Daily Flash Fiction Challenge

"You can't bring that in here," the guy tells me.

"But I went through Hell just to be able to," and he cuts me off and says, "Nope. No way. I don't care what you did, that thing ain't coming in here."

I didn't expect such treatment to be honest. I'd always heard this was the place to be, but now, now I'm wondering if it's really worth it. Sure, it’s temperate and breezy and beautiful and all. The other place was scorching and it smelled horrible, but I don’t know. I don’t know if this is worth it.

“So what am I supposed to do?”

“Not my problem,” he says. “You’re holding up the line, though. Move it and figure it out.”

I tell him I just waited in line for what felt like years and he says it’s the shortest it’s ever been. So I ask if I can speak to the manager and he tells me it’s by appointment only.
I look down and think about my options. I’m disappointed. I came all this way, make it to the gate, and am denied entry, not for who I am, but for what I bring.

“Look,” I say, and his name tag says Peter. “Peter, I know you have a job to do, but I can’t help but wonder if maybe you’re stretching your authority a bit here. I’m sure my entry is not going to be what brings down the joint.”

He looks down at his book and says I’m scheduled, but he doesn’t have to let me in if I’m not going to abide by the rules.

So I tell him, “Fine. I’d rather go to your competitor if you aren’t going to allow cats.”