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// Ignorance in Apathy 
// Story: Night Fall part 1- Into the Orphanage 
// by Fall 
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While Fall and Bucky took on the daunting task of dish duty, Pint was left to fend for himself in what was called, The Preschool Common Room.

“…All these kids wish they were bigger,” stated the stallion who kept watch on the preschool dining area to the volunteer.

“But, what about-” she started to say.

“-I believe you are needed back down on the first floor,” stated the stallion. “Now run along and see if Ms. Belle Bottom needs any help putting the foals down.”

The volunteer looked at Pint, sighed, and lowered her head as she slowly trotted down the stairs.

The stallion took a seat in a nearby chair, picked up a newspaper, and began reading it.

BONK!
“Ouch!” cried Pint as a wooden block bounced off his head.
Pint turned to face where the block had come from. To his surprise, all he could see were preschool-aged colts and fillies arguing over what few toys littered about the room as they pulled, bit, and hit each other in what could only be described as a battle royale.

“MY MANE!” cried a filly in pain.

“OW!” screamed a colt. “SUMMER SWIFT BIT ME!”

Without so much as a look, the stallion shouted, “KNOCK IT OFF, OR YOU’RE ALL GOING TO BED THIS INSTANT!”

The stallion’s statement calmed things down for a moment. But it wasn’t long until the kids were being mean to each other again.

Pint turned to face the stallion. He was used to his parents putting an immediate stop to any misbehavior he got into with Bucky, or any of his friends. But there was no response. The stallion just kept reading his newspaper.

“Stay in line!” snapped a mare as she lead a group of older fillies and colts up to the next level of the orphanage.

Pint watched to see if Bucky or Fall were a part of this group. Sadly, though, he didn’t see either of them. But he did see the two colts he had saved Fall from. Both were showing looks of misery as they marched with their heads down as they made their way up the stairs.

“I need to get out of here,” said Pint while eyeing up the stairs. “I’ve got to find Fall and Bucky.”

***

It was nearly seven o’clock when Fall and Bucky finished their dish duty punishment.

“Yuck!” cried Bucky as he felt how raw his hoof had gotten from a combination of intense scrubbing and drying of dishes.

Fall looked at Bucky and asked, “What’s wrong?”

“My hooves,” he moaned while waving them about. “Eeyeesh.”

Fall looked at her worn down, dried out, scratch covered hooves.
“Is…,” she said. “Is this not what is expected of you?”

“To be honest,” stated Bucky. “This is the first time I ever washed dishes.”

Fall looked at Bucky with disbelief.
“You…,” she said. “Really…?”

Bucky frowned as he thought on just how much work doing all those dishes was. It gave him a new appreciation for the things around the house his mom and dad did.
“You don’t deserve to be in here,” he said.

“…,” Fall frowned.

“We’re getting you out of here!” he exclaimed. “Tonight!”

“I hear talking!” called out Ms. Powder Puff as she made her way into the kitchen. Her eyes fixated on how all the dishes were all washed, dried, and neatly put away.

“Well,” she said. “It appears you’ll have a little playtime before bed after all, Fall.”

Fall said nothing.

“Nice work, chubby,” commented Ms. Powder Puff. “Perhaps you’d like to volunteer for dish duty tomorrow night as well?”

“My name’s Bucky!” he proclaimed.

“Ooh,” said Ms. Powder Puff as she shook her head. “Talking back like that will most certainly get you dish duty again tomorrow.”

Bucky was going to say something, but Fall gently tapped his back hoof. The facial expression she gave him hinting how he should really just keep his mouth shut.

“Off to the third floor!” ordered Ms. Powder Puff. “And no talking!”

Fall drooped her head and proceeded towards Ms. Powder Puff. Bucky, as he did with the dishes, simply followed Fall’s lead.

“Get a move on!” Ms. Powder Puff barked. “I don’t have all night!”

Bucky and Fall left the kitchen and followed Ms. Powder Puff to the stairs. Along the way they could hear a number of crying foals along with what sounded like two older mares shouting, “Be quiet!” and “That’s enough!”

“This is awful,” thought Bucky as they reached the stairs. His entire body aching and feeling sore from the work he had just performed with Fall. “I got to find Pint and get out of here.”