10. Trapped in the Elevator
1453 Words
Although I chickened out and didn’t tell dad what I’ve been struggling with, he spent the next week spending as much time with me as he could. He took off from work which is something I haven’t seen him do in forever. He couldn’t cancel his few night classes because the lessons were already paid for, but he spent every available hour of daylight with me.
During the days we took rides on his moped just going through the streets and making stops to grab a bite to eat at the street stalls. I found my appetite again and I could feel some happiness return in his company.
“When is the last time you spent time with Lilia?” Dad asks in between bites of skewed chicken.
“Are you already tired of me?” I ask, mostly avoiding the question.
“Of course not honey,” he knows I don’t believe that, “but it’s strange that you haven’t asked for her to come along.”
“Oh. I mean,” I began, “she’s still upset with me.”
“What happened?” dad asks.
“Well, I hurt her feelings, when I wasn’t feeling well,” I say, “I didn’t mean anything by it.”
“Hmm,” he wipes his mouth with a napkin before continuing, “I know there’s stuff you don’t want to talk about… and I don’t know if it’s something… lady-related, although you know you can talk to your mom too, if you need-”
“Ugh. No thanks.” I give him a pointed look, “It’s nothing like that.”
“Okay, okay” he says with his hands up in surrender. “It’s just, Lilia is your best friend. You two haven’t spent a day apart since that day you guys got stuck in the elevator.”
I remember that day so clearly. Every now and then the elevators get stuck between floor levels and we have to wait for it to get sorted or for the maintenance crew to come fix it. It happens so often that it’s not something we worry about when it happens. Although the first time is rather scary.
Years ago I got into the elevator with another girl my age and my hands were full of food for dinner I just picked up from the commissary.
She was wearing a backwards white baseball cap and matching overall shorts with a red t-shirt and black sneakers, her light brown hair in a ponytail. She was swinging a shiny blue bag that looked like it came from one of the shops outside the gates. I often see people return from outside the gates with them but I haven’t been brave enough to venture out on my own.
“I love your shirt!” she says as she hits the “3” button for her floor. “The Lion King is one of my favorites!”
I look down and forgot I was wearing my navy t-shirt with Simba and Nala on the front with jean shorts and white sandals.
“Thanks! It’s one of my favorites too.” I say shyly.
“So have you-” she gets interrupted as the elevator gives a weird jolt and abruptly stops.
“Woah! I think the elevator just broke,” I say as I look up at the lights blinking slightly from the ceiling of the elevator.
“What!? Broke??” she sounds a bit panicked. “Oh crap! Are we going to die!?”
I don’t mean to but I begin to laugh uncontrollably.
“What are you laughing at?” she seems to have forgotten the situation.
I am in the back corner of the elevator holding onto the railing and tears are in my eyes from the laughter.
“I’m-ah-haha-I’m-” I try to find some calm for her sake, “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to laugh.. I-”
I clear my throat and wipe the tears from my eyes.
“Whooo,” I finally exhale. “I’m sorry. I know you’re scared, but there’s nothing to worry about.”
“You just said the elevator broke!” she exclaims. “We’re not moving. Why shouldn’t I be scared!? Aren’t you worried at all?”
I look at the girl who is no longer panicking but looking rather annoyed. I smile at her.
“My dad said this is something that might happen in these older buildings,” I explain, “We just have to hit the emergency button and call for help.”
I walk over to the control panel and hit a button with a red dot labeled for emergencies.
I hear a bit of static but then a voice fills the compartment.
“Hello, what’s your emergency?” says an operator-type-female voice.
“Um… hello?” I respond, “we’re trapped in the elevator and we need someone to come get us.”
“Okay, I will have maintenance come out,” says the voice. “Until then I do need to confirm a few details.”
“Um… okay” I say.
“How many occupants are present?”
“Just me, and another girl.”
“Okay. And are you both safe?”
I look over at the other girl to make sure she hasn’t passed out.
“Yes, we are fine.”
“Okay good. Stay calm, there’s no need to panic. We will have a team assist you very soon.”
“Thank you!” I say to the bodiless voice.
I look over to the girl who looks more relaxed now.
“Shouldn’t be long,” I assure her.
“So,” she began again. “You live on the 5th floor?”
The fifth button is still lit up on the control panel, it is the highest floor in the building.
“Yeah, not long though. My family just moved here a week ago.”
“OH! My family moved here a few days ago! I’m new too! I’m Lilia!” she introduces herself cheerfully.
My heart felt happy at the thought that there was someone else my age who might know how I was feeling being in a new place.
“I’m Brianna, but most people call me Bree,” I tell her.
“Bree? I like it! I wish I could have a nickname.”
“What’s wrong with Lilia? It’s a really pretty name! Brianna sounds like an old person’s name.”
She laughs.
“Thanks! I guess it’s alright. It sounds too girly to me personally, but I’m named after my grandma on my dad’s side,” she says.
I think about it, maybe that’s why I prefer “Bree,” it sounds less girly.
“What grade are you in?” I secretly hoped we were in the same grade.
“I start 3rd tomorrow with Mr. Hadley,” she says.
I smile.
“I have Mr. Hadley too!” I say excitedly.
“Yes! I hate being the new kid and not knowing anyone,” she says.
“Same. I haven’t really made many friends,” I say a bit embarrassed.
“Ugh. It’s hard moving all the time,” she says. “I didn’t really have friends in Portland before moving here either.”
I couldn’t help but feel like we understood each other a lot.
“Well you’ll have me when you start tomorrow,” I say to her. I hope she wants to be friends too.
She is beaming.
“Thanks. I’m actually looking forward to it now,” she smiles.
There are voices that get louder outside the elevator. There’s some loud clanking noises before a gap in the elevator door is made. It’s about a foot and a half and you could see the layers that make up the third floor before you can see where the crew was gathered towards the top. A man popped his head in and looked down at us..
“Hello girls! Are you doing okay?” he says.
“Yes! We’re great!” Lilia answers.
I can’t help but smile at her new positivity.
It was about 10 minutes before the maintenance crew could open the doors fully to lift us up onto the 3rd floor.
I see a panicked lady run over to us and wrap her arms around Lilia.
“Lilia, sweetheart!” She must be her mother, “Are you okay?”
She assures her mom she’s okay and turns to me.
“Mom this is Bree! I just met her in the elevator!”
“Hi Bree! Are you doing okay?”
I tell her I am fine but I should get going before my parents worry. She insists on accompanying me up the flight of stairs to my floor. Lilia and I are already chatting about what to expect with Mr. Hadley and she tells me about a shop she went to where she found some cool pens for school.
We make it to my floor and I barely get to the door when it swings open. A woman bouncing a very fussy baby is in a frantic state in the doorway.
“Brianna! Where have you been?” she is more worried than Lilia had been in the elevator, “You should have been back half an hour ago!”
“Hi, you must be Bree’s mom.” My mom just notices the woman and girl behind me, “I’m Yua Duncan, Lilia’s mom.”
My mom shakes her hand and Mrs. Duncan begins to explain the events that made me late. My mom invites them in and Mrs. Duncan offers to take the baby off her hands.
This was the first time I think my mom and I both feel like we finally have something to look forward to.
“I know dad,” I tell him as the memory of that day fills my mind. “I owe Lilia a big apology.”
And I knew exactly what I was going to do.
* * *
- Writer
