Mr. Piggy by DCFTEF

Mr. Piggy by DCFTEF (fimfiction.net/user/Dangerous_Creature)

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You are Filthy Rich
Owner of Barnyard Bargains
The #3 retail chain in all Equestria
You're successful because you give the ponies what they want

Case in point;
Spring time is exam season in the Equestrian education system
It's a lousy time to hold important exams, you know because you're a father yourself
Young colts and fillies don't want to concentrate on studying when Spring is in the air
They'd rather be outside, playing in the newly returned sun
So many Ponyville parents feel the need for a little extra reminder,
Something that will keep their foals' minds on responsibility when there are so many distractions
Sales of spanking canes multiply during exam season
And you're happy to provide the customers with what they want
You order an extra barrel of top-quality rattan canes from Singapone
Since you buy in bulk you can offer 'em at a discount; 50¢ a piece
Are you taking advantage of some poor foal's misfortune to make a profit?
Sure, but it's not your problem
If you don't study hard you get spanked hard instead, kid
CAPITALISM BABY! Gotta love it!

Anyway, you're tending your flagship retail store in Ponyville
Built on the site of your Grand-Sire's trading post
You like coming down from your office to work the floor when you can
Meet the customers
Keep your staff from slacking
Best of all you don't have to pay some pony to do work you can do with your own hooves
Your wife & daughter don't understand
They LOATHE manual labor and would rather pay employees to do the heavy lifting
It's just as well
You love your family like any good Equestrian father
But a few hours escape from them sure benefits your sanity

So it's a day like any other
Early afternoon, too early for ponies to be getting off work
The store is slow
You make good use of the time
Straightening up displays, making sure the floor is swept
>"Umm...excuse me...sir?"
A little pegasus looks up at you with big, sad eyes
Blank flank. White and gray dapple coat.
She's holding a hammer under her wing

>"I don't have enough money for this, but I only need it for a second,
>"Can I borrow it, please?"
She's a little young to be swinging a hammer around your store
More information is needed
>"What's a little lady like you need such a big hammer for?"

She sniffles, and tears pool up in her eyes
>"I...*sniff*...I did a bad thing, sir.
>"I took something from your store without paying."
Well, usually you take a hard line with shoplifters
It's store policy to call the Ponyville Constable when you catch one
With younger offenders, you typically march them straight home and turn them over to their parents
Ponyville is a small town...everypony knows where everypony else lives
But for some reason you want to know this sad filly's story
>"That's not good, sweetie, do you want to tell me about it?"

She sniffles again and explains;
>"I know it was bad. My Mommy caught me and made me bring it back.
>"Now I'm gonna get a spankin' when I get home.
>"But Momma said;
>>'If you steal from a store you deserve to pay for your own cane!'
>"So...can I please use this hammer without buying it?"

You still don't understand, but she withdraws a ceramic piggy bank from her saddlebag
>"I've had Mr. Piggy for a long time,
>"I'm sure he has enough money inside him."
She sets her bank on the counter
You tip it over a little with your hoof
It's the traditional kind of bank with no rubber stopper in the bottom
Now you understand the hammer...

A good business stallion would let her smash the bank, sell the cane and talk this filly into a brand-new piggy bank to replace the one she just smashed
Housewares and home goods...second floor aisle 3.
But she's so sad, it tugs at your heart
>"Goodbye Mr. Piggy"
She sniffles;
>"I really liked having you on my dresser."
With tears rolling down her cheek she kisses her piggy on its cold ceramic nose

Even the hard-edged capitalist in you can't take this
It gives you heartburn to lose a sale...but you have to do something
>"Well, this is a high-quality hammer"
She looks even sadder
>"I'm sure it could do the job, but I have a better idea.
>"If your Momma really wants you to come home with a cane I could sell it to you on credit"
She sniffles and asks;
>"What's credit?"
>"Well, it means you can take an item home today and pay me for it slowly, as you get the money
>"How does five pennies a week sound? You'll be all paid up in just a little more than 2 months...and Mr. Piggy can go home safe with you."
She's still a sad filly with a lot to worry about
But you've made her a little bit happier
>"Just 5 pennies a week? I can afford that!"
You're not going to charge a little filly interest on a 50¢ item that's going to be used to spank her own rear-end

So you go through the motions of setting up a formal credit account
This can be a learning experience
You explain the papers and show the filly her payment schedule
Then you pick one of the smaller canes out of the barrel for her
>"Thanks so much, Mister!"
She hugs her ceramic piggy like a stuffed plush animal
>"You hurry along now, don't keep your Momma waiting."

The dapple filly is still going home to a painful ordeal
She shoplifted, and she's gonna suffer for it, you can't change that
But maybe you made her day just a little less awful
>"Thank you, Mr. Rich. You're really nice."
There are not many ponies in town who'd say that
There's almost a smile on her face as she leaves to endure her just punishment

You close the cash register
Your employees can handle the store for the rest of the day
The boss is going home
You want to spend some time with Diamond Tiara
See if her homework is done...if she needs some help studying
Maybe even read her a story if she's not too cool for that

Sometimes, something just reminds you there are more important things than profit.

END