Family Appreciation Day

by Manes

Rating: teen
Tags: Slice of Life, Sad
Length: 2266

embarrass, insult, afraid, those words linger inside Dinky's head. The day she feared has come; Family

embarrass, insult, afraid, those words linger inside Dinky's head. The day she feared has come: Family Appreciation Day
First-Person story.

Rated teen for harsh language

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2013-11-22 07:20:03 UTC

Chapter 1

I ran down the familiar hall. In the middle was me, running quickly through the hallways. Ahead of me was a purple Pegasus. To my right was a wall lined with lockers, and to my left were even more. We ran down the tiled floor, our hooves clacking against the hard surface, the sound echoing off the walls, the school’s hallways were nearly deserted this time of day. With all the students already at Family Appreciation Day inside the classrooms with their parents beside them.

"Come on, Dinky!" The purple Pegasus shouted as she ran past me. "We're going to be late for Family Appreciation Day!"

I followed as quickly as I could behind her, slowly lagging behind. "Hold up!" Sometimes I think she's trying to kill me with how fast she runs. She never slows down for me…. Never! "Hey, I said wait up!"

She turned her head and looked back at me with a smile on her face. "So, who are you bringing this time?" she asked me.

I stopped, my legs started to tremble, a stream of sweat ran down my forehead, my heart pounded against my chest like a train going into a tunnel. I ran out of family members to bring to the day and the only pony I have left is My...my...

“Hiya, Dinky!”

Mom.

My heart had stopped, like I was ready to fall unconscious right now, right then. “H-Hey Mom,” I greeted her. “What are you doing here?”

My mom smiled at me, and flapped her wings and kicks over to me, pulling me into a hug. “What do you mean, why I am here? I'm here for the family appreciation day, you silly filly!”

“B-But I said it was cancelled! Why would you still come?”

"Well, one of my friends has a daughter that attends... told me it wasn't cancelled, so I came here to make sure and I saw the banner up and other parents here so I thought... 'yay! It's still going on!’” she said excitedly.

My mouth was agape with a shocked look on my face. How could this have happened? Why would some pony do this to me... why!?  “Well you don't have to stay if you don't want to."I say quickly, grinning through the nervous sweat pouring down my forehead and trying to hide my dread.

She waved a hoof. "I don't mind at all", she said. “I wanna be here for my daughter.”

My fake smile suddenly dropped to a frown. “What?”

“I said I wanna be here for my daughter.”

“Mom, you really shouldn't be here. The school is closed, uh- I’m very sick yeah, yeah sick! ” I spat out nonsense.

My mother frowned. “What's the matter with you?” She asked me. "What, are you embarrassed to be around me? Is that it?"

“Please, mom. Just go,” I uttered as the eyes of other ponies were on us. “Please, just go.”

“Dinky Hooves, what’s the matter with you?”

I feel tears form in my eyes... heart pounds a mile a minute. I couldn't hold it in anymore, I had to tell the truth. “YES!” I shouted at her, causing ponies who roam the halls to draw their attention to us. ”Yes, you are right, I’m embarrassed to be around you!”

As I stood there, right in the middle of the hall, I saw tears streaming down the mare's cheek. Her muzzle quivered as she stared at me, the mare who would bring mail to everypony with a smile on her face, the mare who would put a smile on my face broke down right in front of me.

“Y-Y-You, my own daughter, is embarrass-” She sniffed trying to hold in the tears. She emotionlessly chuckled looking up at the ceiling then back at me “Is embarrassed to be around me!”

I wiped the tears off my cheek, my breathing interrupted by sniffles escaping my mouth. “Who wouldn't be with your weird groggy eyes!” I shouted at her. I wanted to punch myself in the stomach for saying that, but when your angry, you don't think about what you say.

She gasped. “That's it! We are going inside there together and you're going to stand beside me when I introduce myself to the class!”

“Make me!” I yelled as I ran past her. She tried to grab me with her hooves, but even the fastest mail mare couldn't catch me that easily. I dodged past and ran out the entrance.

My mom ran to the door and shouted, “Dinky!” But it was too late; I was already out the door. “Horsefeathers!”

“Umm, Miss Hooves?” Derpy turned her head to see the purple Pegasus, who walked with Dinky, standing behind her.

“What is it sweetheart.”

“D-Dinky doesn’t always act this way.”

Derpy tilted her head and raise an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

“I mean it finally got to her.”

“What got to her?”

Flower Daisy sighed. “The rumors, the insults, the harsh lies about you being mental, sleeping with other stallions. It all finally got to her.”

Derpy stood there, not knowing what to say about all this. Only two words came out of her mouth: “Tell me.”

“And remember to add before writing down an answer,” Cheerilee informe with a smile. “And also to bring a family member to Family Appreciation Day tomorrow, other than that, have a great day!”

I looked at Dinky, she had a smile on her face, her eyes glittered with excitement, I saw that she couldn't wait to show you to the class. I wished nothing would change that, but I was wrong.

“So, who you bringing this time, Flower Daisy?” she asked me.

“Well, my father if he can make it,” I said with a smile. “Who are you bringing?”

Dinky chuckled. “Well only the fastest mail mare in Ponyville!” She beamed.

I raised an eyebrow. “Who's that?” I asked.

"Seriously, you need to get out more"

“Who is it?”

“Well it's the one and only, Derpy Hooves!” said a voice. And when I heard that voice, I knew chaos was going to happen. “And when I mean only, I mean only.”

“Yeah, the only retarded Pegasus in Ponyville,” said another voice that spelled trouble. "Right, Tiara?"

“Right.”

I felt a lump in my throat as I saw Dinky frown, greeting her teeth. I tried to open my mouth, but nothing came out.

“What, nothing to say, Trinky.” Diamond Tiara teased with a cocky smirk. "What, did your mother's simple mind finally pass over to you?"

Dinky slammed her hooves against the desk, she growld as she stared at them. For a moment I thought she would attack them. “Shut up! You're wrong about her, she's the most beautiful mare and the smartest, and she's my mother so show some respect!”

“Respect?!” Diamond Tiara chuckled. “Your mother doesn’t  even know the meaning of the word. "I bet she doesn't even know that she's being used by the thousands of stallions. Cause she too stupid to notice.”

"Your mother is nothing but a retard, and you're going to be one too" Silver spoon added.

A filly from the class join in. “Yeah, your mother should just drop dead, not that would be a problem!”

“Shut up!” She shouted, I saw tears streaming down from her eyes, the whole class laughed at her started chanting. “Your mother's a retard and a whore.” I saw the filly who was filled with excitement because her chance to show her mother off, broke down because some harsh lies and insults. And the worse part about it.

What?

I just sat there, mouth shut, heart racing faster than before. I just sat there listening to the class laugh and throw insults at her about her mother. The only thing she could do was just sit there and listen with horror.

Dinky jumped out of her seat, tears staining her face, her breathing kicking with every word she shouted, “Shut up, Shut up, Shut up!” she shouted.

“That's enough!” the laughter stopped, all eyes turn to the Cheerilee, she had a frown on her face, her eyes stared at them filled with disapproval. “I thought I taught you kids harmony and friendship is the most power thing and you should respect others.” she said. ” And today you all show me your true colors. Today you show me that all I taught about friendship was all for nothing and I am ashamed of all you.”

Cheerilee was my hero that day, the hero, I didn't come to rescue my friend when she was in trouble.

“Class dismissed.” she said. She walked past the crowd of fillies and colts as they exited the room to Dinky's desk where she cried alone. “I'm sorry they acted that way towards you.”

Dinky sniffled, tears still streaming from her eyes. “T-They A-Are S-Such B-Bad Ponies!” she shouted. “And I wish they all died!”

Cheerie gasped and then pulled her into a hug and tightened her grip. “Don't you ever let me hear you say that again.” she said, tears now streaming down her cheeks. “Their just jealous of your  mother and you that's all.”

I stood there, my eyes watched the scene before me. I doubt they thought I was there because of how quiet I was. I heard Dinky muttered something, something real with no lies in it.

And what might that be?

That she won't give them what they want. And that is bringing you to the Family Appreciation Day.

“And that's how it all happened.” Flower Daisy finished the tale. “Still can't believe I didn't do anything to help her.”

Derpy stood there shocked, her eyes stuck on the floor, she shook her head. “No, I refuse to let this go on!”

“What are you going to do?”

A smile creeped onto Derpy's face, her eyes filled with determination. “I'm going to bring the class to her!"

Flower Daisy raise an eyebrow “And how are you going to do that?”  she asked.

Derpy throw her hooves in the air and shouted.“I HAVE NO IDEA!”

I sat there, with my face buried in my hooves. The look on my mother's face when I revealed how I felt about her was horrible and I felt horrible. She doesn’t deserve that, I'm her daughter, I should of supported her not turned against her.

Cling!

I turned my head, to see a grey Pegasus, stood at the entrance door with a smile on her face. She walked to the steps where I was and sat down near me. "Listen, Dinky, I'm sorry I shouted at you like that,"

I looked at her, my anger boil up inside of me. “I SHOULD BE THE ONE WHO’S SORRY!” I buried my face once again in my hooves, wetting them with me tears.  I felt a hoof landed on my shoulder, I looked up to see her, still smiling.

“No, Dinky you shouldn't have to go through what happened yesterday.” She sighed. “I failed as a mother to protect you, and for that I am sorry.”

“Stop saying you’re sorry!” I  jumped up, greeted my teeth. “I called you names!” I shouted. “And you should hate my guts!”

“And I forgive you for that.” She sighed. “Dinky, you’re my daughter and I love you. I would never hate you because of an argument.”

I looked at her with disbelief. The mare who I insulted, the mare who I was embarrassed to be around with is sorry. “I-I'm…” I throw myself onto her, giving her one big hug and it felt good. “I'm so so sorry, please forgive me, mommy!” I pleaded.

My mom wrapped her forelegs around me and smiled. “I already did.” she whispered into my ear.

I wiped the tears from my eyes. “What about Family Appreciation ay? I kinda ruined it. With our little fight” I chuckle.

She let go of me, stood up and turned to the door and shouted. “Come on out everypony!”

What I saw just now I couldn't believe it. But who stood at the door, was my entire class with smiles on their face. Even Diamond and Silver spoon stood there and they both had their fore legs crossed, looking away with a frown on their face.

I raise an eyebrow. “Mom, what is this?” I questioned. “What's going on?”

My mom turned to the class, she reached into her saddle bag that she brought with her and took out a mail mare hat then put it on her head. “My name is Derpy Hooves and I worked as a mail mare for ten years. I have the most beautiful daughter of all.” She pointed to me with a smile. “And her name is Dinky Hooves.”

I looked at the class, I saw them looking at me with odd faces. I closed my eyes expecting to hear a crowd of laughter, but instead when I opened them I saw my class stomping their hooves even Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. I smiled, tears of joy streaming down my cheek, I looked at my mother who stood there proud of who she was.

She turned back at me. “So, did I do a good first impression or what?” She said with a smirk.

I pounced onto her, knocking her down onto the floor and then gave her a hug. “You, sure did.” I said, giggling. “I love you mom.”

She kissed me on the forehead. “I love you too, Dinky and nothing will ever change that.” she muttered.

And that was the best Family Appreciation Day I ever had.

The end.