A Wobbly Knobbly Knowledge

(I am filling out an order form for artwork for my department. One of the questions involves smoke alarms. I look around and do not notice any noticeable some alarms, although I do note a certain feature in the ceilings.)

Me: “Hey, [Coworker], is that knobbly thing a smoke alarm?”

Coworker: “I don’t know. There are two knobbly bits.”

(We both stare at the ‘knobbly’ fixtures until a student decides to intervene.)

Student: “Yup, those are smoke alarms. So are these.” *points to more ‘knobbly’ fixtures*

Me: “Well, I’m glad our students who don’t work here know our systems better than we do…”