Candy Orange: A Different kind of Home

I wait for the dreaded sound,

That horrible sound I’ve grown to hate sooo much.

To think that I hoof-chose it, that once upon a time I personally chose that very sound to be the end of me.

Maybe I could still detain it? As the sun starts its journey upward-slowly ridding other skyscrapers of their dark blankets- I wiggle my way to my side desk, I didn’t dare take off the covers for that would defy the whole purpose of my plan. Even if my mom scolds me later, saying ‘ladies, do not over-sleep!’ That isn’t my problem anyway, that’s future me’s problem.

SLAM!

I winch at the pain of having hit my hoof so hard against the wooden surface. Perhaps I didn’t aim correctly…

SLAM!

I can feel that it’s almost time for it to release its ear-piercing sound. No, I am not going to let it win! Desperately, I lunge forward, provoking the warm mass atop me to disappear behind me

THUMP!

I groan

“What in tarnation!” echoes from down the hallway.

I slowly open my heavy eyelids, revealing a scene that in no way resembles the one I had imagined just a moment ago.

A sneeze escapes from my mouth, result of having a snout-full of dust from falling atop a creaky old wooden floor that probably hasn’t been stepped on in a century’s time, that is before yesterday…

Sigh

I swear I would have the same result if I jumped onto that bed of mine, no correction my bed would have resulted in the softest, most coziest landing that could ( and does) bring this filthy excuse for a mattress to shame.

“Candy, are ya‘ll alright in there?”

I roll my eyes “I’m fine, Applebloom. I’ll be down in a moment”

I groan again as I get on my hooves and move towards my suitcase, loud creaks marking my every movement.

“ Cookadoodadoo!”

I winch, a migraine already forming in my hea- ow my goodness, I’m starting to turn into my mom!

Sigh, well at least it can’t get any worse…

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“ Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh”

“ She met Ms. Fuzzy didn’t she?”

“Yeeup”

Applejack sighs “I just don’t understand why she has to sleep in the attic”

“Hey, we all agreed she could live up there so no one would accidently step on ‘er tail and she wouldn’t eat Wynona’s food!” Applebloom whales from the kitchen sink.

Applejack chuckles “No, Applebloom I meant Candy not Ms. Fuzzy. I just figured the coach would be a little more comfortable, even if it’s not very spacious. I don’t see why she insists- wait a speck, Applebloom what in tarnation are you doing in the sink!?”

“What?”  Applebloom asks innocently “Granny smith said the secret to a good mane was taking baths under the sink”

“Granny smith, did you tell Applebloom another one of your ‘secrets to looking young?” Applejack hollers towards the living room

“What? You can’t deny your grandmother looks mighty fine for her age!”

Big Macintosh face hoofs

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Ok, stay calm it’s only a mouse...

I try to sustain another scream as the mouse crawls out from behind my suitcase, waving a little fist in my direction before running across the floor, into a little hole on the wall.

I sigh in relief then step towards the suitcase. I feel a slight disgust as I move the zipper with my mouth and look inside to see the clothes that might or might not have been crawled atop by a varmint…no, I shouldn’t think like that, it was simply a house mouse, a piece of nature peeking into the world of pony civilization, that’s what my dad always says anyway, and then my mom hurriedly appears with a broom in hoof, ready to throw out the ‘little beasty’… gosh, I guess she might have been a little dramatic at times. Ponies seem to think I share that with her…

Seeing that I had obviously already lost the battle of staying in bed- mostly because the sleep had been startled right out from me - I trot over to the curtains, ready to greet the sun in modest defeat.

I pull the dusty curtains with my mouth, honestly I wonder how ponies don’t get stomach aches more often, we are always exposed to germs in our mouths, besides, that would be a great excuse to skip school once in a while.

My jaw drops

“Wh- how” I stutter looking outside the window, dumfolded  I stare at the acres of farm “ Why and how the buck did I wake up in the middle of the night!?” I holler to the darkness outside.

“Cricket!  Cricket!”