The first sign of trouble came this morning at about 7:40.

A woman who works at the medical offices across Grand from Manito Park was standing by the back door way longer than it should take to get in.

In turned out the keypad which unlocks the door was not working.

Phone calls were made. More employees arrived. And a couple of people who thought they might have a key that would work on a different door tried and were disappointed.

A locksmith was summoned.

Meantime, about 10 clinic staffers and perhaps half a dozen patients cooled their heels on a beautiful Monday morning.

If you stand outside high up overlooking Grand down below, it's tempting to play pirate.

"Arrrrrrrrgh!"

Someone offered to make a coffee run and took orders.

While everyone was waiting, a talkative, arguably overfed gray tabby cat appeared from the adjacent neighborhood and accepted petting. Maybe a dozen different people laid hands on this obliging animal.

There were shin rubs. They were flops and exposed underbelly.

"Are you the therapy cat?" I asked.

The feline gave me a look that seemed to say "Good guess, Chief."

At about 8:40, the locksmith arrived and quickly had one of the doors to the waiting room open.

As we trooped inside, another patient asked me if I was going to write about our quite survivable ordeal.

Outside the glass doors, the big tabby looked in. 

   

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