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Stores took on a blur as I sprinted across the Wrentham Premium Outlets. I maneuvered my way through the sea of Orientals. When I finally arrived Vera Bradley there were five others in line. I took my place in line behind two female college students. The clock striked 9:10. The girls shivered trying to fight the thirty-two degree weather. No blankets, coats, or gloves layered their persons. Instead they wore checkered converse shoes with untied laces. Two hours and fifty one minutes left. The count down had begun. A minute here and ten minutes there makes three hours feel grueling. Blankets were brought to them, luckily. The blankets were set up like a picnic. I asked if I could join. I gently sat on the blanket not wanting to intrude, I felt now was the time. //Excuse me would you mind answering a few questions?// I asked. She took hold of her wolf blanket tight not holding back on blurting out //Of course! On the plus side my mind will be off the cold.// I positioned my body on the whimsically designed black and white comforter attempting to keep the most heat possible.

Were there heated parking lots? I asked about her entrance to Wrentham. She was a veteran. Her and her friend ran through the wooded area from a local pizza place to try to be number one. As they made their way through the parking lot heat overwhelmed their bodies. //Last year the first person in line received all merchandise on the house. All I got was a pencil case.// Not sure of what she was going to buy, she wanted it to be //on the house!// As she sat crisscrossed her friend yelled //Mary, are you hungry?// Both looking in the direction of the voice she whispered I would love to have wings from The Roast House. She pulled down her rainbow knitted hat and cleared her straggly blonde hair from her eyes.

//Did any advertisements attract you to Vera Bradley?// I asked. Mary responded //Christmas shopping has not begun in my book. I am actually here to buy myself something nice. Last year I bought a laptop case and a mismatched lanyard. I rock that around college. Vera Bradley always had good deals, so I keep coming.// She sat adjacent to girl of smaller size covered by a green blanket leaving her almost non-existent. Mary’s best friend there for moral support shared my name. You never know who you are going to meet I though out loud. As the time went on the temperature continued to drop. I asked her //what part of your body is completely frozen?// Mary had no shoes on. Her big toes were completely numb. Mary sang me her song about having not feeling in your body. She cleared her throat and threw her head back to warm up her vocals. Unconsciously she moved her hair yet again and sang a parody to Forever Young. My body’s going numb, numb, and numb I can’t feel my thumb thumb thumb I need to warm up with some rum rum rum Waiting in this line I will be forever frozen My bodies going numb numb numb Mary’s sporadic dance moves left me laughing quite loudly. Not concerned about my surrounding I kept focused. Why didn’t she have warmer clothes? Why a wolf blanket? My first thoughts; she’s a Floridian and travels with the flea markets selling them out of vans. That was not the case. Mary was from Rhode Island and complained how everyone had mutual friends. I laughed with agreement. She was home for thanksgiving on a college break. Unfortunately all of her clothes did not make it home. Mary explained she brought home some jeans, and her over coat but nothing that provided extreme warmth.

Scalding hot cocoa and cider was being brewed in the open storefront. Mary and I watched the steam rise from each miniature Vera Bradley paper cup. Almost drooling at the sight she said //I would do anything for that hot flavorful goodness!// The workers paraded out of the doorway letting out the slightest bit of heat that made all the more difference. My hands were frozen. Writing became very difficult. When the hot cocoa reached my hand, throat, and bladder everything began to melt. I regained movement into my fingers. Our wait was almost over. To conclude I asked one question more. //What is your primary goal of Wrentham Premium Outlets Midnight Madness?// Mary said she wanted to receive everything without cost, or at least win something free. We stood behind the barriers to guide the line. Vera Bradley workers came out with a box full of change purses. Aprons were tied onto the workers, the resembled kitting elves. One woman asked a question to the front section. Despite the combination of frostbite and sleep deprivation the crowd was ready. Mary answered the first question with confidence and wiggled around. In an awkward position almost pigeon toed Mary shook her whole body. Mary was confident and easy going. Our wait in line ended.

Tightly packed near the doors we joked after the interview. I thanked her and excused my overtired attitude. Mary laughed for no reason throwing her head back. She claimed it was exhaustion. The clock read 12:00. One minute away from the anticipated moment. Is 25% off worth frozen toes? The waiting finally ended now a whole new adventure was about to unfold inside the color walls of Vera Bradley.