My Little Family

The next week, we all went roller skating, including Applejack, though most of the time, they fell. I talked to the Mane Six about what happened after the dinner, and they said they were sorry to Chrysi, and they told her goodbye and to have a good night. When they left, she was really happy after.

But, a lot has happened since then. I woke on September first, when the cycle began. I went and had a small breakfast and Chrysi said good morning to me, and I said good morning back, my voice dull and melancholy. After breakfast, I went back up to my room. Chrysi came up a few minutes later to see me lying on my bed, crying. She tapped on my shoulders because I was wearing headphones, listening to “Wake Me Up When September Ends” by Green Day.

“Johnny, what’s wrong?” She asked.

“Nothing Chrysi.” I muttered, half of my face buried in a pillow.

“Obviously, something’s wrong, or else you wouldn’t be crying. What's wrong?” She sat down next to me on the bed.

“Listen Chrysi, I’m fine. You can leave.”

“But-”

“Chrysi, I’m fine, just please, get out.”

She solemnly trotted out, but that wasn’t the end.

About ten minutes later, the Mane Six and Starlight came bursting through my bedroom door. I didn’t hear because of my headphones. Twilight pulled off my headphones.

“Johnny, what’s wrong?” she asked, voice panicked.

“Guys, it’s nothing, don’t-” I got cut off.

“No, something’s going on, and we want to know what’s going on. Chrysalis came and said you were upset, which you clearly are because you’re crying!”

“Guys, it’s no-”

“No, we want the truth, and we’re not leaving until you tell us what’s going on.” Twilight scowled, before they all sat down on my bed, looking at me, waiting for me to respond. I had to tell them, or they wouldn't leave, and I didn't want them to see me like this. I sighed.

“Get Chrysi and go down into the kitchen. I’ll be down in a minute.”

The walked out of my room and a minute later, after I went to the bathroom and splashed water in my face, I went down into the kitchen and they were there. I sighed and sat down at the end of the table.

“You know how you guys have trains and carriages for transportation?” I started.

They nodded.

“We have those as well, and other modes of transportation, one of them being cars. My dad, my mom, and my little brother were driving home in a car one night, when another car hit their car and-”

I choked back the tears spilling down my face. “...it crashed, and-”

The last part came out as barely a whisper.. “...t-they died.”

They all looked at me with shock in their eyes. “The driver was drunk, so he had no idea of what was happening. You know…”

I paused. My face was already burning and puffy from tears.

“I’m sorry, I-”

Twilight put her hoof on my right hand.

“It’s okay, take as much time as you need.” she said, comforting me.

I took a deep breath.

“You know… how you asked… why I live by myself and why I didn't move when everyone else did?”

They nodded.

“That’s why. And every September, from the first to the first of October, I play “Wake Me Up When September Ends” by Green Day, and I cry. Did you girls read the article where I talked about my favorite songs?”

Everyone nodded.

“The reason… it’s one of my… favorite songs… is because of the meaning. The lead singer of Green Day, Billie Joe Armstrong, his father died on September 1st when he was ten. Give it a listen. Alexa…”

My Alexa Dot lit up.

“Play “Wake Me Up When September Ends” by Green Day.”

Alexa played the song and they listened. After the song was over, I said, “Every year, I get depressed, and just cry. I’m sorry you girls had to see me like this.”

“Have you ever tried having fun during September to forget about that?” Applejack asked.

“Yes, and that was the worst September yet. I was living with the animatronics, and they tried to do fun things with me, but after September, I was even more upset than I normally was.” I sighed and stood up, “If you girls can excuse me, I will go back to my schedule.”

I started to walk away, when Applejack hugged me.

“I’m sorry about what happened.” She said.

“It’s okay, you girls didn’t have anything to do with it.” I muttered.

I then noticed that the others were hugging me now.

“Thanks girls. You’re the best friends anyone could have.”

The Mane Six and Starlight left a little after, Chrysi went up to her room, and I went to my room to continue my cycle.

A while later, before Chrysi went to bed, she came in and asked, "Do you need anything?"

"No, but could you come here for a second?" I asked.

"Yeah." She replied. She sat down next to me, and asked, "What's up?"

"I want to thank you for going and getting Twilight and the others when you saw that I was upset. I knew you had good in you, and I'm glad to see that you care about me."

Our eyes met. My eyes started to water, and she saw that. She hugged me, and said, "It'll be okay. We're all here for you."

I started crying, and she comforted me. I pulled out the headphones from the CD player, and we listened to the song. After a while, I fell asleep.

For the rest of September, The Mane Six, Chrysi, and Puppet helped me through the month.