Meanwhile, police cars were responding to a one-car accident less than a mile away. The investigating officer shook his head as he got the kid's story. "OK, you were driving down this industrial complex side road, and a bull ran across the road? A great big cow-type bull?"
Rick nodded, knowing the officer didn't believe him. "I swear! I came around the corner and there he was, big as life! I swerved to miss hitting him, and hit the mailbox!"
"So, where is this bull now?"
"He ran over to that gate, pushed it open, and went inside that abandoned warehouse." Rick realized that even though he was telling the truth, he was digging himself into a reckless driving ticket. "Look, maybe it was just a big dog. Yo can see where I hit the brakes."
"A big dog?" The officer shook his head. "Well, that's a lot more believable than that load of bull you were trying to pull over on me. Look, I get off in ten minutes. I'll leave and you can leave, and nobody has to know. Otherwise I got two hours of paperwork."
Sighing, Rick nodded. "Thanks. It's already bad enough getting insurance as an 18 year-old without a ticket."
The officer snorted and got in his car, and after a moment, drove off. Rick backed his car up and was relieved to find very little damage. He shouldn't have called the accident in, except he wanted to get the damned bull off the road. Pulling into an empty parking lot next to the abandoned building, he decided to see if he could find the bull. Then he could call animal control, and maybe even get proof for that cop.
Pushing open the gate, Rick looked for any place the big beast could have gone. There was an alley between two buildings, and a large opening into the main warehouse.An animal would normally stay outside, right? Except - he saw what looked like manure just inside the warehouse.
Staying close to the wall in case the bull turned mean, he slipped inside. It was dark further in, but he kept going. It sure smelled like some kind of big animal was close by. By now it was so dark he could barely see his hand in front of his face. It was then that he heard something very large move behind him, and felt a slobbery tongue lick the back of his head.
"Hey!" Spinning around, Rick made out the huge shape of the bull standing directly behind him. At least the animal was friendly. The boy grinned as the mucus-slick nostrils snuffled at him, and the huge tongue slobbered on his face. "You're pretty gross, fella." He moved back from the animal's unwanted attention, only to be followed. Another step put him against a wall, and he discovered he was in a corner. The bull shifted so that Rick could not get by unless he crawled under him. And then it started to lick his face and mouth, blowing snot on him from the running nose.