Smoke Detectors

*Beep*
The happy little tone buzzed out of the tiny speakers, letting me know there was a new email.
"MONTHLY SMOKE DETECTOR INSPECTION:

"Please inspect your smoke detectors by close of business today. If you do not know how, please reply to this email.

"Thank you,
"Sergeant Stromwell"

I wasn't doing anything important at the time, so I logged off the computer, put on my sunglasses, and strolled into the ridiculously bright sunlight. Why does it always smell like someone released a cloud of molecular turds in the air? And then lit it on fire?
Arriving at my tiny living unit, I stepped in and kicked at the carpet made from semi-dirty clothes (which I left there because I could totally wear them a few more times), and picked up the smoke detector lying on the desk. There was no battery in it.
Yep, it looks like it probably still works.