Brief Summary
The video recounts three separate lockdown experiences during high school, highlighting the fear, confusion, and unexpected resolutions that characterized each event. The first story details a false alarm triggered by a police officer eating lunch and an assistant principal checking doors. The second involves students hiding in a boiler room and encountering a disturbed janitor living there. The third recounts a lockdown prompted by a student threatening the principal with a knife.
- False alarms and misunderstandings can cause widespread panic.
- Unexpected encounters can occur during emergency situations.
- The psychological impact of lockdowns can be lasting, even when no actual threat materializes.
False Alarm and Diet Pepsi
During his junior year, the narrator experienced a lockdown that began with a shaky announcement over the intercom. Students and the teacher, Mr. Harlland, reacted quickly, locking doors and hiding. The narrator hid under the teacher's desk and grabbed a Diet Pepsi from a mini-fridge to calm his nerves. A shadow passed by the door, and the doorknob rattled, intensifying the fear. The lockdown ended with an all-clear announcement, only to be followed by another immediate lockdown. This time, the doorknob rattled again, and the teacher appeared terrified. A text from a friend mentioned police outside, increasing the anxiety. Eventually, they were dismissed, and it was revealed the first lockdown was initiated because the principal saw a police car in the parking lot and the second one was because the assistant principal was checking the doors.
The Janitor in the Boiler Room
The narrator recalls another lockdown during his junior year when he was in history class. After the announcement, the teacher secured the room, and a group of students hid in the boiler room in the basement. They soon discovered Mr. Price, the janitor, living there. He was disheveled and paranoid, accusing them of spying and trapping them in the room. He wielded a wrench and acted erratically, increasing their fear. The students eventually found a small maintenance hatch, crawled through it, and escaped to find a police officer. They learned the external threat had been apprehended hours earlier. Mr. Price was taken into custody, and it was discovered he had been living in the basement for two years.
Code Black Lockdown
Dylan recounts a lockdown during his grade 10 year. The school announced a "code black," indicating a lockdown, which was unusual as they only practiced fire drills. The teacher locked the door, covered the windows, and the classroom went silent. Dylan felt uneasy as time passed, wondering about the danger outside. Eventually, an "all clear" announcement was made, and it was revealed that a student had threatened the principal with a knife. The student was immediately expelled. The incident left a lasting impression on Dylan, highlighting how quickly the ordinary can turn into the unexpected and the lasting impact of the lockdown.
