Madness and Mayhem: the midnight selling of Harry Potter 6

Actually, it wasn't all that chaotic, just packed. There were a number of people dressed up, which is to be expected. The security was really tight. On top of the store's own security there were two uniformed police officers. When the box was mistakenly brought down an hour early (not to be opened, mind you, just to have it ready) it caused enough of an issue for "They" to demand it to be returned to the storeroom until 5 minutes to midnight. A little anal if you ask me, but then, those are the rules.

At midnight the box, a huge single cardboard container covered in black plastic to conceal it's true identity that had to be transported on a skip, was opened to a jubilant count-down and news coverage. My very own darling Nyron got to be the one to lift off the lid and therefore may be on the news tonight (CTV, I think). By this time the line, which started along the front windows of the store, had winded a serpentine path around the giftware and into magazines, back out along the travel section and actually intercepted its own beginning and then passed it. People had to be let through 5 at a time until the end of the line moved forward enough to stop blocking the path. As the people came through they were handed their books directly out of the giant crate.

The only customer altercation experienced on the sales floor (although there were apparently a few upstairs where the preorders were being distributed), was by a man who took great personal offense that the two policemen were allowed to queue jump to get their books. He said, "just because they're civil servants doesn't mean they should get to jump the line. I have been here since 11". Of course, the cops had been there working security for much longer than that and they didn't get to sit at the Starbucks and have coffee. But what it really comes down to is - Come on! It's just a book! Yes, it is an highly anticipated, overly securitied book with the largest first edition print run of any book in publishing history (so I've heard), but it's still just a book. If the guys who've been working to keep you safe from the highly excitable populace around you want to buy their own copies of the books, it's not big deal! Get a life! He actually argued his point for a full 5 minutes before Nyron was finally able to induce him to move along so that the rest of the people who had been there since 11 could move forward.

We also had to explain, with decreasing patience, to the people just "hanging out" or browsing for other books that they had to leave. The whole staying open until 1am thing is strictly for Harry Potter only. No, you can't buy one of the 5 dollar bargain books. No, you can't use the washroom. And no, you especially can't stand in the middle of the store getting in everyone's way while you do so. Buy Harry Potter, or get out.

Since Nyron and I were handing out books to people in line, we got the pick of the whole crate for ourselves, so we put aside some that were unscathed by their incarceration in a cramped cardboard box (which took a crippling toll on some dust jackets) and went up to buy them on Nyron's discount when the chaos had calmed down. I stayed up until 2am reading before succumbing to sleep, only to be awaken this morning by the very loud construction machines next door at 8am. Last year I read the 5th book in 12 1/2 straight hours with hardly a break. This year, I think I'll let it last a bit longer.

o( )__