Black Friday

I finally caved. I did something I swore I would never do. I went shopping on Black Friday. Not only that, I got to the store just after 4am. But there was this one item I just had to have because the price was soooo good. So a friend and I went together and we were prepared to put up a fight. Did you hear what I just said?? I was prepared to throw elbows if necessary. That says something and it's not a good thing. But, to be honest, it was kind of fun. So, we're standing around our treasure, hands on, as the clock strikes five. It reminded me of that documentary, "Hands on a Hard Body", (no, not that kind of hard body), where these contestants have to have at least one hand on this pick-up truck for days until there's one left standing, and they win the truck. It was interesting, I highly recommend it. But, I digress. So, we're all standing around for an hour chatting with the people around us, being friendly. But as the employee starts to cut away the plastic between us and our treasure, things got ugly. Keep in mind, there were actual police officers- with guns- stationed by us. Not security guards- real cops. That also says something, doesn't it? So we're ripping the plastic away and literally throwing our bodies on top of the boxes so as not to lose what we've worked so hard for. I mean, good grief, I got up at 4am! In the rain! My friend, as she's lying across her box, starts getting cursed at by this guy that showed up just before 5am. Who did he think he was, getting there way after us and trying to muscle his way in? She turns and tells him, in no uncertain terms, to back off, this one's hers. She must have looked pretty convincing, cause he does. And we've done it! We won!! So weird, isn't it? We're civilized people, ready to throw down for a good deal. But, we won!!
So, I get home, on a high and go back to sleep, feeling victorious. Until I turn on the TV later that day and see the news that some poor Walmart employee in New York was killed when a Black Friday mob literally tore down the doors and trampled him. We're civilized, huh?