The after hours 1 A young, good looking lady walks into a department store crowded with shoppers one day at the end of the year. She looks to be in her mid-20s. The simple combination of her white shirt and tight black skirt, both pleated neatly, which is a typical office lady look, contrasts her fine features. She's looking around on the ground floor. She has come to buy a golden thimble that she found in an ad of the store previously, and thinks that should be an ideal gift for her mother. After going around on the floor, she asks a clerk, who appears terribly busy attending to other customers, which floor she should go to for it, but he looks as if he doesn't hear her. Although she isn't sure now, wondering it might be in a gift section, she goes toward the elevators to find which floor there is a gift section on. There are two elevators, in front of which lots of people are waiting, so she also joins them. After a while, she sees an elevator arrives but nobody seems to care about it. She is the only person who moves forward and gets into it. Now in the elevator, only she and an elevator operator, a middle-aged man are inside. She feels awkward somehow and addresses the man. "Is this kind of a private elevator for me? I'm not a VIP nor a frequent customer here..." "This is an express for the 9th floor.. May I ask what in particular you are looking for?" "I'm looking for a thimble...a golden thimble for my mother..." "Oh, I see. It should be on the 9th." "Here we are." The door opens, but the floor is dimly lit inside and it seems that there is nothing but rows of empty showcases without any clerks or shoppers. "This must be some kind of mistake..." But the elevator starts to move down with the doors closed already. "Is anybody here?" Silence. "How can I find a thimble here? There is no merchandise here. This must be a mistake!" "Have someone attended you already?" All of a sudden, a female clerk appears and speaks to her.