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It’s that time again.
By Kristen | January 30, 2008
The first week or two of a new semester generally means one thing: we eat a lot of take-out. Once things settle back into a new routine, I’ll be back to shopping, cooking, and photographing again.
So, seeing as many of you have insisted you’re here for the writing and not just the food, I will let you read my first 500(ish)-word assignment from my non-fiction writing class, tentatively titled, Workers’ Revolution on Aisle Three.
One morning in 1996, I called the police to tell them I was a prisoner at the local Wal-Mart.
Rather than deal with the shopping public in the days before Christmas, some of my coworkers and I volunteered to work an overnight shift in another store that needed help doing inventory.
We carpooled there, an hour away, and after we filed in to the new store that night, the details of the night were laid bare: a 12- to 14-hour shift, a few breaks, but no more than 60 minutes total.
Working at Wal-Mart had made many of us semi-experts in local labor laws, and we knew this long shift wasn’t right. Some asked to leave. All of the doors were locked, we were told, and would remain so until morning. We might as well stay and work. And if we chose not to work… who knew what sort of repercussions awaited us? It was Christmas. Most of these people had kids. They went back to work.
I didn’t. If they couldn’t say something, then I would. Two people followed me. We waited an hour in a back office, then I called our boss back at our home store.
“Look, they can’t keep me here against my will,” I said. “It’s not legal.” He said it wouldn’t be the Wal-Mart way to call the police. I laughed. He didn’t. I hung up.
“Get your coats, kids,” I said. “We’re leaving.”
The three of us left the back office. A manager stopped us. He asked for our names and demanded to know what we thought we were doing.
“My name,” I said, “is Kristen Bonardi and we’re going home now.” I couldn’t stop there. I stuck out my chin and added, “Do you need me to spell that for you?”
He took all our names and let us pass. I led my band of two followers to the front of the store. With everyone watching, I picked up the phone and called the police.
Turning my back to my comrades, in one big anxious rush, I blurted out where I was and that the bosses wouldn’t let me out of the building and, um, they can’t really do that, right? The dispatcher, as though he answered this everyday, assured me: no, they can’t. Someone would be right over to help me out.
I hung up, not knowing what do to – or what would happen – next. I just stood there, trying to look tough. This is it, a part of me crowed, climb on the desk and hold up a scrappy UNION sign! Rally the workers! But before I could even find a pen, two officers came, popped the Wal-Mart doors open. A manager suddenly appeared with a smile: “Hello, guys! What can I do for you this morning?”
We were each taken aside to give a statement to the police: the manager, my coworkers and I. Everyone was told to go home.
On the way home, some of us who had carpooled stopped at a diner for breakfast. They thought it was a good laugh and were glad to get out of work early. I had tasted victory and justice and I wanted everyone to know. I slipped off to a pay phone next to the restrooms and called the local news station. Still shaking with adrenaline, I shouted over the noise of the diner, “I was held against my will! By Wal-Mart! I had to call the police to let me out!”
The news passed on my story.
A week later, I quit. This time, no one followed me to the door.
Topics: Odds and Sods |
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January 30th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
Holy frak! Is it wrong that I want to say, “you go, girl!”?
No news outlet would pass on that story in this day and age.
January 30th, 2008 at 5:28 pm
Well said *and* well done!
January 30th, 2008 at 9:46 pm
Kickass Kristen. DAMN.
January 31st, 2008 at 6:52 pm
that’s really damn crazy. go you.
January 31st, 2008 at 10:29 pm
That is awesome. Wal-Mart is the Devil.
p.s. I sent you $5.00, so buy something and make a post about it, plz?
March 5th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
This was an awesome story. I don’t think I’ve even heard it before. I’ve always been impressed with how you can command a situation through education and bravado.