Bing Ding

“hrmf”

Bing Dingaring Bingadingring

“Customers!” With a start, Pumpkin Cake jumped out of bed and galloped downstairs to answer the bell.

One Golden Cherry looked less ready for the day than our Pumpkin, for her mane was just as unkempt and whose eyes carried the dead tired look that accompanied most non-morning ponies awoken too early.

Golden greeted her thus; “Hi, morning, am I too early, Pumpkin? I have a busy day ahead of me and needed to get started early, and so I was hoping to get breakfast beforehoof.”

“Oh, it’s okay, Golden. You’ll just have to wait a little longer than usual since we haven’t started the prepwork. I’ll have Pound get to it while I take your order.”

Before needing to be summoned, Pound descended the stairs with a slow gait, asking Pumpkin, “Did we forget to lock up last night for closing?”

Pumpkin skipped past the question and replied, “Golden Cherry needs an early breakfast, could you get started in the kitchen?”

“Sure”, he replied, soon followed by the sound of pots and sheets clanking down and bags being opened and poured.

Pumpkin turned to face Golden, “So, what’ll you have?”

“I’ll have two number nines, a number nine large, a number six with extra cream, a number seven, two number forty-fives—one with cream-cheese, and a large smoothie.”

“Oh goodness, is this for the whole day? Well, which flavor smoothie would you like?”

“Oh, yeah, may as well get it all at once. I’ll take that lovely rose-strawberry flavor you have. Mind if I sit and watch you cook while I wait?”

“No problem. I’ll help Pound finish as soon as possible.”

“I’m sure you will...” Golden quipped below auditory range, with a smirk. Truth be told, she always thought the twins were cute together, and harbored a secret desire to see them romance. The taboo of siblings getting together merely tingled her in just the right spot in her psyche.

The siblings, being the offspring of bakers, already were synchronized in their dance of baked goods preparation, despite their waning grogginess. One would empty a bag of haymeal whilst the other would add a jug of milk, immediately followed by a bag of sugar from one and a bag of flour from the other. Bouncing upon but one leg, Pumpkin would finish adding the ingredients while Pound stirred the bowl, and the same moment Pound had the right consistency stirred Pumpkin would have grabbed a lump to start kneading into a large cinnamon roll, followed by two normal sized ones. Pound would by then have started on another item with Pumpkin not far behind. Golden enjoyed seeing their performance, some combination of an oddly-satisfying production line and a well-choreographed and -practiced ballet. Once all confectious pre-goods were in the oven, the twins made to rest in front of it, only to bumble slightly and so their hind legs crossed as they laid down.

Golden peered with salacious curiosity, as for just a moment, Pound’s leg was cradled between Pumpkin’s breasts. She silently cheered them to get even closer, and began imagining them snuzzling before her. But a nuzzle nor a snuggle did the twins engage, merely did they abashedly mouth “sorry!” to each other before awkwardly standing and placing themselves further apart. Golden’s smirk waned in response.

Pumpkin thought to start early on Golden’s smoothie, though at the moment she knew there wouldn’t be anything for Pound to do, and in addition she wasn’t sure if their display had offended their guest; so instead she had Pound begin the smoothie while she went to speak with Golden.

“Well, sorry for that, that awkward display; we’re usually not in such a hurry this early and—”

“Oh no worries! I got you two up, and besides you two look beautiful together… cooking! I mean, you two flow harmoniously together, it was fun to watch!”

“Oh, alright. I guess I’ve never really thought of that before. We just… do it.”

“Oh yes you do~”, Golden blurted, and in an instant of surprise and slight regret, she decided not to continue trying to amend her language. Besides, any normal, innocent pony conversation would never have even the slightest hint of innuendo, right?

Pumpkin then eyed Golden with a peculiarly curious glance for a rough few seconds, before simply shrugging it off. She trot back to the kitchen, figuring she may as well get started on the day’s regular offerings.

Just a couple minutes later, Pound brought the first half of Golden’s order to the counter. He wasn’t aware that Golden had watched, nor did he know of any odd sayings or sightings related to her perception. He noticed that her eyes momentarily glistened and slightly fluttered when she received him, and so he began to suspect that she might have an attraction toward him. But as anyone who has worked retail knows to do, he abided the professional courtesy rule of ignoring anything not pertinent to the service of the customer.

“That’ll be twenty-four Bits”, Pound said as he lifted the second half of the order up. “You’re pretty busy today, huh?”

“Yeah, but probably not as busy as you two will be.” She half-winked. Pound didn’t seem to notice.

“Not really, it’ll probably be just another Tuesday.”

“Well, I know I’ll have a good day thanks to you filling your swee—you and your sister’s filling sweets, and I hope you two have a loving—lovely day!”

“Thanks, you too, and will do.” Pound wondered upon the mare’s odd (mis?)use of language, and choked on an errant thought involving he, his sister, and a tube of icing. He mentally waved it off.

Author's Note

My computer BSOD'd twice while writing just this chapter.