Applejack and I waited at the train station during the afternoon. Before that time I spent the morning helping my family prepare the house for my cousin Josey Orange’s visit. It’s safe to say that none of us were excited for his coming here. He is the son of my Uncle and Aunt Orange, and from what I heard from most of my other relatives he’s just as snooty as they are. I remember Applejack telling me the story of how she traveled to Manehattan to stay with them for a while until her cutie mark appeared on her hindquarters.
“Although they didn’t say it out loud, I know they didn’t like the way I spoke when nobody was around,” she said once. “They didn’t want to be embarrassed in front of their high class friends if they found out they have a family member from the country, so they told me to hide my accent and countryisms whenever they have company.” Applejack would often snicker and shake her head after saying that part. “As you can see that didn’t work one bit,” she said with a sly smile. She also gesture toward her cutie mark.
“I don’t know if I can spend a day with Uncle and Aunt Orange, let alone a few weeks,” I said. “Are all ponies from Manehattan like them?”
“Not everyone… only the ones from the Upper East Side.”
I couldn’t tell if she was joking or not. You’d never know with Applejack. I also remember that she has surprisingly been to Manehattan plenty of times, most of time with Rarity whenever Princess Twilight sends them on a mission. I remind myself to tag along with Applejack the next time she goes. I always wanted to see Manehattan after watching so many movies.
Anyway, as we waited for the train to arrive I thought about Josey. I realize that I have a another cousin from the big city that I didn’t know about. Then a thought came to me like a ton of apples on my head.
“Babs lives in Manehattan. Do you think Josey knows her?” I ask Applejack.
“I don’t think so, and if I he did then I don’t think he wouldn’t want anything to do with her,” she answered, “or any of us for that matter. The Oranges ain’t the types for family get togethers, which is a shame if you ask me.” She shrugged.
“They aren’t? Then why are they sending Josey here?”
“Heck if I know. They sent a letter to Granny explaining that they didn’t want Josey spending spring break inside their house doing nothing.” She shrugged again.
I guess there has to be a saying about things coming in full circle. Applejack went to live with the Oranges for a time, and now Josey is coming to town to spend a week with us. I wish I took back what I said about not surviving a day with the Oranges. I try to think positively. Who knows, maybe what the other Apples said about him is just exaggeration, and since they don’t visit that often how can anyone know anything about him? Perhaps he just a lost colt trying to find his place in the world. Perhaps the Cutie Mark Crusaders can help.
We hear the train whistle coming from far away. The sounds of the engine become louder, and the approaching train looks like a tiny dot with steam coming out of it. The train slowed down and stopped in front of us on the platform. A lot of ponies came out of it; I guess they were from the city. Applejack pulled out a large piece of white cardboard with “JOSEY ORANGE” written in black marker in capital letters. A slender yellow colt with orange hair that almost came over his eyes seem to have noticed the sign and approached us. He also wore a black and gray hoodie. He pulled one of those strolling suitcases as he came to us. When we realized he was the one we were waiting for, Applejack and I came to him, and we put on our best smiles.
“You must be Josey Orange,” Applejack said with pleasantness I know for sure was not genuine. “We heard so much about you. My name is Applejack, and this little one here is my sister Apple Bloom. We’re your cousins.”
The long orange hair covered Josey’s eyes, so we didn’t know if he was looking at us. He had this frown that never seem to let up. “Whatever,” he finally said. I was taken by surprise by his deep voice.
Applejack went for his suitcase and said, “Let me carry that for you.”
Josey reached into his pockets and pulled out a pair of earphones.
“So Josey, what brings you out here?” I ask.
Josey didn’t answer. Instead he put earphones on and listened to music, or what he calls music. It was so loud I could hear it from where I was standing. There was this ugly yelling, drums pounding rapidly, and I thought for certain that whoever was playing their guitar was trying to kill it. If he spent so much time listening to all that noise I’m just surprised his eardrums didn’t burst. Who can listen to that, I wonder.
I was hoping Josey would be impressed by all the apple trees in our field when we arrived at the farm. I looked back to see his face, but he only took a glance in passing then went back to nodding and bobbing his head to his loud music. If I didn’t know any better I’d say his hair must have made him blind and his music deaf. And dumb too, because I don’t remember him uttering a word besides those two sentences he said at the train station. I walked quickly to Applejack.
“He hasn’t said anything all day,” I said aloud. What was the point in whispering if he couldn’t hear?
“Just give him time,” Applejack said flatly.
It wasn’t long until our house and barn was in our view. Our house is a large wooden structure painted red that stood in the middle of the field.
“Here we are,” Applejack said.
Just in time, my older brother and my grandmother came out to the front porch. My brother, Macintosh, a big red stallion who’s taller than any other pony in town, approached Josey first. He extended his hoof to him, and he wore his best smile, which I guess wasn’t genuine either.
“This big guy right here is my brother Macintosh,” Applejack said to Josey. Macintosh replied with a simple but pleasant, “Yep.”
Josey ran his eyes over him. We couldn’t tell because of his long hair, then all he said was, “Why are you so big?” with his deep, puberty-inflicted voice.
“... Guess I was born this way,” Mac answered.
“Whatever.”
Before he entered the house Josey was stopped by Granny Smith. I edged closer to get a good listen, mostly hoping that he didn’t anything stupid to her.
“You must be Josey Orange,” Granny said, “aren’t you.”
“Yeah, I guess.”
“Well, I hope you have a really nice time here.”
“Sure. Whatever.”
Granny let him inside, and once he was gone her smile disappeared when she looked at us. “He is definately a child of an Orange,” she said. “This is going to be a long week, I tell you what.”
“He ain’t much for talking, that’s for sure,” Big Mac said. It was kind of funny coming from him, being the strong and silent type.
“We just have to make the best of things,” Applejack said. Then she told me to show Josey Mac’s bedroom, since the two will be roommates for the week. When I found him he was already standing in the middle of the living room. He was staring at our little television set, somewhat confused.
“Why do you have a small TV? Why don’t you have a flatscreen?” he asked.
“We ain’t much for all that modern technology.”
Josey played with the antenna and dials. It was as though he never seen an antique television set before. He pressed a button and it produced a black-and-white picture. “Why isn’t there any color?”
“It’s very old. Way before me, you - heck, even before Applejack and Big Mac I believe. We don’t watch much TV anyway,” I said. “We listen to the radio most of the time.” I point to a large radio standing at the corner of the living room, which is also an antique just like the television.
Josey said, “Whatever,” then turned it off.
I took him upstairs and across the left side of the hall until we stopped at the door leading into Big Mac’s room. Inside, there is a large bed that’s able to hold two ponies, which is perfect for Josey since he’s so thin and slender-like. He placed his suitcase on top of the bed and sat on the edge, looking around.
“You must be tired from the train ride here, so I’ll leave you to unwind.”
He shrugged. “Okay, I guess.” He reached into his suitcase and got one of those expensive smartphone thingies. I think Sweetie Belle has one of those. I slowly step out of the room and tightly leave the door ajar, then I began to think of my first impression on Josey. I was expecting him to be as snooty and stuck up as Uncle and Aunt Orange, based on what everyone else has told me. I really don’t know what to think of him. I explained it to my family and they all shrugged, except for Granny. She said he’s just a little shy, but his Orange-like personality will come up soon enough. “Just give him time,” she said. Granny must not like the Oranges that much.
It was surprising how long Josey can stay indoors all day long. When I left the house to help Applejack with some errands he was still in Big Mac’s room playing his little cell phone. When we came back he was still in Big Mac’s room, the phone still in his hooves. How can a pony look at nothing but their phone all day? He must be setting a world record if I didn’t know better. Big Mac stood by the door to his room, and the three of us - Mac, Applejack and myself - just watched him as still as a marble statue gazing downward.
“Was he sitting there all day?” Applejack asked.
“Yep,” Mac answered.
“... Did he even get up to use the bathroom or something?”
He shrugged.
I gazed at Josey. I wonder if he was listening to us. Applejack and Big Mac began to whisper about how strange the Oranges’ son was acting. He was exactly what they were expecting him to be, which is what I said to them earlier.
“Well, y’all let Josey know that dinner will be ready in a little while,” Applejack said, “you know, if he even decides to put his phone down for once.”
At 5:30 p.m. dinner was ready. We all helped set the table and took out an extra chair for Josey. Applejack sent me to fetch him, and just as always he was sitting in Big Mac’s bed, eyes (hiding behind his orange hair) glued to his phone. It was amazing.
“Um, dinner’s ready,” I said timidly.
“Uh, yeah, I’ll be there in a second,” Josey said without looking at me. “I have to repost this picture I found to my Friendspace page.”
I was curious to know what he was talking about, so I sneaked up to his side. He was placing a blurry photograph of something that looked like a UFO flying in the sky and a pony on the ground pointing to it. Then he added some text above the photo that read DO YOU BELIEVE? He put his phone away and walked out of the room. I don’t even think he knew I was there. But from that moment I scratched my head. There was no way Josey Orange believed in space aliens. Josey and I walked downstairs together, in silence of course. I wanted to ask him about the picture of the aliens, but I thought nothing of it. I guess he was trying to be funny, if that was his idea of humor. You never know with the Oranges. My family watched us as we approach the dinner table. I sat next to Applejack and he took a seat next to Big Mac, since he was the only male in the house.
“Since everybody is here, let’s dig in,” Applejack said. “For dessert we have Granny Smith’s world famous apple pie.”
“Doesn’t that sound delicious?” I ask Josey.
He shrugged. “Yeah, I guess,” he said flatly.
I was slightly shocked. Who in the wide world of Equestria thought a good response to Granny Smith’s apple pie was “Yeah, I guess?”
We ate and my family talked about different stuff. Applejack talked about work and her friends, Big Mac talked about work and a young mare he met, Granny talked about discovering gravity when an apple fell on her head while she was napping, and I didn’t have that much to say. While everyone else was talking I was noticing Josey. He was playing with his fork and he only took few bites. I was getting the feeling he was being left out, so I decided to step up.
“... Josey, I hear you’re from Manehattan,” I said. “Is it nice up there?”
“It’s okay.”
I nod, although I was somewhat taken aback by his answer. I thought he’d have great things to say about the great city of Manehattan. From what my sister told me, it’s full of culture and different ponies from all walks of life and stuff. But I didn’t give up there. I ask him more stuff.
“What are you favorite spots in Manehattan? I bet it’s Central Park, isn’t it?”
“It’s alright, I guess. Too many ponies bring their dogs there.”
“What about the Statue of Harmony? Have you seen it up close?”
“Plenty of times. The novelty gets old after awhile.”
Now I know this kid must be pulling my leg. There is no way he’s not the least bit interested in his own hometown, especially one as big and fantastic as Manehattan. I was going to ask another question until Applejack spoke up.
“So Josey, what are some of the things you like to do?” she asked.
“Go to my Friendspace page and make posts about aliens.”
That was the most straightforward answer I heard from anyone. Josey made all our heads tilt to the side. “No sugarcube, I mean a hobby. The things you like to do in your spare time,” Applejack explained.
“That is what I do in my spare time,” Josey said. “Somebody has to spread the truth.”
We were all silent. What Josey said made us stop eating. The only time anypony said anything was Granny Smith when she muttered under breath, “Sweet mother of mercy.” I looked at Applejack’s face. She was clearly trying to gather her thoughts, or probably pretending Josey didn’t say what she thought he said. “Okay… aliens. You believe in aliens?”
“Yeah.”
“Like… space aliens, from outer space?”
“Yeah.”
Applejack was visibly disturbed. She covered her mouth with her hoof. It was like her entire world didn’t make sense anymore. She took a deep breath before she said anything else.
“And what gives you the idea that… space aliens are real?”
“There’s evidence everywhere. I’ve seen it. There’s been sightings of crop circles in farmlands, strange weather patterns whenever an unidentified aircraft is flying in our atmosphere, and stories of ponies being abducted, some never seen again.”
“I thought them crop circles were a myth,” Applejack said.
“They’re real. There’s also evidence of alien autopsies and experimentation the government has been hiding from the public. But it’s all truer than you know.”
All of Josey’s answers were devoid of any emotion, but I knew he actually believes what he said. I check with the rest of my family, and Big Mac and Granny were just as confused as Applejack, if not moreso. Applejack looked as though she was about ready to change the subject, but I was curious.
“Why do you think aliens want to visit us for?” I ask.
“Don’t you encourage him, Apple Bloom!” Applejack ordered.
“There is no way to know. But I think they want to spread their knowledge of the universe with us. There are some civilizations that are way more advanced than us by a billion years, even more than that.”
“What if they don’t want to share knowledge. I’ve seen movies where the aliens come to invade Earth.” I don’t know why I was saying those things, but I couldn’t stop myself at that point.
“It's unlikely, but we probably wouldn’t stand a chance against a highly technologically advanced civilization. But if that ever happens, I have a plan to defeat them.”
“Sweet marmalade, please don’t,” Applejack said.
“What’s the plan?” I really wanted to know.
“May the Creator have mercy on us,” Granny said.
Josey was silent, mainly because he was chewing on his food. When he swallowed, he explained his plan in full detail, and nopony interrupted him. His voice was dull, but he was sincere about everything.
“I believe one day a huge mothership will only park a few miles away from Earth, and deploy destroyer ships to hover above every major city on the planet, including Manehattan. In one 24-hour period most of Earth’s cities will be destroyed in a fiery blast. In two days most of our armies will be defeated with ease. But my plan is to take one of their attacker ships, fly it back to the mothership, and plant a computer virus in their system, and launch a magic missile that will be powerful enough to destroy the mothership and the corresponding ships on Earth will be shut down.”
Granny Smith, Applejack, and Big Mac had their mouths hung open. There was absolutely no response to what Josey had said. As I remember it, it was the most he ever spoken to us that night.
“What if, say, a second wave comes back in twenty years with an even bigger ship?” I ask.
“That’s ridiculous,” Josey said.
I have to admit, that was not the answer I was expecting.
After dinner we helped clean the table. Surprisingly, Josey helped Granny and Applejack with the dishes. Granny had to double-check to make sure she wasn’t seeing things, but nope, Josey was part of the cleanup crew. The dinner table was cleared I offered him some of Granny Smith’s apple pie, but he declined. He thank us for dinner and went back upstairs, probably to stare at his phone all night. We sat together at the table, trying to make sense of what happened this evening.
“So… what’d y’all think of Josey now?” I asked.
Nobody answered for a moment. I guess they were still stunned by his space alien strategy. Then Applejack spoke.
“You know, I guess I was wrong about him.”
“Really?” I said.
“Yep. I thought all this time he was going to be a high-class stick in the mud like his parents… now I realize he’s just a big weirdo!”
“Applejack, that ain’t nice,” I said. “He maybe weird, but he’s… interesting.”
“You call believing in aliens interesting?”
“Well, we never really gave him a chance. He seems to be nice. Somewhat.”
We were silent for a moment longer. Applejack placed her hoof under chin, played with her hat. It was her way of thinking. There was a change in her face, and I could see it. “You know, maybe it’s a good idea he’s out here.”
“See what I mean?” I said. “We just have to spend time with him a little more.”
“Maybe I can play ball with him tomorrow,” Big Mac said.
“Applejack and I can show him Ponyville,” I suggested.
“Well, I still think he’s a tad screw-loose,” Granny said, “but he ain’t bad.”
I joked about going alien hunting with Josey one day, but they didn’t think it was funny. They still thought it was weird. After eating pie we retreated to the living room and listen to the radio. Our favorite show was on, The Lone Stranger and Toto. As the theme song played I heard somebody come downstairs. I offer him a seat on the carpet and he joined me. Even my family was taken by surprise. I don’t think Josey had any idea that there was also stories playing on the radio besides music. Then he did something we thought he’d never do. He hid his phone inside his pocket, and his attention was turned to the large radio for the next thirty minutes.