Forgetful But Caring

After what happened, I tried super hard to treat Dinky really good. Days went by, and Dinky looked like she was doing well. She looked happier than before, and that made me happy, too. I even made a check list and put it on the refrigerator so I remembered to make dinner instead of falling asleep first! And I made sure to make her breakfast really early, and prepared her lunchbox the night before. I thought everything was going great, but I still wasn't making enough bits at my job...

I went to work right after walking Dinky to school, and appeared at the post office just in time. I told my boss that I was going to try to be really super careful from now on, and he sent me out on my regular mail route. I delivered mail to a whole bunch of nice ponies, and when I came back to the post office, it was around lunch time. This is when I had to do something I've never done before... Ask him for a raise.

"Um, excuse me... Sir...?" I walked into his office slowly, "Can I talk to you a little bit?"

"Make it quick, Miss Hooves. I haven't got all day." He spun around in his chair and looked at me. At first I thought, I wish I had a spinny chair like that. But I shook my head back and forth, and tried to remember that I had to focus.

"... Can I have a raise?"

"What?"

"Uh..." I didn't know how to ask this. I never asked before. "... Well... You see..." I was trying to sound professional. I guess I have to, if I want a better chance of a raise. "... Due to my... Un-... Responsible actions..." I hesitated a little. Was 'unresponsible' a word? "My younger sister has... Been mal-nutrated-... Wait..." I bit my lower lip. "She has... Uh... malnutrition in her-... Eh..."

"... Miss Hooves, is there something you want to say, or are you purposely wasting my time?" He had an annoyed look on his face. I decided that maybe it wasn't good to try to use bigger words right now.

"Sir..." I let out a deep breath, and decided to tell him the truth without hesitating. "... Ever since I got demoted that one time, I haven't been making enough bits in my job to help me and my little sister." I frowned, "She went without lunch before because I didn't have money for food... I'm really just asking for your help! I don't want Dinky to get taken away!" I waited for him to say something back, but there was a long pause before he actually said anything.

"... Miss Hooves, it's not my responsibility to support your family. I'm sorry for your situation, but you were demoted for a reason. We could have had a lawsuit on our hands for the important package you ruined!"

"But I promise I'll be more careful this time!"

"No. No thank you. Once is enough, Miss Hooves... But I'll tell you what." He leaned back in his spinny chair, and sighed. "If you feel up to it, you can do extra work at the end of the day. If you get all of your letters mailed before your shift ends, you can deliver a few more before the end of your shift, and I'll pay you extra depending on how many more letters you put out... But I warn you. New letters means a new route. I'll give you a map, but if you mess this up, I won't be so kind next time."

"Really? Oh, thanks a bunch, sir!" I smiled and flapped my wings happily. "I won't mess it up! Really!"

"Yeah? Well let's hope so." He looked at my empty mail bag, and then nodded at me. "You can start today, seeing as you're done with your route already. Just go to the mail room, and there should be a volunteer there who can give you another batch to mail. I'll... Leave it to you."

I went to the mail room right away, and went to look for the volunteer. They were a light aqua-ish pony, with a dark blue-green mane and tail. Their mane was messy. I knew they were a volunteer, because they had a card hanging around their neck that said "Volunteer" on it, and their name was on the card, too. It said "Wintergreen".

"Hiya!" I trotted up happily. "You're a volunteer, right?"

"Huh?" She looked at me, and after a few seconds, she smiled really wide. "Oh uh-... Yup! That's me! What can I do for ya?"

"I need some more letters to mail! My boss told me I could do extra work!"

"Oh, okay! I'll just give you these..." She held up a bag of letters, and helped me empty some of them into my mail bag. "There. Is there anything else?" She smiled at me again.

"Nope! That's it!" I started walking away, but then I stopped. I really need bits, and I wanna make sure I have enough to give Dinky what she needs... What if I don't mail enough letters by the end of my shift? I looked down. She only filled my bag half full. I was doing really good lately, so maybe I should ask for more?

"Actually..." I turned around.

"Yes?" She looked at me immediately, trying to be helpful.

"I think I-..." I started thinking again. Having more letters in my bag doesn't mean I'll deliver them all... But maybe he'll pay me more for delivering packages instead of letters? Yeah, that's perfect! I'll deliver a whole bunch of packages, and then when I get back, I'll get more bits! He'll be so proud of me that he might give me a raise! Oh, or maybe a promotion! Yeah, then me and Dinky would definitely have enough money, and she won't have to go hungry anymore!

"... You think you...?" She tilted her head.

"I think I want packages instead!" I smiled.

"What?"

"Packages! Is... That okay?"

"Oh, yeah, sure!" She took the letters out of my mail bag, and managed to fit three packages in there instead.

"... Only three?" I frowned.

"Well, that's all that'll fit without putting strain on your bag..."

"... Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure."

"... Can I try fitting a few more? Please?"

"Well, I guess you can try... Just be careful not to break your bag." I nodded, and started trying to fit them in. I managed to fit four smaller packages in one side of my mail bag, and two big ones in the other side. Then I carried another one in my mouth by a string tied around it. It was pretty big.

"Thanks so much!" I put the last package in front of me, and started trotting off, but everything seemed heavy. I was pushing the last package across the floor because of how heavy it was. She looked at me with a worried look on my way out, but I didn't mind. I knew I could do it!

As soon as I got outside, I flew off. I knew it was faster to fly, but at the same time, the packages were all so heavy... I was flying a little lopsided, because there was more weight on one side than the other. It was really hard.

"Okay, I just have to get this first package to Cloudsdale." I thought. I nodded, but then the package almost fell out of my mouth and I clenched my teeth harder. I let out a sigh of relief, and then made my way up to Cloudsdale.

After a while, I saw it coming into view. There it was! It looked /so/ pretty! I would love to live there, but Dinky's a unicorn and she can't walk on clouds, so I'm just staying down in Ponyville.

As I was going up, the package was just getting heavier and heavier... My mouth was already sore from carrying it, and my teeth were hurting. This whole time it was a strain on my mouth. I already felt it starting to slip... Maybe I shouldn't have picked such a big heavy package? It felt like there was a ton of bricks in here. I felt sweat go down my cheek, but I was almost there. Just a little more. I clenched my teeth harder, and tried going faster. I closed my eyes tight. Luckily, I managed to get to the top, and I dropped the package right next to me, right on the very edge of the puffy cloud floor.

Phew! What a relief. I opened my mouth, stuck out my tongue, and thought it was nice to give my mouth a rest. I think I might've chipped a tooth. I plopped down to a sitting position right there, with my my tail close to the edge of the huge cloud... But I plopped too hard, and a package slid out of my mail bag.

As soon as I noticed, it was already on it's way down. But I had to go get it! I got up and turned around quickly, then I took a deep breath and jumped down... But on my way, I knocked into the heavy package that was sitting on the edge next to me, accidentally giving it the push it needed to slowly but surely slide off the edge. While both packages tumbled down, all I did was worry. I tried flying faster, but all that did was make my wings hurt. Why now? How come it had to be like this when Dinky needs me most? I shut my eyes tight for a second, and tried forcing myself down faster. I caught up with the heavy package first, and threw my arms around it. I thought, if any package would survive, it's the lighter one, so the heavy package should be the first thing to get. I tried to pull it up and stop it from falling, but it was really, really heavy. I grabbed the string with my teeth again and pulled up... It was working! Even though I was heading down fast, I was still slowing it down... But the rope snapped.

It slipped out of my hooves... I started to really worry.

I shook my head. Get yourself together, Derpy! I started flying down again, but by now we were too close to the ground. I had to warn the ponies below.

"Watch out!" I yelled really loud. Then I saw where it was going to land. It was right over the school, and all the school ponies were just finishing their lunchtime. But what was going on? Was everypony safe? I knew some ponies were already inside, but how many? It looked like there was still some ponies outside, and one was really close to the shadow of the package. I focused my eyes, and tried to get my vision as clear as I could, so I could see who it was.

... Dinky?

"Dinky!! No!!" Tears were falling out of my eyes, "Dinky look out!!" I looked away and protected my face with my hooves.

I heard a crash...

My cheeks were wet...

I was shaking...

I spent the rest of my day waiting...

... Outside the emergency room.