31 2000 |
The mailroom is 10 steps from the elevator, so if you are quick enough, you can stop in the mailroom and be out in time to catch the elevator before the door closes. Otherwise, you have to press the button again and wait for the elevator to return.
The counter in the mailroom was messier than usual, so I was delayed by the process of finding a clean, safe place for the box to sit.
As I stepped out of the mailroom, I saw that the doors of the elevator had already begun to close.
Five big steps got me to the elevator, and I quickly rammed my hand into the 3-inch opening left between the sliding doors.
Instinctively, I grimaced and inhaled through my teeth, making that strained sucking sound in anticipation of pain.
The seceretary, watching, gasped loudly in horror as the doors closed on my hand.
Like all good elevators, the doors opened immediately after detecting the slight resistance my hand created. Unharmed, I stepped into the elevator and hit the button marked "6".