Stuck

Yesterday on our way into the office, Holly and I were discussing the 30 seconds she was once trapped in an elevator for. That was a bad decision, because the Fates heard us talking.

On this dark and dismal morning, under the harvest moon (which I mocked by calling it brown (another mistake)), I was surprised when one of the elevators opened at the first push of the call button. Especially since it was the elevator that usually doesn't run in the morning.

Disregarding this very foreshadowing thought, we stepped into the 'vator, swiped our security tags, and selected the button for the top floor.

The 'vator didn't move. Holly looked at me, and I looked at Holly. Was this actually happening? Yes, yes it was.

Heather's Horror at Being Elevator Stuck

We began pushing buttons buttons for lower floors. Floor 7, Floor 2, the ground floor. The elevator made a very faint humming noise, but it didn't budge. Apparently, it was content to sit at the parking level.

We began frantically pushing the "Door Open" button. No dice.

I thought, Maybe if I push the button for the parking level, I can trick the elevator into thinking we have completed our ride, and it will let us out. Well, elevators are smarter than you might think. It was not fooled.

I tried to pry the doors open with my wimpy arms. I mean, even Dwight does it in an episode of The Office. It has to be possible, right? Wrong.

After four or five minutes of pushing buttons, Holly opened the "Call" box and buzzed the lovely elevator help woman.

Holly Calling the Elevator Hotline

"Hi, we're stuck in the elevator," Holly said.

"Stuck in the elevator?" she replied. I'm thinking, Who else calls you on the emergency elevator help line, lady?

She instructed us to try several things:

     1)  Push and hold the "Door Open" button for 10 seconds.

          Result = Nothing

     2)  Push the button for the ground floor.

          Result = Nothing

     3)  Pull the Run/Stop knob.

          Result = There is no knob, it requires a key.

So the nice emergency elevator help line receptionist confirmed our address and told us she would contact the maintenance personnel at our location. She instructed us to ring the emergency alarm once every minute or so.

After she ended the call, I decided to push the "Door Open" button once more.

The doors opened. Of course.

So, with the maintenance team on the way to rescue two damsels in elevated distress, Holly and I made the ascent to the 8th floor in a different elevator.

I shall never trust that elevator again. It stole 10 minutes of my life. I've got my eye on you, 'vator. I know who you are, and I know where you live. There will be retaliation.

For another riveting account of the Elevator Adventure, visit Holly's blog.