Chapter 1
I woke up early Monday morning, “Auuuuuuuuuhhhhhhhhhh,” I groaned. “Shut up Paul!” Jake yelled and me from the living room. Jake was my roommate, we had gone to university together and I guess never moved out. I was five years his senior but that never really made things any different between us.
‘I guess it’s time to get up now.’ I thought. I looked around the floor, my gaze landed on a plastic and metal leg. My left leg was gone just below the knee, so I had a prosthetic. It’s been gone for six years but it didn’t bother me, not anymore. I had gotten it blown off when my Humvee had hit an I.E.D. in the desert of Iraq. I would still wake up screaming from dreams of the explosion.
I hoped over to the leg and slipped my stump of a leg into a sock of sorts, then strapped on my prosthetic. I walked out to the living room to find Jake eating some Fruit Loops and watching My little Pony: Friendship is Magic. It was a favorite in our apartment and we would often talk about who the best pony was, or what season seven was going to be like.
“Mornin’ Jake, How’r the ponies going?” I asked. “Same as usual, still can’t find Octavia for the life of me.” He responded slightly irritated. “Well maybe you should admit that Lyra is best pony.” I said taunting him. “That’s not fair! Just because Lyra got a speaking part and Octavia didn’t does not mean a damn thing!” He huffed. “Whatever you say Jake.”
“You ready for work?” Jake said finally breaking the silence.
“Yea I guess so.” Was all I managed to say.
Putting on my coat Jake and I left our little apartment and headed for the car. I got in the passenger side, and Jake got ready to drive. He buckled his seat belt and started the engine. I turned on the radio and put some jazz on.
“Do we have to listen to that garbage now?” Jake said annoyed at me.
“It’s not garbage, Jazz is not garbage. Not like you would know, all you listen to is that Metal crap.” I huffed at him, I hated it when he made fun of my music. “Besides you don’t mind when I play my Saxophone, that’s jazz.” I stated. “Well you’ve got talent, I still don’t know what you’re working as a garbage man when you can play like that.” He said. “Thank you for your compliment, but I’m not turning it off. This is my favorite artist.” I said matter o’ factly. “Fine.” Jake sighed.
Arriving at work Jake and I got our gear ready. I got the keys to our truck from the boss, a cup of coffee from the garage, and checked the tire pressure. I got into the driver’s seat of the garbage truck, and started the engine. Jake got onto the back of the truck and we were off. Stopping in front of dumpsters Jake would get off and dump all the trash into the back using a robotic arm attached to the truck. We got into a groove and finished our rounds and about three in the afternoon. It was like this nearly every day, go out, do our job, go home, repeat. Nothing exciting ever happened, I sometimes found myself wishing I was back in the Military.
The week went by quick, I usually watched Ponies and played video games when I got home from work. Jake would go to a bar sometimes but that was the extent to him going out for fun. Grocery shopping was usually left for me, Jake would always say something like, “You’re older so you know what to get.” It was a bunch of bullshit but I didn’t mind to much as long as he didn’t mind what I brought home.
I woke up Friday morning, I was excited. Not only was it the end of the work week but I had an audition to see if I could play the Alto Sax for a local jazz band. “Jake!” I yelled down the hall, “We are going to be late.” It wasn’t like him to sleep in, he was usually up before dawn. I walked into the room to find it empty. ‘Weird’, I thought. I walked into the living room and saw a note on the coffee table.
Paul, hope I didn’t wake you up earlier. I went out to see about getting tickets to a rock concert for next Sunday. Don’t worry I’ll meet you at work. –Jake.
He usually didn’t strait up leave, but I didn’t let it worry me to much. I got ready and went to my car.
The drive to work was slow and uninteresting. I didn’t listen to music mainly because I didn’t have any in my car considering I always rode with Jake. Pulling into the parking lot, I put the car in park and went to work. I got the truck ready and waited for Jake.
An hour or so rolled by before Jake showed up. “Took you long enough, won’t be surprised if our pay for today gets reduced.” I said visibly angry at Jake. “I’m sorry there was a traffic Jam!” Jake said. “Great.” I huffed.
Work was much slower than usual on account of every street being crowded with cars. I didn’t know why, but it was best to just get the job done and no ask why there were so many cars. Jake and I eventually were down to the last few dumpsters. I looked as the big rotten box as it dumped trash into the vessel. I was about to look away when I saw a little green toy fall out of it and into the back. I usually didn’t see many toys, I picked up trash from businesses not homes. I shrugged it off.
We got back to the garage in no time at all. “Hey I need to go back to the store and pick up another ticket, apparently one of the guys wants to go to.” Jake said to me. “Alright I’ll see you back at the apartment.” I said. Jake left, since he had been so late this morning we were the last ones left at the garage. I started locking up when I heard someone crying. “This is like one of those horror movies,” I sighed. It was probably the wind.
I heard it again. This time it was much loader than before. “Hello?” I yelled. The crying just got loader with that. I followed the sound back to my truck. I looked in the driver’s seat, under the truck, on the step Jake usually stood on, nothing. I climbed the ladder to the back of the truck when I saw her. A little tiny green horse sitting in the piles of trash, she was crying. I looked for a moment, “Hello?” I asked putting on my best puppy voice. She looked at me and hers eyes widened, she darted off to hide behind an old TV.
I hopped inside and made my way towards the TV. I turned and saw her again. Her eyes were shut tight as she hugged a little tiny harp so hard her hooves were white. My heart blew up right there. This was like something out of my favorite fanfic, My little Dashie, only it wasn’t RainbowDash. Instead it was a little filly Lyra Heartstrings.
She opened her eyes and began crying again backing into the wall of the trash store. “Im not going to hurt you.” I said quietly. “Shhh, it’s going to be okay.” I said again. She sniffled and stared at me, she wiped a tear from her eye. I put my hand out and she closed her eyes again. I stopped moving for a second. Tears stated to stream down her face again. My hand now rested on her shoulder. “Shhh, it’s going to be okay, it will be okay.” I whispered. This time she looked up, staring at me with her big adorable gold eyes. “You have very pretty eyes.” I whispered.
She sniffled again, then she ran forward and hugged my legs, my heart just about lept from my chest. I lifted her up, she didn’t seem to protest. “How’s about we get you cleaned up?” I whispered to her. She nodded and closed her eyes. Not out of fear but from exhaustion. I got into my car and sat her on my lap. She was asleep, still hugging on to that little harp. I started the engine and began the long car ride home.