This store isn’t just any old grocery store. It sells nothing but all natural and organic groceries. There is nothing like Doritos, Kraft Mac and Cheese, Charmin toilet paper, or Tylenol. They sell more like cheese covered tortillas, Annie’s Mac and Cheese, and Seventh Generation toilet paper. This store also gets to charge a lot more for things like this. This is okay, because most of the people that shop here are your high end, rich, snobby people that want nothing but the best and healthiest for their families. They usually only drive to the store if they are afraid of getting their hair flattened by rain or wind; I’m not complaining though because I would rather they walk, considering that they can’t drive in the rain or snow.
Before the first snow storm it was as chaotic as chaotic can get. It was the second snow storm that changed the world, at least that’s what the people of Alexandria were thinking. So when the meteorologists on television started predicting the storm, it slowly became busier and busier the closer it got to SNOWMAGEDDON. The snow predicted to start to really pick up in the evening, so the day of the storm was when everyone decided to come out, thinking the world was going to end.
Going into work that day I was a little frightened because I knew what was about to come. I sincerely thought about spiking my hot chocolate with chocolate vodka before going in just to take the edge off. Instead I braved it up, put my long john’s and snow pants on, and braved it up sober. That was the worst mistake of my life. Once I got to work and got a spot in the garage without getting hit, I forced down the lump in my throat as the automatic doors opened in front of me.
Looking out of my department at the frantic and raged filled customers I squirmed with anticipation wondering what kinds of things people were in such a big hurry to buy before the white stuff started to come down. Peering out at the lights shining behind the register numbers I strained my neck out just a bit to peak around the corner and see if anyone was coming. I tried to make a mad dash out to the protein bars to straighten them up but it was impossible. I was approached with my first human that could have been confused for a malnourished brown bear.
It was an elderly woman wearing a fur coat and a hat to match it. She even had the snout to match it as well. I felt like I should curl up in a ball and beg her not to eat me. Then to make things worse she asked me in a growling voice, “Where’s the sugar?” This is when I really started to shake because I knew she wasn’t going to like the answer I was going to give her. I crunched my neck down in between my shoulders and pointed my finger in the furthest direction away from where we were standing and said, “a-a-aisle 1.” She rolled her eyes and grumbled as she ran over innocent people trying to make her way over there. After that confrontation my heart was racing up in my throat so I ran back into the aisle to catch my breath and stop shaking. It was another hour before I could venture out again.
My next adventure out seemed to be better than the first. I tried to swallow my fear of the monsters that roamed the store. I put on my hat and scarf this time to try and blend in with the rest of them, but then I remembered I still had to wear my apron with my name tag on. “Oh dear,” I thought to myself, “there is no getting around these people.” This time I was actually able to venture around and look at the types of things that the people dressed up as monsters were buying.
Every cart that zoomed by me had at a minimum of three gallons of water in them. Why do you need that much water? There is going to be a ton of it on the ground. Another popular item was red meat. The meat department almost had to close down because of the lack of meat that they had in the back to stock their shelves. It seemed as though the only thing people didn’t want was ground beef.
One very upset customer in his boots, hat, snow pants, and sweatshirt decided he had had enough. He picked up his few items and case of water out of his cart, and shouted, “I’M TIRED OF WAITING!” With this being said he stormed out the door, but it still took him some time considering he had to wait in a line to get out of the store.
After encountering the very upset man who left his cart in the middle of a sea of people I was mortified. I just wanted to get back to my aisle where it was quiet and safe. Before I could get there a man quickly approaches me. Immediately I just wanted to turn my back and run. He came up on me so quickly that I froze, my eyes bulging out of my head. I couldn’t take anymore torture. When he gets in my face he says with a smile, “you look like you’re the calmest one in this place.” As I gained the strength back in my knees I managing to get out a small but questionable,”th-th-thanks sir.”
Deciding I really didn’t like being in the middle of the store either I went to the front of the store to be of help in the bagging department. I was able to do some more nosing while up here to see what kinds of things people were getting. With the store closing at 6 pm, and it being almost 5, the crowds actually started to slow down with some interesting purchases to say the least.
A younger couple in their twenties came up to check out their items and the only things in their hands were four bottles of red wine and some cheese. “What’s the special occasion?” the cashier says to the couple. “None, we’re just planning on getting snowed in.” It is fun to see that people are making light of the situation. At least they were happy and not in an angry mood similar to that of the bear-like woman that I encountered earlier in the day.
Another funny instance was as I watched a woman in her forties walk up to the cashier with a huge smile on her face, all she carried in her basket were a couple of red wines, a few white wines, and two-six packs of beer. “I’m not worried about food. As long as I have my alcohol I will be just fine.” “Enjoy your weekend,” the cashier says to her with a smile as she pays and walks out of the store.
One of the last customers of the night was a young man in his twenties. He didn’t seem to have a care in the world. It was as though he were out in outer space somewhere while he waited in line. Like many customers he had a hat on his head, mittens on his hands, and warm boots on his feet. What stood out about him was what was in his hands. He didn’t have water or toilet paper. All he needed was the mini-keg of beer to keep him entertained and the bread to soak it up when he drank too much.
Finally after the exhausting day of frantic, cranky, annoying, and light hearted customers, a person comes over the intercom, “attention team members and customers, due to inclement weather…” We packed up our things, shut the lights out, and went home.
After I walked in the door of my apartment I slowly began to strip the layers of clothes off to get in to something warm and comfortable. The sweatpants and t-shirt in the corner of my bedroom looked fantastic. After my long and terrifying day all I wanted was another mug of hot cocoa, but this time I didn’t make the mistake of staying sober. Due to the inclement weather I added a little extra “chocolate” to take the edge off of a long and exhausting day.
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