Darby Davis GPC Student

Not Just Another Day At The Mall

Much like today, many teenagers growing up in the nineteen eighties enjoyed spending a day at the mall. My older sisters, Carla and Misti, age seventeen and fifteen at the time, were no exception. During the summer of 1987 they spent nearly every waking hour cruising up and down the mall corridors. One day at the mall that summer turned out to be one of the most enjoyable afternoons they had ever spent. Misti told me of their unforgettable day of cruising the mall with a celebrity.

The amazing story begins on a humid Friday morning in July. According to Misti, she and Carla were planning to bask in the sun at Jacksonville Beach. However, the humidity was so intense that they decided to override the beach plans and spend the day shopping for swimsuits, sunglasses, and sandals in the cool, air-conditioned stores at the Orange Park Mall instead. While they were browsing through The Limited, Carla noticed the store’s front gate had been closed and they were now locked in. Misti informed me that she was in the fitting room trying on a swimsuit when Carla began pounding on the door exclaiming, “Misti, we’ve been locked in the store.” Misti quickly changed back into her shorts and tee shirt and ran out to see that Carla was right; they had been locked in The Limited. Misti began to plead for help from the other mall shoppers passing by the gate asking them to please find a security guard to let them out of the store. An old man who was shopping with his granddaughter agreed to locate a guard to free my sisters from The Limited. Misti and Carla waited for twenty minutes for the guard who would never appear. Carla was dialing the number to the mall office from the telephone in the store, when suddenly light illuminated the store and the manager stepped out from behind the stockroom door. The manager was stunned to see that my sisters had been left behind the closed gate and as an apology for what they had been through, she invited them to be V.I.P. guests at the private photo shoot that they had closed The Limited for. Misti described both hers and Carla’s reactions to the invitation as “ecstatic.” The manager then handed my sisters a V.I.P. badge and announced that the shoot could then commence. My sisters will never forget what occurred next.

The store was buzzing with photographers and layout crews. However, the most exciting moment was when Brooke Shields entered the room. Both Carla and Misti could not contain themselves and Misti informed me that they acted similar to the crazed fans we view on television as they mob the celebrities. They were able to have a quick chat with Brooke before the photo shoot. Brooke asked about the store mishap and my sisters explained the situation and that it was all worth it, since they were able to meet her. Misti described Brooke as a sweet, funny, and down-to-earth person. She recalled that Carla’s impression of Brooke was the same as Misti’s, but adds, “She has enormous feet.” My sisters watched in awe as Brooke modeled the Fall line of The Limited wardrobe for a catalog due to hit the stands in August. After the photo shoot, Brooke asked Misti and Carla to go on a private mini-shopping spree in the store with her. Carla and Misti quickly jumped at the chance to shop with a celebrity and they were off trying on clothes within minutes. Misti was excited that Brooke liked the same dresses and jeans that she did and Carla could not believe that she shared an interest in the same shirts as Brooke Shields. At the end of the day, my sisters were tired, yet happy as they said good-bye to Brooke and left the mall with bags and bags of free clothes from The Limited. The two loaded their bags into the trunk of Carla’s Toyota Corolla and sped home to tell everyone about their unforgettable day at the mall.

Misti enjoys telling this story, because it allows her to briefly relive the fun she and Carla had at the mall that summer. Watching Misti tell the story is quite funny. She becomes very animated in her movements, her arms and hands moving in every direction as she describes the situation, her voice raises, and you can feel her excitement. We love to hear the story and Misti is great at telling it.