217 Babel Street | Lobby
TThe Gillis woman took an absolute age to open the door.
"Yes?"
"My mailbox is stuck again," said Julietta.
Viv Gillis' lazy eye was staring past Julietta. "Stuck?" she repeated through the half open door. There was a radio on loud inside.
"Yes. It won't open." Julietta held up her key, jiggled it in the air.
The caretaker sighed, took the key and marched straight over to the row of mailboxes.
Slotting the key in Julietta's lock, she turned it smoothly. It opened straight away.
"Oh," said Julietta.
"It works fine for me," said Miss Gillis.
"Well I tried for ages," said Julietta. "I think it gets jammed."
"It works fine for me," repeated Miss Gillis, handing back the key and closing her apartment door behind her.
Julietta pulled out the accumulated post.
An invitation to apply for a Citibank credit card.
An enquiry from the local estate agent who were looking for properties in her area.
A bill from Southern Water for £45.76.
A demand for the annual service charge payment from Landco, 217 Babel St's freehold company.
A bra catalogue from Bravissimo.
A statement from the building society.
Nothing more.
Julietta closed the door, turned the key, then tried to extract it. It wouldn't come out. She wriggled it, tugging hard, but it didn't budge, then banged the mailbox with her fist.
"What is it this time?" scowled Viv Gillis, when she finally emerged.