thing for Mary, everyone can see it. But remember what I said before. She is not from here and unfortunately she is not going to stay. She has a month left here before she is taken back. Why would you want her if she only has a month to be with you?" John's chest hurt as he said this. "I thought I... I would get a chance of happiness with her here." Mike shook at the thought of never seeing her again. "Why does she have to leave?" he asked out of curiosity. "Maybe i can convince her to stay." John stared off into the distance, 'if it were that easy.' He thought to himself as he opened the door. "Go home. Forget about asking her out. It will be easier on you." Mike watched as he closed the door his heart shattered from John's harsh words. As he stepped away from the door, he began to wonder if John was hiding something from them.  John entered the house with a grim look in his face. As he shut the door, he was surprised to see Andrea having a chat with Fluttershy. They were both smiling and laughing about something. The sight raised his spirits as he asked what was going on. "Andrea was telling me about her volunteer work at the shelter." Fluttershy said with a smile. "Volunteer?" He was confused. "How did this come up?” "I was asking Andrea about her community service in Denver and Mary here shot out of her seat and joined in." Will explained. After a sigh of relief, John walked back to his seat. "She loves animals."   John stared at the girls talk about animals, first about puppies and kitties and soon about wolves and birds. He began to believe he was a bit hard on himself. Maybe he should forget what he believed about her. He should just enjoy the time he has with her here. An hour passed and Will signaled it was time for them to go. Fluttershy believed she made a new friend. Andrea and Will drove off to their parents' home. Along the way Will's smile turned serious as he brought up a worry. "Andrea, be nice to that girl. I don't want this to turn into another boy fight." He ordered her with great worry. “Don’t worry about it.” Andrea said with pride, “she’s not a threat to me, you see how he reacted to her. He doesn’t even want her there.”