Confessions of A Working Girl

Last night, Vivien and I went to bed a little late because we were talking. So by the time we actually went to bed, it was around 1:00. Which isn’t too bad…except for the fact that around 3:15am we were woken by a loud noise and a flashing light. It was the fire alarm.

This is the second time I’ve been in the building when the fire alarm went off in the middle of the night. (The first time was last year) It is not fun. In fact, it can be miserable.

When the alarm goes off, because of the flashing light, it is nearly impossible to see anything in a dark room. I grabbed my keys, my id, and my shoes, then ran out. Vivien grabbed her cell phone, her id, her keys (which were attached to her id) and her coat.  Vivien’s pajamas consisted of long pants and a t-shirt. My pajamas consisted of at-shirt that fell to my knees. All I can say is that it was really really cold outside.

We had to stand outside for about a half hour. One of my suitemates saw me, and offered me part of her jacket, since it was two parts. (That, I thought was really nice of her, especially since I don’t talk to my suitemates nearly as much as I should, and don’t know them very well.) The zipper on her coat got stuck though, and as she was trying to get it undone, everyone moved into the dorm building next door. Despite the fact that, after looking around, I realized I was least dressed for the weather, everyone was cold.

All throughout this, Vivien and I both felt sick. I’m not sure if anyone else felt the same way, but there’s something about being pulled from a deep sleep that makes your stomach roll. It happened to me last year too…I remember because while going down the stairs with the alarm sounding, I had to be careful not to fall, I was so dizzy.We stayed in the lobby of the next door building for another half hour or so. When we were finally allowed to go back into the building and up to our room, it was a little after 4.

The moral? Leave your coat where it’s easily grabbable.