Zap Apple Pie

    “Mama!  Mama!  Wake up,” a filly pushes your muzzle with a hoof as you stir and're pulled from a sweet dream, “we’re home!  Where’s Sugar Apple Drop?  Is she playing with Miss Quill?  Mom said you were gonna be out in the orchard makin’ sure the apples are plumpin’ up but yer sleepin’!  School's out and we're home, Mama!”

    Ya quickly lift yer head and look around but Sugar isn’t there, nor is Quill.  Ya know you can trust the mare with your life, but yer still a mom.  Some instincts ya can’t get past so ya gotta make sure Sugar’s okay. “Ah’m up, Whispy, Ah’m up,” ya look around and see yer hat on the floor.  Ya pick it up quick as a snake strikes and yer outta the farmhouse quick as a cat after a mouse with the filly behind ya gabbin’ about school.

    Ya hear the gigglin’ sounds of foals at play.  Quill ain’t here nor there.  “Now, where did that filly get to?” ya ask, tippin’ yer hat up ta get a view’a the clouds.  Ya don’t see any sign of them in the sky and Whispy woke you up, she’s right behind you.  That leaves...

    “Mama!” a colt charges inta ya  from behind and dang near knocks ya off yer hooves.

     “Little Dashie!” ya start to scold the colt. “Yer the oldest and ya have to set a better example fer yer kin-”

    Ya don’t get ta get ta finish as Rainbow done plows ya over and takes yer wind with her.  She's huggin’ ya as ya tumble over each other, stoppin’ finally with her on top and kissin’ each’a yer freckles. “Fritter!  Ah hope the weather didn’t scare Sugar, where’s she?  Ah thought ya had her while Ah was mindin’ the weather,” Rainbow hovers and frowns at you, hooves on her hips like an angry mama should be.

    Ya look her over as ya take in a breath and get butterflies in yer belly, and a couple bees ta boot.  Even after all these years she still holds yer heart in her hooves.  But, that don’t make it right ta teach the young’n ta break rules.  “Sugar Plum,” ya scold her while pickin’ yerself up and fixin’ yer hat. “Ah’m here tellin’ Little Dashie ta mind his manners and ya go’n knock me down.”

    She wilts a little in the air and it melts yer heart ta see her hurt.  Ya shouldn’t’a scolded her so loudly.  Now even Little Dashie’s a bit down in the muck.  “Awe, c’mere, ya flyin’ pigeon,” ya jump and catch Rainbow by the tail in yer teeth, pullin’ her to the ground with a protest… then ya kiss her on the lips.

    “Eeew~,” a chorus of voices sounds.  Ya look over ta see yer son’n daughter lookin’ at ya and Rainbow with disgust.

    “Oh, hush you three.” Quill calls out as she lands next to Little Dashie and drapes a wing over his back. “It’s just their way of saying ‘hi, I love you’.”

    Oh, good.  Sugar’s on Quill’s back and climbin’ off.  She knows you don’t like her taking the filly into the sky, but you trust Quill, so it’s a fine line to walk.  Look at the filly hop!  She’s like Pinkie Pie, bouncin’ all over the place.

“Alright, Sugarplum, let’s head in and start supper,” you say as you turn to start back to the farmhouse.

    “No way!  It’s a totally awesome day out’n the children and me wanna play!” Rainbow calls back to you as she doesn’t wait and joins the young’ns for a game of Buckball.

    You roll yer eyes at Rainbow’s tail and look to Quill who’s moved to your side. “Don’t worry, Dash, I’ll help with dinner, you play and have some fun while we talk about mom stuff,” Quill shouts.

    Rainbow grins back and waves before movin’ ta catch the ball.  Ya look ta Quill and smile. “Just us again?”  You laugh when she shrugs. “And ta think, Rainbow’s nearin’ twenty two and still actin’ like the filly Ah fell in love with.”

    “That’s what makes you two so special, AJ.”

    “Eeyap,” you respond and enter into a trot, prancing slightly, “now, let’s get supper goin’.  Ah’ve got a big day t’morrow with chores and gettin’ Rainbow ta Rainboom some Zap Apples fer the next shipment to Whinney Lake.

    As ya near the farmhouse ya can’t help but think.

‘Who would have thought life would turn out the way it did?  So, perfectly awesome.’