Chapter 6: Friend
Bull stepped inside the store and was greeted with welcome change of temperature, the warmth inside giving him a great comfort. The cold outside was fierce to the point that he practically slammed against the door to get in. He let out a sigh of relief, his breath no longer visible from the temperature outside. A smile formed across his lips as he stepped further in, admiring the Hearth’s-Warming decorations that were set up. Whether it was the small dioramas or the oversized plastic décor, there was something about them that made him feel content, especially here. Even in the harshest of weather, this store still managed to make him feel happy.
The store was like any other convenience store in Manehatten. It had a wide variety of items for most any need. Shelves and bins were stocked, employees were at their stations, and customers were bustling about. The structure of the store was nothing extravagant. There was a checkout aisle with three registers set up and five aisles of shelves held the products the store had to offer, along with shelves toward the back. Also in the back, obviously separated from the public part of the store, was the storage area and office behind a set of doors that read “employee’s only.”
If it was any other pony, it would have been just another typical store. However, it was a different situation for Bull. Today was also different, since he was not here just to buy some things.
He looked around the store a bit before finding a pony stocking some items onto shelves. The pony in question stopped what he was doing once he caught sight of his friend. He greeted him with a smile. “How are ya today, Bull?”
Bull returned the greeting. “Fine, more-or-less. You?”
“Besides getting the store, the employees, and myself ready for the big holiday shopping rush,” he jokingly added, “I’m doing just dandy.”
Bull chuckled. “I’m sure you’ll live through it, Biz.”
“I know I will,” Biz began. “But I think it’s my mane that’s gonna have trouble bearing it.” He made note of how his mane had receded from the front of his head, which now only held a few strands of the hair.
The two shared another good chuckle.
“Anyway,” Biz continued, “I’m assuming you’re here to pick it up.”
“That and a few other things,” Bull responded.
Biz nodded. “Follow me. It’s in the back.”
The two proceeded to walk down the aisle, heading for the back of the store.
“So,” Bull began, starting up a conversation. “How’s business been?”
“Better than it was when I started,” Biz responded. “Honestly, if you tell me three years that I would actually turn a profit with the place, I would have said you were full of it.”
“No doubt about that,” Bull said. He still remembered when the store when the store was just starting out. Biz was not able to afford a sign to be put up, let alone keep the place running. He was one of the few customers Biz managed to get, mainly because the store was the closest to his home. Soon enough, he and his family became regular customers of the upstart stallion. Biz being the only employee at the time, this allowed for a friendship to start between him and Bull. “You certainly made this place better than it was before,” Bull commented on the store’s success.
“Well I got you to thank in part of that,” Biz replied. “You shop here so often, the place might as well be a second home to you.”
They made it to the end of the aisle and turned to trot towards the storage entrance. Bull stopped for a moment and Biz along with him. Stocking the shelves on the wall was changeling dressed in the store’s employee uniform.
A sigh escaped Bull’s lips, his mood now dulled. “Almost a second home.”
Biz held back his own sigh. He completely understood his friend’s problem with changelings, but that did not make it any less exhausting to deal with. Race or species was not an issue with Biz when someone was looking to work for him. So when one capable changeling saw the “Help Wanted” in the window, Biz wasn’t complaining. But whenever Bull came around and would wait outside an aisle until the changeling left it, or stumble back into a stack on cans whenever he came by, it was always embarrassing to watch. One episode involved Bull asking Biz to get something from a shelf on the other side of the aisle simply because the changeling was on that side.
“Could we try going around the other side,” Bull suggested, not taking his eyes off the changeling.
This time Biz let out his sigh. “Bull, the entrance is right there,” he pointed a hoof to the door not two meters away from them.
Bull gave him a stern expression, letting him know he wasn’t convinced.
A headache was something Biz did not want right now. “Look, how ‘bout this: I’ll walk on the side closest to him and you can walk along mine. Will that getchya to move?”
The suggestion—and the exasperated tone that came with it—gave enough merit for Bull to consider it. “I guess we can do that,” he said a bit hesitantly.
Both rearranged themselves so that they were now parallel to each other, with Biz being closest to the side with the changeling, and trotted.
“So,” Biz began, changing the subject, “what ‘bout you, Bull? How’s life been treating ya?”
Bull, kept his eyes fixed on the storage entrance. “Well, it hasn’t kicked me in the gut lately, so I guess it’s treating me good.”
This gave Biz an amused smile. “Marsh doing okay?”
Bull thought about the recent week’s events. “He’s doing good. I’m keeping a close eye on him.”
“I haven’t seen him around the shop for awhile. He seemed happy all the times he’s been here.”
“Yeah, I guess he’s just feeling under the weather today.” Bull’s ears drooped a little. Biz did not know about his safety measures.
The two eventually made it to the door and went in. Biz led Bull to the back office where a large package waited inside. The large object looked like a tree that was wrapped with brown parcel paper and tied tight with string. Biz trotted up the object and patted it with a hoof.
“One Heath’s-Warming tree on the house.” Biz knowing about Bull’s financial state, and believing that no Hearth’s-Warming can be complete without a Hearth’s-Warming tree, he decided to give his friend one of the best in stock free of charge.
Bull admired the size of the tree. It looked tall enough to reach his apartment’s ceiling, but still left enough room for a top piece. He already had all the decorations he needed for it. The tree was the only component missing. He was sure that Marsh and he would have a good time decorating it for Hearth’s-Warming day.
“You know,” Biz began as Bull continued examining the tree. “I still have one opening for ya if you’re interested.”
Bull kept his ears open and did not look towards Biz. “I figured you gave that to someone else already.”
“I’ve kinda been keeping it reserved for you.”
There was a pause before Bull chuckled nervously. “Isn’t that a little counterproductive?”
“Only if it makes me lose money, which it doesn’t.”
Bull kept looking at the tree, not really examining it anymore. “Well, I mean,” he began, trying to find a convincing counter statement, “you always give some money whenever I need it, I don’t know why…”
“It’s not about money,” Biz interrupted him so as to keep his argument strong. “It’s just, you’re always nervous around changelings and ya never get out much because of it” he continued, keeping is voice sincere. “I figured giving you a job would help ya get out more, help ya not be so panicky.”
Bull kept his gaze fixed. “You’re really worried about me.”
“Well, yeah,” Biz responded, implying the fact to be obvious. “I’m your friend, and it’s hard seeing ya freak out at the sight of a changeling a mile away.” There was a short silence in the conversation. “Look, I’m asking ‘cause I’m honestly worried about my friend. Do you want the job?”
Bull was lost in thought, thinking about all his fears: of changelings, of the difference of the world, and his fear for Marsh. He thought of how he lived day-by-day and how it affected both him and his son. He even managed to think back to that day in Canterlot and how it changed everything. He would have kept on thinking, if he wasn’t sure of his answer.
Bull hoisted the tree onto his back and gave Biz the most sincere smile he could manage. “Thanks for the tree, Biz.” Then he walked out of the office.
Biz sighed. “You’re welcome,” he said to a friend out of ear shot and out of rationality.