TURN-OFF

Tenants milling about, trying to go home.

IT'S GETTING TO BE A HABIT. EVERY YEAR OR SO, I receive a notice from Con Edison (the gas, electricty company) full of regrets. I immediately feel their pain. Because it will soon be my pain too...unless...
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Alas, the management of the building I live in seems to be engaged in the Sherry House/ Con Ed yearly gotcha marathon. Maybe just to take our minds off impending terror trials/ strikes, disappearing subway routes, (due to renovations...where did that station go?), unmentionable inflation, etc. So I just received a neatly written note informing us that management has not paid a $1660.00 security deposit , and soooo sorry, but unless Con Ed receives the payment very soon they will have to turn off service to the commonly used areas of the building.
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Hmmm, let me see. That would include interior lights, heat to the building, (now 16 degrees), garbage compactor, laundry room, and oh yes, ELEVATOR! A mere hop, skip and a jump for us to traverse 18 stories. And of course, no deliveries to be received, no visitors (or maybe) bearing flashlights or glowing candles, perhaps all the shrinks in the building meeting their patients on a landing or in the lobby, no light for postman in mail room...I'll stop now. BUT, this is nice...my own personal space, my apartment will not be affected, because I maintain such a fine relationship with Con Ed. I pay my bills. So it looks like I'll be able to flaunt my brightly lighted apartment, in the midst of a darkness that may invite my gothic imagination to take hold.
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Last time around I called management in a panic...they asked me to hold...I'm still waiting. I found the supe (superintendant) who reassured me with the NY answer...Nahhh, ain't happenin'. Met fellow tenants clutching letters..did you get one too? I did phone Con Ed...Press 1 if you speak English...I finally got to press 7..very polite rep asked me if that was a form letter? Nothing to fear but fear itself... I actually bought into those winter games. Turned out, the supe was right. This time, pretty much a big yawn...What, me worry?
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But what if?
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