Frozen
It was 3 AM when he looked at the clock. There was a lot of activity going on around. Brisk packing was going on in the bakery as the dispatchers would arrive in half an hour. Order was that everything was supposed to be delivered before the city was up. The speakers were soft spoken with 'Desperado' by 'The Eagles'.
He hadn't slept properly the night before. He wanted to work hard like everyone else and earn his living.That deprivation almost made him yawn when Eddie, the supervisor, asked him to get the croissants out from the freezer.
The freezer, was nothing like the one at home. It was a giant room with huge coolers pushing the temperature below -30 degree Celsius. An organism stuck inside would freeze within 9 minutes at -20 or sooner if temp dropped below that . The thought could bring anyone back from deep slumber. Thinking this he reluctantly went to the freezer.
The door was controlled by an electronic sensor requiring an access card to open. he had left his access card in his locker upstairs for safety. So Eddie came and opened it for him.The supervisor gave a look indicating whatever was to be done had to be done quickly, and left. Now he was to go inside alone. With the time constraint in mind and the fear of the freezer, he prayed once and went inside.
It was another COLD in there. The digital thermo read -18. Time was running. He loaded the boxes onto the trolley whilst he had a look around what else was there. He could see that the whole room looked straight out from an Ice age. Frost had developed on every inch inside. Some old bananas were there. They were like sculpture. He then loaded the last of the boxes and turned to see the huge door had slammed shut! He had forgotten that the door had an automatic spring system that would close by itself after being opened and not stopped by a stopper.
He panicked. He thought his worst fears had come true . He thought he was going to die. Eyes were beginning to dry. No tears. Lips cracked. Ears blocked. All kinds of thoughts started running. The thermo now read -19. Not a second to lose. He left the boxes and rushed towards the door.
His fingers pained or burned . he couldn't tell. He saw the sensor where the access card could open the door. His card was in the locker. DAMN ! No access card! No phone to call up someone outside. He didn't want to end up this way. No way !
Dramatic as it may sound, for his luck, the door hadn't closed fully as a small part of the Thermal screen was stuck between the door and the hinge. With all his might he pushed the door and it opened like a door to heaven. That was heaven for him. He was overwhelmed and gave a sigh of relief.
His fingers still pained from the chill. That didn't matter anymore. He was alive .... not Frozen!
He hadn't slept properly the night before. He wanted to work hard like everyone else and earn his living.That deprivation almost made him yawn when Eddie, the supervisor, asked him to get the croissants out from the freezer.
The freezer, was nothing like the one at home. It was a giant room with huge coolers pushing the temperature below -30 degree Celsius. An organism stuck inside would freeze within 9 minutes at -20 or sooner if temp dropped below that . The thought could bring anyone back from deep slumber. Thinking this he reluctantly went to the freezer.
The door was controlled by an electronic sensor requiring an access card to open. he had left his access card in his locker upstairs for safety. So Eddie came and opened it for him.The supervisor gave a look indicating whatever was to be done had to be done quickly, and left. Now he was to go inside alone. With the time constraint in mind and the fear of the freezer, he prayed once and went inside.
It was another COLD in there. The digital thermo read -18. Time was running. He loaded the boxes onto the trolley whilst he had a look around what else was there. He could see that the whole room looked straight out from an Ice age. Frost had developed on every inch inside. Some old bananas were there. They were like sculpture. He then loaded the last of the boxes and turned to see the huge door had slammed shut! He had forgotten that the door had an automatic spring system that would close by itself after being opened and not stopped by a stopper.
He panicked. He thought his worst fears had come true . He thought he was going to die. Eyes were beginning to dry. No tears. Lips cracked. Ears blocked. All kinds of thoughts started running. The thermo now read -19. Not a second to lose. He left the boxes and rushed towards the door.
His fingers pained or burned . he couldn't tell. He saw the sensor where the access card could open the door. His card was in the locker. DAMN ! No access card! No phone to call up someone outside. He didn't want to end up this way. No way !
Dramatic as it may sound, for his luck, the door hadn't closed fully as a small part of the Thermal screen was stuck between the door and the hinge. With all his might he pushed the door and it opened like a door to heaven. That was heaven for him. He was overwhelmed and gave a sigh of relief.
His fingers still pained from the chill. That didn't matter anymore. He was alive .... not Frozen!
