The lift stopped at the first floor. Someone got out. As the doors closed a man stuck out his foot and firmly held the doors, until they opened fully again. The man removed his foot. A young woman scurried in and once again the lift was moving.
"Cor, that was macho!" I exclaimed, impressed. He looked slightly taken aback; the other occupants laughed. "If I'd had tried that," I continued, "I would have fallen flat on my backside!" He pointed out he had his back against the wall. I insisted I would still have come a cropper. Something about the way he spoke seemed slightly...regimented.
An hour later, it dawned on me. Where I work is crawling with police officers. I always feel guilty whenever I see a uniform on the premises, then I realise they have more stars hanging off their epaulettes than the McDonalds Crew Member of the Week. Or I think they bear an uncanny resemblance to the Commissioner of the Met - and realise it is the Commissioner of the Met.
Makes me laugh, though. And kind of reassured. They may be sharp-suited policy wonks attempting to imitate civilians, but when push come to shove they think fast and beat down a door with one foot.
Boys in Blue, dontcha just love 'em...
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