"In Line for the Wizard"
It was November 13th, in the year of our Lord 2003, and for some reason that escapes me now, I was at the Mall of America at 8:45 PM. Now mind you I'm writing this the following July so by remembering the date and time, I think I earn a little break for not recalling why I was there. Just accept I was at the Mall and move on. Anyhow, November 13th was such a big deal to everybody because at the stroke of Midnight, bookstores everywhere were allowed to sell the newest novel in the Harry Potter series, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" (aka Year 5).
Now I knew this was a big deal to children and adults alike. It wasn't just a book release, it was practically an event. Hundreds upon hundreds of people had begun waiting in a line all day; almost half of them draped in some mystic costume or clothed like one of the series characters. Do I think that's odd? No. First of all, anything proactive like a novel that can get people of all ages interested is never a bad thing. Second of all, Tony and I have gone to so many midnight showings of opening movies or tracked down some really bizarre items that we could never say we're any different than those in line for Harry Potter.
Anyhow, what's interesting about all of this was that the line of people waiting to buy the book stretched out to one-third throughout the Mall. And the Mall of America happens to be the second largest mall in the entire world. So yeah, there were ALOT of people in line.
And that's my story. I know it's not really exciting, but I just felt like sharing. - Jake