The breeding centre’s employee parking lot was filling up with cars on that chilly late winter morning. The sun hadn’t quite come up yet, so the yellowed outdoor lighting was the only thing guiding the workers to the doors. If someone looked closely enough at the space above the entrance, they might’ve been able to see the unreadable sun-bleached sign, a remnant of the building’s origins as a high-school.
It was on this particular day that Ethan had arrived a bit early, and was sitting in his car on his phone. He briefly looked up, and saw a middle-aged Asian woman in an old worn-looking coat trudging by on her way into the centre. This was Hanako, a Japanese woman who was charged with caring for the saferoom breeding pairs that lived in the converted classrooms.
Ethan hastily put his phone away, and practically leap out of the door, slamming it closed behind him. He knew that if Hanako saw him slacking off, she’d report him to Mr.McCain. She had never liked Ethan, but neither of them really knew why.
“Hello Mochi! Hello Barrhead! I’m back.” as Hanako entered the saferoom, a snowy white unicorn with a matching white mane and blue eyes ran up to her, “Hewwo Han-ah-co! Mo-chi am soon-daddeh! SUUUU ‘cited!” Hanako grinned tiredly. Mochi’s mate, Barrhead, was having a longer than usual pregnancy, and it was starting to worry the kind-hearted woman. Hanako sighed and went over to were the pale yellow pegasus was resting.
From beneath her long pastel blue mane, Barrhead’s emerald eyes peeked up at Hanako,”Hewwo! Bawwhead am soon-mummah, SUUUU ‘cited!” the mare exclaimed, completely failing to notice her caretaker’s concern. Hanako took a deep breath and said; “That’s nice Barrhead.” and turned to the chalkboard that had been on the wall for nearly as long as the building had existed. The chalkboards had always been useful for explaining things to fluffies.
Mochi was dumbfounded. Barrhead was in tears. Hanako sadly put the chalk away. Explaining scary things like “Why Barrhead might need a c-section” was easily her least favorite part of the job.
