Hollywood Gold

It is now Marigold's Summer break. Eighth grade is over for her. Ever since that first day of school, the young pony has been made fun of for her clumsiness and hot temper, and the fact that she is poor. Her father still has yet to sober up, and she takes care of him as his health weakens. Herbal Essence, the green unicorn that Marigold had met on the first day of fourth grade, is her best friend; her only friend.

Marigold rubs her eyes as she wakes up in her room, the basement. She quickly brushes her mane and tail and brushes her teeth. Marigold then trots upstairs where Copper, her father, is laying on the couch with a yellow mare draped over his body. Marigold had to suffer through the noises that the two had made last night, until finally falling asleep. The stench of alcohol and smoke wafted through the air.

Quietly, Marigold steps out of the house, and trots to her job. She is fourteen years old now, and since not many jobs were given to young teens, she had to settle for a job at a fast food restaurant called Gardenia's. Her boss is kind, and she works alongside Essence, who had also applied for the job about a week before school had let out. It is Wednesday, and Herbal Essence has been sick for a while. It is now ten o' clock, which means Marigold has to tend to the register alone for two hours until someone shows up for their shift.

That is not a problem, though. Gardenia's is a popular place to eat, but Marigold is efficient with her job and has no trouble with her work. She gets paid seven dollars and twenty-five cents an hour at her job, and her payday is every Friday. Hollywood has been saving up money for the past few years. It started in fifth grade, when she offered tutoring in English for two dollars a day. Many kids had just paid her to do their work for them, but she hadn't cared, since it was money either way. She had gradually started doing things for ponies, and now she has saved up to over two hundred dollars. It may not seem to be a lot to others, but to Marigold, she has a fortune.

Marigold cheerily tends to demanding customers for two hours until Herbal Essence walks in with a smile on her face. Many customers are extremely rude to others in Baltimare, but Marigold is used to bad treatment from her father so it does not bother her too much.

"Essie!" Marigold exclaims as she hugs Herbal Essence.

"Goldie!" Herbal whinnies in glee as she hugs even tighter. Herbal Essence has a lot of energy, and can get annoying sometimes, but Marigold would not trade her for anypony else.

"How are you? I haven't seen you for weeks, since school let out, Goldie," Essence smiles as she clocks in and puts on her Gardenia's T-shirt.

"Oh, same old same old...." Marigold replies quietly. "I can't wait to catch up later."

The two friends work their shift until three o' clock. They then clock out and leave the restaurant. The two decide to go to the park to catch up.

"So, anything new?" Herbal Essence asks.

Marigold nods. "I joined a Drama Club recently. They meet every Monday, Thursday, and Saturday. I go every chance I get."

"How's your old man doing? Is he still..." Herbal trails off awkwardly, not wanting to offend her friend.

"Drunk as a fish in polluted water? Yup. Found him lying with some mare this morning, another one night stand. I wouldn't be surprised if I have some half-siblings out there somewhere." Marigold chuckles lightly, trying not to get too dreary on the subject.

"Well, anyways," Herbal Essence shifts the topic. "I'd like to see your Drama Club perform... Any shows coming up?"

"Yeah. There are showings of Alice in Wonderland every night next week from five to six in the evening. You should come. I'm playing Alice!" Marigold smiles with excitement.

"Of course I will! It's been great seeing you, Goldie!" Essence nuzzles her friend. "I'll see you tomorrow at work, okay?"

"Yeah! See ya..." Marigold smiles as she walks home. Right when she walks in the door, she heads to her bedroom and falls asleep.