I like the idea that the Daily Post has for their daily prompt of the day today but I think I’m going to alter a little bit just for the particulars of this post. I do think I am going to take up the mantle and tried to fulfill what they are talking about in a subsequent post but I want to change their idea around a little bit and make it fit into my daily question a little better. Their initial idea is to write a fictional piece based on this notion:

You are trapped in an elevator with an intriguing stranger. Write the scene that occurs.

I do like the idea of that and I think a good story can come from it. However, I also think it makes for an intriguing question to pose to you. So here is my take on this idea:

You are stuck on an elevator with someone for several hours. Knowing you’ll get out without any difficulty, who would you like to be stuck on the elevator with?

No one likes the idea of getting stuck on an elevator in the first place. It’s unpleasant, claustrophobic, there is no air circulating, it gets hot and nasty, and most of the time you’re stuck on there either by yourself or with other people who you barely know or interact with. Overall, it makes for an unhappy and stressful event. However, in my scenario you know that you’re going to get out and that you get the opportunity to spend time with anybody that you want to. Now I could put all kinds of restrictions on who you get stuck with, whether it is someone you would know or not, whether it is someone who is alive or dead, the list could go on. But I’m not going to do that. For the sake of good interaction, let’s assume that it could be anyone from any time in any place. They just happen to be on the elevator at the same time you are. So who do you think would provide you with the most interesting conversation? And who do you think would be the best person for you to be with under those circumstances?

For me personally, I’ve given this question some thought trying to come up with who I would like to be stuck with. I’m not a particularly social person in the first place, so the idea of being stuck in an elevator with a complete stranger would be uncomfortable to say the least. However, if it was someone I knew or if it was someone who I had always wanted to strike up a conversation with, I think it would be pretty interesting to see what would happen. After giving it some thought, I decided that I didn’t want it to be somebody who I was already comfortable with and knew well. Not that there would be anything wrong with that, I just think it would be more interesting to be stuck with someone who could not only be a good conversationalist but who maybe could give me some insight. So I was able to narrow it down to two people, but in the end I think I know who my choice would be, and it may seem like an odd choice to some people. I think I would like to be stuck with Benjamin Franklin. Now Franklin experienced an awful lot in his lifetime, was a very bright man, was inventive, a great writer and had amazing insight into a lot of things. I think he is someone you could easily get comfortable with and strike up a conversation. Not only do I think that he would have some witty things to say, but I think he could give some great insight into what went into the actual establishment of the government of this country, his approach on society in general and what he would think about the way things are today. Maybe he could even come up with a way to get out of the elevator faster. I know it might seem like kind of a lame choice, but I think it would be a good one. My other choice would be to get stuck with Mark Twain, who I also think would provide some great stories and excellent insight not only into what it’s like to be a writer but what he thinks of the world today, although he seems like he could get rather surly and if we were stuck for a while, he might become a problem.

Okay, so now it’s your turn. Who would you like to get stuck within the elevator? You can leave an answer here in the comments section or you can catch up with me on Facebook or Twitter and leave an answer there. I will also ask a few people on Twitter and see if anyone responds. Thanks to everyone took the time to answer yesterday’s question about hugs and kisses, and a special thanks to actress Tracie Thoms, who answered me on Twitter.

I’ll see what I can come up with for next time, and I hope to get to the fictional writing for the Daily Post later on this afternoon so you can check back for that as well. Until next time, watch out before you step onto that elevator today.