The other half were rejoicing at a chance to go out in the beautiful sunshiny day
Happy Earth Day! And Happy Birthday to Sandra!
The we reached exited out office and entered the common hallway which was filling up with employees from the other offices in our four story office building
Also with the acrid smell of smoke
Suddenly the complaints stopped and everyone quickly and efficiently headed for the staircases (there are two on each floor)
And we all exited into the parking lot
Where we saw
As the different office staffs began mingling and speculating on what was happening we learned that there was a young man , 19 or 20, who was stuck in an elevator between the third and fourth floors
He was on a cell phone talking to one if his fellow workers and was panicked
Because the smoke was in the elevator shaft
Several firefighters and police officers rushed into the building
Meanwhile this was happening
And this
Saturday evening greetings!I seem to have arrived just in time for DR Vixmom's suspenseful story...
After about 30 or 40 minutes, which must have seemed a lifetime to that young man, he was escorted out if the building by a couple of police to great cheers and applause
He was soon surrounded by a group of his coworkers all hugging him and making much of him.
It took another 30 minutes or so before we were given the all clear to return into the building
The scuttlebutt was that an elevator motor had seized and that what was smoking but that there was never any actual fire
However for the next 45 minutes or so the lights kept flashing , making the office seem somewhat like a strobe lit 1980’s dance club
And periodically an ear piercing shriek would be emitted from the speakers in the ceiling
Finally at 4 pm the boss said, “This is ridiculous, everyone go home”
Yes, I am very glad that my two recent encounters with emergency services ended happily with no injuries
I wonder if he was suffering buyer’s remorse on Friday
Dare I even name it?
Too bad birthday gal Sandra never comes around here - she was genuinely funny.
