Most all houses and apartment buildings here have a gate in front. Many also have a security guard at night who opens the gate for residents. The combination is meant to protect the building and residents from an intruder, natch. Problem comes in when the gate is shut and the guard is not there. Everyone tells you it's one of those inevitable things that happens to you. It did.
One night this week, returning from dinner with friends, I arrived home to find the gate locked tight and the night guard no where to be seen. Tell the truth, the night guard is a lovely but very old man who I'm sure would only lecture an intruder about where his life went wrong. But, there he was not. Luckily for me, I was with Martin and Sam (see If It's Tuesday) and a very nice cab driver, all of whom attempted to open the gate to no avail.
Wall and fence are a bit under six feet high, not counting the spikes...the most effective part of the security system. Martin, who is probably half a foot over six, offered to jump the wall next to the fence with a boost from Sam. Sam suggested that perhaps HE should jump the fence with a boost from Martin. After some discussion, that's what he did. I didn't watch because I was contemplating how we would get into the fence after Sam fell and wondered if the cab driver knew how to get to the nearest hospital (see Taxi!). No worries. He was over the wall and had the fence open in a matter of seconds with nary a scratch, cigarette firmly in mouth. Only cost Martin a few cuts.
Haven't seen the guard since, now that I mention it.
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