We got to our new home, but I don’t really like it. Daddy isn’t here. But Mommy keeps saying he was a bad pony, even though he was always nice and happy and played games with me all the time. I miss Daddy.
 
(Image 1)
 
Mommy started to teach me lots of new things. Like See-ence, and His-story, and math. That’s an easy word to say. But she keeps getting mad for some reason. I always say I’m sorry and I’ll be good. But Mommy keeps saying something about her not being able to teach me well. I don’t know what that means, but it was still fun learning these cool things.
 
 
I still play lots of games with Mommy, but she always makes me go to bed really early. She says she has to go out to work. Which is weird since its already dark outside when she leaves. Mommy also teaches me about bad ponies and what to do if I meet them. But I really think saying hi is a lot nicer than kicking them in their butts and running away.
 
(Image 2)
 
Then one day Mommy says I’m going to school! I’ve heard of school before. Its this amazing fun place where fillies and colts go to learn cool things and make lots of friends and have lots and lots of fun! Mommy and Daddy never let me go for some reason. Am I really going there? Mommy says I am, and I’m really excited about it.
 
 
School is really fun. I made a cool friend today and taught the bad pony bullies a lesson about being nice. I really really wanna tell Mommy all about it and then play some more games and then ask her how to do homework and if it’s like her work.
 
(Image 3)
 
 
But when I got home Mommy wasn’t there. I know, she must be doing her work thingy. I’ll just wait for Mommy by the door then until she comes home. Then we can play lots of games.
 
 
. . .
 
Mommy’s taking a really long time to get home. But I can wait, waiting is a really fun game Daddy taught me.
 
. . . .
 
It’s getting kinda dark now.
 
. . . . .
 
GASP Yay! Mommy’s home, I’m really sleepy but its fine cause Mommy’s home and now we can play games and I can tell her about school and homework and all the fun things that happened!
 
But Mommy got mad at me for being up so late, and in the dark. But I told Mommy I was waiting for her and then she seemed really sad. She told me I shouldn’t be up so late, then took me to bed. I wanted to tell her all about school and how much fun it is, but I was really sleepy and Mommy said we could talk in the morning.
 
When I got up I wanted to tell Mommy all about school but she said she had to tell me something…
 
Mommy: Autumn, I need to talk to you about something.
 
Autumn: Ok Mommy. waits happily
 
Mommy: takes a deep breath Autumn, I, umm….
 
Autumn: eagerly waiting
 
Mommy: Autumn, I don’t want you to stay up waiting for me.
 
Autumn: downcast Oh, I’m sorry I made you mad last night Mommy.
 
Mommy: No sweetie it ok. I just don’t want you staying up that late.
 
Autumn: But Mommy, I wanna play games with you. And I wanna tell you about school!
 
Mommy: I really want to do those things with you Autumn, but… my… job goes really late and I won’t be home until after dark.
 
Autumn: That’s ok Mommy, I can wait. Daddy taught me that game and its really fun. And you’re really good at that game, Daddy told me so.
 
Mommy: He, did? Dammit that bastard. Sweetie, how about this. Before you start playing the wait game, do all your homework and then wait in your bed. Then we can talk about school when I get home.
 
Autumn: happy smile Ok Mommy! Uh, can you tell what homework is though?
 
So Mommy taught me what homework is. Its like learning things at home, which is really fun. I got really good at doing homework. Mommy says I’m really smart. I did my homework and then sat on my bed for the waiting game. Mommy is really good at this game, its dark outside again, but I’m gonna win again! But then I got really sleepy, and when I woke up it was morning. Mommy said that was fine and then told me I need to eat food while I wait. Then she taught me how to make foods.
 
Mommy started teaching me lots of stuff. How to make my own lunch, how to turn the house lights on, how to get to school, how to tuck myself into bed, and what to do about stranger ponies. It was really fun cause now I can do like, a lot of cool things.
 
I keep doing what Mommy tells me before I play the waiting game. I sometimes win and then I get to tell Mommy all about school. But most of the time I fall asleep before Mommy gets home.
 
One day before school Mommy had a really long talk. She sounded really sad…
 
(Image 4)
 
Mommy: Autumn, sweetie, I need to tell you something.
 
Autumn: Ok!
 
Mommy: I, I…My work is going to take me a lot longer now. I don’t want you to play the waiting game anymore sweetie.
 
Autumn: sad Awwww.
 
Mommy: Sorry sweetie but you need your sleep to grow up into a big pony.
 
Autumn: Ok Mommy.
 
Mommy: I also won’t be around to take you to school in the mornings. Do you remember how to get to school?
 
Autumn: Ooo! Yus I do! You take a left then a right, then go straight for four houses, then another left for three houses then a right and then I’m at school!
 
Mommy: Yes, very good sweetie, that’s right. And you remember how to make your lunch?
 
Autumn: Yes, but I really like it when you make it Mommy.
 
Mommy: wince Well I’m sorry sweetie but I won’t be able to do that often anymore.
 
Autumn: Aww, ok Mommy.remembers, excited Oh! Mommy, Doc wants me to have a sleepover at her house! Can I go please pleaseplease PLEASE?! puppy eyes
 
Mommy: happy desperate Yes, sweetie you can. In fact if you ever want to hang out at her house its ok with me. And you can stay as long as they want you to.
 
Autumn: excited happy HUH! Really Mommy!? Thank you! hugs Mommy
 
Mommy: happy sad You’re welcome sweetie. remembers There’s another thing I need to tell you sweetie.
 
Autumn: super excited Ok!
 
Mommy: Sweetie you know how Daddy is a bad pony.
 
Autumn: calms down Yes.
 
Mommy: Well, I would like you to stay away from colts. They’re bad ponies.
 
Autumn: What! But, but, there’s lots of colts in my class, and none of them are bad ponies!
 
Mommy: Not now maybe. But colts become mean ponies when they grow up sweetie.
 
Autumn: somber A-All colts do?
 
Mommy: hesitates No, most colts are mean ponies sweetie. But, some are nice. You just need to be careful and know which ones are nice and which ones are bad ponies. You’re a smart filly, I know you’ll be able to tell.
 
Autumn: Ok Mommy.
 
Mommy: And you remember what I said about ponies you like, right? How you show them you like them?
 
Autumn: Yush! You give them a kiss!
 
Mommy: Yes, but only ponies you really really like ok?
 
Autumn: Ok Mommy!
 
Mommy: Good, now one last thing sweetie. I want you to keep going to school, even if you don’t see me in the mornings, ok?
 
Autumn: Ok Mommy.
 
Mommy: sad Good, now, you’d better be off to school now.
 
Autumn: hugs Mommy Ok, bye Mommy!
 
Mommy: sad tears G-Goodbye Autumn.
 
. . .
 
lets go of Autumn
 
Autumn: worried Mommy, why are you crying?
 
Mommy: I’m fine sweetie, just happy is all. You just go to school and have fun at your sleepover.
 
Autumn: cheers up Ok Mommy! Don’t be sad no more then. runs to school Bye Mommy!
 
Mommy: waves, crying Goodbye Sweetie!
 
 
I had lots of fun at Doc’s sleepover, they let me stay the whole weekend! When I got home Mommy wasn’t there, but that’s ok. I made food and went to bed like she told me. She wasn’t there when I woke up either, but that’s ok too, I made my lunch and went to school like she told me to.
 
. . .
 
I haven’t seen mommy for a lot of days now. But its ok, I’ll just do what she told me to and then she’ll be home tomorrow.
 
. . . .
 
M-Mommy still isn’t home, but that’s ok, she’ll be home tomorrow for sure.
 
. . . . .
 
Tomorrow, Mommy will be home tomorrow for sure!
 
. . . . . .
 
M-maybe Mommy is just w-working a lot. That must be it! She’ll be back tomorrow for sure then!
 
. . . . . . .
 
Mommy didn’t come home today either, but I’m sure she’ll be home, soon.
 
. . . . . . . .
 
I’m gonna keep waiting for Mommy. I’ll do what she said to do, and then I’ll wait.  
I can wait. I’m really good at that game…