"Now young man, you strike me as the sort of fellow, who is up to more of a challenge than an ordinary cat, dog or owl. Aren't you?" asked the clerk, as Erik knelt peering in an assortment of rather pedestrian pets.
"Well, I would like something unique, maybe even novel, but it was hard enough to get my parents to agree to anything more than a goldfish," remarked Erik.
"Ah, well, with the right familiar, a wizard with your potential shouldn't have any problems with his parents," the shopkeeper said.
"Wizard? You think I'm a wizard?" laughed Erik, "Like Harry Potter?"
"No, not like Harry Potter," said the Pet Shop Owner with disgust, "Harry Potter is a caricature, a cartoon of wizardry. Wave a wand, and poof! Not at all how it really works. Oh, sure we do the wand and poofing thing sometimes for show, but it isn't necessary. All the work of the spell is done with the mind and the right familiar to help channel your will. You couldn't have found this store if you weren't a latent wizard."
"Latent wizard? Hm? But really, it was my brother Devon who pointed out your shop," said Erik.
The shopkeeper looked flustered, "Uh, um, Devon saw the shop? But he wasn't looking for a pet?"
"He was going to help me find a pet, you see he's got allergies, and since he's going to college, I can finally get apet."'
"Oh, my. I may have made a mistake? But we may be able to salvage it. Come with me, Erik," the man said, "Uh, do you like milk? Not lactose intolerant?"
"Yeah, I like milk, and not lactose intolerant. What does that matter?"
"Mooooooooooooooo!" bellowed Devon, as the Highland Bull mounted the newly transformed cow.
"Whoa! A cow and bull? My parents will freak," said Erik.
The shopkeeper bit his lip. Oh, yeah, Devon and Erik's parents would definitely freak.