Trapped in the Future Shop
Dear Forum Friends,
Lately we had stories about disasters and angels. Here is something that should
make you laugh. The Future Shop is a large chain of shops selling electonics, computers, appliances all that sort of stuff at reputedly lowest prices.
This is where I was trapped late this afternoon for at least 25 minutes. Virtually a prisoner. How could this happen. Well it all started with a call by nature,
meaning I had to go to the bathroom. There are clean facilities in the store, but to keep them so, one needs to get a key at the service counter. I asked a young man at the counter for the key, and remember it was now urgent. He did not have the key, but took me to another counter at the checkout, where a young lady
was busy talking to a customer. We had to wait our turn. I remarked to the young
man, that I did not wish to moisten the store floor. This prompted him to ask for the key, but he was told it now as at the rear of the store. He bade me wait,
with appologies and left me standing there. Shortly he came back with the key and opened the door to the washroom. He kept the key. I used the facility and then after washing hands was ready to leave. There were two doors, one looked like
the door to a supply closet and the other one like the door to the outside. I tried to leave , but the door was locked. There was a hole for a key and I asumed
that was for security reasons. Since I could not open the door, I pounded on it.
But the washroom is located on a side of the store away from traffic. Nobody heard me. Now I shouted: "HELP HELP!" Again with out any response.I was truly trapped. At least until someone else decided to use the washroom. This could take a
long time. I had visions of nobody coming, the store closing and me having to sleep on the bathroom floor. Not very appealing.
What to do? I put my hand into my pocket and felt my Cellphone. Ah, call the store and tell them my predicament.
But I did not have the store number. So I called 911. The famous call for help.
The response was quick. " What is your problem?" " I am trapped in a washroom and can not get out!" " Ok, we will connect you to the fire department."
This was swiftly done and the dispatcher asked: " Where are you?" " In the washroom at the Future Shop" " Where is the shop?" I was asked next. " In Kelowna, near the Overwaitea Food store." " So relax, we will get you out, we will phone the store and send someone." It took another 10 minutes then a girl's voice was heard:"Are you in there?" I replied, yes, but I can not get out."
She opened the little door, not the one I tried to get out by and laughed a little. "You tried the wrong door!"
I felt shamefaced, but I said, well this is certainly good for a laugh, calling
911 to get rescued from an unlocked door."
She agreed and then I finished my looking at things I might later want to buy.
Now is life not strange sometimes. I knew how to get help, I did not panick either, but it never occured to me, to try the other door. Because I believed I had
entered through the first one. The lesson to learn is of course that one should
try to open all doors one finds, or at least try to. This holds true also to the
door of opportunities.
My door of opportunity was at the bakers 10 minutes before closing. I saw a salesclerk eating a tasty "Bismark". This a donut filled with jam. In Germany they are called "Berliner" after the city of that name. There were two Bismarks left on a tray and they would obviously not be good tomorrow. After buying 2 cabbage rolls for supper I remarked: "Being a long time customer here I guess you have decided to give me one ot those donuts!" And by golly, she did hand me one and I
ate it with gusto right then and there.
Best wishes to you all, Uncle Ben
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