It would be too cruel to say we could be named after a well known “Towering” TV series from a few years back now, which is often repeated but always funny, and never dates......I’m no Basil...but I don’t know..could be!
Today we had fire drill in the apartment building! Not many seemed to know
it was a fire drill that is. I just thought it was another frequent test of the
alarms as we couldn’t understand the mumbled metallic voice that came across the
intercom beforehand.
After a few minutes with the alarm then changing tone to a long slow
beep..beep...and no sign of stopping I peaked out the front door and noticed the
main glass door was wedged open. Strange ! Then noticed the lifts
weren’t working and a few people gathering outside. Mmmm I thought maybe this
isn’t a drill after all.
It takes a while for ”the penny to drop”!
So a quick change...can’t look too untidy...and made my way outside as a
lady carrying her dog agreed that she too couldn’t hear what was being said over
the intercom.
“I never heard a thing that was being said” she stated...the dog
agreed!
So around twenty of us gathered at a designated meeting point ushered along
by the security guard. Everyone mostly keeps to themselves...it’s a bit like
that in an apartment building. Little groups known to each other stand and chat
and that’s about it. No one really knows their neighbours unless for some unseen
circumstance like a fire...FIRE...FIRE!!
I phoned some friends that lived higher up and asked if all was well as
there’s a fire alarm going. “Oooh thought it was a fire drill...we’ll come down
right away” they replied. “you’ll have to use the fire stairs,” I added. “No
lifts!”
Others joined that had travelled from a much higher floor one lady with a
walking stick for support. I don't know how anyone with a walking stick would
escape quickly if anything unforseen were to happen but there you are. Maybe a
rescue helicopter from the roof...I have no idea!
So we gathered, filled out the form to say we were present, the few that
were there of course from around a 70 apartment building. There were still some
that didn’t bother to leave their apartments I’m certain.
A quick talking to the gathered “multitudes” by the council fire chief I
guess he was..”Bet you can’t wait to get back to sitting around the pool,” he
joked as we looked at each other curiously. Well there was a chill in the
air but the numbers HAD now grown to at least 25!... and then we were allowed to
go back inside.
Many keeping their distance from each other in case they had to
speak.
No sign of Manuel...he must have still been in the kitchen...but I think I
did see a Sybil..or two...or three. No doubt to all be repeated again soon...just like the TV show!
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