‘Come on Denise, let’s look inside. You love antique china. We might find something to add to your collection.’
Denise hesitated then looked through the store’s window. Beautifully designed china plates, bowls and tea sets were arranged among a luxurious red velvet display. She felt the pull and relented.
‘Well, maybe just for a minute.’
Douglas grinned and pressed through the door, a delightful ding dong doorbell accompanying their entrance.
Inside was even more lavish. Delicate and ornate specimens safely ensconced in glass display cases, full sets carefully arranged on dark wooden tables and towering shelves, laden with a plethora of pieces, that created narrow corridors down the length of the shop.
‘Oh my,’ said Denise, her eyes darting around the shop, exhilarated, overwhelmed. ‘It’s wonderful.’
‘Greeting’s folks!’ came a pleasant voice from between the shelves. ‘Welcome to my—’
The voice stopped and Douglas and Denise looked around. A man, the owner, stood with mouth agape staring at them. Denise shared an awkward glance with Douglas, then not wanting to be rude said,
‘Hello, lovely shop you have.’
‘Hey, you can’t be here,’ said the owner, coming out of his daze, his pleasantness evaporated.
‘What do you mean?’ said Denise.
‘Him,’ said the owner, pointing severely at Douglas. ‘He has to leave.’
‘Why?’ asked Denise.
‘Leave? Whatever for?’ said Douglas, eyeing the owner with suspicion.
Not taking his eyes off the pair, the owner stepped sideways to a sign near the front door, tapping it harshly with his index finger.
It read: ‘No Bulls Allowed.’
‘What is this nonsense?’ said Denise, then looking at her husband. ‘Douglas, surely he can't mean…in this day and age?’
The owner tapped the sign again.
‘His kind aren’t welcome here.’
‘It’s alright Denise,’ said Douglas, bitterly. ‘It would appear some old prejudices are still fresh here. Sir, is this how you treat visitors to your store, to your town? With such flagrant speciesism?’
‘I don’t know that that means sir,’ said the owner, the “sir” dripping with sarcasm, ‘but it’s my store and my rules so get out.’
‘Oh honey, let’s just leave,’ said Denise.
‘I do not see why we should be forced to leave something we enjoy because of this man's ignorance, but perhaps you are right. Let’s go.’
The owner grinned wickedly.
‘That’s right buddy, know your place and take your cow of a wife with you.’
‘How dare you!’ seethed Douglas, stepping towards the owner.
As he did his tail brushed a display table causing a teacup to tinkle to its side.
‘You see,’ said the owner, pointing. ‘This is why you lot aren’t allowed. You’ll break everything!’
‘Oh, I’ll break everything alright,’ said Douglas, menacingly.
‘Douglas don’t!’ pleaded Denise. ‘You're just proving him right. Please, let’s go.’
Douglas didn’t hear a word. His eyes narrowed and he saw red. The hairs on his back bristled. Loud, wet snorts came from his nostrils. He stamped his hooves, pointed his sharp horns and charged at the towering shelves of china.
CRASH!