Last year, to make some extra money, I worked Black Friday as a temp at a shoe store. From ten at night until seven in the morning, I stacked shoe boxes on sale between fifty and sixty percent off. It was the longest night of my life.
It was crazy. When I got to the mall, I had to park a mile away. Shoppers lined up around the store and out the door with shoe boxes stacked to their eyes. Some stood in line for two hours.
Around three I started to get sleepy. I drank the first half of my five hour energy shot. By five, I drifted off while carrying a dozen boxes of shoes to refill the pilfered rows. I drank the second half. Then I started in on the cokes—I drank three. Then I resorted to pinching myself. I don't know how the shoppers stayed awake.
When I left at seven, I passed a woman carrying ten bags full of clothes, shoes, and electronics. She was on her cellphone. “I have to come back tomorrow,” she said. “I didn't get any Christmas presents, but I did get some great stuff for myself.”
PRACTICE
What's your Black Friday story? If you've never been to Black Friday (and you're lucky if you haven't), make one up about the shoppers in the video above.
Write for fifteen minutes. When you're finished, post your story in the comments.
Three AM and I wasn’t the first one to arrive at the super duper store. The lined curved all around the building but I had to get Dad the flat screen he wanted and it would be half price, a price I could afford.
The woman in front wanted to talk about what I would be going for first.
“Laptops of course,” I lied. She nodded and then began typing into to her phone. I smiled knowing she was looking up the prices on laptops. I listened for an hour to the man and his teenage son behind me, make fun different people in the line. Then about twenty people back I saw the woman with a small baby. She had the six month old on her hip in a sling. “No,” I thought. “Don’t bring her here.” Black Friday was dangerous for me, little alone a baby. I was expecting to be trampled on. It was a horror movie about to happen.
When they opened the doors, I didn’t make a B-line for electronics but followed them into children’s clothing. She was grabbing as many coats of every kind and size. I stood next to her and asked if I could help. She said, “Coats! Grab as many sizes you can.” I did.
Together we were able to collect fifty some coats and took them to the check out. I watched her check out with her credit card. I was going to make sure she was safely out and I walked with her to help load up her car.
“Do you have a boy at home?”
“No she’s my only child.” She said confused.
“I noticed you grabbed a lot of boys coats.”
“Oh, these aren’t for my family.” She smiled. “They’re donation for Coats For Kids.”
***The above is my Black Friday wish. A positive outcome to the ciaos. We can rise above the marketing schemes.
Wow. A story of rare selflessness on a very unselfless day. Good one Hazel.
Did you get the TV?
I’m sorry to say the above story is a possible positive to Black Friday, my wish. I always look for the good in people.
I took your story and the above video and flipped the antagonist. I made her a philanthropist with misplaced judgement in need of an angel, leading to the main character to appear flawed and yet have a heart.
I have never been to Black Friday. If I ever had the nerve, I hope to donate something.
Would the main character go back and get the tv? Good question…I guess it would depend how hokey/hopeful we were going. I see dad unwrapping a little girl’s coat similar to what she once had as a child (pic to go with of course) and telling him the story and then explaining that all that money she saved up went to Coats for Kids in his name. He hugs her and curtain. Possibly nauseating but could be believable with the right set up. My kind of Hallmark Christmas Special. lol
No, I think it’s great. My story has a kind of a cliched cynicism to it. Yours is more surprising.
Nice. Yeah that would be pretty Hallmark.
Thanks!
Three AM and I wasn’t the first one to arrive at the super duper store. The lined curved all around the building but I had to get Dad the flat screen he wanted and it would be half price, a price I could afford.
The woman in front wanted to talk about what I would be going for first.
“Laptops of course,” I lied. She nodded and then began typing into to her phone. I smiled knowing she was looking up the prices on laptops. I listened for an hour to the man and his teenage son behind me, made fun different people in the line. Then about twenty people back I saw the woman with a small baby. She had the six month old on her hip in a sling. “No,” I thought. “Don’t bring her here.” Black Friday was dangerous for me, little alone a baby. I was expecting to be trampled on. It was a horror movie about to happen.
When they opened the doors, I didn’t make a B-line for electronics but followed them into children’s clothing. She was grabbing as many coats of every kind and size. I stood next to her and asked if I could help. She said, “Coats! Grab as many sizes you can.” I did.
Together we were able to collect fifty some coats and took them to the check out. I watched her check out with her credit card. I was going to make sure she was safely out and I walked with her to help load up her car.
“Do you have a boy at home?”
“No she’s my only child.” She said confused.
“I noticed you grabbed a lot of boys coats.”
“Oh, these aren’t for my family. They’re donation for Coats For Kids.” She smiled.
Wow. A story of rare selflessness on a very unselfless day. Good one Hazel.
Did you get the TV?
I’m sorry to say the above story is a possible positive to Black Friday, my wish. I always look for the good in people.
I took your story and the above video and flipped the antagonist. I made her a philanthropist with misplaced judgement in need of an angel, leading to the main character to appear flawed and yet have a heart.
I have never been to Black Friday. If I ever had the nerve, I hope to donate something.
Would the main character go back and get the tv? Good question…I guess it would depend how hokey/hopeful we were going. I see dad unwrapping a little girl’s coat similar to what she once had as a child (pic to go with of course) and telling him the story and then explaining that all that money she saved up went to Coats for Kids in his name. He hugs her and curtain. Possibly nauseating but could be believable with the right set up. My kind of Hallmark Christmas Special. lol
No, I think it’s great. My story has a kind of a cliched cynicism to it. Yours is more surprising.
Nice. Yeah that would be pretty Hallmark.
Thanks!