The Means Read Online Free PDF Page A

says the man. He’s beaming. He’s in the middle of a life-changing moment and a steady state of elation.
    â€œI’m Alex Pierce,” says Samantha’s colleague, and they walk in and the man closes the door.
    â€œI’m Ned Prince. My wife, Frankie.”
    Ned shuffles them into the living room where there’s an emerald-­green felt sofa with three seat cushions and a matching one with two. “You two take the big one,” he says.
    It’s an old person’s home. There could be more natural light than there is but for the blinds and the heavy green curtains that match the sofa and are far older than Frankie’s pink blouse. There’s no art on the walls but some old photographs and a few patterned plates with wire mounts. There are some table lamps that are too large for the tables they’re on and a few limp potted houseplants that sell for $2.99 at Walmart. The whole thing is cute, thinks Samantha, though nobody under seventy would live this way.
    As they sit, there is a knock at the door that is more urgent than it needs to be.
    â€œExcuse me,” says Ned, and he walks back to the door.
    He opens the door and about a dozen people push through, knocking Ned on his heels and to the side while they stream past him.
    Samantha stands. “We’re in the middle of an interview.”
    Samantha’s producer Ron turns to one of the GBSers. “You guys need to get in the hall until we’re through.”
    â€œWe’re on a timeline. You guys go ahead. I’ll stay and the rest of my team will go to the hall while I set up for our shot for when you’re done.”
    This seems to be a producer-to-producer discussion. Ron doesn’t like the idea of this guy sticking around but says, “Fine. Get the rest of your team out.”
    All of GBS but one leave while Ron and his team set up. Samantha takes the interview on a journey from the Prince family’s humble roots to the plans they have to stay in the community and put the money to good use. She learns that not only was Ned a mailman, but their son is a mailman and their grandson was a mailman for Halloween last year.
    â€œDo you have a picture?” asks Samantha. This will go over great in the package, she thinks.
    â€œI’m sure we do,” says Frankie, and she disappears to the next room. The UBS team working on the shoot doesn’t notice the GBS producer follow Frankie out.
    Ten minutes later Samantha starts to wrap up the interview. They have plenty of good material for a ninety-second package. Frankie has been back on the two-seater for several minutes and Samantha asks her, “Were you able to find a Halloween photo?”
    â€œOh, yes. I gave it to that gentleman there.” She points to the GBS producer who looks nailed to the floor.
    Samantha stands and walks to him with her hand out.
    He takes it from his shirt breast pocket and gives it to her though his expression is defiant rather than embarrassed, as though she should know he had to try it and it was a good effort and she should respect that.
    â€œAsshole,” she says loud enough only for him.
    Back at the van, Ron helps Samantha step up through the sliding door. She appreciates the gesture and notes that he hadn’t done it on the way over. “You did a great job in there,” he says, and he holds eye contact and nods, trying to make sure she knows he’s not just saying this but really thinks it.
    â€œThank you. That GBS crew is such a bunch of assholes.”
    â€œIt’s not just that crew. That’s GBS. That’s how they are. You know how some basketball coaches will teach their players to step on a guy’s shoe when they’re on the free-throw line going for a rebound? It’s dirty. That’s how they coach them at GBS from the top down. That’s why they’re a culture of assholes. I know people who weren’t assholes when they started working there but