Upper Crust

“I can’t sleep.” Cookie said, obviously tired but still wide awake. Pinny groaned.

“I know, we went to bed over an hour ago and all I can feel is you tossing and turning next to me. Because of that, I can’t sleep either.” he moaned slightly, wishing he could just get a reasonable nights sleep.

“We need to talk about this, I’m worried. More than usual.” Cookie started to say.

“I know dear, you worry about everything. This time though, I can understand why.” Pinny replied. “Look, it’s just like I said back in the bakery. So she might gain a little weight, how is she going to connect that to us? She’ll just think she overindulged during her visit.”

“It’s not the weight gain I’m worried about.” Cookie replied.

“Oh?”

“It’s the addictive properties of the sugar, Pinny.” Cookie said, now sitting upright in bed as her mind started to wander over the possible outcomes of essentially drugging and Princess. “If a robed pony makes her way into the store again without revealing who she is I don’t know what we’re going to do.”

Pinny sat upright with her. “Well, I suppose we could always ask if she is Princess Twilight.” he said.

“Are you crazy!? You don’t just ask a pony if they are a Princess!” Cookie exclaimed back.

“I suppose you’re right, generally they’re out in the open and not shying away from being seen. But what would be so bad about asking her if she does come back? The worst she could say is no and we find it's a different pony.” Pinny said.

“Okay, fair point. But then what? Say it is and she reveals herself, what then?” Cookie asked.

“Well, at that point I’d say we’re humbled she has chosen to visit us and swap her order out for the non-addictive stuff we had waiting for her before. One of us can make small talk whilst the other fetches her order, the right order this time.” he said.

“Everything is so simple for you isn’t it? You know sometimes situations don’t go as you plan, that’s how she ended up getting the regular cookies yesterday when she dropped by and we didn’t recognise her.” Cookie huffed, slinking back down under the covers and turning over. She felt a hoof over her back as Pinny tried his best to give her a bit of a hug.

“I know dear. I don’t think it’s going to happen one hundred percent that way. But it’s a rough plan to try to get it to, and if it doesn’t, well, I’ll do what I always do.” he sighed.

“Make something up?” Cookie asked.

“Make something up.” he said back, sliding back into bed himself. They had another day ahead of them to rest up for.

It was a busier day than yesterday. There was no sign of the mysterious robed mare who had visited during their quiet period but the regular customers were back. Clipsy, as per usual was at her window hatch getting her order as first in line. Cookie took a few minutes to speak to her whilst Doughy vanished to attend to something else.

“Morning Clipsy, did you manage to get a glimpse of the Princess yesterday?” Cookie asked her.

“Afraid not! Supposedly not many ponies did! -chew- She gave a few meet and greets but apparently was holed away just a couple of blocks down for official business. But your cookiesh kept me going!” Clipsy replied. Cookie noticed the slight, faint slurring on the word cookies. It was a very small thing but she asked her another question to get her to repeat the word.

“Oh thanks, glad they did. We were thinking about bringing in some new flavours, something you’d be in favour of?” she asked.

“Of course! Your cookiesh are the besht!” Clipsy replied. There it was again, she was watching the mare as she spoke. Clipsy’s face was starting to build up a good level of pudge, and Cookie deduced that from this, her lips and cheeks were getting so bloated and fattened that it was actually causing her a slight speech impediment now, with the shhh sound at the ends of certain words the outcome of it. She let the mare go as Doughy had returned to serve other customers, she could see she was eager to get eating anyhow.

She made her way over to Pinny who was just finishing a transaction with another customer.

“She slurs now.”

“Beg your pardon?” came the reply.

“Clipsy, she’s slurring her words. I was listening to her and watching her face. She’s getting so large that her fat is actually causing her to speak poorly.” Cookie said.

“Like how?” Pinny asked.

“A couple of words. Cookies became cookiesh. Best became besht. I tried watching her mouth as she spoke, it’s like her lips can’t find enough room to get the words out struggling up against her bloated cheeks.” Cookie explained.

“That’s...well, she’s the only one right? It can’t be that bad.” Pinny said.

“She’s the only one, for now, there are a few other regulars who aren’t that far behind her you know. Every morning that window looks like the city fatties are all having a get together.” Cookie replied.

“Well, I know there are bigger ponies than her. Particularly the ones who run the higher end luxury brands in the city. They’re real porkers.” Pinny replied.

“Yes dear, but it has taken them years of eating rich, decadent foods to get to that size. Not a couple of months of snacking on three bags of cookies and other treats every day.” Cookie sighed. “We’ve really got to address this and soon. I think Doughy is cottoning on as well.”

What makes you say that? We said we’d keep an eye on him.” Pinny asked.

“Well, he keeps finding excuses to head towards the back and sort out orders under the guise of being helpful. I mean you must have noticed he’s put on a little weight. He’s only been here a week.”

“Hmmm…”

Pinny leaned around Cookie to get a look at Doughy serving at the hatch. He couldn’t deny that the stallion was bigger than a week ago. It wasn’t something you’d notice unless you really stared, but he had definitely developed a bit of a pudge.

“I’ll speak to him at the end of the day. Or…”

“Or what?” Cookie asked.

“Or, now is the time to start slowly switching back to the regular sugar. I mean, we’ve got regulars. We’re making enough money to pay ourselves, a member of staff and the bank back. Perhaps we should consider it?” he suggested. “We could do it slowly so they don’t notice.”

“Let’s talk about it tonight.” was all Cookie replied. She knew it would have to come at some point, she just hadn’t been expecting it to so soon.