800 words written on the subject for a competition run by Company magazine
I shuffled my feet and looked up at the sky as the first icy drops began to fall. I’d been standing in the same spot for three hours and knew the maze of creases in the girl in front’s olive parka like the back of my hand. According to my watch, there were still five minutes to go until the doors would open and the hoards of us stood shivering and snaking across the pavement would be offered solace amongst the sales racks.
As time had passed and numbers had grown, so had the palpable excitement. Conversations drifted delicately between swaddled bodies and bags were high on everyone’s list. “No trying on and always useful,” said one voice in a thick Liverpool accent. “Easy to grab in the scrum!” added another, before adrenaline and coffee-fuelled laughter rippled along the line.
I smiled and cradled my own cardboard cup. Although I’m partial to a beautiful bag, today I was exclusively part of the ‘shoe crew’, my target being a pair of McQueen boots. I’d lusted from afar after spotting snaps of the perfectly crafted peep-toes on Twitter, but knew that at over £600, they were out of my reach.
However, on this cold December morning, prices were about to drop and I’d decided to try my luck. I was confident; I had enough money and I had a game plan. I visualised my carefully devised route to the shoe department and imagined zigzagging rapidly towards the entrance.
