Real estate farming is easy!
Indigo Zap quietly stepped down Crystal Prep Academy's central staircase. It was early Saturday morning, and most of her classmates in the residence halls were still sound asleep. She would not have minded sleeping in herself, but this morning she was on her way to meet Lemon Zest.
Earlier that week, Lemon needed help promoting her mother's real estate business and asked Indigo if she could help distribute door hangers that Saturday morning. Aside from Lemon's promise to treat her to breakfast after they were finished, Indigo was more than happy to help her friend and readily agreed. Curiously, at the last minute, Lemon also sent her a text asking that she wear her Academy uniform. What for?
Indigo strode through the main foyer and out the Academy's front entrance. Lemon, likewise clad in her Academy uniform, was already outside, waiting for her with a pair of bright red tote bags.
"Morning, Indigo! Ready to go farming?"
"Farming?" Indigo gave her friend a puzzled look. "I thought we were passing out door hangers for your mom?"
"We are! They call it 'farming' in the biz." Lemon's expression suddenly shifted from cheerful to serious. "But before we go, I need to see 'em."
Indigo rolled her eyes and lifted the front of her skirt.
Lemon smiled as she gave a satisfied nod. "Okay, you're good!"
"Glad you trust me," grumbled Indigo.
"Just double-checking. We are acting on my mom's behalf, after all."
"Speaking of which, why are we wearing our uniforms on a Saturday?"
"So we look nonthreatening." Lemon spun and gave a flourish worthy of an anime magical girl. "I mean, what's more innocent than a school uniform?"
Indigo wondered if there was some rule against students wearing their uniforms while engaged in non-school activities or business. If they were going to walk, she would much rather wear her athletic clothes. Nonthreatening? Who could possibly feel threatened by a couple of high school girls?
"Well, we'd better get going before it gets too warm outside!" said Lemon as she handed Indigo one of the bags. Inside was a stack of card paper door hangers featuring a brief blurb and a smiling photo of Lemon's mother. The family resemblance was uncanny - had she not known better, Indigo would have taken the woman in the photo to be Lemon's elder sister. Then again, she had no idea how recent the photo was. There was also a notepad, pen and a small bottle of drinking water in the side pocket.
Bags slung over their shoulders, the two girls left the Academy grounds and walked toward the suburbs. Indigo looked over the route highlighted on the map. The neighborhood they were working was shaped like the letter H; one main street with four cul-de-sacs - two on each side. They would begin from one end of the block, and take opposite sides of the main street, each of them covering the two cul-de-sacs on their respective sides, then finish their routes at the other end.
"All we gotta do is go up to each door and leave one of these on each doorknob," Lemon instructed. "No need to knock or ring the doorbell. If you meet someone, just smile, greet them, then ask if they or someone they know is looking for a real estate agent."
"No sweat."
Before long, they arrived at their starting point. All was silent save for the chirping of birds in the trees. There was not a single person in sight. In all likelihood, everyone was either still asleep or just waking up.
"You take this side of the street and I'll take the other," said Lemon as she began to cross the street. "Between the two of us, we'll have this place covered in no time! Once we're done, we'll grab some breakfast."
"Sounds good. See ya in a bit!"
Indigo got right to work. As a Crystal Prep Shadowbolt she always put her best foot forward - on the field, in the classroom, or even going door-to-door. Standing tall and wearing a confident smile, she walked a leisurely pace up to the first house and left her first door hanger. She repeated the process with the second house, then the third. Build on success. Nothing to it. She could taste her breakfast already!
***
Lemon had just entered the first cul-de-sac on her route when she came upon older house that had clearly seen better days. A lone chair and table adorned the otherwise barren patio. Off to the side were three large trash bags. A beat-up, old economy car was parked on the very edge of the driveway, leaving no walking space whatsoever.
Nice parking job, jackass!
One of the first lessons Lemon learned while farming with her mother was to avoid treading on someone else's lawn whenever possible. Although few folks actually maintained their own lawns anymore, those who did often took great pride in their work. Looking at all the weeds and crabgrass growing on this lawn, however, it was unlikely that the owner would raise any fuss.
Stepping as lightly as she could, Lemon cut across the lawn and came to the front door. There, she was greeted with a horrible stench that almost made her gag. What was that smell? Was it something inside those bags? She did not want to know. She left the door hanger and got out of there.
***
Halfway through her first cul-de-sac, Indigo came to a house that had a beautiful garden and marble fountain in its entryway. As she approached the front door, it suddenly opened. Out stepped a clean-cut, well-dressed young man - the first person she had encountered on her route. Time for some face-to-face practice!
"Good morning sir!" Indigo said with a smile as she walked forward. "How do you do?"
The man stopped in his tracks and stared at her with a blank expression. Indigo wondered if she came on too strong. Thinking quickly, she gestured to the fountain. "Beautiful garden you have here!"
He just continued to silently stare at her. Indigo produced a door hanger from her bag and extended it to him. "Looking for a real estate agent? I know one who'll go that extra mile for you!"
Still the man neither moved nor uttered a single word. Indigo decided she had better not waste her time. Maintaining her smile, she withdrew the door hanger and waved goodbye. "Well, have yourself a nice day!"
Indigo did not look back, but somehow she knew the man was still blankly watching her as she walked away. And folks call us Crystal Prep kids stuck up!
***
Lemon came to a larger house that had its main entrance further back along its side. Cheerily, she sauntered up the walkway, door hanger ready. Only when she arrived at the front door did she notice the sign posted beneath the doorbell:
NO SOLICITING
Lemon scoffed. The sign was only visible to someone standing directly in front of the door. Had she seen it from the street, she would not have bothered stopping here! Although she was not knocking on doors asking for money, most folks nowadays assumed "No Soliciting" to include to even quietly leaving flyers and business cards. Did they have something against free enterprise?
On the doormat were a business card for a lawn service and a take-out menu for a local restaurant. Clearly these were left by other folks promoting their businesses who, like her, had walked all the way up to the door only to be surprised by the sign.
Oh what the hell. Lemon dropped the door hanger on the door mat and continued on her way.
***
Indigo came upon a large house with an iron security door installed over the front entrance. It was difficult to see through the steel wire mesh - she could not tell whether the front door was open or closed. She did not hear any noise, so she proceeded to walk up to the entrance. As she reached out to leave the door hanger, something big and heavy slammed up against the security door from inside. She jumped back as a large dog barked at her through the mesh.
"GODDAMMIT!" bellowed an angry male voice inside the house.
Indigo could not see what was happening on the other side of the security door, but from the sound of things, the man inside was working to restrain the dog. She managed a nervous grin as she backed up further. "Woah, sorry!"
"JUST GO! GET THE FUCK OUTTA HERE!"
Without a word, Indigo turned on her heel and unhurriedly walked away as the dog continued to bark. She took out her notepad jotted down the house number. Better tell Lemon and her mom to avoid this one!
***
Just before her second cul-de-sac, Lemon came to a corner house with a large pickup truck parked in the driveway. The truck parked was plastered with a wide array of bumper stickers, including ones boasting membership in the local neighborhood watch and a sport hunting organization. Hanging on the front door was a sign that read:
FORGET THE DOG
BEWARE OF OWNER
Reinforcing the message was a graphic of a hand pointing a revolver toward the viewer. As Lemon stepped up to the door, a small dog began yapping inside the house. Well, they weren't kidding about the dog! She quietly left a door hanger on the knob.
She was halfway down the driveway when the garage door suddenly began to crank open. She quickened her steps and disappeared around the corner. Only when she was certain nobody had chased after her with the intent of "standing their ground" did she resume her leisurely pace.
***
Indigo came to a house with both its garage and front door open. Parked in the driveway was a large van. A radio tuned to an oldies station was blaring inside the garage. There was nobody else in sight.
After what had happened earlier, Indigo was more than a little cautious. What if there was another big dog lurking inside the house? Fast as she was on her feet, there was no way she could outrun a dog if one came chasing after her. Keeping cool and maintaining her pace, she walked up to the front door on the balls of her feet, ready to spring if need be.
"Hello?" Indigo called out.
When no response came, she quietly dropped a door hanger on the mat and turned around. Only then did she notice the pair of feet sticking out from under the front of the van and several tools and parts strewn about nearby. Apparently, the owner was too engrossed in working on his truck to notice Indigo. She nevertheless tread lightly back down the driveway.
***
Lemon came to a home with a large pickup truck parked on the street in front of it. Halfway up the walkway, a loud horn blared behind her, causing her to jump. She glanced back toward the truck to find a pudgy mustachioed man in the driver's seat looking at her. Lemon turned around and approached as the man lowered the passenger side window.
"Don't go up there," he called out. "There's a dog inside that'll wake everyone up!"
Gee, louder than that horn you just honked? Lemon resisted the urge to give voice to that question.
"Thanks for the heads up sir," she said putting on her best smile. "Were you thinking of buying or selling a home?"
"Oh we're good, thanks," he replied. "Just paid off our home actually."
"Congratulations!" Lemon channeled her inner salesperson. "This is a beautiful home you have! Do you know anyone who might want to move into this fine neighborhood?"
"Nope, afraid not."
"Well, if someone you know ever wants to, my mom would be more than happy to help!" Lemon extended a door hanger to the man. He hesitated for a moment, but ultimately accepted it. Lemon waved as she continued on her way. "Have yourself a nice day sir!"
"Thanks, you too!"
***
Indigo reached the end of her route. Thankfully, she had no further encounters with any dogs or their owners. Taking shade underneath a tree, she scanned the other side of the street for Lemon. Her friend was not too far behind - only by two or three houses. Within minutes, Lemon finished her route and joined Indigo in the shade.
"Mission complete!" Indigo said triumphantly.
"Thanks again for your help, Indigo. What do you want for breakfast?"
"Let's hit Bravado Burger! I could go for one of their breakfast burritos!"
"Good call! I'm up for some of their pancakes!"
On their way to the restaurant, they told each other about the people - and animals - they met on their routes. Lemon laughed as Indigo recounted her encounter with the dog and its owner; as did Indigo when Lemon told of her near encounter with the neighborhood watch member.
"Yeah, you meet plenty of characters," said Lemon. "Some of them real pieces of work, but all of them potential clients, as my mom would say!"
"Maybe you could hire that Flutter gal from Canterlot High to deal with those dogs."
"Her talent might be cost more than just one meal! Besides, I doubt she could help with the two-legged animals."
"You're right," Indigo laughed. "They are even worse!"