Fred wanted to get to Brandy Hall as soon as possible. However, Sam, being the law-abiding citizen he was, refused to drive. He let Matt Goldman drive the Garrick 4-seater and the boys rode with Mr. Goldman in the Windstar (Pip and Fred praying the whole while that none of their friends would see them) until he dropped them off at the foot of Brandy Hall, in the centre of Eastdale.

When they got there, the Elevator was out of order. NORMALLY this wouldn't be such a bad thing, but Kenny lived in the Penthouse.

And it was an 84 story building.

Pip moaned at the mere mention of the number. "Auugh, eighty-four floors..." he whined, in typical 8th-grader manner, adding at least 4 syllables to the "aw" in "floors" and a quasi-hiss on the "s".

Sam, practical as ever, said, "We'll call Kenny and tell him we're here. Then we can just climb up and meet him halfway."

Fred inquired as to who would be carrying the luggage. Sam replied, "Oh, us, of course." Pip started whining again.

Fred retaliated with a "What? No concierge?"

"Well, no sense in making any extra people climb over 80 flights of stairs."

"Well, no sense in making me carry my own stuff."

"Have you any idea what a snob you are?"

"WHAT?!"

"Never mind...it's not worth arguing over. Let's just start climbing. We don't have that much stuff."

The boys had 2 suitcases each, ranging from Louis Vuitton (Pippin) to Fendi (Fred -- go figure) to regulation duffel (it would have to be Sam, wouldn't it?). Certainly enough for more than a week. Considering the fact that Sam and Fred were planning to overstay their welcome.

Fred asked the receptionist to inform Master Brownolow that his guests were on the way up. The others had already started up the first set of stairs.



About 12 flights later, they were still alive. Sam was toughing it out, Pippin was ranting, and Fred was complaining. "I wonder who we're supposed to blame for this?" he said aloud but to no-one in particular. "Sam, for being a goody-goody brain who can't fix his own car, Dr. Grey for being the kook that he is, sending me off with the Gardener's son..."

"You shut the hell up right now about me. I am in no mood for your snootiness."

Fred struggled under the weight of his Fendis. "Class plays a factor, buddy. Hired help are here for a reason."

"You know who you sound like?"

"Do I care?"

Sam smiled. "Ted Stamm."

Fred halted in his tracks and dropped Fendi #2. "You take that back."

"Not until you get a goddamn clue."

The boys had reached the 13th floor. Pippin stopped where he was and looked directly at Fred, standing there so angry. He had no idea why those two had to fight. He also had no idea why Sam was really there. Pippin just thought he was a sort of Chaperone.

Sam, meanwhile, continued. "If anything, you have no class whatsoever. You are a snobbish, arrogant lout who could never hope to get anything done in life. You don't deserve to be a Baggins! I have no idea why Dr. Grey even bothered with you!"

Fred started toward Sam, Fendi in hand. "You BASTARD!!!" He swung the suitcase, in an attempt to beat some sense of place into Sam. Sam ducked, and the suitcase went flying, crashing into the wall, opening, and sliding down the stairs, spilling out an assortment of Abercrombie on the way down. Fred, meanwhile, started attacking the 10th grader with his bare hands. He was swinging wildly, getting Sam here and there (a ratio of one hit for every five swings). Sam defended, and Pippin tried to get them to stop. Fred was gradually backing Sam down the stairs, step by step, until he went one step too far- his foot came down on one of his Abercrombie shirts that had spilled out of his suitcase (damn that company!) and slipping, taking the other two down with him. They fell for at least one and a halfs flights, ending in a tired tangle when Sam crashed into the wall that denothed the eleventh floor.

After lying there for half a minute, the boys untangled themselves and stood up. Fred looked around for his suitcase, and saw only a trail of clothing going down the stairs. Grumbling, he followed it down to the third floor. Sam made a mental note to double check chapter 4 of LotR...and to yell at Dr. Grey if what he found was what he expected to find. Pippin, meanwhile, brushed himself off and asked Sam if He was OK.

"Yeah, I'm fine, Just really damn confused."



Fred had picked up Fendi #1 and was stuffing his clothing back into it on his way up the stairs. "An extra 10 flights," he muttered, "and it's all his fault." He stuffed a pair of jeans into the suitcase. "All his fault..."



When he reached Pip and Sam on the eleventh floor, there was not a word said. Sam motioned to continued, Fred and Pippin followed.

After a few more flights, Pippin couldn't take the silence anymore. He noted the sign that read "Floor 26" and said aloud (although somewhat weakly) "Hey, you know who lives on the 28th? Mr. Maggot!"

Fred remembered it suddenly. "Yeah...when I used to live here he'd always invite us to dinner...his wife always had a little candy dish by the front door, and I'd always take some...until one day when Mr. Maggot actually caught me. He said that I was to ask first, and if he ever caught me taking it again he'd throw me out the window. Low class bastard."

Sam laughed to himself. "Snobbish then, snobbish now." he said under his breath.

Pip, lucky for Sam, was able to cover this by saying "Maybe we should drop by."

The color washed away from Fred's face. "Us? Now?"

Sam said "Why not? It'll give us all a chance to calm down. I know from experience that you're a nicer person when there are adults around."

"Sam's right," Pippin said.

Fred grumbled and walked out the door to the 28th floor. "Which apartment was it?"



It was apt. 28-030. As the boys made towards it, they saw one of those Creepy Jackets at the door. Mr. Maggot was yelling at the person, saying somthing about "get your hooligan rear end out of this building before I call the police!" The jacket proceeded to do so. He came straight toward the boys. Fred felt the need to put the ring on; oh, what he would give to be invisible right now. But Pippin and Mr. Maggot would probably see (or rather, not see) everything.

The Jacket walked down the hall, probably to bang on the next door (why didn't he just use the phone? His voice would probably be intimidating enough). The boys waited until Mr. Maggot had closed his door to approach him. Pippin rang the bell. Almost immediately, shouts were heard from inside.

"That's the last straw, you goddamn son of a bitch! Get your biker ass away from my property or I'm calling the---" here he opened the door and saw the faces of three confused teenagers "well, hello! Master Tate. Are you and your little friends here to visit Master Kenny?"

Pippin replied, trying not to laugh (somewhat unsuccessfully) "Yes, but the elevator was out of order and...we figured we'd drop by. Allow me to introduce Samuel Garrick," Sam nodded "and I assume you already know Mr. Frederick Baggins?"

"Oh, yes indeed, I remember you. Would've even if I hadn't heard your name a few minutes ago...Baggins...the little candy-thief...hn...come on in! We can all have a nice talk before you go up to the penthouse."



Once inside, the boys were seated on a fairly nice maroon leather couch. The candy dish was nowhere in sight, but Mrs. Maggot was getting sodas for the teenagers and coffee for herself and Mr. Maggot. She brought them in and sat down next to her husband. Pippin and the Maggots (sounds like a grunge group, don't it?) were discussing the weather, which hadn't been all too bad lately. Sam was smirking contently; here he was, sitting in the house of one of the few men ever to take a stand against the spoiled Fred Bggins, being treated humanely. Fred was just sitting there giving Sam really evil glares and contemplating using the ring to make the Gardener's son into a dancing rudebega, bent on obeying his every command. Both boys were considering sending Dr. Grey a Furby (there is almost no torture device greater and more terrifying than a well-built Furby; in fact, I can only think of 2... but Windows 95 and broken car alarms are only a hair higher on that list).

To get a break from discussing the weather, Mr. Maggot asked "So, Master Tate, what brings you to Master Kenny's with all this luggage? You aren't planning on living here again, are you, Freddy, my boy?" Fred was a bit surprised at the question, and especially at it's bluntness.

Pippin replied, "No, sir, we're only staying the week so we can have a study group for the finals."

"Then why were those creepy hooligans asking for you?"

Fred took a sip of his Pepsi. He hadn't figured out how to answer such questions.

Sam said, "We think it's just the seniors trying to scare us before finals." Obviously Sam had given some thought to it. "Nothing big, just very annoying."

Mr. Maggot smiled, remembering his high school days. He had been there at about the same time as Gregory and Deanna. Of course, he didn't know about them [this town is really that sick; in fact, the only reason Bill's "suicide" was remembered at all was because nearly the whole town was present, along with a few out-of-towners. The coverup would be almost impossible. Major props to Dr. Grey, I must say. He doesn't deserve to be furbied, no matter what Fred thinks].

After about a half hour, the boys decided it was time to go. They said good-bye to the Maggots, and promised to come back as soon as the elevator was fixed. Mrs. Maggot gave Fred a small package before they left, and he thanked her heartily.



They started the long trek up the remaining 56 sets of stairs. They had only gone about 4 floors when they heard the muffled sound of large feet on the painted cement floor. Things being what they were, the boys thought it was one of the bikers. A shadow appeared on the wall in front of them, magnified and eerie in the flourescent lighting. Sam, knowing well enough who it was supposed to be, said the required line: "What do you want, and where are you going?"

The figure gave the correct response: "I want Master Baggins. Have you seen him?" said the muffled voice; but it was the voice of Kenny Brownolow. A vision in Polo was revealed when the 9th-grader stepped into view.

"Hey, Kenny."

"Who else would it be?" Kenny had a reputation for being randomly insane, but funny. The kind of guy who can have the most fun at parties while remaining sober. People loved this guy, and not only for his money. "Where the hell were you? It's nearly midnight!"

Fred sighed. "It's a long story. But we were just at Mr. Maggots on the 28th." He picked up the package Mrs. Maggot had given him. Suddenly he laughed (as was expected); from the now-open box, the scent of chocolate was rising.