Got your hoof

(Warning: This story contains hilarious details. You should not read if you are in a library, middle of class, or while eating. The author will not be responsible for any humiliation or damage caused due to the story.)

My aunt and my cousin were coming to visit at a city nearby, so I had to go greet them and arrange a hotel. I didn’t like this kind of meeting, but since it’s my family I figured I should help out. I had never seen my cousin before. According to my aunt she was supposed to be stunningly beautiful, but every pony knew how a parent could view their child different from every pony else.

I was sitting in the room that I arranged for them. Aunt had placed her stuff down in the room, and she just went down to get her daughter. Her hoof bag was placed against the corner of the table. She left in a hurry, so the bag wasn’t placed very well. It fell a little after the door closed, and the stuff inside rolled out and scattered everywhere.

I froze at the sight. Inside the bag, there were a huge diamond necklace and a thick envelope of cash. Judging by the size and thickness, there’s gotta be at least 20k in there. Of course I thought about taking it, but then aunt would figure out that it was me given that I was the only one inside the room. I picked up the bag and stuff the scattered item inside, and put the bag back onto the table just wen aunt came back in.

She didn’t see me moving it, but I felt a bit awkward. So I turned to the window and said, “Nice views you got here.”

Aunt came over and looked outside the window.

“You really think so?”

She said as if I was crazy.

I took a look outside the window and guess what, she was right. The view was terrible. There were only dirt roads and more buildings.

“Well… better than my apartment, anyway. So what brings you here?”

“To see the film shot.”

“The what now.”

Aunt nodded with excitement. She told me there is going to be some famous film producer shooting a new film here. I asked about the cast, and she gave me a list of names that I barely recognize. It looked like the female main cast was as big shot as well, but I didn’t know her.

“What do you mean you don’t know Octavia?”

“Well I am not into that kind of stuff.”

“That just won’t do. She is SO popular, you just can’t not know her.”

“Well what’s the problem?”

“See, this is why no fillies like you, and your career hadn’t been going well either. You are not keeping up with the time, and your style is so… old and unfashion.”

She looked down at my socks, which had a tiny hole in the front. I suddenly felt terrible, as if the socks were just enough to prove that I can do NOTHING right.

“How long are you going to keeping doing what you do anyway? I’ve heard the company you opened with your friend isn’t going well at all. The hoof watch you designed weren’t selling well, right?”

My dignity forced me to lie. I told her my job was going great, and I held out my left hoof.

“Look at this.”

I showed her the hoof watch I was wearing. That was a watch I designed, and it’s unique, meaning there isn’t a second copy in the whole world. I told her the design was great, and soon it will go into production. It’s a hoof watch amazing beyond words. It could be the opening of a whole new fashion era.

“I bet it’s gonna be the same with you other ‘great’ productions, end up in a huge storage somewhere.” She said as she picked up her hoof bag and put into a shelf right against the door. Then I realized that the design of the room was a little weird. The shelf was right against the outside wall of the whole hotel. If the wall breaks, the hoof bag could be easily taken from the outside.

Aunt sat down at the table and poured herself a cup of tea. She didn’t invite me to one, but I didn’t really care.

I looked at the watch and said I had to go.

“Aw what a shame, you didn’t get to meet your cousin yet!”

I can’t even hear a slice of actual “shame” in her tone. I bowed and left the room.

On my way down the hall way I ran into a filly. She must be my cousin. I looked at her, and decided to take back my words. She was quite pretty. Her light gray face was round and adorable, and her muzzle was pointy and proud. Her hair was pure black, mixed with strands of light gray. She didn’t recognize me, so I didn’t bother greeting her either. We just trotted pass each other.

The second day, I decided to go pay my friend a visit. He was my business partner, and we own a company together. We used to just design posters and stuff, but from last November we started selling watches. I would design them and he would put them into production.

The first time I had ever wore a watch was on my 5th birthday. It was given to me by my father who was still alive back then. He completely forgot about my birthday and came home pretty drunk. Maybe he felt sorry when he saw me saving half of the cake with a very sad face, he took off the hoof watch and tied it around my hooves.

It was pretty much the only thing he had ever given me. It was golden and heavy. I was just a kid back then, and the watch was actually way too big for me. But I never took it off.

From that day forth, I had fell in love with watches. I spent all of my money on collecting watches. My brain was completely occupied with these little machine that had the law of time hidden in its little metal box. I spent so much time thinking about them that it felt like if I just take a break and sigh a little, there will be watches flowing out of my ears.

After I graduated high school I decided to go to a technological school to learn to design watches.

I noticed a post box on the side of the street. I just happened to need to send a letter, so I walked up, but i couldn't find where to put it in.

Just when i was getting confused, a pony came with a suit.

"Oh sorry sir, this is just a prop for the film shot."

He then picked up the post box like it was made of card board and left.

Well, that was just weird. I put the letter back into my saddlebag and met up with my friend. We sat down at a nearby restaurant.

“How’s your aunt doing?”

“Pretty good.”

For a while we were both silent. Then he spoke up, “Oh yeah, sorry dude, we had to cancel your plan.”

Okay. I nodded, but I haven’t really taken in what he said.

“Wait what did you just say?”

“I said I stopped producing the watches. The first series didn’t sell well at all, and right now we do not have enough money to produce any more. I tried to gather up some bits as well, but it was no use. Besides, I don’t think it’s a smart idea to produce these watches that were barely used by any pony anymore.”

I thought about saying something, but then I realized that I can’t, because all he said was true. We have no money.

“Well… how much do we need to at least keep the company running?”

“I’d say at least 20k bits.”

“Is that so…”

“Hey dude, I know this is hard for you, but don’t like, break the law all right?”

“Of course… duhh of course I know THAT.”

Or did I.