Filthy Rich looked over his collection of work papers. Ever since he received that last letter from his daughter, the notion that she hadn’t been receiving them had been eating away at him. He ruminated through all possible ways the letters could be lost. Derpy was too good of a mailmare to let those slip through her grasp. He knew he had the address correct, unless his wife decided to move to a different estate, for some reason. The only other option would be that she was throwing the letters away, which made no sense either. In an effort to get to the bottom of it, he had been working overtime, trying to minimize those business reports so that he could give himself a valid reason to go home. The stacks on his desk never seemed to get smaller, despite working longer hours at a faster pace. it was like he’d never get to go home. He stared at the reports, spacing out.
“Sir?” his Secretary called. “Are you ok?”
“Hm?” Filthy snapped out of it, giving her his full attention. “Am I what?”
“I called you three times. I don’t think working these longer hours are healthy. Is something going on?”
“No, it’s nothing. I’m just trying to expedite this work so I can get finished.”
“You want to see your wife and kids again, don’t you?”
Filthy Rich sighed, resting his head on his hooves. “Yes. Yes I do. I haven’t seen them in a year and a half. My daughter’s been sending me letters, and I corresponded with her plenty of times, but apparently she hasn’t received any of them, and it’s driving me up the wall!”
“I’m sorry, sir. I can’t say I truly understand, as my family’s here in Canterlot, but I know what it’s like to miss your family.”
“I know. It’s just...” he sighed again, rubbing his eyes, yawning. “I can’t get away.”
“What if I handled some of the business reports over the weekend, sir?”
“I couldn’t ask that of you. You have your own responsibilities!”
“Be that as it may, sir, I do know that family is more important than work. I think you may have forgotten that whilst trying to complete the work for the new store.”
Filthy sat there. Those words hit him like a ton of bricks. He didn’t feel like he did, but did he truly forget how much more important family was than work? He had been gone a year and a half...that was far too much time. But if he didn’t get the new store underway, how could he possibly afford to support his family? His wife? Diamond Tiara? Maybe Sundown was right, though.
“I...I think I needed to hear that. Thank you. Are you sure you’re up for doing these reports?”
“Yes, sir. If it would make you smile again, and make you happy like you were when you first got here, it would be my pleasure.”
“Well, then. I’ll work on these reports for the rest of the week. Can I come back Sunday night?”
“Take as much time as you need, sir.”
“I won’t make you do these for that long. Hell, I might even give you a bonus for it. Thank you, Sundown. I can’t tell you what it means to me.”
“Don’t mention it, sir. Really. It’s my pleasure.”
Filthy chuckled a little bit, a faint smile coming across his lips as the prospect of seeing his family again gave him a small gleam of hope.
“But first, sir, you might want to take a nap.”
“That sounds like a good idea. Can you close the door on your way out?”
“Absolutely, sir.”
“Thank you.”
“My pleasure.”
Filthy gave another small smile and trotted over to a couch he kept in the room for visitors. He layed down, closed his eyes, and envisioned his wife and daughter before the powerful clutches of sleep overtook him.
***
Diamond Tiara stood outside the mailbox, waiting for Derpy to deliver the mail. It was Ponyville Founder’s day, so there was no school. She eagerly awaited the possibility of a letter from her father. She checked the clock affixed the the house, seeing that it was almost noon. No sooner than she had turned around, she noticed Derpy on the horizon, flying towards her with her mailbag in tow. Diamond beamed, bouncing up and down impatiently. Eventually, Derpy reached the estate, giving the mail to her. Diamond Tiara zipped back inside the house, sifting through it. Bills, a Letter to mom, a flyer for an upcoming social, a pair of tickets to the grand galloping gala...bills...but nothing from her father. She threw the mail on the counter and gave an angry growl.
“Ugh! Why hasn’t he written back? Am I not good enough? Is this because of the playground equipment? What did I do wrong? Did I send them to the wrong place?” she asked herself. There was no possible way they could be going to the wrong address. Otherwise, she’d get a “Return to sender” error, and she never did. She bowed her head and slowly trotted up the stairs to her room, passing her mother on the way there.
“That is NOT the way a well-to-do mare should carry herself, Diamond Tiara. Head up, nose up. I will not have my daughter giving in to the mannerisms of the common folk.”
“Leave me alone, mother.”
Spoiled Rich gasped in shock. “Young lady! That is no way to talk to your mother! Go to your room this instant!”
“That’s where I was going, anyway.”
“What has gotten into you, Diamond Tiara? All you do is droop like the plebeians around town! That’s not how I taught you to behave!”
“I miss Dad. He hasn’t written back to me.”
“I told you, it’s because he doesn’t care anymore. He left to get away from us. Should he ever return, it won’t be for long.”
“But why? What did we do?”
“Who knows. Men leave all the time.”
“That doesn’t sound like Father, though.”
“Whether it sounds like him or not, it’s the truth. Think about it. Over a year and a half, has he written you back?”
“...no...”
“Case in point, Diamond Tiara. If he truly cared, wouldn’t he have written back?”
“...Yes.”
“Exactly. Now, go to your room. I’ve had enough of your commonfolk attitude for now.”
“Yes, Mother.” she begrudgingly stated. She trotted off, closing her door behind her, and curled up on her bed again, feeling the tears well up once again. “Father...it can’t be true. Please tell me it’s not...”
“But Father, why do you have to go?” Diamond Tiara asked, as Filthy Rich stood outside of a private carriage.
“I have to oversee construction of the new store in Canterlot, honey! I shouldn’t be gone for long. At most, 6 months. Remember, the one in Manehattan only took 2 months!”
“I know, I just...I’ll miss you.”
“Oh, Sweetie...” he started, bending down and embracing her in a tight hug. “I’m going to miss you, too. But I’ll be back before you can say ‘Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanokoniosis.’”
“Say what?”
“Told you. Where’s your mother?” he asked, seeing his wife nowhere in sight.
“She stayed inside. I guess she just couldn’t handle you leaving.”
“I guess so. I’m glad you’re here, though.” he added, kissing her forehead.”
“I love you, Father.”
“I love you, too, Di. Stay safe, look after your mother. Help out where you can. I know the hired help doesn’t cover everything.”
“Filthy, we should get going if we’re to get there.” the carriage driver interjected.
“Rich. Call me Rich.”
“Rich, sorry.”
Filthy Rich hopped in the carriage, closing the door behind him. He looked out the window and waved goodbye to his daughter, who waved back until he disappeared over the horizon.
***
Filthy took a look at the clock. Ten minutes until closing time. Ten minutes until he could leave and go see his wife and daughter again. The minutes ticked off like hours, and he sort of ignored all his business reports as he fidgeted in his chair. Eventually, 5 o’ clock came and he nearly sprang out of his chair, trotting out the door.
“Off for the weekend, sir?” Sundown asked, giving him a smile, as she knew the answer already.
“Yes. If that’s alright with you?”
“Of course, sir.”
“You’re sure you’re up for this.”
“Get out of here. Go.”
Filthy Rich smiled. “Thanks again. You’re a lifesaver.
“I know. Have fun. See you Monday, perhaps?”
“Supposing nothing goes wrong, absolutely.”
Filthy Rich stepped out the door of his office to the street, where a carriage was waiting for him.
“Good to see you again, sir. Heading home, I assume?”
“I haven’t changed my mind since I told you to get here, no.” he chortled.
“Very well, sir. He should be there in a matter of hours.”
Hours that Filthy knew would crawl slower than a snail on a sloth. He leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes. Surely he would be there if he just took a nap. He gave some thought to what he could possibly say when he returned. Who he would visit. Other than his family, he might visit Granny Smith. He’d been hunkering for some zap apple jam. The very thing that started his business. The taste was sublime, and the harvest was soon, actually. Regardless, it would be good to check in with some old friends of his.
“Father!” Diamond shouted, “You’re home!” she threw herself upon him, nearly knocking him to the ground. He laughed and hoisted her up, giving her one of the biggest hugs of his life. “I’m so happy to see you!”
“Oh, I’m happy to see you, too.”
Spoiled Rich came out of the house and trotted over to him with that smile that first charmed him so many years ago. She gave him a kiss that made both of them blush.
“I wasn’t expecting you, but tomorrow, we’ll have your favorite. Welcome back, honey. I’ve missed you.”
Filthy Rich smiled as they headed inside.
A bump in the road brought Filthy Back to his senses.
“I’m sorry, sir, we hit a pothole.”
“Oh. How long have we been on the road.”
“15 minutes, sir.”
Filthy groaned. This was going to be a long trip.