The man stepped onto the escalator, going down from the second floor of the shopping mall to the first floor. Almost immediately, he heard the clamor of several children quickly approaching from behind him. He turned around and saw a woman holding a toddler by the hand, while two boys ran towards the escalator. The woman looked frazzled, burnt, and utterly frustrated.
"Simon! Be careful!" the woman called out. She tried hurrying after the children ahead of her, but the small child whose hand she was holding could not keep up. The boys were pushing and shoving each other as they laughed and ran. A few feet before the top step, the boys skidded to a stop, wobbling and swaying, still trying to smack each other. One of the boys grabbed the handrail of the escalator, and it pulled him forwards slightly. He leaned over precariously, but managed to let go of the handrail before he fell.
The man chuckled to himself, then turned to face forward once again. As he did so, his shoe caught against the side of the escalator and he lost his balance.
