Chapter Three -- Mrs. Murphy

 "Is this really the tenth floor?" asked Mike quickly, just before the doors closed.
 
 

"No, sonny. That's 23."
 
 

"Twenty-three? But the indicator says..."
 
 

"Don't pay that indicator any mind, sonny. That's been broken for years."
 
 

"But, but how do you know when you've reached the right floor?"
 
 

"Well, if you don't know, sonny, how do you expect a silly machine to know?"
 
 

The elevator lights flashed off and on. Mike wondered if the elevator was angry at being called a "silly machine" or if that was just his way of saying that the lady was right.
 
 

"But I've never been to the 36th floor. How can I possibly know when I get there?"
 
 

"Well, you can hardly blame the elevator for what you don't know. All things considered, it's a very nice elevator." The lights flashed again. "It's always gotten me where I wanted to go, even when I didn't know that was what I wanted. Like just yesterday, I thought I wanted to see Mrs. O'Brien on 25, but the doors opened at 36; and I knew right away it was high time I visited Mrs. Grant."
 
 

"Mrs. Grant?"
 
 

"Yes, sonny. Do you know her?"
 
 

"No. I mean, my Aunt Maggie knows her. That's why I'm here. My Aunt Maggie gave me a note to deliver to Mrs. Grant." The words rushed out of Mike's mouth. He desperately needed somebody to talk to, somebody who would understand. He needed a grownup who could tell him what he should do. You see, ma'am..."
 
 

"The name's Mrs. Murphy."
 
 

"How do you do, Mrs. Murphy. My name is Mike, Michael Kiley. I live in the suburbs and ... My, what big shoes you have, Mrs. Murphy. Those make you even taller than high heels."
 
 

"Goodness sakes. You are a stranger, aren't you, sonny? Riding an elevator in street shoes. Goodness sakes." She laughed, and Leroy joined in, doing a handstand in the corner. "How's he ever going to get where he wants without elevator shoes?"
 
 

Leroy laughed again just as the elevator door opened. "See you later, elevator," said Leroy as he and Mrs. Murphy stepped out.
 
 

The elevator door shut quickly behind them.

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