Panic:
Viv Parry

It was breakfast time.

Normally the lift would glide smoothly down and pour its occupants into the glittering splendour of the marbled reception area. Of course, on the day that Max had somehow become separated from his parents it wasn’t happening that way. The alarm stopped ringing, the adults in the lift looked at each other with mock nonchalance.

Max was trying to work out how he could look at himself, if only he had grown a bit more since his eighth birthday. The lift’s mirrors only started at his head height. He had spent most of the time since he got dressed staring at his reflection in the hotel room mirror. He was particularly proud of his look, the fake moustache forming the final flourish to his gangster outfit. He had spiked up his hair and his green eyes glittered with mischief.

He looked at the little lady standing opposite from him and wondered if she too was struggling to see herself. He noticed that her eyes were the same colour as his and looked into them deeply. She smiled and at the same time gently pushed back a few strands of her short black hair behind her ear.

“What’s your name?” she said looking back at Max.

“Max” he muttered down to his shoes, feeling a bit less bold now she was talking to him.

"My name is Sangeetha" she said smiling again.

“Oh” Max said.

He looked at her again and she smiled. Her warmth reminded him of his granny and he felt a little bolder.

“My granny is coming today” he said.

“It’s her birthday”

“She’s 64”

“Oh” said Sangeetha “How lovely …..I’m 65”

Suddenly there was a sharp intake of breath from the corner of the lift. Now that the eerie silence of the lift had been broken by the chat the large man in the corner cleared his throat, stroked his beard and fixed his piercing blue eyes on Sangeetha. She gazed back at him, noticing how shiny his bald head was and wondering if he polished it before making his way to breakfast.

“Shouldn’t we call for help” he said.

“Oh now I’m sure everything will be fine” Sangeetha replied, nodding her head gently.

“I’m not so sure” said the man.

“That was an alarm that was just ringing” he said getting a little pink in the face “maybe there’s a fire.”

“Now let’s just calm down…. errrrr ??”

“Jim” he said, “my name’s Jim”

However, at the mention of fire the young girl standing in the opposite corner of the lift suddenly looked as though she might faint. Her long blonde hair was falling in front of her face as her head dropped down, her tall, elegant body seemed to be crumpling. Then bang, she dropped to the floor.

Sangeetha knelt in front of her and helped her up to a comfortable seated position.

“Just keep breathing” she said as she looked deeply into her dark brown eyes.

“You see” said Jim.

“I told you we should get help”

“In all my 45 years on this planet I have never come across such a strange attitude as yours” he said glaring down at Sangeetha.

Max tried to look away but couldn’t take his eyes off the man’s face which was getting redder and redder, it looked like a balloon that might pop at any minute.

Bing.

Bing.

They all turned to face the doors, as with a gentle swoosh they slid away from each other. A tall, uniformed receptionist stepped forwards to hold the doors as Sangeetha helped the girl back on to her feet.

“Are you ok? Miss Alessandra” he said.

“Yes I’m fine now” she said, “just panicked that’s all”

“Of course it’s only to be expected”.

“I’m sorry to have inconvenienced you all” he continued, “just a minor electrical fault, all fixed now, nothing to worry about.”

“Would you like to come to breakfast with me dear?” Sangeetha said to Alessandra

“Oh that would be lovely” replied Alessandra “thank you so much, I know I’m supposed to be an adult now I’m 21, but I don’t always feel ready to be !”

“That’s absolutely fine” Sangeetha said as she caught hold of the girls elbow and they walked slowly towards the restaurant.

Jim coughed his face still red but now glowing as small beads of sweat appeared.

“Herumph, I’m ready for my breakfast” ….. he said and shuffled away.

The receptionist crouched down “Your mum and dad are at their usual table” he said to Max.

“Do you want me to come with you?”

Too late, Max had already spun past the receptionist and was off running joyfully towards the restaurant.

“Great disguise” the receptionist said, looking towards the disappearing tiny form.