A Dangerous Business

“Remember what Bilbo used to say: It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to.”
- J.R.R. Tolkien

This is a story about a man named John.

John lived in an apartment, with a cat named Jeffery, a couch which faced a tv, and a mug of coffee that usually made the counter-top its home.  Two weeks ago, John was given the key to this apartment.  The key came with a note: "Leave the door open when you leave for work (2/11).  Also, his name is Jeffery."  John thought it best not to question the letter.  He did find it odd that the room came with a cat.

John found himself in his apartment.  He expected this, yet it was unsettling, still.  First things first.  He checked the clock. 

10:02AM
Feb. 11th

That settled, there wasn't much else to do.  He decided to make coffee.  He was able to grab onto the handle the french press (also included with the apartment) just fine.  He wasn't able to do much else.  It simply wouldn't move, regardless of how hard he pulled.  Opening cabinets, turning on the sink, picking up his mug, he discovered that nothing moved.  He wasn't able to change anything.

Fascinating.

Even the couch wouldn't compress under his weight; it was quite hard, actually.  It would be glorious if Jeffery could appreciate the irony, sleeping quietly on one of the cushions.

Thankfully, he had remembered to keep the door open earlier that morning, so getting outside was no problem.  This was interesting enough, but John had more important things to do.  One of which was getting to work.

On the way, he slipped on a puddle of water, landing hard on the pavement.  A passerby stepped in the very same puddle immediately afterward, causing water to splash over the sidewalk.  He didn't even acknowledge the man laying helpless on the ground.  Thankfully, he didn't step on John, but it was close enough to be worrying.

The door read "Push."  If only it were that easy.  After nearly getting knocked over by following people too closely, John finally entered the building.  He carefully walked down the stairs and through the red doors: conveniently propped open.  Apparently, George was expecting him.