My first time in a lift

Tweet

It happened when I had just finished my secondary education and was required to register as a taxpayer before being allowed to open a bank account. Back then all government services were centralized at the capital, Nairobi. So, when I arrived at the city in the morning having travelled all night, I went to my cousin’s apartment. He lived in one of the suburbs of the city. I took a shower and asked him for the directions to the place where I could apply for a PIN Certificate, the document one has to be given so as to be a registered taxpayer. Upon following the directions well, I found myself in front of a 34-storey building and the office offering the services I sought was on the 33rd floor. After the security check, I entered and followed people wondering how long it would take me to get to the 33rd floor on stairs. I had heard about lifts but I had never used any before. When I saw that most of the people stood next to a closed door with a “lift “sign on top and a count down neon screen next to it, I became nervous and excited at the same time. I looked around and no body seemed watching me. I summoned courage and waited with them. In no time, a bell sounded and the door opened. A few people got out and others struggled in. I joined them. A keypad was on one of the walls. On the opposite was a mirror. I looked into the mirror and saw myself. I smiled – almost busted into laughter but was stopped by a horror of sudden uplift that almost gave me a heart attack. Things inside me seemed to be running away from me. Worse were moments when we made four or five more stops. Before I became my usual self, I was shocked to see we were only two left. When the last person left, I followed him closely and whispered, “Sir, where are the revenue offices.?” “Room 213, 33rd Floor. We are on the 34th floor, you just need to go a floor down, maybe use the staircase.” He responded showing me the flight of stairs downwards… Well, that was my first experience using lifts. Up to now I have used lifts severally and am so much used to them.