The Elevator 

By: Brian Foster 

Jake looked at his watch. Only ten after three, plenty of time to make it to work before the boss 
even noticed he wasn't at his desk. She liked to take a long afternoon break, one that usually extended right 
through the start of his shift. Manager's prerogative, apparently. Now, if only this damned elevator would 
hurry up. 

Mary closed her eyes, enjoying again that butterfly-filled stomach drop that slowly fades as the car 
reaches its top speed. She'd always liked elevators. The magic in how they always rose at the sam~ speed 
whether one person or ten were onboard. The way that soft music always seemed to emanate from nowhere. 
And most especially, she liked when the doors opened a split second before the car made it level with the 
floor, revealing the thick metal underbelly of the building or, if she was really lucky, a glimpse of the murky 

• dark canal the elevator slid up and down. The best part of this fun was that it was hers. It was a pleasure se-
cret, small, and silent and it was something that no one else knew about. 

Jake looked again at his watch. Eleven after three. He swore softly to himself. This was bad, it had 
already been a minute and there were still twenty floors to go. Who decided that high-rise office complexes 
were a good idea anyway? No sense in worrying though, that wouldn't make the damn thing move faster, 
anyway. He cast his thoughts out, fishing for something to take his mind off the wait; he quickly settled on 
the events of the previous night. Oh, had he reeled in a catch or what? She was a seven, seven and a half, easy. 
Of course, last night was a big part of the reason he was late today, but -

As the elevator ended its ascent, Mary's heart began to quicken. She closed her eyes as the elevator 
started to slow, to better catch that elusive feeling, and stood very still as the doors began to open. This meant 
she couldn't see the man behind her, unaware she was in his way until he very rudely shoved past her, acci­
dentally hooking her mother's bracelet with his gym bag and tearing it right off her arm. She tried to call out, 
tell him wait, that is a very important family heirloom and I was told never to lose it and to take care of it 
always and if you aren't careful you'll break it, but it was too late: the bracelet bounced once and, with a flash 
of red and silver, was swallowed by the quickly vanishing hole beneath the doors, which promptly closed 
again. The elevator smoothly eased upward, hiding the tears welling in Mary's eyes from all the busy workers 
in Jake's office. 

Jake, completely focused on how to sneak into his desk in the next five minutes, barely noticed the 
weak exclamation as he exited the elevator, and didn't feel his bag jerk at all. His afternoon continued as if 
nothing had happened. 

Mary sat in the chamber and sobbed. The prick of shock and pain that was the first sign of loss had 
subsided, and in its place was a deeper ache in the pit of her stomach. Her mother's bracelet, her grand­
mother's before that, possibly the one thing that reminded her more than anything else of family traditions 
and 'girl time' on vacations was gone, broken, dead. She was responsible for that bracelet, it was very impor­
tant that she keep it safe, and now all she felt was the hole it left behind, the space it used to occupy, the fresh 
feeling of breath and breeze on the downy hairs of her wrist. She felt naked, vulnerable, alone. She tried to 
close her eyes and will the bracelet back to her, hope that when she opened them it would all have just been a 
dream. It didn't work; she sat in the corner of the elevator feeling empty until it stopped moving and pushed 
her out numb into a cold hallway. 

Mom was on the phone. It was good to hear her voice. Mary said hello, good to talk to you too, and 
tried to find the words inside. They wouldn't come, and a lump rose in her throat instead. She heard her 
voice say 

"It's my bracelet Mom, it's gone:' 

The 2011 Analecta Page 90 

And then the w 
bounced a single time l 
something this irrespo1 

"Oh Honey Bee 
Honey Bee. B fr 

better off, in her own o 
'Oh, but your grandma 
Why wasn't Mom angr 

"It's just too bac 
though'.' 

The man who t1 
gone, lost to her foreve 
Mom asking 

"Do you want t< 

with the sauce and pret 
Volcanoes, just like wh 
strayed a little too dos< 

"Thanks, Mom, 
Mary lay in bed 

the elevator was there, 
the man behind her; sh 
someone else beside he 
to her mother. Her mol 
right, and not to let an1 
thin and white like the 
And now it was gone fi 
ed perhaps, but she ha( 
her disapproval to hers 
and puberty. Of course 
knowing whether she l 
her wrist, the place wh 
been. The hollow was s 
other side and stared al 

Jake's alarm wa: 
to shut it off. No better 
line. Jake rolled out ofl 
off the door handle. 01 
day. He'd hop in for rea 
besides, he had to look 
seven minutes later, Jal 
to-get-to-work thing d 
slammed shut. Science 

Mary was back 
had half a chance. She 
that the loss meant tha 



< before the boss 
sually extended right 
ned elevator would 

)wly fades as the car 
at the sam~ speed 
manate from nowhere. 
ade it level with the 
glimpse of the murky 

e 
:. It was a pleasure se-

bis was bad, it had 
-rise office complexes 
1 thing move faster, 
b.e quickly settled on 
i, seven and a half, easy. 

'. eyes as the elevator 
;an to open. This meant 
shoved past her, acci­
m. She tried to call out, 
nd to take care of it 
l once and, with a flash 
ch promptly closed 
>m all the busy workers 

s, barely noticed the 
10on continued as if 

~ first sign ofloss had 
·acelet, her grand-
:e of family traditions 
:let, it was very impor­
;ed to occupy, the fresh 
e, alone. She tried to 
mld all have just been a 
~d moving and pushed 

o talk to you too, and 
~ad. She heard her 

And then the whole story came rushing out. The elevator, the man, his bag, the way the bracelet 
bounced a single time before silently vanishing from her life. Mom would be so mad, she had to be with 
something this irresponsible, but what Mary heard was 

"Oh Honey Bee, that's terrible. How are you feeling?" 
Honey Bee. B for Belinda, her middle name. Her grandmother could have kept it and Mary would be 

better off, in her own opinion. But Mom would never hear of that, if she said anything she would just get the 
'Oh, but your grandmother was so proud when I told her, rest her soul' story. But what about the bracelet? 
Why wasn't Mom angry? She wanted to ask, to know, but Mom was saying 

"It's just too bad you didn't know the man who took it. I suppose it is too late to worry about that 
though:' 

The man who took it? How could he have taken it, he didn't still have it, he didn't own it. It was just 
gone, lost to her forever. She felt naked in the cold. She sniffled and looked around the room, listened to 
Mom asking 

"Do you want to come home for dinner? I'll make enchiladas, your favorite. You can smother them 
with the sauce and pretend they're volcanoes:' 
Volcanoes, just like when she was a little girl. Red sauce, spewing out over the beef-gorged tubes that had 
strayed a little too close to the hot-sauce danger zone. But that was years ago, she was an adult now. 

"Thanks, Mom, I'll be ok:' 
Mary lay in bed, eyes wide open. She kept trying to close them, to go to sleep, but every time she did 

the elevator was there, mocking her with those feelings she had so treasured. She didn't even think about 
the man behind her; she had been so careless. Was this her punishment for trying to find that pleasure with 
someone else beside her? Mary sighed and stared at the ceiling without seeing a thing, thoughts turning back 
to her mother. Her mother had told Mary, when she was a little girl, to do what felt right to her, not good but 
right, and not to let anyone turn her away from that. That was when she gave Mary the bracelet. The band, 
thin and white like the stars, and on it three ruby teardrops, like pomegranate seeds or droplets of blood. 
And now it was gone forever. Was Mom mad at her? Mary didn't know. She'd sounded resigned, disappoint­
ed perhaps, but she hadn't actually said anything. Of course, Mom rarely said anything; she'd always kept 
her disapproval to herself. It had been frustrating when Mary was growing up, fighting through high school 
and puberty. Of course she'd always had her own conscience to tell her when she'd messed up but still, never 
knowing whether she had disappointed her mother too was somehow lonely. Mary rolled over and grasped 
her wrist, the place where it, the treasure the man - and the elevator too? - had taken from her forever, had 
been. The hollow was so small; the difference wasn't all that much. It was just a bracelet. She rolled to her 
other side and stared at the wall, feeling empty and alone. 

Jake's alarm was going off again. He mumbled a few expletives at it, then slapped the top a few times 
to shut it off. No better way to start the day like snoozing right up to the "Sorry I'm late, won't happen again'' 
line. Jake rolled out of bed and into one leg of a pair of pants, slipped the other one on as he snagged a shirt 
off the door handle. One splash of cold water for the face and another for the hair, good as a shower any 
day. He'd hop in for real before heading out for the night. The club was so much less of a drag than work and 
besides, he had to look good to score. Nobody gets the ladies without showing up with his A game. Exactly 
seven minutes later, Jake was out the door and headed to the office. He had this whole falling-out-of-bed­
to-get-to-work thing down to a science. Jake grinned as he hopped through the bus doors right before they 
slammed shut. Science. 

Mary was back at the elevator. She stared at it, that betrayer that had sided with the man the second it 
had half a chance. She wasn't sure which was worse: the fact that her bracelet was finally, irrevocably gone or 
that the loss meant that she might not ever be able to enjoy elevators the same way again. She sighed, tucked 

The 2011 Analecta Page 91 



her arms into her sides and turned to leave when she bumped into a very familiar gym bag. 
"Hey, look out lady, watch where you're walking:' 
"Oh, I'm sorry, I. .. " 
"What? What are you staring at?" 

Jake noticed she was kind of cute. 
"Hey, have we met?" 
"Yes, I-" 
"No, I don't think so. I wouldn't let a beauty like you get away without a number. Want to grab a drink 

tonight? I get off at eight, when would you like to?" 
"I - What? A drink?" 
"Yeah, you know, a drink. People like them. I like them, and you'll like one with me:' 
The man had taken a part of her away for good, and he didn't even realize whom she was. Mary felt 

the ache flow again from her empty wrist. 
"N-No, I don't think-" 
"My name is Jake, by the way. Jake Baron. See you back here at eight:' 
Jake flashed her his trademark grin one last time before he stepped on the elevator. She'd be there. 

They always fell for the smile. This one was actually good looking too, he almost didn't mind having to sneak 
back to his desk yet again. Now he had something to look forward to all shift; it was gonna be a good day. 

Mary sat on one of the lobby benches. What had just happened? There she was, right in front of him, 
and instead of making him see what he had done, making him understand her pain, he had talked right 
through her and asked her on a date. What did that mean? What would she do? He was expecting her, after 
all. It would be rude to stand somebody up- No. He hadn't even listened to her, not even once, barely even 
looked up at her face. But still, wouldn't it be rude? She sat, and she stared at her hands, eyes flitting to the 
elevator only so often. 

Jake looked at his watch. Ten ti! eight, almost time to go get him a little something before he went 
out for real. Nothing like a warm-up on a Friday night. He popped up from his desk to look around for his 
boss, just in case she might decide to be a bitch about the end of the shift, before he took off a few minutes 
early. This meant that he would probably be in the lobby right at eight, but that was ok. Jake knew the type, 
cute girl but a little mousy, a little shy. She would be downright excited to be with a real man. And man, was 
Jake a real man. All-state wide receiver in high school, a captain of the football team his senior year even. 
And of course in college the after-game parties gave way to the real deal: frat parties. Jake's name was still on 
the Delta Tau Wall of Fame for longest keg stand. That same night (he never tired of telling all his buddies) 
he'd fooled around with not one but two girls. He almost made it with the first, too, but her friend had called 
her and she'd split, saying her ride was leaving or something. Whatever. Back in the present, Jake slid into 
the elevator, whistling tunelessly, and rode the way down thinking about alcohol and women and the music 
that glorified both those things. The elevator stopped and opened before Jake, still lost in his thoughts, was 
ready, and he had to do a quick pat-down of his suit and hair - gotta get that game face on - quickly for that 
shy girl before she saw him standing slackjawed like some nerd. Except the only people to behold his pearly 
whites were a businesswoman on the phone and a pair of guys in overalls talking about baseball scores. Oh 
well, it was still early. He'd just wait a couple minutes for her to catch up, and maybe use her lateness to guilt 
her into moving things along a little bit faster. 

Mary had started to leave the building, started to stand up Jake the elevator man, but then she'd 
stopped again. She was just so confused. He had looked at her like meat. But he had looked at her. And his 
smell . .. Now her legs were taking her back through the doors. Why? She couldn't stop herself, couldn't stop 
moving back. He had looked at her, and smiled. 

The 2011 Analecat Page 92 

What was it, te 
was, but it wasn't the g 
jewelry, a necklace, g!i­
ruby maybe. Real pret1 
late anyway. Jake had a 

Well, he wasn't 
started walking aroun< 
corner, irritated. A littl 
bar. Maybe he had ask> 
left back at the lobby. 1 

told herself. But wait. 1 

Suddenly, the dream e 
him with that exact srr 
the scene. His eyes dri 
was it. Go or stay? 

Jake stared ope 
fully delicious, filling l 

Well, she had c 
have her bracelet anyn 
like this happened to e 
could be safe and in cc 
mind, but now she see 
darkness of spring nig 

Jake sat in the 1 
ing away angrily, yellir 
the decency to look at 
looked down at his so< 
he grab at that necklac 
home. He didn't feel tc 

Mary stepped i 
body as the motion st< 
approached her floor. • 
the flash of dark and \I 
like her or maybe not. 
home. 



bag. 

r. Want to grab a drink 

1me:, 
n she was. Mary felt 

tor. She'd be there. 
mind having to sneak 
nna be a good day. 
right in front of him, 

: had talked right 
; expecting her, after 
n once, barely even 
, eyes flitting to the 

ing before he went 
look around for his 
•k off a few minutes 
Jake knew the type, 
. man. And man, was 
s senior year even. 
ke's name was still on 
ling all his buddies) 
her friend had called 

·sent, Jake slid into 
omen and the music 
in his thoughts, was 
on - quickly for that 
to behold his pearly 
baseball scores. Oh 

~ her lateness to guilt 

1, but then she'd 
iked at her. And his 
herself, couldn't stop 

What was it, ten after now? Something caught Jake's eye as he waited on that girl, whatever her name 
was, but it wasn't the girl herself. Another young thing, one he hadn't seen before, walked by, with a bit of 
jewelry, a necklace, glittering against her breastbone. Silver chain, small teardrop-shaped stone, a garnet or 
ruby maybe. Real pretty, actually. The girl it was attached to was pretty too. Mousy girl could wait, she was 
late anyway. Jake had another catch to reel in. 

Well, he wasn't in the lobby. This was a perfect opportunity to turn around, right now. Right? She 
started walking around the lobby, toward the other end of the building. She should just go. She turned the 
corner, irritated. A little voice whispered, irritated at Jake or at you? Around the corner was the building's 
bar. Maybe he had asked to meet her here, and she was just mistaken. That was good, a good thing she hadn't 
left back at the lobby. And look, there he was, sitting right there at the bar. Everything was going to be ok, she 
told herself. But wait. Was he talking to someone? Who was that next to him? Was that another girl? It was. 
Suddenly, the dream ended. Her feet, driven by his smile, his hint of smell, stopped. She stood there, watched 
him with that exact smile on his face. Of course it was an act. Her head buzzing, she stayed, frozen, watching 
the scene. His eyes drifted down, slowly, away from the other girl's face. Mary looked down at her feet. This 
was it. Go or stay? 

Jake stared openly. The gem, a deep red, captivated his attention. It was so enticing; its shape, power­
fully delicious, filling his vision. The girl's speech was a faint buzzing behind the red glow. 

Well, she had decided. Mary was walking home. And as she walked, she thought. Maybe she didn't 
have her bracelet anymore, maybe she had lost something that she could never get back again. Maybe stuff 
like this happened to everyone. It didn't hurt so bad, especially now that she was headed home, where she 
could be safe and in control and almost whole. She supposed the event would be forever solidified in her 
mind, but now she seemed free of its pain; it was behind her. As she turned the corner amidst the oncoming 
darkness of spring night, the ghost of a smile traced across her mouth. 

Jake sat in the bar, water all over his face, ruining his suit. Why had he done that? The girl was stomp­
ing away angrily, yelling about sexual harassment and no one respecting her personality or even having 
the decency to look at her face over her chest. But that wasn't right, he wasn't grabbing for her breasts. Jake 
looked down at his soaked tie, the silk even now twisting itself into strange and shriveled shapes. Why did 
he grab at that necklace? Why couldn't he stop staring at it? Jake decided tonight maybe he would just stay 
home. He didn't feel too hot, anyway . 

Mary stepped into the elevator in her building and closed her eyes. A familiar thrill ran through her 
body as the motion started; she had missed this. Smiling openly now, she relished every bit of feeling as she 
approached her floor. Mary knew just when to open her eyes in this elevator, and did so just in time to see 
the flash of dark and warmth before the floors leveled. Perhaps everyone had to lose something, maybe alone 
like her or maybe not. As she stepped from the elevator, Mary brushed her wrist absentmindedly. She was 
home. 

The 2011 Analecta Page 93