#22 Turnover

"Man, this couldn't be any more inconvenient," Leon said to himself. He waited in a line of cars attempting to get into a parking garage. Since the garage around the corner had been closed for demolition, mornings became hell for Leon and every other commuter trying to get to work.

Not that Leon didn't have options; he lived within walking distance of a spot to grab a bus or train.

"The hell I will," Leon told his wife. "I'm not paying $450 a month to keep a brand new car in the garage!"

"So you'd rather be miserable five days a week?" Tina asked. "You should try living with yourself. I can't imagine how your employees deal with you."

"There as pissed off and ornery as me! And I think we've gotta right to be!"

"Would you rather have the old garage collapse and kill hundreds of people?"

"If I didn't have my commute all f'd up every morning? Hell yes!"

Leon finally got his turn to swipe his garage pass. The gate lifted so he rolled forward only to stop two car-lengths inside. The procession heading to the upper levels of the garage looked like a still life painting. Except for all the exhaust plumes. To his right was a ramp leading down. On impulse he turned right and drove into the dim tunnel.

The dashboard lights automatically adjusted to the reduced level of light. Leon never parked below street level. He descended one level. Then two. On the third level down he was ready to turn around and go back up. To his surprise and glee, there it was. An open spot right beside a door that had to be the stairs. He pulled in and shut the engine down.

He checked his watch. "Already fifteen minutes late." he grumbled. Leon grabbed his work bag and hat. Stopping before the door he looked around. Seeing no other doors or signs with useful information, he grabbed the handle and pulled.

Leon hesitated as he stepped inside. The stairs led down, not up. A jaundiced yellow bulb throbbed inside a shatter-proof birdcage kind of shell. He turned back to the door.

"Maybe I'll just walk up the ramps instead," he said.

The door wouldn't budge. Leon put his bag down and put his shoulder into the door. Nothing. He realized he was breathing hard, heart pounding.

"Alright. Think. Maybe the stairs lead to another corridor or ramp or something."

He picked up his bag. Taking a few calming breaths he started down the stairs. The light bulb blinked a final time and went out.