Black Thursday by Linda Joffe Hull

process. To top it off, the ripple effect was sure to cause financial mourning in the form of lost jobs throughout the community. Bargain Barn employed a lot of local people.
    â€œDo you think there’s any possible way to keep the store open?” L’Raine asked.
    â€œThat will likely depend on how long they think it will take the coroner to assess the scene and how much manpower they need to keep things up and running while she does,” Griff said like the old pro he’d eventually be. “I suspect they’re mulling that over right now.”
    â€œI mean, if Bargain Barn dies, so do the jobs of a lot of innocent employees,” I said.
    â€œIt’s not like there’s anything we can do about it,” Eloise said.
    Frank glanced at Anastasia and the Channel Three camera, now relocated just outside the main entrance door, and then over at a small cluster of women who happened to be pointing at me. “I’m not sure I agree.”
    History told me I had good reason to be both encouraged and concerned about the odd but enthusiastic twinkle in my soon-to-be-ex-husband’s baby blues.
    â€œWe may not have manpower, but we definitely have media and Mrs. Frugalicious power,” he said.
    â€œMeaning what?” I asked.
    Frank turned to the Customer Service counter behind us and picked up the store phone. “Meaning I really think we may be able to help keep a terrible tragedy from turning into total disaster.”

    13 . Shoppers in the know dress in layers instead of bulky winter jackets, wear sneakers, and have water bottles and snacks in tow so nothing distracts from the important business at hand.

seven
    Following some admittedly impressive walkie-talkie/cell phone/landline finagling between Frank, Griff, various emergency responders, and Assistant Manager Joe (left to negotiate after Alan expressed his fervent but seemingly futile wish to stay open, and then shut himself, the husband, and a police official into his office), a hasty but potentially promising plan to keep Bargain Barn operational actually did start to unfold.
    The plan started with Channel Three taping while I, Mrs. Frugalicious, addressed all of Bargain Barn via the store PA system:
    Attention shoppers. This is Maddie Michaels, also known as Mrs. Frugalicious. Thank you for your patience and calm in the face of this evening’s unfortunate events. While a small portion of the store will, for obvious reasons, remain off limits, the staff of Bargain Barn is preparing to get the rest of the sales floor up and operational. If you have already made a purchase and still need to pick it up or arrange delivery, that line will be reforming at Merchandise Pickup. If you were previously in a specific doorbuster special line, please show your number to the employees and volunteers who will be standing by on the west side of the store to direct you to its new locations. If you are a member of my Frugarmy and were waiting in the line by Layaway, that particular line will now be relocated …
    Even as I spoke, shoppers seemed to be pouring into the store to sympathize, be part of the hubbub, meet me (per Frank), score abandoned electronic deals already sold out at some of the other stores (per me), and enjoy an extra 10% off their next purchase through December 24 (per Joe, the assistant manager).
    As a result, the next hour was anything but a temporary lull 14 at Bargain Barn.
    While emergency workers wrapped up their grim job in the yellow-taped southeast corner of the store, employees returned to their various tasks and posts, old and new, around the building.
    The Michaels clan not only stuck around, but did so with an in for a penny spirit, starting with Frank. He trolled the aisles, reassuring shoppers everything was A-OK; non-answering questions about what had happened; and playing warm, comforting celebrity spouse. Barb and Eloise (who wanted to be as far away from the body as possible) joined the ranks of