My Little Pony: Worker Birds
Chapter 9: Another Day In Paradise
I remember last night after dinner with Gilda and Gabby. I did something I will never have any regrets over. It's not just griffons that, for some reason or another, end up on the streets, but ponies too. Around the garbage bins, and by the chainlink fence they hang out. I was carrying leftovers from a place down the way from the hotel we were staying at
"What's up, Ellie?" Gilda asked
"You two go on ahead, I'll catch up," I said back to them, and I came up to a pony. It was an old stallion. He had calyces on his hooves, and only a single dirty coat and blanket to keep him warm on these nights. His face and muzzle are weatherbeaten. He looked at me, and looked away. His eyes were drained of all hope that he could get back up again
He covered his face beneath his blanket. As I walked up to him, his face peaked up slowly from the covers. He looked like a pony that once had everything, and for some reason of his fault, or maybe not, he ended up where he was now. His mane was a mess, and matted as was his tail "So what's a pretty little thing like you doing out here? It ain't safe"
"Here," I said giving him my food
"Oh, bless you," said the stallion
"And bless you too," I smiled back
"What's your name?" I asked him
"Helping Hoof, and what's yours?"
"Heloise," I said kindly to him
"Oh...that's pretty," he praised
"Thank you," I replied sincerely
"You workin' here?" he asked me
"I am, but I'm from out of town,"
"Ah...well, good luck," he said to me
"Thank you, you too Helping Hoof," I said, and made my leave. I had seen that old stallion hanging around the fence. He looked like a trustworthy pony, not causing any trouble, so I planned this. I gave him a bowl of hot mushroom okra gumbo. As I was left, I decided to help him further, "here, " I said giving him 25 bits "you'll need this more than I do"
"Compliments to yah momma...and yah daddy, they raised you right, Heloise," said Helping Hoof, I smiled warmly and nodded as I made my leave and caught back up with my friends. The thing is when you see one that is homeless, and you ask them their name, you help them to feel like they're still somebody in this ever changing world. It feels good
"Good job, Ellie," said Gilda
"Thanks, Gilda," I smiled back
"It's just like Griffonstone," said Gabby
"Really?" I asked, Gilda nodded
"Most griffons will turn their heads and look the other way when it comes to the homeless," Gilda explained, "most griffons will look at homelessness as being the fault of that griffon for ending up the way he or she did, it's really sad..." Gilda looked back at the homeless pony. Any way that another can help should always be welcomed, "it's my turn,"
I watched Gilda walk up to Helping Hoof as did Gabby too "Hey there" said Gilda, and reached into her messenger bag, and pulled out a black umbrella, "rain or shine, you will need this," she said with a welcoming and helpful grin on her beak. Helping Hoof smiled, and nodded back even if a couple of his teeth are missing. I guess it's just life out here.
"She's a good role model, your friend"
"She really is," Gilda said, looking back
"My name's Gilda, what's yours?" she asked
"I'm Helping Hoof," he smiled back to her
"Nice to meet you," she said, shaking his hoof
"I'm Gabby," said Gabby being next to help
"It's nice to meet you, Helping Hoof," Gabby said with a cheerful smile on her beak. She gave him her scarf, and also gave him 25 bits. As we left, we went to our rooms to rest that night. The next day, we didn't see Helping Hoof that morning. This is his city after all. He must have gone somewhere else. That, or he might have been chased off by police
Still, it was another day to go to work. Those kinds of evenings make one feel blessed for what they already have in their lives. Gilda and Gabby would have ended up that way I did not help them in the way that I did. We went back to the Cajun place called 'The Cayenne' to try the po'boys for lunch after the lunch horn sounded that day at the noontime.
"You know those 'food banks'?" asked Gilda
"Yes, what about them?" I asked curiously
"Let's set up one at our garage?" she asked
"That's a great idea, Gilda!" cheered Gabby
"It'll have to be for canned goods," I added
"That, and nonperishables," added Gabby
"We can borrow a newspaper box," said Gilda
"I think we got a plan for when we head back, let's put it into action," I agreed, and we did a 'cheers' with our sandwiches. Gabby's had fried shrimp, Gilda's had the fried clam strips, and I went for the fried oysters. After lunch, we headed back to the work site. Gilda will be working the excavator "it's different kind of 'awesome' feeling, isn't it?" I asked
"It's a better kind, Ellie" said Gilda with a wink and smile. She tipped her hardhat to me, and closed the door of the cab. Gabby, and I got into our dump trucks. I backed up, and waited to get the truck filled by Gilda. Gabby is at the base level getting hers filled by a wheel loader. It is the golden rule of life: 'do unto others as you would have done to you'.