FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Now Serving:

The Lion's Share

"Dad?" Art said as he saw the elder lion enter the coffee house. "What are you doing here?"

Art's father gave him a bemused grin. He loomed over his smaller son as he approached the counter. "Is that any way to greet your father?" he asked, loosening his red silk tie. "You almost sound like you're not happy to see me."

"Of course I'm happy to see you, Dad," Art said, walking around the counter to hug his father. It was like hugging a smaller version of his boyfriend Venti, which was usually like hugging a solid brick wall. "Business is slow anyway. I haven't had a customer in over an hour."

Art's father ruffled Art's braided mane. "The place is immaculate. Are you by yourself?"

"Yes sir. Like I said, business is slow."

Art's father rubbed his chin. "Hm. Has it always been this slow?"

"Only after the lunch hour. It'll pick up again after rush hour."

"Good, because I'd hate to think I made a poor business decision in purchasing this place."

Art blinked. "Wait, did you say what I thought you said?"

Art's father nodded. "I thought adding a popular coffee franchise to the family businesses would be nice."

Art felt light headed. "And when was the owner going to tell us he sold the business?"

"He's telling you now. Or at least the new owner is. I felt you should be the first to know."

"I don't feel so well. I need to sit down." Without waiting for a response from his father, Art went over to one of the barstools next to the picture window. The sun was shining a little too brightly, the sky a little too blue.

"What's wrong, son?" Art's father said, gently gripping his son's shoulder. "I thought you'd be happy to hear the news."

Art looked up at his father. "Why would I be happy, Dad?"

Art's father gave his son what was supposed to be a warm, fatherly grin, but to Art, it looked like a harbinger of doom. "Because you're the new manager of this particular coffee shop. Actually, _you're_the new owner."

Art forgot how to blink for a solid five seconds. Had a fly decide to land right on the surface of his eyeball, he would have kept on staring at his father. "I'm...the new owner?" he said, blinking rapidly to make up for lost time.

"Yes, son. Congratulations. You might consider dipping into the emergency funds I've provided for advertising."

"Emergency funds? How much emergency funds have you provided?" Art thought he couldn't be any more surprised than he was right at the moment. His father managed to prove him wrong.

When his father told him the amount, Art was very glad he'd been sitting down, because he was certain his legs were no longer able to keep him upright. "Dad, I don't mean to sound ungrateful..."

"You sound like you're about to pass out, actually. Would you like for me to get you a cup of water?"

"Yes, please. Why are you doing this for me?"

"Because, son, I've decided you're going to be my heir."

"Can you get me two cups of water?" He was going to splash one on his face to ensure he wasn't dreaming. He was absolutely certain he was.

One cold cup of water on his face later, and he was again proven wrong again.