Close encounter with a neighbor

I didn’t expect a close encounter with a neighbor, but that’s exactly what happened. As usual, I was minding my own business on my way back home. I hoped to be alone in the lift, but as usual, my prayers went unanswered. Someone jumped in just before the doors closed.

I pulled out my smartphone, a handy tool for avoiding conversation. I live on the 8th floor and had already pressed the button. My co-passenger pressed the button for the 6th floor and also pulled out his smartphone. The lift began its slow ascent. It stopped after reaching the third floor.

While I checked my messages, I assumed the lift had reached his floor. I heard a grunt and looked up to see that the lift had stopped between the third and fourth floors.

He attacked the switch panel, pressing various buttons, but nothing happened. Then the lift lights went out. Thankfully, the emergency lights came on, casting a pale yellow glow.

“The standard of maintenance in this building is a joke,” he grumbled. I grunted in acknowledgment.

I pressed the alarm button, but it didn’t work.

“Nothing works,” he said.

I tried to call security but found no signal in the lift. Now it was my turn to complain. I lifted my phone in all directions, but got no luck.

“There is no signal,” I said.

“Phone signals…” he began.

“Some lifts can disrupt phone signals,” he said.

“I know. I work in a smartphone company,” I replied.

“Which one?” he asked.

I told him the name.

“Never heard of it,” he said.

“We don’t sell here. We sell in the EU and the US,” I explained.

He shrugged.

“I’m a chartered accountant,” he said. I recognized him as an accountant at a call center, who works nights and has definitely not passed his CA exams. I chose not to mention this in the confined space.

“Then try your phone; it might work,” I suggested.

I don’t think he caught the sarcasm. He pulled out an iPhone, making sure I saw it.

“Snob,” I thought, trying to hide my budget Android phone.

He moved his iPhone around the lift but finally said, “No signal.”

“Some lifts can do that to an iPhone,” I said.

He missed the sarcasm again. I now understood why he failed all his CA exams.

A loud noise jolted me from my thoughts. He started kicking the lift door.

“You’ll break it and we’ll be stuck here forever,” I warned.

“Do you have a better idea?” he retorted.

I had no better ideas, good or bad. Then the lift began to move. It wasn’t fast, but it was movement. We stopped at the second floor, and the door opened.

Eager to escape the confined space, we both jumped out at the same time and almost got stuck in the door. I let him pass and quickly followed him out.

By then, the guard had climbed up the two floors and was huffing and puffing on the landing. The guy looked about twenty-five and was exhausted from climbing just two floors!

“The lift has a safety key for such emergencies,” he managed between deep breaths.

I didn’t wait for any more comments from my fellow lift passengers. I raced him up the stairs.