I’m taking the elevator down on Saturday morning. The elevator arrives, and two girls tumble out. That’s right. Just calling them “girls” doesn’t quite capture it. They’re dressed festively, but a bit disheveled. Their dresses aren’t evening wear, but more like weekend outfits.
I became curious about whom they had come to visit. I mentally went through all the neighbors and couldn’t figure out who they might be visiting, especially on a Saturday morning.
I held the elevator and started watching them. After five seconds, it turned out they had just mixed up the floors and thought they had arrived on the first one. I waited for them and pressed the button. I couldn’t help but comment:
— I figured you made a mistake. I know all the neighbors, and I realized that girls like that couldn’t have come to visit anyone. — he clearly misspoke.
— What do you mean? — one of them responded, exchanging glances with her friend.
— Gender-age group, — I chimed in.
— We thought…
— No… but I like the way you’re thinking.
— Not me, — one of them commented, sadly but with a giggle.