Summer Blog Episode 5 – Lifts Going Crazy

This is a true story.

The problem was not without warning.  At first I discovered that the buttons that called the lifts were not as responsive.  At times when I pressed the button, it remained dull, and nothing happened.  As if determined by some random events behind the electrical circuits, the button would light up, eventually.  At random.  In a modern living environment going by the observation that since this was a common problem, someone would have reported it, and hence there was no need for me to take action.  Perhaps that was why this problem was escalated to a second stage.

One warm afternoon, I was back from my grocery trip.  Carrying with me bags and bags of goods, I could barely walk on a leveled ground.  Called for the lift but none of the button worked.  I waited for a divine intervention but there was none.  Strangely, the lifts went up and down under their own will.  At times, a human or two got spat out of the metallic container and before I could enter, it closed its mouth.  How did those able to board the lift if no one could signal it to stop at their floors?

Lack of options, I walked up the stairs, carrying the heavy bags.  On my way up, I saw someone on the way down.  We greeted silently and exchanged a reluctant smile that did not say much but said it all.  I wonder what would happen if I was 100 years old.  The stairs looked indeed daunting.

Shortly after, I needed to get out of the apartment.  I attempted to call for a lift, it did not seem to work.  Lifts went crazy going up and down on their own.  While contemplating if I should take the stairs instead, one lift arrived at my floor.  I dashed inside without much thinking.  Suddenly it struck me.  What made me think that I could control the lift from inside?  As it closed its mouth, I felt as though I had been swallowed by a crazy lift.