The Narrative of Scarlet Tomato

“I was awakened rudely the next morning but a pony with a salt and pepper streaked mane. She told me to get up and go sleep off my salt licking someplace else”

“This is a respectable town young colt.” She said “We do not condone such behavior here, get up and get out”

“Well if this respectable town had a hotel, I wouldn’t have to sleep on the floor” I said

“Who are you to talk such impertinence?” she demanded

“Tomato, Scarlet A. Tomato” I said

“Tomato, I don’t recall any Tomato in town” she said “Are you new here?”

“Yes, moved here last night” said I “looking to purchase some land and start a farm. Can’t wait to report my gracious welcome to the mayor”

“Hello, I’m Mayor Mare” she said “Welcome to Ponyville”

“Oh” I said, I had really put my hoof in it. Here I was, making snide comments to the some pony I thought was the cleaning pony, and she, in fact, was the mayor. The mayor I would need help from in order to start my farm.

“I am so sorry you could not find suitable accommodations at any of our hotels” she said “Please accept my apologies. You wouldn’t be interested in starting a hotel, instead of a farm? Our town could always use another fine establishment.”

What was she talking about? This town didn’t have any hotels. I responded “No thank you, Mayor, farming is what I do. Please forgive me for my earlier ‘impertinence’.”

“Think nothing of it my young colt” said the mayor “I’ll personally introduce you to our clerk and together we can look over some tracks of land that are available. How much land were you hoping to purchase?”

“As much as I can get” I said

“Let’s cut to the chase” the mayor said “how many bits do you have?”

“Not many” I said modestly “just what I’ve been saving up over the years, plus some extra that my parents gave me to keep from starving and to put a roof over my head”

“Oh so little” said the mayor “I’m afraid this won’t be enough. When the clerk gets here, we’ll see what we can do. Make yourself useful, until then, sweep and mop the floor. I got some work to do in the office”