As James and Nicola continued down the street and and away from their strange encounter in the magic shop they couldn't help but notice the funny looks people were now giving them. A couple of passers by even giggled in their direction, much to Nicola's annoyance.
"What is their problem?" she asked her friend angrily.
"You don't think that woman in the shop could have actually done something to us?" James replied with a hint of concern.
"Of course not!" Nicola snapped "have you lost your mind?"
At that moment a little girl passing by with her mother suddenly pointed at James excitedly "Look Mummy, a pig!"
The embarassed mother shushed her child and moved her quickly along while James blushed with embarassment and Nicola stifled a giggle at his expense.
"That's hilarious!" She chided James "wait until I tell everyone what that little kid just called you"
"Don't you dare!" James responded before muttering something about badly raised little brats under his breath.
Before long, the pair arrived at the office. But they were in for a rude awakening when they attempted to enter.
"I'm sorry Miss, no animals are allowed in the building" the security guard partially blocked the door, leaving just enough space for James and Nicola's colleagues to pass by them unchallenged "and nobody who isn't an employee can enter either"
"But we work here!" James protested, though he was completely ignored by the burley guard.
"We work here" Nicola repeated. This time the statement was acknowledged, albeit with a derisive guffaw.
"Well I don't recognise you madam, and with respect I don't think you would fit into this environment. I couldn't possibly let you into the building in such innapropriate attire anyway. It would be more than my job is worth"
Nicola looked down in confusion at the more than respectable work clothes she was dressed in, the same as she had worn when she had walked past this jerk into the office in that morning and on numerous other occasions.
"But.." she began to argue, but the security man had moves onto James.
"And as for the idea we would hire a farmyard animal.." he guffawed, incredulous at the thought.
"Hey, cut that out!" James was still reeling from his encounter with the rude little girl earlier and now this? What was people's problem with him all of a sudden? "I don't want to have to put in a complaint about your conduct but..."
"Look, now it's getting agitated and causing a commotion" the guard sighed at Nicola.
"It?" James repeated in an outraged tone "you'd better start showing me some respect or.."
At this point enough of a scene had been caused for the guards female colleague to become involved.
"What's going on here Dave?" She asked sternly.
"This airhead is claiming she and her pet pig work here" Dave sounded more amused than annoyed "and now it's starting to squeal and snort and make a scene"
"Yes, I could hear from over there" the authoritive looking middle aged woman answered before turning to Nicola.
"Look, dear. I don't know if you are tryimg to be funny or if you are even more stupid than you look, but I suggest you go back to the nail salon or wherever it is you normally hang out and take your friend with you before I call the police. Understood?"
"But we do work here, what part of that is too complicted for you to understand?" Nicola continued to argue.
"This is crazy!" James added "Look, if I give you our bosses extension she can come down here and vouch for us"
But again his words were ignored as if theg didn't count or couldn't be comprehended somehow.
"Right, she's clearly too dense to understand a simple threat" the female security guard finally seemed to have had enough of this bizarre stand off "Dave, call the police"
"No, it's fine, we're going!" Nicola conceded, grudgingly accepting defeat "but you haven't heard the last of this!"