Mandatory Motherhood: Short Stories

Winter Wrap-up

Mia stared at Colgate with a blank look of disbelief. “Please repeat that again…”

Colgate smiled and nodded. “I said when spring comes we hold winter wrap-up.”

Mia shook her head and her stare deepened. “No, what you said this event entails.”

Colgate was confused but nodded again. “We shovel away all of the snow, wake animals from their hibernation and give them food, replant seedlings, make nests for birds, melt-”

Mia stopped Colgate from speaking further by shoving an entire baguette into her mouth. Colgate was confused as to why Mia had stopped her nor where the baguette came from, it did taste good so she wasn’t complaining too much. Mia continued to stare at her for a bit before sighing. “So I found it hard to believe that pegasi can control and manipulate weather, but now you tell me that you also manhandle your seasons and have made wild animals reliant on you to be able to live properly?”

Colgate looked confused. “What do you mean? We always have done it this way.”

Mia groaned. “Colgate, you have essentially domesticated all the wild animals around the town. They essentially can’t live on their own. You provide them with shelter, homes, and food. If something were to happen to separate these animals from ponies, there is a good chance these animals wouldn’t be able to take care of themselves.”

Colgate looked confused and worried. “I don’t understand that's how we have always done things… But you don’t do that stuff here and the animals seem fine?”

Mia face hoofed. “The wild animals yes, because we didn’t manage their lives. But you saw firsthand how people’s pet dogs changed when not being taken care of let alone given food right?”

Colgate nodded. “Y-yeah… I see your point. But managing our weather is fine right?”

Mia sighed in response. “I honestly can’t answer that one Colgate. I’m not a meteorologist so I can’t say anything conclusive, for all I know the moment weather management stops, natural weather could go insane in an attempt to catch up. Do you guys manage the weather everywhere? And I don’t just mean in each town but in the countryside, the forests, overseas

Colgate frowned while thinking. “We handle the outskirts of town and stuff. But I guess we don’t manage it everywhere. There simply isn’t the population to do it… Now that I think about it I have heard of places just settled by one species and they have no weather teams so… I guess I never really thought about it.”

Mia nodded and gave Colgate a brownie. “There keep that in mind. If you want to blend in you have to stop thinking like all animals are going to be friendly or that the weather will always be perfect. The seasons will come and go by themselves. Enjoy nature… naturally, as it has always been.

Colgate looked deep in thought for a moment and she let out a sigh. “I’ll keep that in mind, thank you, Mia…” Her eyes suddenly bulged and she sat up on the couch. “Wait a minute! How did this turn into a therapy session?! I came here to ask you if you would like a dental exam.”

Mia smirked. “I would love one, thank you, Colgate.”