Well here we arre again. I'm gonna miss Manehatten, but not for too long. I've already envisioned what I'm going to change about my apartment. Granny's getting me a full-sized bed when we go back, she's helping me move in and she swears not to questioh any decisions I make. I love her so much right now. I'mn bringing all my books with me, and I aleady know where on the floor they're getting stacked. There's plenty of cupboard space for all the instant noodles I'll be stockpiling. Granny insists on something more so we agreed on a few cans of soup for rainy dayys. I promised my old desk to Picker, though I'm not sure what he'll be usingit for. Granny's getting me a new one of those, too. She's done so much for me recently, I don't know how I'm going to thank her.

Truly, this weekend has been phenomenal. I”m surprised I managed to get that right on the train! I already told you about yesterday, and today we went to the Boardwalk. It was an endless carnival! Roller coasters, ferris wheels, a house of mirrors. I even convinced mom to let me play one of the games. I didn't win, but those water guns are actually really hard to aim. Granny tried her hoof at a ball-tossinggame, but only got one in. She has her tiny pink teddy bear tucked into her elbow right now. We got cotton candy and took some pictres in a photo booth. I couldn't remember the last time I'd had so much fun.

I'm almost afraid to get home. I still have a gut-wrenching anxiety that dad has done something to Churner. I hope everything's fine for his sake, but for miine too. If dad ends our relationship, however mutual it is, I porbably won't be allowed to work for him anymore. Is mutual the right word? I feel like I’m misInterpreting

Mom just got back with some croissants and hot cocoa. Hopefully things are ok at hoome.

I hate my father.

So obviously everything wasn't how I'd hoped it would be. Dad spoke to Churner and ended up raising his voice, blaming him for tainting me. What’s worse is that they met up just outside the train station. I suppose they were both there waiting for us to return.

Mom caught up quick to calm dad down before he took it too far.

I don't think I've ever apologized with my eyes before, but I know I begged Churner's forgiveness. I didn't want him to hate me, this was all my father's doing. Please...

He looked away from me. He looked hurt. He probably believed our encounter had been secret. I certainly had. But he was the one who told Minty...

I couldn't blame him for this. It was my fault for kissing him. No, this was because of my father.

"He's the one screwing with Timber's head, if I hadn't—" he was yelling at mom, about Churner. I had to stop him.

"Hadn't what!?" I shout, looking at him through blazing red tears. "If you hadn't read my mail? Hadn't invaded my privacy and blamed everything on the stallion I kissed?"

"This doesn't concern you—" he always does this; tries to shut me up. Not now.

"Of course it does! It's my life! Kissing him was my decision. He let me, sure, because he cares about me. He's a good friend, and he didn't want to wreck my life like you do!"

He's stunned at that—I am too—but still enraged. "You think I want you to be miserable? If I wanted that I'd let you marry the queer."

"You're not listening!" I stomp my front hooves hard. "I'm the queer!"

He takes a few heavy breaths. Churner is silent: most likely terrified. After thinking it through, dad speaks up again. "No, you're not."

"No?" I demand. "Then what am I?"

His face was starting to soften, but it stiffens right back up. "You're my son." He says, then he reaches up and bites my ear, yanking my head down and away from Churner. I shout at him, mostly out of pain and rage, but I'm also getting embarrassed. Ponies have been gathering around, watching the scene devolve.

When we're a few feet away, and mom gives him a good shove, dad throws me to the dirt, my glasses fall off. I think my ear is bleeding, but I don't check. I just glare at him while he talks down to me.

"You are not some dandy, colt-loving freak. I didn't raise you to write fancy words on paper, and I've had about enough." At this point I'm glad my new quill is stowed in my luggage. "You'll work for me, from now on." I didn’t notice Churner stepping closer, but when dad straightens up he's there. "You, stay away."

Churner looks at me, pleading. I shake my head. He backs away slowly, mouths "I'm so sorry," then turns and runs away before he starts crying. I assume he was about to start crying, but a big stallion like him might be better at keeping that inside. Better than I was, anyway.

"Go home, Timber, and straight to bed. Tomorrow I expect you at the mill, sanding boards. You might move out, but you're still my son, and for as long as I can, I will make sure you act like it."

He walks away then, and I spit at him. Either he doesn't notice, or doesn't care, because he keeps going. I shakily lift myself out of the dirt, retrieve my glasses and bag, look away from mom and start walking home.

I cried in my bed for hours, then eventually calmed down. For some reason I decided to sneak outside and look at the sky. The moon is growing, nearly half-sized, but the stars seemed somewhat dull and thick clouds rolled in before long. I breathed deeply for a long while.

Then I hear hoof steps and look to see somepony approaching. I don't act defensive, but the mare raises a hoof in surrender, making sure I know she comes in peace. Even if she hadn't I doubt I would have done anything to stop whatever she might have done.

Regardless of what could have happened, she approaches slowly. It's Velvetine, only her hair is completely disheveled, and she isn't wearing any make-up. She walks to about five paces away. "Churner said you needed something. He was afraid to come, so..." she sighs. "He's a wreck, Timber." I close my eyes and lean my head away. I feel a little strange, sitting the way I am with my nose to the sky. I don't care. About anything. "I've never seen him cry."

Neither have I, I think.

"He wanted me to give you this." I tip my head toward her to see. It's a box. She steps closer and places it on the ground beside me. "He says he's sorry. That he shouldn't have—"

"Yes," I interrupt immediately, "he should have. In truth, I should have told him sooner."

"No," she says, "not that. He remembered telling Minty and when you said that thing about your dad invading your privacy he instantly knew he must’ve read a letter from her about it." I mentally wince at her informally placed pronouns. Then I lower my head to look at the box. I feel a raindrop, but ignore it. It's just a little cardboard box.

"I was going to leave it with your mother, she seemed more trustworthy. I didn't expect to see you out here." She's obviously confused at what it is I'm doing outside in the dark.

I open the box slowly, almost afraid to see what's inside. It's just money, dozens of gold bits scattered around. "I can't accept this."

She shakes her head, "He won't take it back, I know for a fact. He really wants to make it up to you."

I never guessed Velvetine could be so sincere. She loves Churner, and knows that he loves me. Only, as a friend... She wants Churner to be happy. I do, too, and I know that for that, he needs to know I forgive him, even though he did nothing wrong.

I nod to her, close up the box, and reach a hoof out. She smiles, then reaches out to shake it. It begins raining then and she hurries away. I thank her under my breath, then sneak back inside, figuring I'd better, before I get soaked by the rain.

Making sure my box doesn't jingle, I make it back downstairs. There's an opened envelope on my desk. Addressed to me.