5 days until Christmas, three best buddies, Adam, Jack, and Larry, had been invited to the annual Walmart employee’s Christmas party. The three best friends, however, didn't work at Walmart, but another homeboy of theirs, Josh, who was the departmental manager, had extended the invitation, enticing them with the all-night free drinks offer. They couldn’t refuse. What was intended to be a merry occasion of fun, laughter, and light soon descended into something more sinister and utterly unexpected.
Upon arrival, they immediately perceived a colossal green tree dazzling with ornaments, fake gift boxes piled underneath, Walmart staff adorned in Christmas jumpers, caps and candy-cane accessories, caroling over a robust karaoke machine. The smell of cookies and liquor lingered in the air. And yes, there was a bar with a bartender with a variety of different kinds of beer, wine, liquor, juice and soft drinks; a sea of glasses filling up and emptying with unnatural speed.
By the first couple of hours, it was obvious the ‘free drinks all night’ strategy was quite effective. Laughter was uproarious, voices louder, everyone turned amicably drunk, even their homeboy, Josh, the official organizer of this chaos, seemed to be joyously wasted. Soon enough, they could see a group of girls getting into intense conversations, because one of the Walmart employee boyfriend or was trying to dance with another employee girl that don’t like each other and all it’s turning into intoxicated agitated bickering women. They decided to keep their cool and enjoy the revelry from a safe distance.
Post midnight, the festive carol tracks began to transform into hardcore party music and this was their signal that it was about to turn up. More inappropriate dancing by some of the women at the party drawing more men to the dance floor. That’s when things could escalate. As some people began filtering toward the dance floor, others found themselves congregating outside in the in the cold winter venue parking lot, the discussions growing heated and rowdier by the minute. Amid the laughs and teetering, there arose sudden outcries and then the sobering sound of gunshots ringing out, slicing through the laughter, and dimming the music. Two or three people fell, having been hit, as others ducked or sprinted away, their intoxication shaken away.
Police sirens wailed as they swarmed into the parking lot, guns drawn, aiming at unknown shadows in the eerie Christmas lights. Panic ensued and screams filled the once merry atmosphere. The Christmas party was being shut down and people rounded up for questioning, each more puzzled and afraid than the other.
As for Adam, Jack, and Larry, they had dived behind a large van when the shots were fired. Fortunately, all three remained unharmed, and the ordeal sobered them up real quick. Silently, they slipped away from the chaos, vowing to steer clear of Christmas parties, at least those with all-night free drinks. It was an employee Christmas party they were certain they would never forget. The realization that this holiday season brought them more than just joy but a chilling one to.