[MaC] And so it begins ... Tabitha

[Mel Mason]

> She forced her scowl away in order to apply her
> make-up and tried out a smile in the mirror.
>
> This would be her first real party in far too long,
> and despite the lonesome misery her life seemed to
> have become, she was determined to enjoy herself.
>
> With that in mind, she kissed the photograph of her
> husband and son and went upstairs to the Fitzroys' as
> quickly as she could manage while still looking
> moderately dignified.
>

But before she could even reach the party, she encountered the chaos on the 
stairs.

The lift had apparently jammed beyween the fourth and fifth floors - with 
Mrs Evans (who was now loudly singing Christmas songs) and Miss Mauberley 
inside.  Hodges, the maintenance man, was endeavouring to open the doors on 
the fifth floor so that he could climb onto the roof of the lift and fix 
things, helped by Ctril Beaman, the businessman from the top floor, and 
Group Commander Michael Coldsmith-Briggs from the first floor.