Escalator E[ad]vent

Live music in the beautiful (souq or souk) section of Dubai Mall

Went looking for an advent calendar (similar to the reusable one we had in The States) and I made a scene in the mall. It wasn’t a purposeful scene. Totally accidental. Rode up the escalator. But, at the top, I ran into problems because I jammed my shoe into the final step. It happened in slow motion. I pulled one foot out (along with the shoe) when I realized what was happening. The other foot, however did not make it fast enough, so I had to let the shoe go for my toes’ sake. It went. It stuck. The escalator stopped. All toes accounted for and undamaged.

It took those behind me a few seconds to realize that they needed to start climbing if they wanted to continue their journey. Like (Cinderella’s) Prince Charming, I stood by the lost shoe. In fact, for a moment, I thought I might be trampled (maybe Cinderella was wise for running?) for trying to pull the shoe out.  I went from a Charming to Ugly Step-Sister pose quickly—not flattering, but trying to get the shoe out (so that I wouldn’t inconvenience any more people with a paused escalator) with most of the mite I had.

 A few people were charmed by my misadventure—those were the smiling, snickering, and pointing folks. Others clicked their tongues and shook their heads and were Step-Mother like towards me. One dear soul tried to free my shoe from the escalator step to no avail. So, I stood with my bare foot on top of my shoed foot atop the stationary stairs amidst stares. I smiled. I joked, “Do you have an extra shoe?”

Getting the attention of someone official-looking was challenging.  A man from a nearby kiosk must’ve been going on a break or going home for the day because he told me that “He [indicating a man in the same uniform as he] works here. He will inform security.” Bless him! Because the security person in the store directly across from the escalator made eye contact me and quickly turned his back.

It took 15-20 minutes. And, in those 15-20 minutes I observed nearly every possible response (to: lady-with-one-shoe-on-and-one-shoe-stuck). Interesting that people continued to climb the unmoving escalator whist the elevator wasn’t far and they could see that the escalator wasn’t moving. Laughs, stares, comments and continued conversations in languages dead to my ears, chuckles, ignoring, shaming, confusion, enlightenment, and connection, all.

Finally, the heroes of the story showed themselves. The rescuers were men in Emaar uniforms. One stationed himself at the start of the escalator and one at the top with me. The one at the other side started the escalator again. The one at the top braved, “Madam, your shoe is damaged.”

My reply, “Yes, I would like to get it out so that I don’t have to go from here without one shoe. Can you please help me?”

And, like a magic Emaar godfather, he dislodged the shoe!

Now, I have an open-toed (escalator mauled) shoe! And, my coach did not turn into a pumpkin before I could pick up the kids from school (to boot!).

P.S. If you didn’t find this true story amusing (why did you continue to read?), maybe you’ll enjoy some “ant” jokes inspired by a friend yesterday:

Q: What do you call an ant that can’t speak?
A: A mutANT.

Q: Shall I tell you another ant joke?
A: I shAN’T.

These are nearly endless. What ant jokes can you co[A]NTribute?

P.P.S. Happy (UAE) National Day! We are celebrating 46 years of the United Arab Emirates today.