My gym is on the second level of a newly constructed urban jungle called “The Piazza”. To get to that second level, I have two options: the stairs or this hi-tech tunnel with a flashy escalator. I almost always opt for the escalator as it’s closer to the parking area (ok and it’s got the Knight Rider feel).

A couple months ago, the escalator stopped running for no reason. They didn’t attempt to put any kind of “Under Repair” sign in front and I never saw anyone use it again. Oh well, nothing wrong with resigning myself to the stairs. For the past few months I have passed the escalator and continued on to take the stairs. Sometimes things in this country just stop working for no reason right? I’ve gotten used to it.

Last week as I was approaching the escalator area, preparing to walk on by, an attractive Chinese woman in workout gear breezes past me and hops on the escalator. I didn’t have the heart to tell her it was broken, to save her the embarrassment.

You know how this is going to end, don’t you?

As she reaches the first step, the motion detector, sensing her movement, starts the escalator moving.