“Hold the doors please!” cried a voice.

I stuck my hand in the narrowing crevice. The doors stopped and then receded away revealing a dark haired young woman in a long red coat and matching hat. She smiled brightly, “Thanks!”

“Sure, which floor?” I asked.

“Anywhere will be fine.” she said and then gave a small laugh. “I don’t much care where, as long as I get somewhere.”

I shrugged and tried to push another button which vanished just before I sank my finger into it. Irritated, I aimed for a button that was just coming in and stabbed at it. It too disappeared before I touched it.

“Cheshire.” the woman said in admonishment.

“Pardon me?”

“It’s a mystic elevator- it can go anywhere in the house, but since it does more than just lift, I call it the Cheshire. Now it’s also messing with you.”

“Are you telling me that the elevator has a sense of humor?”

“Would you rather it was malicious?”

“Good point.” I reached out and stroked the wall. “Good, err, elevator.”

A contented purr erupted around us in reply.