The Fourth Floor – A Short Story Part II

Mikey and Sid, two high school freshmen, have a study period, and they decide to spend it by exploring the unused fourth floor of their school. They discover marshmallows from the popular local brand, Expensive Sam’s Gourmet American Marshmallows, in bags from Cheap Chuck’s Average Outlandish Marshmallows. They are surprised and turn around to find Expensive Sam himself standing behind them.

“Alright, boys, you got me,” says a new voice behind them.

Mikey and Sid turn around and see a man wearing an apron covered in white powder. “Expensive Sam!”

“Yes, I am Expensive Sam,” said Expensive Sam, walking towards them out of the gloom.

“Why are your marshmallows in Cheap Chuck’s Average Outlandish Marshmallows bags?” asks Sid.

Mikey interjects, “That is probably the best brand to buy marshmallow bags from, right, Expensive Sam? Weird naming convention though.”

E. Sam looks at the boys and sighs. “It isn’t only the marshmallow bags I buy from Chuck, but also the marshmallows.”

“Impossible!” shouts Sid. “Your marshmallows are gourmet and locally sourced, it says so on your bag!” He is in shock.

Expensive Sam shakes his head, and says, “You know nothing of the power of marketing. All I did was slap a fancy label on a cheap bag of ha’penny marshmallows and all of you simpletons claimed it as a part of ‘high society’. I wasn’t going to disillusion you, was I?”

“That is disgusting manipulation of innocent civilians!” ejaculates Mikey, “Besides, you are also using the education system!”

“It isn’t my fault that the school is using less and less paper as your work becomes more and more digital,” says E. Sam, “This is a perfect location for my operations, and even the janitor doesn’t come up here anymore. Suits my needs quite well!”

“Well, we won’t stand for this,” yells Sid. “Quite right,” adds Mikey, “your foul ploy ends now.”

“Oh no you don’t!” growls Sam, and dives at the boys with a spatula in his hand. The boys scream and run through the fourth floor door and down the stairs to ground level. They continue this mad flight all through the halls and direct themselves to the main office. Expensive Sam is so engrossed in catching the boys that he doesn’t even think of where he is going. The students at their lockers look with concern at the two boys dashing by, but they gawk and stare at the grown man lumbering after them waring an apron covered in white powder. The boys slam through the office doors and collapse in a heap in front of the principal’s desk. Moments later, Expensive Sam follows. He finally realizes where he is, drops the spatula, and gulps. Soon after, Mikey and Sid reveal the entire story, and are hailed as heroes for revealing the sham operations of E. Sam, who is sentenced to 30 years of community service.