I woke up to the rooster down the street crowing. His name was Johnny. I named him. And for some odd reason, he's the one who wakes me up, and it's always just in time for me to get up and get ready for work.
I sit up, and rub my eyes. I look around, to see a small colt looking through my dad's saddlebag. "Hey!!" I yelled, and he looked to me, with a black eye and a bloody nose. He was missing a few teeth. He shook violently. He was wearing a thin cloth shirt. I could see his thin legs and arms. A little Earth Pony. His small shirt was big on him, and his tail was drooping. He was such a sad sight. "I-I'm sorry, ma'am!! I just-" I cut him off with my hoof over his mouth. "You should really ask before taking what's not yours. And there's no food in there. No money, either." He sighed.
"I oughta turn you in for theft." I said. He looked at me, and whispered, "Anything is better than what I have now.."
I looked him in the eyes. His eyes were a beautiful shade of orange. I picked him up and sat him on my lap. "I want you to tell me about what's going on at home." I said to him with my most gentle voice. He told me of a father who he never met, a mother who was never home, and an older brother in the military. He said he would occasionally get gifts from an anonymous sender. He hadn't gotten one since last year, though. And his mom was sick, and his brother was injured off in the Badlands. That's why he was looking through the bag. But nothing was in it, except for old receipts. And dad's special cologne. He only wore it when he volunteered. Which wasn't very often, but he still tried to do it as much as possible. I sprayed it into the air. It smelled like a crisp autumn afternoon. Like I could just play in the leaves. The colt looked to me. "Can you spray some of that stuff in my house? It smells really good, and I think mommy will like it." He said to me.
"Yeah." I replied. "I'll spray it for you. But first you gotta tell me your name."
"M-My name is Rumble.."
"Rumble?"
He simply nods.
"Well, Rumble, where do you live?" I asked him.
He jumps to the ground, and motions for me to follow him. I strap on my dad's saddle bag, and set the cologne down in one of the smaller pockets. I walk to the door, and open it. There's a small bit of snow falling from the sky. I pick him up and set him on my head. He Sits down and keeps me going on where to go. As it turns out, he lives just a few streets down from me. A few turns around some corners, and we see a small little cottage. Just on the edge of town, there's an area with a load of trees. I walked up to the doorway, and Rumble whispers "Just open the door. Mom is napping right now.." I nod and do as he says. I step inside, and see a mare curled up on a small bed in the corner. There's no sheet, and the mattress is simply on the floor. She's dressed just like her son, with thin clothing. She's skinny, and pale. Her cutie mark is a cracked rock. Her mane is a dark shade of red, and her coat is a grey-black sort of color. I notice that Rumble's mane and coat color are the same, just flipped. He jumps down from my head, and slowly walks to the mare.
"Momma?.. Wake up, I brought you a present.. You gotta wake up, now.."
The mare didn't respond.
Rumble slowly climbed over her, and looked closer. He shook her shoulder. Still no response.
"Spray it, please!!" He yelled.
I did. I sprayed it directly over her.
"Mommy?.. Mommy!!?" He began to yell.
Nothing.
I picked him up, and held him close.
His mother was gone. She was dead.
We ran. He was crying on my shoulder the whole time. I ran to the police station. We reported the death, and the paramedics came to the house. They took the mare, and I was left alone with Rumble.
I took him to my own home. He was small, and not very heavy. He was still crying, though. I set him on the mat, and handed him some of the juice I'd bought with my last paycheck. He drank nearly half of the carton. I don't think he got much to eat or drink at home. After drinking his share of the juice, I picked him up, and rocked him. I sang my pa's lullaby.
He was asleep almost immediately. I smiled, and kept singing. He was a light sleeper. I hugged him tighter, enjoying the feeling of being able to hug somepony who didn't hate me.
I guess he's mine, now. But if I have him.. I won't be able to get to my special world. But.. I can make his world special.
Yeah. I'll help him. Make him happy. Give him what I never got.
Close your eyes, lie your head,
on this cloud, in your bed.
Say goodnight, little dear,
Have sweet dreams, without fear.
I'll stay with you, to the end,
round each corner, every bend.
And every night, I will stay,
and in the morning, again we'll play.
When you awake, I'll be here,
you won't be alone, you'll be without fear.
Don't you worry, don't you cry,
just fall asleep, to my lullaby.