#what electricity

[is-this-working]

Scheduled blackout in less than one minute. Brace.

[somewherebynow]

In an exciting turn of events

The hostel’s electricity went out. Or, the lights on the fourth floor did. The windows on the hall provided just enough light to silhouette the few dozen people that were filling the halls, buzzing in confusion. A French girl from the next room over asked me to explain to the elder German woman across the hall what was happening. The poor women, easily on the far side of sixty, hadn't a clue.

Pardon? I said, remembering that frau was incorrect, but unable to recall the proper title of address. The wrinkled face looked up at me. Kein Elektricitie aber der Man komme in zwei minuten. Now the old lady was smiling. The French girl pipped over my shoulder, Tell her she needs to wait with us in the hall. There was concern that the woman, alone, would fall down. Bitte, standen hier? Der Man will personnen standen hier. Nicht zum das...rooms. She nodded slowly and then made several comments in rapid German that went flying over my head. She was smiling still, and I caught keine verstanden when she was gesturing to the French girl.

My moment in the spotlight, and no sooner did it pass than came along one for a hostel staff member in a bright red shirt wielding a wrench. The lights came back on in a literal flash, briefly blinding everyone. There were cheers. The German woman placed her hand on mine, Dankeshön, then teetered back to her room. The French girl thanked me in English. 

I stood in the hall blinking blue and purple spots and watching the halls empty again until it was as though nothing had gone awry.

Two minutes later the lights went out again.