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Cornell: Caution tape

11/7/2024


I'm walking on the (somewhat) secret path behind Mann Library and I see a Genie S-86 XC blocking my path. People in high-vis vests look at me as they put up bright-yellow CAUTION tape. A girl is walking towards me. As I walk forward, I try ducking under the tape, kind of like an inverse hurdle, and make it under easily, but my backpack gets caught. I almost fall on my face. I look around to see if people saw, and everyone is looking at me. Fuck. I thought my backpack was ready for any type of parkour but a carabiner I added as a remnant from my scouting days perfectly latches around the tape and secures me to it. I'm held back as I try fleeing the scene.

I take off my backpack to unlatch my biner (nonchalantly), but the girl just stares as she walks by. I scramble away.

A few days later, I see the Genie S-86 XC at the head of the slope near Willard Straight. Weird. Then, I see it by the Mann Library entrance. What is it doing? Why is it there? My carabiner jingles mockingly against my backpack.