A Lesson from the Fields
by Nugget
It was high noon on the farm and two ponies were feeling the heat of the hot summer day. Without a single bit of cloud cover in the Equestrian sky to help shield the glow that shined down from the blazing sun and onto the land, the farm ponies were left to face the bone drying temperature that has always proven to be one the worst conditions to work day in and day out. However, if your main source of income stems from the natural production of agriculture, then being outside in the heat shouldn’t even be considered a reason towards an individual’s willingness to work.
It can slow you down, though.
Wiping the sweat from his brow, Dusty huffed and puffed as he continued to pull his harnessed plow across the freshly soiled ground with every tiresome step he took. Dragging along his special iron rake, the tan earth pony was able to make quick work to the earth as he used his every bit of his mighty effort to create long lines of raised up dirt across a vast area of farmland located near Dodge Junction. A piece of land that has been owned by his family for generations.
While most of it has been tilled for the upcoming season, Dusty himself had about a few more acres left to work on before it could be properly used to plant the family’s cash crop. Digging his hoofs deep into the soil, the equine threw every muscle he got into the job so that he could be able to meet his own deadline by sundown. That way, he can rest for the night in cooler conditions.
Meanwhile, on the other side of a white fence that separated the family’s province, Dusty’s brother was working the same job as him but at a much slower rate. Boon, a hazel colored earth pony, wasn’t using any ounce of his physical strength to drag his plow along the ground. He just simply walked along not huffing or puffing at all from fatigue. Sure he was sweating, but that was only due to him being exposed to the heat and not from the buildup anypony receives for their hard labor.
By the time the sun began to touch the western horizon, Dusty had finished his section of the land and was ready to hang up his equipment for the night when his old father came outside to inspect his work. Seeing how much his hardy son was able to cultivate his piece of earth within a few days made him grin in satisfaction before he went over to check on Boon’s work. Upon gazing at the amount of farmland his other son was able to till in same amount of time, the father almost immediately threw a fit and ordered Dusty to take his place while making Boon rest for the night.
Obligating to do so at the will of his father, despite feeling awful for his brother taking over his work, Boon traded places with Dusty and left him with the old stallion to till his field for the night. Upon entering their wooden homestead, Boon wanted to almost kick or flip over any random object in the house since he felt like his work wasn’t being recognized by his father. After about a couple of hours of calming down and returning to a more tranquil state of mind, Boon was nearly on the verge of wanting to trot back out into the fields and convince his old stallion into letting him finish his work.
Upon stepping up to the front door and trying to reach for it with his hoof, it swung open and revealed Dusty and his father sweating from the extra work they done in order to have Boon’s field completely plowed. After they stepped inside the household, the pair looked directly at the hazel earth pony with slight discontent towards how much he left behind for them work on while he sat inside the house pouting. It was at that moment when Boon knew he had to express his sorrows.
“Look guys, I’m sorry for not pulling my weight up and around here,” he said with his thick western accent.
“No need to be,” the father replied, stiff with his voice. “I just got you brother here to finish up you work since you obviously didn’t want to be out there in the field.”
Boon didn’t take to kindly to his father’s sarcasm. “You didn’t need too, father! I was perfectly capable of doing the work myself and having it done by tomorrow evening.”
“....even though I said that you needed to have it done before this evening?” The old stallion glared at his son with a stern eye upon him, certain that what he said was meant to happen.
“But, I wasn’t aware of that!” Boon pleaded.
“Well, it sure seems like your brother was… since I saw him hogging that plow like it was stacked to the brim with gold.” The father glanced over at the panting Dusty before turning back to address Boon.
The stallion said, “So I just assumed that you should have gotten the memo of when I wanted to your field to be done so we can get to planting them before June hits.”
“Well that’s a hunk of horse manure!” the hazel farm pony declared. “How was I supposed to even see him working hard, let alone let me know, when I was literally half a mile away from Dusty most of the time during the day!”
The stallion chuckled. “You shouldn't have had too if you just was willing to work, therefore both of ya would have finished on time.”
Boon was confused. “Willing to work? We were both out there in the dogging heat.”
“Yeah, you both were,” the father replied. “However, since you were pulling that plow like your life didn’t mean anything to it for most of the day while Dusty dragged his for more miles than I have ever seen you pull, I just assumed you didn’t want to work when the evening came.”
Boon was almost speechless, trying to mutter out any words to defend his side of the story. “But, but…. that, that wasn’t the case! I was going to finish it tomorrow! You didn’t have to let Dusty take the rest of my half of the labor.”
“Well… He was willing to and did it, right?” asked the father.
“Yeah, but he didn’t have too at all,” Boon said while pointing at his brother. “I was capable.”
The old stallion huffed. “Well then, you should have shown me that, Boon… That way, I wouldn’t have ordered you brother to pick up your slack while you got your rest for the night like what he wanted. Sounds fare?”
Boon sighed. “No.”
“Well then,” the father looked at Dusty. “Do you think your brother owes you a thank you and an apology?”
Dusty looked at his brother with empathy. “If he is willing too.”
Boon huffed, understanding his brother’s sense of humor. “Alright, thanks bro... and I am very sorry for not pulling my weight. In fact, I will help ya' out some more when we get to planting the seeds in June, deal?”
“Deal,” his brother replied with a smile.
They both shook hoofs on their agreement.