Storage Unit Adventures

So this evening, we zip out to our storage unit at the east end of the city to unload a few packed boxes and to pick up some file boxes to sort through. (You know, "throw out?", "keep in storage?" etc.) We finish later than expected, and end up in the car ready to go home at around 9:30 pm. Unfortunately, the sign at the storage place says we're to leave before 9:15pm. But we figured it wasn't a big deal.

To leave the storage place (which feels like a prison compound, complete with barbed wire fences and electromagnetic locked gates) we need to punch in our special code. The code-punching-in box indicates we should 'call manager', so we press the button for the manager's office. No answer. We try again. Several times more. Still no reply. We can see the manager's home, above the storage place's office, just on the other side of the fence. LIghts are on, but no one's home. There's no phone in view, no sign stating what we should do in the event of getting locked inside the storage compound.

I suggest we look inside one of the storage buildings; there might be a phone we could use. Toby opens up the door and sets off the alarm. Lucky us, we're right next to the alarm and in an area with really good acoustics. This alarm is very LOUD! No police or security vehicles show up. No one from the manager's office responds. Now what?!

The alarm thankfully stops after several minutes. Toby decides to wander around the compound looking for something useful, while I try to flag down a passing car to phone for help. No advancement on either front.

Somehow I remember seeing a pay phone down the street during previous visits to our storage unit. I slip under the gate. Good thing I've been losing weight! While at the pay phone, listening to automated 411 directory assistance (I was looking for the city police's non-emergency phone number) a security car drives by. I flag it down and Yay! he's heading towards the call at our storage place! His code manages to let him into the compound, he takes Toby's ID and leads Toby out of the storage compound.

Hurray! We made it home! Had to stop by the liquor store to pick up a calming liquid on our way home though. Now our apartment is filled with more junk to sort through, but at least we can spend the night at home instead of at the storage compound.