The Bell Ringers
It was a cold winter-holiday afternoon in Canterlot City as Christmas cheer was spreading throughout the city. People were decorating houses, putting up their christmas trees, and even shop at the malls! There was even preparation for a holiday parade. For Sunny Flare, she’s doing her yearly voluntary work as a bell ringer for a charity that helps many people that live in poverty around the country. Cinch wanted her to do something involving voluntary work, so she was assigned to do it since her 8th grade year. She has actually had a fun time doing it. She had a red covered bucket with a slot to put money in and even dressed in Christmas spirit. She wore a cute Christmas sweater with cozy red, santa-like pants.
This year, she invited Sour Sweet and her sister Sweeten Sour to help out with charity work. Sunny was more excited then ever to have them help out.
Sour and Sweeten were walking up to the store. Sunny had told them to wear something in christmas theme. Sweeten had a pair of reindeer antlers and a little red nose to look like a reindeer while Sour Sweet had the look of an elf, this didn’t amuse her. She even had the pointy-toed shoes on.
“Why did I have to dress as an elf?” Sour asked crossing her arms.
“Because it’ll attract more people that way!” Sweeten giggled.
“I look silly.” Sour pouted
“No you look adorable!” Sweeten pinched her cheek.
Sour blushed in embarrassment and groaned, “Really…?”
“Sorry sis, I just had to!” Sweeten giggled then she saw Sunny, “Sunny!” She waved.
“Hey guys! Over here!” Sunny motioned them to come towards her direction.
“Are we here in time?” Sweeten asked when they reached her.
“Yep! Aww Sour I like your outfit! It’s cute!” Sunny chuckled.
“No it isn’t!” Sour crossed her arms again.
“Yes it is. Where’s your Christmas spirit dearie?” Sunny asked, “And Sweeten I love your outfit!”
“Thanks!” Sweeten squeaked, “It’s my favorite Christmas outfit!”
Sunny quickly handed them bells and began ringing to see if oncoming customers could donate.
“Happy Holidays thank you very much! Happy Holidays thank you very much!” Sunny smiled as a few people dropped money in the bucket.
“I’m in the Holiday spirit and all, but I just don’t like the idea of standing out in the cold for five hours ringing a bell non-stop.” Sour Sweet said.
“Don’t worry dearie. We can take breaks. Oh! And Rarity is bringing us some hot cocoa. I shared my recipe with her.” Sunny replied.
“Yay!” Sweeten clapped her hands.
“Thank goodness.” Sour shivered from wearing her elf costume.
“Happy Holidays, thank you for your generosity sir!” Sunny smiled as a gentleman dropped some change in the bucket.
“Merry Christmas!” Sweeten smiled.
“Have a safe day.” Sour smiled too.
“Thanks girls, stay warm.” The man went inside the store.
Sour looked inside to see what he had dropped in, going back to sweet then sour mode, “Oh 50 Cents! Looks like some lucky boy or girl is gonna get a cookie..”
“What do you mean sis?” Sweeten asked.
“I just feel like not that many people actually donate to this kind of stuff.” Sour pointed out, the picked a pebble on the ground.
“Trust me dearie, I’ve done this for 5 years now. There’s more than you think, we donate a lot here generally.” Sunny explained.
“Well that’s good!” Sweeten smiled.
“Maybe we’ll get a good one. I must say I hate people having to live in poverty. It’s wrong!” Sour frowned.
“It is. That’s why we have this. It’s a good cause and it makes you feel good.” Sunny calmed her, “A cause of many smiling children and families being fed and sheltered for the cold winter holidays. A single flake falls, a smile brightens that day. Smiles….Smiles of joy, happiness, and jolliness….” Sunny got into her drama mood again.
“Sunny?” Sweeten poked her arm.
“Huh?” Sunny perked up.
“You’re going to end up on the big stage one of these days.” Sour smirked.
“Heh. Yeah, maybe.” Sunny scratched her head.
“I thought we did well in the Holiday Play last night.” Sweeten brought up.
“Yeah, you got some good talent when it comes to ballet dancing. Must come from being a drum major.” Sour smiled, bumping her with her elbow.
“Oh yeah!” Sweeten posed.
Sugarcoat walked up in her purse and winter gear and saw them.
“Hey Sunny.” She adjusted her glasses
“Hey Sugarcoat, how are you?” Sunny smiled.
“Good. Just out and about.” Sugarcoat turned to Sour Sweet, “Well don’t you look like you’re in the Christmas spirit.” She smirked.
“Pfft. Yeah yeah.” Sour replied looking away.
“Come on, you’re one of Santa’s little helpers.” Sugarcoat chuckled.
“What about you?” Sour asked smirking.
“I’m Sugarcoat.” She bluntly remarked, then adjusting her glasses.
“Dang..” Sweeten covered her mouth.
“Sorry I had to,” Sugarcoat giggled only a bit. “Anyway in all honesty, I hope everything is doing well.”
“It is.” Sunny smiled.
“Here.” Sugarcoat pulled a five-dollar bill from her pocket and put it in the bucket.
“Every little bit helps, thanks Sugarcoat.” Sunny smiled.
“Anytime. Stay warm you guys.” She went inside.
“Take care!” Sour called out, “Don’t let the door hit you on the way in.”
They continued to ring their bells, people would pass by and drop their change in, an hour passed by, the bucket was being filled up nicely.
“How much do you think of it is filled up?” Sweeten asked.
“I’d say about….300 maybe 400 in there.” Sunny estimated.
Sour’s eye’s widened, “T-That much??”
“Well, we’ll have to look later when we’re done.” Sunny said.
“Ok.” Sour shivered, "It's too cold!"
“Sister, you look cold..” Sweeten looked at her.
“Oh I feel just warm and toasty…” Sour sarcastically said.
“I see Rarity coming though.” Sunny pointed.
“Hi Rarity!” Sweeten waved.
“Hello darlings~!” Rarity smiled.
“How are you?” Sunny asked.
“I’m quite alright. I hope I made the hot cocoa correctly.” Rarity said looking at the cups, each with hot cocoa.
"Looks great in my opinion" Sunny smiled taking a look by opening one of the lids.
“Thank goodness. I’ve been teaching Sweetie Belle on how to improve on….well...cooking things.” Rarity chuckled nervously.
Sunny took a sip, “Perfect!” They high-fived.
“Hello you two, how are you doing?” Rarity asked the sister.
“Splendid!” Sweeten took a cup of hot cocoa, then Sour took the other one.
“Cold.” Sour Sweet shivered.
“Well hopefully the hot cocoa will help darling.” Rarity smiled.
“Thanks Rarity,” She took a sip, “Wow, just like Sunny Flare makes them.”
“Yes!” Sunny cheered.
“Unlike those who want to actually steal for themselves, It’s better to share.” Sour went from sour back to sweet mode.
“Oh sis.” Sweeten said.
“Well, I think we’re about done here. Let’s check what we have.” Sunny opened the bucket to count the money, as that happened, Principal Cinch walked by and slipped in a 10 dollar bill and patted Sunny’s back. She then went inside.
“Did she just..?” Rarity saw.
“Yeah. She’s the reason why I do this stuff. But hey, I enjoy this.” Sunny replied.
“What’s the most you made?” Sweeten asked.
“Last year, I made about $360. I really want to get above 400.”
“Well, let’s start counting.” Rarity smiled.
For the next few minutes, they separated the bills and coins to count up what they made.
“310…..320…..350…..380....” Sunny peaked over the bucket and gasped, two $20 bills in there, she never remembered that being in there.
“What is it?” Sour asked.
“400….” She took out the bills.
They all cheered and hugged.
“I don’t even know how these got there!” Sunny smiled.
“And even better, the gift of generosity to help those who don’t have as much as we do.” Rarity smiled.
“I can’t wait to go over to the donation center and tell them I’ve completed my goal. Next year, I’ll aim for 500!”
“Let’s not get too worked up over that.” Sour Sweet put a hand on her shoulder.
“Yeah, good point.” They all laughed.
Meanwhile, from a far, “Don’t you think it’s good to help out students?” Dean Cadence asked Luna.
“Yes, and I’m glad she was able to beat her goal and help the needy.” Vice Principal Luna replied, then followed by a high-five.
THE END