I got a letter from Granny Lester today. She said she's coming to visit next weekend to see her son-in-law. I guess mom told her about his condition. Anyway, she says she's also going to help me move into my Manehatten apartment, officially. She says I'll need a hundred bits for a security deposit, then rent is one-hundred-fifty bits a month, due on the first. The first time I'm late I'll get a warning and a week's extension. From then on, if I want even just a little more time, I'm gonna need to give the landlord at least twenty-four hours’ notice before I'm late.

I went ahead and counted all my bits and it came out to six-hundred-eighty-four. The chest they're in is getting pretty heavy, so I'll need a safe suitcase to carry them in when we go to Manehatten. Granny said she'd help me get a bank account, and I think that's a good idea. She also said I'll need a job. I intend to apply for the internship that a stage on Bridleway advertised in the news. Internships don't usually pay, unfortunately. Maybe I'll get a job as a waiter or something simple.

She told me I should get a recommendation from ponies I've worked for, that it'll help me get hired. I wonder if bringing somepony with me will make it easier than asking for a letter of recommendation. Basically I plan on asking Churner to come with me, so I wonder if I should ask Granny whether or not that would be a good idea, or if the letter would be enough.

I've written her a letter, I'm going to the post office to send it. Hopefully she receives it and is able to respond by Friday.

As for Churner; I'm still pretty torn up by how he acted. I'm not ready to go back to work, and I'm not sorry for Velvetine having to work for him. If she wants him so bad she can have him. And yes, I'm bitter toward her. In truth, it's her fault I had to tell Churner how I felt in the first place. It was bound to happen, I just wish the circumstances weren't so hostile.

Right now I'm off to the post office. Though, tomorrow's Sunday, and all of the mail-ponies have finished deliveries for today. It likely won't send until Monday. Whatever, I just need some fresh air. The letter's likely safer with them than with me anyway.

I run into Sawdust at the post office. He’s with his sister mailing a letter to their father in Fillydelphia. He seems uncomfortable with the topic, so I don't ask. I did grow rather fond of his sister though. Her name is Knots and she's four-and-a-half years old. She says she likes living in Green Stables: that it's a happy place and her friends are nice. I ask who her friends are and she gives off a lot of names of fillies and colts from her school. Then she mentions Miss Dawn.

"Dawnette is a hostess at her daycare over the summer," Sawdust explains when he sees the surprise on my face. "She'll be starting school again soon, though."

I think she's a bit young to be going to school, since she's only about a year older than Barley, and Barley won't be going to school anytime soon. I don't ask, though; I don't want to risk an explanation that might destroy what Knots believes.

She looks a little sad. Her sapphire eyes sparkle. "I wanna make her something!" She's talking about Dawnette again.

"And what would you like to make her?"

"Cupcakes," she beams. Her smile is warm, like his. Though, she doesn't look much like him. She has a green coat, a pale green like dying grass, and a bright orange mane that curls in an unruly nest atop her head. Her chin is much more round and her ears are wide. For a second I believe she's not actually his sister, but when I look at their eyes I know there's something in their blood.

"That sounds delightful," he takes a stamp from a pocket around his neck. "What kind of cupcakes?"

"Chocolate," then she sticks her tongue out and licks the stamp he's holding. I almost wish I hadn't stamped my envelope already.

I smile, "Yeah, she likes chocolate."

She looks at me skeptically, "How do you know?" She has the sweetest voice.

"I'm actually good friends with Miss Dawn, too." I consider telling her about Dawn's birthday party, but don't want her to be upset for not being invited.

"Does she like sprinkles?" She asks. Sawdust slides the letter into the big blue mailbox. I was sure he’d let Knots do it.

"I don't know," I admit. "I think so." She'd probably love anything this filly made.

"Well, I love sprinkles," she says, with an awful lot of sass.

Sawdust brushes her fluffy mane, "What color sprinkles are your favorite?"

I'm blown away by how sweet he is with her. "Blue!"

"Blue?" He acts absolutely astonished.

"Yeah!"

"But yesterday you asked for the red sprinkles!"

"No I didn't," we start walking away and she gets an angry face. "Big brother, did you buy the red sprinkles?"

He laughs a little before answering, "No, baby, I didn't buy the red ones."

"Good," he picks her up in one hoof and tickles her with the other. Again I'm startled, this time by how small she is being cradled by him.

"I bought the green ones!"

She shrieks in laughter. I'm still walking, but Sawdust has her in his clutches. "Sawdust, I hate the green ones!"

"But I love them," he complains.

"But they're my cupcakes!"

"I thought they were for Miss Dawn?"

"Yeah, and she wants the blue sprinkles."

"Ok," he gives in. I stop and let him catch up. He's got her riding on his back, adventure twinkling in her beautiful blue eyes. "Hey it was good seeing you, Timber."

"You too," I respond and he walks away. "And hey, if you need any help with those cupcakes, my little brother is a great baker."

Knots calls back, pulling on her brother's ear, "No thanks."

She's so precious. "Are you sure? I have blue sprinkles!"

Sawdust laughs, defeated. Knots' eyes twinkle again as she looks at me.

"And my little sister would love to meet you," I tease.

"You have a sister?" Sawdust asks.

"Yeah," I say, "though she's technically my cousin. Her parents had, an accident and she was left with us.” That’s probably something I could have left out. “She's just learning how to talk."

"What's her name?"

"Barley," I tell him. Then to Knots, "And she also loves blue sprinkles."

The filly smiles shyly, then turns to Sawdust. "Big brother let's go to his house."

"All right little one," he gives in while she climbs down his side. "What time works for you?"

"Everypony should be home all day tomorrow," I tell him. "As long as dad doesn't think it's actually Monday or something."

I say it as a joke but he responds understandably, nodding, "Yeah..." It is a pretty sad thought, being the truth. "That's just how things are sometimes, though."

"Yeah," I agree. "We'll make it through, though."

He smiles encouragingly. "All right! See you tomorrow, maybe around noon?"

"Sounds great! We can even get lunch ready for you!"

"That'd be great. She's allergic to red onions, though."

"No red onions, got it." I smile and nod: the plan's been made. He turns and goes, I smile and wave. I'm happy when he smiles back, and Knots waves back excitedly.

I got home and told mom right away about the plans I'd made.

"Yes, but your father might have trouble remembering..."

"I know," I sigh. "Sawdust understands, though. He's fine with it."

"I just don't know how Knots will react." She looks a little worried. I hadn't thought about Knots, but how bad could it be? "She's a very sweet filly, but you know how... insensitive foals can be about things."

I remember from personal experience. When I was five or six, grandpa Lumber visited. He had a very bald head and I thought it was the silliest thing. He acted like it meant nothing, but after that day he hadn't been the same around me, wearing hats or even toupees so I wouldn't mention his bald spot.

I try to reassure mom, "It won't be so bad. What could she say?" She kind of nods, slowly. "Plus, will he even remember?" It's a little rude, and she looks at me with sad eyes. I'm serious though. But her eyes... "I'm sorry. She was just excited to meet Barley, and bake cupcakes for Dawnette."

She looks a little happier. She'd been worried about how Barley would react around other fillies, having grown up with so many colts. She's really out of her element, mom is. She's never raised a filly, and with her old age it hasn't been easy.

Suddenly she smiles and looks at me. She looks genuinely happy now. "Sawdust and his sister sound delightful. I'll make a nice batch of mashed potatoes, and a garden salad."

I remember quickly, "Oh, Knots is allergic to red onions."

"No problem," she waves a hoof like she's crossing "red onion" off a list. I nod and am about to walk away when she stops me. "One last thing," she insists. "Is Sawdust, coming for, you?" I purse my lips. I know what she's asking. What am I feeling though? Resentment? I'm a little offended that she asked, but why? I don't know, but want her to say something else, so I ask her to elaborate. "I mean... Is he with you?"

I smile like I'm not getting it. "You're not making any sense."

She's getting a little flustered. Is that good? Did I want that? "You know..." she rolls her eyes trying to think, I shake my head. “Is he,” then she whispers, "gay?"

I whisper, but smile knowingly, "No."

She nods and sighs, like what I just put her through was physically exhausting. "Ok."

"Why?" I honestly want to know why she felt like asking.

"Well," she takes a second to think, "I wanted to know if I should treat him like a friend, or more like a... you know."

She's making a gesture with her hoof, small circles, like she's waiting for me to finish her thought. "No," am I enjoying this?

She stamps her hoof on the floor and grunts. "If I should treat him like a friend, or..." she leans in and whispers again, "boyfriend."

I'm really about to lose it. The way she's acting just offends me in such a way that it's hilarious. I speak full-voice, "Nope, he's not my boyfriend."

She's still leaning in close, "Ok, but did he... kiss you?"

I roll my eyes, starting to get frustrated. Then I nearly shout, "No, Sawdust is not gay. He is not my boyfriend. We have not kissed, we have not had sex."

Her eyes go wide, "Timber!" She caws.

"Well what are you asking me, mom?"

"I just wanted to know if you wanted me to act differently around him."

Excuse me? "If it was a mare, would you act differently around her?"

She backs off a bit, looking around, thinking. "Well, probably," she admits finally. "I was always really kind to any fillies your brothers brought home."

"So be kind," I tell her. "Be a decent pony, just don't act like you want us getting together. In fact! Act like he's one of dad's work friends!"

She lifts her eyebrows, thinking that's a good idea.

I roll my eyes again, then leave to go to my room. Mom tends to try a little too hard, I feel. I love her for it, truly. But, if she ever actually acted like that in front of a potential date I had, I might just kill myself.