Summer of Love, Wal-mart Style Part 1

It wasnt good enough; to be stuck working the stockroom during the Last Days of a tired Kmart on the failing side of town. No, better was the gleam and shimmer of a newly-opened Super Wal-Mart that flourished just across the highway. “Associates” from Kmart were jumping ship as fast as they could, seduced by the lure of $6.75 an hour, starting, and the opportunity to work under the lightning glow of the Wal-marts’ industrial grade fluoros, among all-the-STUFF-you-could-ever-n eed-under-one-roof. God, to be able to wend your way from the fresh, bright produce, through the aisles of gleaming electronics with the blank TVs staring out at you, to the racks of off-brand clothing wanna-be’s, to Automotive, where everything smelled like new car. All in one stop. It was all there, for the taking, a middle-class Garden of Earthly Delights. THAT’s where you wanted to work. They gave their employees stock.

I stared hungrily at the sprawl of the Supercenter from across the highway, finishing my cigarette in my flimsy little red Kmart vest. Wal-mart had blue ones. Blue. My red vest didn’t seem so vibrant any more. I straightened my name badge and flicked my cigarette away. That’s it. My mind’s made up. I had to get out while I still could.

I shed my vest on the way to the car after work. There wasn’t anything I could do about the khakis and the sensible shoes, standard retail duds. They’d guess I was slinking over from the run-down monstrosity across the road, but I wouldn’t broadcast it. The car’d barely warmed up before I was getting out again; I shouldve brought a bike to ride up to the entrance, I had to park so far away.

The doors slid apart before me like the legs of a lover. The sound of chimes floated out to me; light and happiness spilled forth; a thousand intoxicating scents lulled me in. Two blue-vested angels glided out, a shopping cart between them, singing a ballad of welcoming. They lifted me into the cart, and I knelt in the basket, swooning on the crest of the beguiling music, as they wheeled me through gates of splendor. Wonderland.

The greeter, bathed in golden light, bestowed a blessing on me as I passed by. Darling

associ-ettes pranced up to me, flinging garlands around my neck, showering me with kisses; they rested their lovely heads upon my shoulder for a moment; their tears of joy dampened my collar. Children ran alongside, cheering and waving. I was surrounded by light. On I rolled; I waved at the lines of beatific customers who turned their heads to beam upon me.

My carriage stopped in front of the Customer Service Shrine, my escorts helped me out and faded away into the throng of celebratory revelers. A figure of pure goodness and beauty gazed down at me; she spread her arms. “Look upon glory. Ask, and it shall be given unto you.”

With eyes shining, I fought the urge to look away, to shield myself from such radiance. But her tender smile gave me strength, and I lifted my chin, and spoke with boldness. “I’ve come for an application.”

I could see nothing but love in her eyes as she bent her head towards me. “We’ve been expecting you,” she whispered, her breath warm on my cheek. “Without you, we are incomplete. Be with us.” Her lips brushed my neck, lingered for too short a second. “You are home.”

….I reeled from the Shrine, borne aloft on wings of eagles. My hand, clutching the Application for Employment; it seemed to pulse with a life of its own. I drifted towards the door, i wanted to stay forever. I would come back. I would return, and then, wear the blue with pride, at one with my beloved brethren…