Anarchy in the Equestrian Nation

I plodded miserably along the snow-covered streets, deep in thought. Alone. Again.

Or so I thought.

"Hey there.  Why the long face?" I looked up at the source of the voice and saw none other than Pinkie Pie, the local baker, walking along with a deep orange pegasus in a trench coat. After a few seconds, I recognized the pegasus to be Madjack, Pinkie's husband. "What's the problem?"

"Lonely." I muttered. "And you two aren't helping." I continued along, now more crestfallen than before. Things were not working out. As if seeing Pinkie and Madjack wasn't enough, I spotted Twilight Sparkle and Sir Loams on a cafe's patio. They kissed, and I felt sick to my stomach. Thoughts of Black Bell crept into my mind, and a tear welled up. I turned back towards home, the comfortable brass-walled two-story house. I was halfway there when I saw the music shop. I had always passed it by, until today, when I saw the 'Hiring' sign. A job would be a perfect way to pass the time. As I stepped in, I saw something that was a blessing.

Standing behind the counter was Turntable.

"Union Jack?" he asked.

"DUDE! I HAVEN'T SEEN YOU IN MONTHS! Oh my Celestia I am so happy to see you!" I shouted, rushing towards him. He jumped over the counter and gave me a huge hug.

"Didn't you move to Manehattan?" I asked.

"I turned 18 last week, so I moved back here and got a job and a nice apartment. Mostly just to see the Outcasts again. It's so awesome to see you again! Where are the others?"

"They're off on family vacations. Well, except for Clockwork and Charger." I replied.

"So... When I moved back two days ago, I went to your house to tell you and it was completely empty, so I thought you moved to another town. What happened?" he inquired.

I frowned. "Dad got arrested and imprisoned for drug use. Clockwork's dad adopted me. I live with them now, at least until Dad gets out and gets clean." I said mournfully.

"So why'd you come in here?"

"To apply for a job."

"No need to apply. The store's critically understaffed, so they take anyone that is interested." he said. "Good pay, plus employee benefits. You get about 10 bits in-store credit for every five minutes you work, plus 30 an hour. Considering the hours, that's good pay."

"All right, I accept. When do I start?"

"Right now." he said. I started laughing, until I noticed he wasn't laughing or smiling.

"I'm serious, Jack."

And that was pretty much how the day went. I helped customers with finding albums and stocking the stands.

I couldn't have been happier, honestly. A good job, I was reunited with my best friend, and it passed the time like no tomorrow.

It gets better. Thanks to that music shop, I picked up on a new kind of music I liked. Ska, which is like jazz and punk mixed together, was both familiar and new. The rock part echoed of the time when I was still a punk (I've since become more unique than that), but the jazz brought a new cheerfulness to it, something I liked.

But I digress. Anyway where was I? ...Crap, I lost my train of thought.

Sorry it ended like that, but I couldn't wrap it up properly.