Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Stone Ramshackle:   

Age: 15

Skill: Defense

About: 

Stone is the oldest Ramshackle sibling. He was adopted at the age of 3 by Ray and Shauna Ramshackle when they saw his birth parents abusing him. He was the first kid to be adopted by Ray and Shauna and loved them very much. 

When Ray and Shauna brought home Vinnie, Stone was already 5 years old. Vinnie caused many problems for Stone as she was always on the move, either chasing birds or playing hide and seek without him knowing. 

It was three years after that when Ray and Shauna brought home Skipp. Skipp, too, created many obstacles for Stone, for whenever Stone was doing his homeschool homework or making dinner, Skipp would be right behind him wanting to play a game.

Even though his two adopted siblings caused more problems then not, Stone loved them, and he would never let it show.

But one day, two years after they adopted Skipp, it was Stone’s tenth birthday and Vinnie and Skipp were trying to make Stone a cake. Vinnie wanted it to be made out of beans and Skipp was happy to help, but keeping the beans in place was hard. So far, it was an average birthday for Stone, but what made it so strange was that when he was secretly watching his younger siblings try to cook, Shauna came over and asked him for a talk.

Once Stone got to the living room, he sat down on a chair before looking over at his parents, not the ones who hurt him, but the parents who he loved as much as they loved him. But, without any explanation, his mom asked him to promise them something. When Stone said yes, they told him to promise that he would always take care of his two younger siblings no matter what. Stone promised his parents that he would, but when they both thought that he left the living room, he saw that they sighed in relief.

When Ray and Shauna died, Stone was hurt badly and secretly started to care and protect Vinnie and Skipp more and more.

Vinnie Ramshackle:  

Age: 13

Skill: Thievery

About:

Vinnie is the second oldest Ramshackle sibling. She was also adopted by Ray and Shauna at the age of 3. Vinnie was being beaten up by some other older kids at the orphanage because she stole some of their food when she saw two people come and stop the other kids from hurting her. 

Later that same day, she was called to the main office for a talk. She thought it was going to be about her stealing until she saw the two people again and they were smiling. When she was told that she was being adopted by the two people who saved her from another broken bone, Vinnie was so overjoyed. Everyone at the orphanage told the couple that they were taking home a thief and that Vinnie should stay at the orphanage, but the couple told them that Vinnie was only stealing so that she wouldn’t starve and that she would be a perfect addition to the Ramshackle family.

When Vinnie arrived at her new home, she saw Ray walk over to a boy who was around the age of 5, and told him that Vinnie was his new sister. Vinnie couldn't believe what was happening to her, one minute she was at the orphanage, the next she was the daughter of a happy, rich, and married couple with an older brother named Stone who loved her even though he didn’t show it.

Three years later, Ray and Shauna brought home a 3 year old boy. They told Vinnie and Stone that this was their new sibling and that his name is Skipp. 

Vinnie and Skipp got along very well and when they were one day on a walk, Vinnie noticed some of the kids who beat her up when she was at the orphanage. The kids noticed Vinnie and Skipp immediately and started to bully her. 

They said that they should call the police on Vinnie for stealing her parents’ fortune even though Vinnie would never steal from her loving parents, this annoyed her quite a bit but she was able to ignore them. What really got Vinnie mad was when the kids noticed Skipp holding Vinnie’s hand tightly as they walked past them, they started to yell at her while saying how she was kidnapping a little boy. She yelled at them saying that the little boy that she was ‘kidnapping’ was actually her baby brother and they were walking home from the bakery. The kids just laughed before pulling Skipp away from his older sister. 

As the leader of the kids took her crying 3 year old brother away from her, he told the rest of the kids to hold Vinnie down while he punches her brother, but luckily, the other kids didn’t have enough time to grab her and she lunged at the leader, headbutting him in the stomach and saving her brother. She thought that she was going to be yelled at for hurting someone, but her parents told her that what she did was not wrong in that situation and that she only attacked the kid because he was going to hurt her brother.

Vinnie loved her parents, they were the first people to ever care about her, once they died, Vinnie felt a part of her die with them.

Skipp Ramshackle:

Age: 10

Skill: Playing Music

About:

Skipp is the youngest Ramshackle sibling. Skipp, even at a young age, knew how to play many instruments and had a very kind heart. Unfortunately, that was not what his birth mother and father wanted him to have. They both wanted Skipp to make them money while playing music so that they wouldn’t need to work, but even though Skipp made a good amount of money each day, he was never allowed to spend it and had to give it to his birth parents immediately so that they could do what they wanted with it. His birth parents never gave Skipp good food, whenever they got his birth parents bought themself meals, they always ate until they were full and then gave Skipp the leftovers.

Then, one day, while Skipp was trying to make some money for his birth parents, he noticed a girl who was just a year older than him. She was obviously hungry and had no money, so Skipp gave her $10 and told her to buy herself something to eat. The girl was so happy the younger boy gave her money, she said thank you, and she smiled before running off. Skipp was happy that he did something kind, he always told himself; a smile is the best way to repay someone. But little did he know, his birth parents saw him hand the money and were very angry. When he left the area the girl was, he was immediately grabbed by the arm by his birth mother. She dragged Skipp to their house and then yelled at him for tossing out $10. They yelled at Skipp for hours and hours, once they finished yelling, they took his favorite mandolin and smashed it against the floor.

That night, Skipp ran away. He took a violin and left the house. No note, no nothing. He just left. Skipp didn’t care about what his birth parents thought, he was only 3 years old and they expected him to make them rich. Unfortunately, because he was still small and young, he was only able to walk three blocks until he passed out from exhaustion.

Once Skipp finally came to, he was in the hospital and two figures were hovering over him. He thought they were his parents and he closed his eyes tight and tried to hide in the blankets, but a hand came down and gently brushed his hair with his hand. Skipp opened his eyes and saw a man and a woman, but they weren’t his parents. When he asked why he was at the hospital, they told him it was because they found him unconscious on the sidewalk, then when they asked why he was there, he told them how he ran away from his parents because of what they did. Skipp saw that the couple were obviously shocked and amazed that a 3 year old had enough courage to run away even if the parents were awful. They hugged him and all Skipp could think was: I wish they were my parents , as he looked at a shining star in the sky.

Skipp didn’t know what happened after he left the hospital, but after a horrible week with his birth parents again, there was a knock at the door and it was the couple from the hospital. They showed his birth parents a paper and his birth parents tried to get them to leave, but they didn’t. Then the couple saw him hiding behind a plant and asked him if he wanted to live with them. Skipp was shocked and looked over at his birth parents, they were looking at him with the type of anger that told him ‘don’t you dare’, but Skipp looked over at the couple and slowly nodded yes. They handed him a paper and pen and told him to sign his name, so he did. But once he did, his birth parents grabbed him by the arm and pulled him back as Skipp winced in pain. Fortunately, the couple planned for this and the police came in and took his birth parents away.

Skipp felt awful for that but, deep down, he knew that he did the right thing. The dad looked down at him and told him that he will be now living with them. Skipp smiled brightly and asked what he could do to repay them, and they just told him; a smile is the best way to repay someone.

Once Ray and Shauna died, Skipp felt as if his heart was grabbed and someone smashed it against the floor a hundred times.

Violet Baudelaire:

Age: 14

Skill: Inventing

About:

Violet is the oldest Baudelaire sibling. She is the daughter of Beatrice and Bertrand Baudelaire, she is an excellent inventor and loves to create new ways to get things done. For example, she once tried to find a way to toast bread but with a grandfather clock instead of a toaster, she even built the gears herself, but sadly it was five minutes off. Violet always puts her hair up in a ponytail whenever she needs to think, it helps her concentrate.

Her younger brother, Klaus, was born 2 years after she was and they became fast friends. Violet always protected Klaus from other people who tried to hurt them or make fun of them for being different. The two of them built all kinds of abnormal inventions, although it was always Klaus reading and Violet building. 

Once Sunny was born, Beatrice taught Violet and Klaus how to carry Sunny and know what she says. Sunny and Violet get along very well, whenever Violet needs to cut objects or smooth them down, Sunny is always willing to help.

The day Sunny was born, Beatrice and Bertrand let Violet hold her. Once Sunny was in Violet’s hold, her crying stopped and turned into giggles while snuggling. Violet never felt so important in her life, her just born sister loved her. 

A few days later, Beatrice came home from the hospital with Sunny and Bertrand asked Klaus to bring Sunny to her room. Once he left with their sister, Beatrice and Bertrand looked at Violet sternly and asked her to promise them something. Violet asked when she needed to promise and her parents told her to promise that she would keep Sunny and Klaus safe. Violet promised that she would always keep them safe and that even if her parents didn’t ask her to promise, she would. Violet also asked why, but they changed the subject.

When Beatrice and Bertrand died, it broke Violet’s heart and pushed her to keep the promise no matter what happens.

Klaus Baudelaire:

Age: 12

Skill: Reading + Photographic Memory

About:

Klaus Baudelaire is the middle Baudelaire child. Klaus is a bookworm, he loves reading all sorts of books and, thanks to his photographic memory, he can memorize pretty much anything.

Klaus was born 2 years after Violet and he looked up to Violet. He and Violet always worked together when building, Klaus always knew which book to grab on whichever subject they were building off of. For example, when they were building the clock toaster, he grabbed books on bread and clocks so that he knew which gears could be replaced or moved and how long each type of bread should be cooked for until it’s toast.

When Sunny was born he did tons of research on babies, such as: what they eat, what comforts them, and more. When they were at the hospital the day Sunny was born, Klaus was talking to doctors about the different types of medicine and how they’re made, when he asked about Medusoid Mycelium cure, the doctors all said how there was no known cure yet.

Once Klaus walked into the room his mother was in, he immediately saw Sunny there, who was crying and he smiled knowing that Sunny’s crying proved that her lungs worked. When Beatrice asked if Violet wanted to hold her little sister, she said yes and Klaus told her the best way to make it comfortable for the both of them.

Once Beatrice and Sunny came home from the hospital, he was asked to bring Sunny to her room. Once he did, he noticed Sunny looking over at a book, Klaus grabbed the book and started to read it. There was nothing interesting about the book, it was just a cookbook, but whenever he read the final instruction, which was always ‘take a bite and enjoy’, Sunny laughed and giggled.

Klaus always wondered what happens after death, but when the Baudelaire children’s parents die, Klaus always tries to fight back his tears and tell himself: they’re ok .

Sunny Baudelaire:

Age: 1 and a half

Skill: Cook + Razor-sharp Teeth

About:

Sunny is the youngest of the Baudelaire children. She has sharp teeth that are perfect for cutting anything. She also loved to help out her parents when they cooked and had fun memorizing the ingredients and time they used when cooking.

Sunny was always told that, when she was born, it made everyone’s day have a little sunshine, even on the cloudiest of days, so that’s why she was named Sunny.

Sunny loves both of her siblings. They both do so much for each other and her, and they were never selfish.

Sunny could remember, even though she couldn’t open her eyes at the time, that there were many loud noises. The sound of crying from happiness to the sound of people walking by and talking to each other, but then she was lifted into the air and then into someone’s arms. Sunny felt all the commotion start to soften in the warmth and her crying stop until she fell asleep.

Once Sunny was out of the hospital, she was brought to a giant house. The house was filled with books and shiny objects. Once Klaus brought her into her room, Sunny looked around, and then the word ‘cook’ caught her eye. Sunny stared at the word with curiosity and apparently Klaus noticed that, grabbed the book, and read it. Whenever Klaus read the word ‘bite’ Sunny felt herself laugh, she liked that word.

A few weeks later Sunny said her first word, she was walking around in the kitchen and then grabbed a carrot and said “bite”. Her word confused her family and then to show what she meant, she bit the carrot and then everyone laughed. Even though Sunny was able to say some words such as ‘bite’ and sometimes the name of her siblings, Sunny still can’t speak very well. Fortunately, her siblings and parents can still understand her.

Sunny doesn’t really understand that much about life and death, but she can tell by the way her siblings act and talk, that they’re never going to see their parents again.

*   *   *

My name is Lemony Snicket and I advise you to not keep reading this story, for nothing good will come out of it. You have already learned a small portion about the Ramshackles and Baudelaires, but trust me, only much worse things will happen from here on out. I’m telling you this for your own good, look away.

Chapter Text

If you are reading this then you are probably a fan of fan fiction with happy endings, but if that is what you are seeking then you are better off somewhere else. In this story, there are no happy beginnings, no happy endings, and very few happy things in the middle. My name is Lemony Snicket, and I am here to tell you about the series of unfortunate events that happened to the Ramshackle and Baudelaire children oh so many years ago. I advise you, my dear reader, to look away and read something much more pleasant.

This story will be dreadful, melancholy, and calamitous; a word which here means “dreadful” and “melancholy”. That is because there are not very many happy things that happened in the lives of the Ramshackle and Baudelaire children.

* * *

A man walked out of the money management building and into his car. This man’s name is Poe. Poe was told to gather six children, three are from a different family then the other three. Poe was sad that the kids lost their parents at such a young age and was trying to find a way to politely tell them that their loving parents are not dead and that they were killed in a terrible fire that destroyed their home and now all that’s left is a memory. It’s a good thing that the drive to the park was a half hour long.

* * *

It was a cloudy day as Skipp, Stone, and Vinnie walked to the park. They were going to have a picnic as Skipp played the mandolin, but something was bothering them.

“It’s strange.” Vinnie said, “Mom and dad love going to the park. I wonder why they don’t want to come with us…”

“Maybe they’re just busy?” Skipp suggested,

“I don’t know, maybe-” Stone started before being interrupted by a passing fire truck. The three sibling looked over at the moving truck and then at each other before Stone continued,

“As I was saying. Maybe they will meet up with us later?”

The three didn’t really know what to think but before anyone could say anything else, they arrived at the park.

Vinnie brought out the blanket as Stone placed the food on it while Skipp started to play the instrument. They did this for twenty minutes until Skipp suddenly stopped playing the mandolin.

“Skipp? What’s the matter?” Vinnie asked,

“Who’s that?”

Vinnie and Stone looked over in the direction Skipp was looking and saw a man walking towards them. Stone secretly moved in front of his younger siblings in defense. Then suddenly the man started coughing a lot and came into a clearer view.

“Mr. Poe?” Vinnie asked,

“Ah yes children,” Poe said, “I’m afraid we have some bad news.”

The siblings looked at him confused.

“Your parents have perished in a terrible fire.”

They looked at him in disbelief. He must have been joking. But Poe didn’t see the sadness in their eyes and said, “Perished means died.”

“W-we kn-know what p-perished means…” Stone said, still in disbelief.

“Oh.” Poe paused for a moment before continuing, “Well, I’m going to need you three to come with me while we pick up three other wealthy kids who are now orphans, but I’m sure you six have nothing in common.”

* * *

Meanwhile, while Poe was getting the Ramshackles, the Baudelaires were on a trolley to the beach. Sure it was a cloudy day, but those days are the best days to go to the beach since no one else was there.

The old rickety trolley gave the Baudelaires a bumpy ride but other than that and a loud fire truck that went by, it was peaceful and they enjoyed it.

“This your stop?” the man running the trolley asked,

“Yes, thank you.” Violet replied,

“Say, I have a question for you kids.” the three siblings looked over at him once he asked that as a response, “Why are you at the beach on a day like today? There’s a festival just down the block, I can take you there! Festive means fun!”

“We know what festive means, thank you. But the weather is perfect.” Violet told him,

“Suit yourselves!”

Klaus, Sunny, and Violet walked down to the beach and Violet brought out one of her inventions.

“Are you ready?” Klaus asked,

“We’ll find out, let's get to work!” Violet exclaimed, and then turned to Klaus, “Ok Klaus, at what angles are the prevailing currents?”

“The angle of prevailing currents are .524965224. Of course, we still need the right projectile.”

Violet then turned to Sunny, “Do we have the right projectile?”

Sunny shook her head and Violet gives her a rock,

“Could you find a rock that’s not sandstone?” she asked and Violet gave her one in return. Though Sunny lacked communication skills, her four sharp teeth made up for it.

Once Sunny returned the now smooth rock to Violet, she thanked her. 

“Perfect, Sunny! Thank you!”

Violet then put an ‘X’ on the rock and proceeded to throw it.

“Wait!” Klaus exclaimed before she threw the rock, “What are you doing?” he asked.

“I want to see if I could throw just as well with my left arm then with my right.”

“I don’t mean to criticize, but the standard scientific method calls for stable systematics. So you should use your right hand since you’re right handed.”

“That does seem reasonable.”

“I agree!” Sunny said,

“Klaus,” Violet said, “What was that thing Einstein said?”

“The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science.”

“And what was that thing James Brown said?”

“I got something that makes me want to shout.”

I’ve got something that tells me what it’s all about.

“I’m super bad!” Klaus and Violet said at the same time, laughing.

Violet through the rock with her right hand into the ocean and then almost suddenly a machine came out of a basket and the claw of the machine zoomed a bit over the ocean and then dunk the claw in it pulling up a smooth rock, once it was brought back to the Baudelaires the rock revealed itself to be the one Violet threw.

“It worked!” Violet exclaimed,

“I never expected otherwise!” Klaus said,

“I just wish mother and father had seen it.”

“It’s strange for them to send us off on our own so unexpectedly,”

The three sibling pondered for a moment in thought when suddenly sunny asked,

“Who’re those mysterious figures?”

Klaus and Violet quickly look over at the coughing man and three other children,

“Mr. Poe?” Violet said,

“From the bank? What is he doing here?” asked Klaus, “and who are those other three?”

Once Poe came closer to the Baudelaires, they each said ‘how do you do’ to him,

“I’m fine thank you” 

“It’s a nice day,” Violet said, trying to engage in conversation,

“It is a nice day isn't it.” Poe said, “But I’m afraid I have some bad news for you children, your parents, too, have perished in a terrible fire.”

“The Baudelaires were so shocked at this that Violet dropped the wet rock onto the dry sand. “W-what?”

“Hmm? Oh. Perished means died.”

“They know what perished means,” said the smallest of the other three children.

“Who are you?” Klaus asked,

“Oh, well you see Baudelaires.” Poe explained, “Right before I had to pick you three up, I had to pick up these three now orphans. Their parents died in a fire today, just like yours.”

“I’m Vinnie Ramshackle,” Vinnie said, “this is my younger brother Skipp, and my older brother Stone.”

“Nice to meet you, it’s awful it’s under these circumstances” Violet said, “I’m Violet Baudelaire, that’s Klaus and Sunny.

“I don’t mean to be rude, but you three don’t look much alike.” Klaus said,

“That’s because we were each adopted at the age of three.” Stone said,

“Oh, sorry! I didn’t mean to-”

“It’s fine.”

“Speaking of adoption,” Poe said, “tomorrow you will be meeting your new guardian.”

“New guardians, with a ‘s’ right? There’s two families here.” Klaus said,

“Nope! You six are going to the same guardian.”

The six kids looked at each other confused.

“But first I think you would like to see your old houses, right Baudelaires? Ramshackles?”

* * *

I’ve spent months and years doing research and crying myself to sleep. All while trying to discover the precise cause of the Baudelaire and Ramshackle fires. But, all we managed to learn was that neither the official fire department, nor the volunteer fire department arrived in time to stop the tragedy. And within moments, the two houses were engulfed with flames.

It is useless for me to tell you how terrible Vinnie, Skipp, Stone, Klaus, Violet, and Sunny felt. If you have ever lost somebody dear to you, then you already know how it feels, but if you have not, then you can’t possibly imagine.

* * *

“I-it’s all gone…” Klaus murmured

“I want to assure you children that you have nothing-”

“We have nothing” Vinnie said,

“-to worry about.”

“I can’t believe we were neighbors but never met!” Skipp exclaimed,

“It’s so strange…” Violet said,

“What’s that?” Sunny asked,

Klaud looked over where she was pointing and saw what looked like a telescope, and he grabbed it.

“There’s one over here too.” Skipp said, grabbing the one at his house.

“Weird.”

“What did our parents leave behind?” Violet asked Poe,

“Ah, yes, Baudelaires, your parents left you an enormous fortune that you can only use once Violet comes of age. And Ramshackles, your parents left you a vault of rubies that you can use once Stone comes of age.” Poe explained. “Until then, you six will be placed with the proper guardian or guardians.”

Once the seven of them left the houses, they were getting ready to go into Poe’s car when he said,

“Say goodbye you six,”

But only Violet said goodbye.

“Because you will be meeting your new guardians tomorrow, you will be staying with my family tonight. I’m sure you’ll become fast friends with Edgar and Albert!”

Once they got to Poe’s house, dinner was already being prepped, Poe told his wife about how they are going to have six guests tonight and his wife assured him that there’s enough food for everybody.

“How old are you guys?” Vinnie asked the Baudelaires,

“I’m twelve, Violet’s fourteen, and Sunny’s just one and a half.” Klaus explained, “What about you three?”

“I’m thirteen, Stone’s fifteen, and Skipp’s ten.” Vinnie said,.

“Children! Dinner!” Mrs. Poe exclaimed,

The six children seated themselves at the table as mrs. Poe started to bring out dinner.

“It’s a raven!” Edgar yelled,

“It’s a crow!” Albert yelled back,

“It’s a raven!”

“It’s a crow!”

“It’s chicken, boiled chicken!” Mrs. Poe exclaimed, “And boiled potatoes and blanched beans.”

“What does blanched mean?” Albert asked

“It means boiled,” Klaus explained,

“Nobody asked you.”

“Now now boys,” Poe said,

“No, hunny, Albert is right. Nobody asked the Baudelaires.” Mrs. Poe said before taking out a newspaper, “But, hunny, look!”

The paper she took out said ‘Baushackle mansions destroyed’

 “Dearest, maybe not in front of the children…”

“I thought it would cheer them up, being on the front page and all. I had my star reporter write an article so that everyone can know that your houses were destroyed in a fire and that you’re now orphans!”

“Sorry, but we are different families and not one of us are Baushackles.” Skipp said,

“Yes, but writing Baudelaires and Ramshakles is to long, so I shortened it to Baushackles!”

“But that’s-”

“Say, darling, if your bosses see this, it may spell P-R-O-M-A-T-I-O-N!”

“Promation?” Poe spelled,

“Promotion!” Mrs. Poe repeated,

“That’s not how you spell promotion.”

“Yes it’s P-R-O”

“P-R-O-A-E”

“P-R-R, hunny listen, P-R-R”

“That’s what I’ve been saying,”

“Listen to what I’ve been-”

“We’re not very hungry, may we go to our rooms?” Stone asked,

“Rooms?”

Poe led the six children to the one bed next to Albert and Edgar. Stone and Violet both slept on the floor so that their siblings had more room to sleep, even though Stone kept insisting that he enjoyed the floor.

“Goodnight, Edgar!” Poe said,

“Goodnight, Albert!” Mrs. Poe said,

“Goodnight, Albert!” Poe said,

“Goodnight, Edgar!” Mrs. Poe said, “And goodnight, children. You must miss your parents very much,”

“We do,” Vinnie said,

“You do what? Say it.”

“We miss our parents very much.”

Mrs. Poe sighed and then said, “This is going to make a wonderful headline.”

“Goodnight Baushackles! And remember, our home is your home,” Poe said,

“But don’t touch anything!” yelled mrs. Poe from downstairs,

Suddenly Edgar and Albert got up, “How’d you do it?”

“Do what?” asked Skipp,

“Set the fire,”

The six children sighed in annoyance and layed back down, little did they know, everything was about to get much, much worse.

The kids were woken by Poe telling them to hurry up so that they could meet their new guardian,

“Hurry up, Baushackles, you don’t want to be late!”

They were all woken up by him telling them to hurry, except Skipp. Being the deep sleeper he was, he didn’t wake up. So they let him sleep a few extra minutes and Sunny fell back asleep in Violet’s arms.

Once they were in the car, Poe started to try to engage them in conversation,

“I understand you must be nervous meeting your new guardian. I remember how I was when I was your age!”

“We’re all different ages,”

“Well, I think that at least some of your unhappiness should disappear once you meet your guardian. I know he’s very eager to meet you six. He’s an actor, so you know his excitement is real. His name is Count Olaf.”

“Never heard of him,” Stone deadpanned,

“He’s you, what was it? Your parents’ friend’s uncle’s boyfriend’s mom’s brother. He’s only three miles away, and your parents’ wills were very specific about you six being raised by your closest living relative!”

“Does he really think that’s what closest living relative means?” Skipp asked Klaus, he shrugged in return,

“Mr. Poe?” asked Violet,

“Hmm?”

“If he’s our closest living relative, then why did he never come over?”

“He’s probably a very busy man, as a banker myself, I barely have any time on my hands. Which is why me dropping you guys off is going to have to be a bit hasty. Hasty means quickly.”

“We know what hasty means,” the children said in sink,

The rest of the drive was quiet, other than Poe humming to some song that was playing on the radio, and the six children were all thinking the same question. Did our parents know each other?

Finally, the car parked right in front of a beautiful street that had beautiful houses,

“Well, this is the place!” Poe said with enthusiasm,

“Oh hello! You must be the Ramshackle and Baudelaire children!” a woman said as they got out of the car, her hands were full of groceries and she had a nice, warm smile.

“Yes, I’m Violet Baudelaire, this is my brother Klaus, my sister Sunny, and that's Stone, his sister Vinnie, and his brother Skipp.” then Violet featured Poe with her hands, “That’s mr. Poe, he’s been arranging things for us.”

“From Mulctuary Money Management, my name and title is on my card. Though that might change considering that I might be in line for a promotion.” Poe said,

“Well, I’m Justice Strauss of the High Court. Please forgive me for not shaking hands, but as you can see, I have my hands full at the moment! I just bought myself some food because my stove hasn’t been working properly lately.” she sighed,

“It’s very nice to meet you, Justice Strauss, and if you need any help with the stove, my sister is very good at crafting and she would be happy to help!” Klaus said,

“And if you ever want company, me and my brothers will always be happy to, Skipp is amazing at playing instruments!” Vinnie exclaimed,

“Wow! How lucky am I to have such strange and unusual children in my life?”

“Are you Count Olaf’s wife?”

“What? Oh, no. no, no. Goodness no. I’m married to the law! He lives over there.” Justice Strauss said, pointing over to behind the children.

They look over to the house. It was huge and looked as if it could collapse at any second. At the very top of the building was a window and there was a man looking through it, as if spying on them.

The children and Poe walked over and rang the doorbell, twice. No one came to the door.

“Strange,” Poe said, “He told me he was very eager to get his hands on you six.”

Suddenly, there was the sound of feet running down stairs and the faint voice of someone repeatedly saying ‘hello’. Then a tiny slot opened up and someone peeked through, then it closed again. The door slammed open revealing a man with an eye on his ankle.

“Hello, hello, hello, children.”