In the Harbor Tower, the elevator had rules. Rule one: watch the numbers. Rule two: never speak. Rule three: never look at anyone.
One Monday at 8:52 the elevator stopped between floors seven and eight. Six people were inside: Dev, the intern; Mrs. Fischer, the accountant; Mr. Landau, the boss; Gloria, the cleaner; Rafi, a courier; and old Mr. Abel with a plant.
For five minutes nobody spoke. The same happy song played again and again.
Then Rafi said, "Does anyone else hate this song?"
"Every day," whispered Mrs. Fischer. "For eleven years," said Gloria. Everyone looked at Mr. Landau. "I chose it," he said. Then he laughed, and they all laughed.
They sang along, very badly. After thirty minutes the doors opened, and they walked out as friends. The next morning they hummed the song, and the new passengers stared.
