During the office fire drill, Ben came downstairs carrying the heavy printer.
The fire warden told him never to stop for office equipment. Ben set it down and said he had been following the safety notice.
Everyone looked at the printer, then at Ben.
The warden asked which instruction he meant….
The office practised getting out of the building on Wednesday morning.
The fire warden, Jan, reminded everyone what to do.
Use the stairs. Leave your bags. Go straight to the meeting point.
Ben listened carefully.
He had started work on Monday. So far, the office had given him a door card, a mug and six different instructions about the printer.
The printer lived beside his desk.
It needed paper when it had paper. It asked for a tray to be closed when every tray was closed. It once announced a jam before Ben had sent it anything.
On Tuesday, he spent twenty minutes opening little flaps while the rest of the office waited for a report.
On Wednesday, a small red message appeared on its screen.
Ben sighed.
A moment later, the practice alarm sounded.
Everyone left by the stairs.
At the meeting point, Jan checked the list.
Ruth. Miles. Helen.
Ben’s chair in the office had been empty, but Ben had not appeared.
Jan looked towards the door.
He emerged walking slowly, with both arms around the printer.
Two colleagues helped him put it on a low wall.
Jan told him very clearly that he must never stop for office equipment.
It’s a practice today, she said. In a real fire, you go straight out.
Ben nodded.
Understood.
Then why did you bring it?
He pointed back towards the stairs.
Because of the notice.
Jan said she had written that notice herself.
I know, said Ben. I read it while I was waiting for this to work.
Ruth looked at the printer.
Had you left something important in the tray?
No.
Were you trying to save the report?
No.
Miles asked whether Ben had misunderstood leaving things behind.
Ben said that was the bit he had followed.
Jan asked him to explain.
He brushed a little dust from the printer’s screen.
The red message was still there.
Ben looked at Jan.
You said we should help anyone who needed assistance getting out.
Jan looked at the heavy machine.
Ben pointed to the screen.
It’s been asking for assistance since I got here.
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