Steven Hoang, Staff 

The recent “defrosting” of Mariah Carey brings about her Christmas reign, along with skipping the holiday of Thanksgiving. At the Walmart Supercenter located in the Philadelphia Mills Mall, some Walmart employees are barely clinging to their sanity.                                                           

“There was this one customer at the register who was trying to imitate Mariah saying ‘It’s time’ in whistle notes,” said Walmart cashier Pearlie Watts. “I really wanted to lash out at her, but I then realized that my minimum wage was more important. You can’t believe the amount of restraint it took for me to keep my mouth shut.”

For those like Walmart employee Clark Bates, it was a struggle to focus on his work with Carey’s song “All I Want For Christmas Is You” being on repeat. 

 “That song was on (expletive) blast for the past hour while I was restocking items at the toy section,” Bates said. “When will it stop? Do people know that Mariah has other hits? I love the song, but not when it’s shoved down my (expletive) throat!”

That said, some Walmart employees find comfort in listening to their own music in the breakroom. To them, it is an escape from reality.

“Having headphones and a playlist are essentials here,” employee Sherrie Pitt said. “The store has been overrun with the Carey Christmas plague! Our manager recently got infected with it. I can’t wait for (expletive) January!”

There are others who feel pessimistic about their predicament, such as employee Ashe Ketchup.

Ketchup said, “Personally, it has been a struggle. Before Mariah’s ‘defrosting,’ the whistle notes sounded like whispers. Now, they are more powerful, and I have to deal with the Christmas jingle sounds as well. It is not even Thanksgiving yet! It is only a matter of time before my demise! I do not know how long I can manage!”

Moments later, Ketchup resigned and left Walmart. Before driving off, he says that he plans on working at Target because “it’s better than Walmart,” but is still wary of Carey’s influence.