Flash: Today is Lion Day

Today is Lion Day. I put on the costume I’ve made and go into town. There is every type of lion. I see a cowardly one, arms linked with Dorothy. There is a green parsley one and a woman dressed as a tin of golden syrup. I even see Aslan, accompanied by a walking wardrobe. Some are professional and fancy-dress hired, many are Primark onesies; we all sweat in the sun.  
The air is filled with candyfloss and frying onions. People sing and drink but then there is a wave of whispering and we squash to the edges of the square to make way for the main event. First of all come children dressed as cubs, jumping through flaming hoops. Next is a float with the Lion Queen on; the most popular girl in her school, I assume. She waves nervously at the crowds. And finally, the real Lion.  
He is led by the Mayor and covered in chains. The Tamer walks behind the Lion, whipping him along. The Lion Queen is dragged down from her float and tied to a stake. Then the Tamer slowly unbinds the Lion’s chains. The Mayor backs away, as far as the crowd will allow. The Lion is unleashed, everyone is silent, the only noise now are the Queen’s sobs.  
He pads up and sniffs the hem of her cat skin dress, his claws are massive and pointed. Then he turns and in one leap topples the Tamer. There are shrieks and people run into each other. Then two shots. I don’t want to be trampled; I push forward. The lion is dead in front of me, twitching on the ground. The other shot was for the Lion Queen; blood trickles from her pretty mouth.