Braeburn's Big Adventure

The loud ringin’ of the alarm clock in my ears did good startlin’ me right outta my sleep. Even though ah was all groggy and probably only half awake or even less, ah could tell ah needed more sleep. Ah wasn’t just hankerin’ for it neither. Ah seriously considered just shuttin’ it off and sleepin’ in to catch up, but ah knew how badly ah had to be out on the field with Big Mac again. Groanin’ and gripin’ after turnin’ it off, ah struggled to push away the covers and let the cool air reach me. Even worse, ah could barely keep my eyes open. After ah finally did get outta bed, ah managed to pull on my vest, but on my hat, and stumble down the stairs like ah was half dead.

Along with another hearty Apple family breakfast, ah had a few cups of coffee that were blacker than the night. They were workin’ wonders on me, but ah was havin’ to gulp down the hot stuff to keep up with Big Mac. Ah sure burned my tongue and mouth more than once that mornin’. Ah’m sure the others thought ah’d gone crazy. Ah certainly did look like ah lunatic chuggin’ down cup after cup of pipin’ hot, steamin’ coffee.

Before ah knew it, we were out on the field. The coffee was workin’ even better than expected. Ah was as chipper as a jaybird and energy was rushin’ through every muscle in my body. Ah was downright ready to talk, but of course Mac wasn’t. Maybe it was the coffee gettin’ me all jittery, but ah tell ya, ah was tired of his attitude the moment ah said a word to him. Ah was goin’ through the rounds again, sayin’ the same normal small talk as last time, and he was havin’ nothin’ of it. With all those eyups he was given’ me, ah was getting mad enough to swallow a horn-toad backwards. It only took one more eyup to break me. Ah was fed up.

“Mac!” ah yelled as fiercely as ah could, makin’ him whip his head around with big, wide eyes. “What in the hay is goin’ on? What ever happened to ya? We used to be such good buddies, and now ya won’t even have a conversation with me? Ah just need an explanation as to why things can’t be like they used to be! Ah know ah ain’t never done nothin’ to you to make ya spite me!” His mouth was wide open and his eyes were growin’ even bigger. Still, nothin’ was comin’ outta that mouth of his. Ah was about to go off again, but he suddenly started talkin’, and ah mean really talkin’.

“…It’s just that things change… and life moves on,” he let out softly. An explanation like that didn’t satisfy me one bit, but that didn’t mean ah wasn’t glad he was talkin’.

“You’re kiddin’ me, right, cuz? Ah guess it’s changed a little, but really, nothin’ all that much has. Ah know we both work a little harder than we used to, and that we’re busy plenty more often, but that don’t mean we shouldn’t be any less close.”

He let out the biggest sigh ah’d ever heard. Even comin’ outta such a big pony like him, it seemed huge. “Ah know… ah know, ah guess the truth is that ah’m nervous… it’s been a while.”

“Mac, ah’m sorry for actin’ the way ah did. Ah’m sure that’s just makin’ ya even more nervous, huh? Tell ya what, it’ll be like startin’ over from scratch, like back on that first day ah met ya. We can build up our relationship like we did then.”

“Eyup,” he said with a relieved nod. “Sounds good to me.”

Ah decided it’d be best to start off with some catchin’ up. “So Mac, how’re things? How’s life been treatin’ ya and how’s workin’ on the farm been goin’, good?”

“Eyup, but ah’ll be honest, ah’ve been gettin’ a bit restless as of late. Ah’m feelin’ tired of the same old stuff, ah guess.”

“Ah, well that’s no good. Ah know exactly what you mean. Maybe me bein’ around can spice things up a bit for ya?”

He shook his head softly. “Ah dunno how ya could.” He didn’t even know what was comin’. Ah figured it’d be a pretty big shock when ah told him the truth. So ah knew ah couldn’t do it quite yet. So ah changed the subject as quickly as ah could, and it wasn’t to somethin’ much better.

“So… Mac, ever find that special somepony? Ah know we talked about that once or twice. You were kind of a dreamer, heheh.”

He chuckled softly and shook his head. “Nope, but Apple Bloom and her friends worked real hard tryin’ to get me and their teacher together. Of course, they were usin’ some potion of sorts. Ah still don’t think they quite understand the concept of true love, but at least that taught’em a lesson. Don’t get me wrong, that Miss Cheerilee is quite the sight and a good filly too, but we ain’t got no chemistry. It just don’t feel right or somethin’. She’s a nice friend, and ah’m thinkin’ that’s all ah ever want her to be.”

“A potion, huh? That sounds like a pretty interestin’ tale, ah tell ya what. I’m thinkin’ you’ll have to tell it sometime.”

He nodded and smiled. Ah didn’t think he’d get a lick excited about somethin’ like that, but he certainly seemed to be a bit. “Eyup, maybe ah will at some point here.”

“Ah haven’t found nopony back in Appleloosa neither… and considerin’ ah know all of’em, things ain’t lookin’ so hot…. Ah, uh, know how lonely it can get sometimes.” Ah hid my blushin’ cheeks beneath the shade of my hat, tiltin’ it down slightly. Ah knew what direction ah was headed in, and that ah needed to stop. That was tough with him though.

“Eyup, it can.”

Ah wanted to say so much more on that subject, but ah couldn’t just yet. Ah had to keep playin’ it cool. “So, if ya don’t mind tellin’ it while ya work, how about that story?”

“Eyup, ah guess it’s as good a way to pass the time as any. As for hearin’ the story about him and that Miss Cheerilee, well, you’re gonna have to ask him yourself.

***

We talked and talked until the evening came. What we were sayin’ was nothing special, but it seemed like it was to me considerin’ how quiet Mac had been before that. Ah recon if it wasn’t for the changin’ of the light or the stretchin’ of our shadows, ah would’ve never realized the time. It’d gone by as quick as a whip. It was about that time that we decided on headin’ back in for some rest and some dinner. We came through the door still talkin’ away. Ah hadn’t even noticed AJ smilin’ in our direction.

“Well, now, looks like ya’ll are enjoyin’ yourselves. Finally talkin’ to him again, Mac? I’m guessin’ that means the both of ya had a good day?”

“Heheh, yeah,” ah said, grinnin’ and blushin’.

“Eeeeyup,” Mac muttered with the widest smile ah had seen from him in ages. Figurin’ ah was the one makin’ him smile, ah could feel my heart startin’ to pound and my stomach flutterin’ like ah thousand butterflies.

Me and Mac didn’t talk much after sittin’ down for dinner. Ah wasn’t worried though. Ah knew exactly the reason. The bond we had when we were colts, sort of the same bond we were startin’ to get goin’ again, was just between the two of us. If Mac wanted to talk to me, it’d be only me. It was sorta like we were always havin’ a private conversation, and that meant we weren’t gonna include anypony else in it, even if they were family. Reassurin’ my thoughts, Big Mac would nod and smile slightly whenever our eyes would make contact. After talkin’ my jaw off all day long, ah was just as exhausted as ah’d been the last two nights. Knowin’ ah wouldn’t really get to talk to Mac until tomorrow when it was just the two of us, ah decided to hit the hay early yet again. Ah was sorta excited about sleepin’ that night. Things had finally went right for once, so ah was thinkin’ ah could rest easy. That all changed when ah laid down for the night and my mind started workin’.

Ah only had a couple of days left with Big Mac, and ah still hadn’t told him the truth. Ah’d hope to have some time with him after ah’d revealed everything to him and all. Ya know… just in case everything was all swell and such. Now, if it ended up not goin’ well, ah’d want to get back to Appleloosa as quickly as ah could, but ah was pretty darn hopeful after what’d happened that day. The problem was, like ah said, ah only had a couple days left, and that meant ah had to tell him the next day. Ah knew ah was rushin’ things, and that ah could be ruinin’ my chances… but it was quite possibly the only chance ah was gonna have. What would Big Mac think? What would he say, especially if ah caught him by surprise by comin’ on so quickly. Ah didn’t even know how to tell him or even what to do. In all honesty, ah was as scared as a bunny in a foxhole. After gettin’ that far, there would be no climbin’ out. What’d happen if things didn’t swing my way?

Ah tried to get all those thoughts off my mind, but ah simply couldn’t. Ah even tried dreamin’ about what’d happen if it did go right, but ah knew how easy it’d be for it not to. It was another nearly restless night.