A Sudden Delivery

A sharp metal clatter overhead shattered the hallway calm, followed instantly by a crisp flutter of parchment. Three stiff paper envelopes descended from the brass slot, gliding down to land at my feet like cue sheets tossed onto center stage. Without compromising my dignified posture, I stepped forward, knelt with a soft whir of my knee joints, and tapped the edge of the uppermost envelope with my microphone. The paper was smooth, sealed tight, and stamped with bold red ink. A formal communique delivered directly to my stage door—clearly, an audience request of high urgency.