The clock was ticking yesterday morning for Linett Raymond, who needed one last Christmas gift for her father.
At a drug store, the 22-year-old studied an aisle filled with playing cards, figurines, wrapping paper and extension cords before settling on scented candles (lemon, apple and lime).
"This is last-minute, last-minute shopping," Raymond said over Christmas tunes drifting from ceiling speakers. "I probably won't even wrap it, just put a bow around it."
Last-minute shopping took on a new meaning yesterday morning as Baltimore mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers flooded area convenience stores seeking stocking stuffers, toys, batteries and film.
Of course, some bought such standard fare as cigarettes and American cheese, but many seemed determined to find that special present to slip secretly under the tree.
Jamie Yates, 28, purchased stocking stuffers -- toothpaste and baby powder -- for her grandparents at the Rite Aid in The Rotunda.
Kevin Brewster, visiting from New York, was suddenly confronted with two extra people staying with his friend. After church, he bought them gifts, too -- a cheap box of cigars and body scrub.
"I hope they like them," Brewster said with a grin.
While many hunted for gifts, others needed more mundane, yet critical, items for Christmas Day.
Nancy NeJame and her husband forgot to buy film Thursday so they could take pictures of their 1-year-old son opening presents. She found the film, plus Christmas cards, a candle and Q-tips.
"I held off opening presents until we got film," she said, standing in line with several other shoppers buying everything from coffee cakes to Puppy Chow. "My sister and brother-in-law said nothing would be opened. I feel very lucky there was a store."
Rite Aid manager Steve Decker guessed his constantly chattering and buzzing cash registers were ringing up 30 precent more shoppers than a typical Friday morning.
"It's no fun working today for an employee," he said, "but it's great for sales."
Many shoppers found themselves at Baltimore convenience stores because a number of unconnected variables collided. Wednesday's sudden snowstorm pushed back last-minute gift-buying into Christmas Eve, keeping some from making crucial runs to supermarkets.
Marilyn Williams, 28, was buying bread and milk at a North Calvert Street 7-Eleven. Her niece and two nephews, both playing with new remote-controlled cars, trailed her.
"The snow, Christmas Eve and traffic threw my shopping off," Williams said.
Store manager Ahmed Choudry said business was better than normal. He had sold about 75 packs of batteries since Christmas Eve.
"If we closed, most of these people would have nowhere to go," he said while ringing up milk and eggs for a customer.
At the Royal Farm Store in Charles Village, the door's bing-bonging continued unabated as Tanya Spencer, 40, walked the counter struggling with a load of soda, eggnog, bacon and margarine.
On a break from her job as a nurse at Union Memorial Hospital, Spencer bought the drinks for a staff party. She was purchasing the rest for her mother.
"I have one of those mothers who forgets stuff," she said. "I just called her to see if she needed anything. She wouldn't be Mom if she didn't."
Just down St. Paul Street, at Sir's Market, owner Sand Kim was helping a handful of customers.
"There were only a few [shoppers] since 9," he said. "It's getting a little better now. People know 7-Eleven is open all the time. People think we're closed."
Pub Date: 12/26/98