The boys got stuck in Schindler's lift

Ever since the boys were big enough to walk, they’ve been eager to explore the world around them, and not afraid to go off by themselves (while still making sure we're around, of course). Although they don’t scare easily, there’s one thing that, whenever encountered, has always set them off to panic; getting stuck. It can be anything from having their hand get stuck in a net, to their foot getting caught between branches on the ground. Both boys will experience what can only be described as an absolute, primitive fear, and they'll scream, squirm and cry in an intuitive manner until they’re fully freed from their trap. Yesterday when the boys were going downstairs to play with our neighbors’ youngest son, the elevator suddenly stopped after a 2-inch descent. I had just closed our front door and gone into the kitchen when I heard their panicked shrieks and cries for help. I had time to imagine all kinds of accidents on my way to the hallway, but could quickly conclude that they were stuck in the elevator and that all it would take was the special key to get the door open. I called to the boys that I was there and that they needed to calm down, but although they could hear me, they were in a total state of panic, and nothing was comforting them. August was jumping up and down "Mama, the door doesn't open! Mama, we can't get out, mama!" while William was crying and screaming "Mama! Mama! Mama!" over and over again. I yelled to Courtney to go get Khaled, our bowab, but he must have heard the screams as well, because he came running up the stairs like I’ve never seen a man run before. Within seconds the boys were out of the elevator, and with tears streaming down their faces, they held me tight, not able to stop sobbing, shaking from fear. “Mafish quayis,” our bowab said and motioned to the elevator. “No, indeed it’s not working,” I confirmed, and walked the boys who were clutching my hands, down to our neighbors by means of the stairs.