JudoWolf.com

The older man drove into the parking lot at Best Buy, got out of his car, and headed for the front door. Strolling toward the entrance, he noticed a group of people lined up near the door. They were not blocking it, were not all standing, it looked more like a campsite, as they were sitting on lounge chairs, blankets, shelters were set up, and some were in one man tents sleeping. Nearing the entrance more people continued to get in the line. This puzzled him as it was 10 in the morning and the store was already open. Reaching the front door, he saw a large display for a new electronic gadget called the IPAD, which went on sale tomorrow at 9 am. Entering the store, he went quickly to the items he needed, checked out, and left the store. The people were still there; the line was getting longer, soon it would be around the corner of the store and by tomorrow would be around the building and beyond. Stopping and gazing at the line his mind began flipping through the pages of his youth, and when he had waited in line for something. In the military, everyone waited for everything all the time. Christmas was next, but the retailers created the Black Friday mess over the last ten years.

Growing up this line craze did not exist. The first time he stood in line was to see the movie, JAWS. When all the tickets were sold, you had to wait for the next showing or go home, as you could not buy advanced tickets. He went to the movie theater three times before he saw JAWS. The second craze was Cabbage Patch Dolls which, were the must have doll one Christmas. The Empress (his beloved wife) had waited in line for four hours, and when she got in the store, they were sold out. She went to a number of other stores without success, and finally got lucky when she hit number five. If, the doll were not for the children she would have stopped her search.

Today, this line waiting is as much of a craze as purchasing the item. News crews always film the line, speak with the first person in line, and show some shots of the sleeping people, and the first one running out of the store with the item as if it was the Ten Commandments. Funny, they are always smiling, stop for the camera, and tell the world how they couldn’t wait for this day, and the new electronic gadget they just bought for $500. What surprised the older man was with the high unemployment rate how all these people could have so much money? Each new electronic invention is a must have, and within a year will be replaced by something newer, better, or faster.

Turning the older man headed for his car and remembered waiting for something, which excited him, so much he had trouble containing himself. He was not in line and there was one other person with him. They were waiting in a room, in a large building, that had six or seven chairs, a table with old magazines strewn about; four large ashtrays guarded the corners, and a large window overlooked the building next door. He and the other man were chain smoking, pacing back and forth in the ruts carved out by the previous waiters, not saying much to each other, watching the door with overwhelming anticipation. The door finally opened, the doctor walked in and said to the older man, congratulations, you have a new daughter, and your wife is doing fine. The older man shook the doctors and strangers hand and followed the doctor to his wife’s room. She was smiling, started to cry as he approached the bed, and handed him the baby, which was lying, in her arms. Holding his first daughter, he knew she could never be replaced.

Backing out of the parking spot, he drove slowly pass the line, looked at the people sitting, standing, and leaning; and hoped someday they would experience the joy of having a child.

With kindest regards Judowolf