Disclaimer: I do not own anything. Well, almost anything.
Chapter One
For many people having an "equipage," which here means "a carriage equipped with horses and attendants," is not very common. Unless you visit a place like Shastina Falls where all around you there are equipages for many families all around. But you would only have the misfortune to be in a perfect place such as Shastina Falls, for it is a very odd place to be.
The people who live in Shastina are not like most. They are always smiling and effervescent, a word which here means "happy" and "giddy," and have their lawns and houses always looking perfect. And to a person who has had a life full of misery would think that all this happiness was sickening.
That's exactly what Violet Baudelaire was thinking as herself, Klaus, and Sunny walked down the warm street of Snow Flake Way. Now how the path had led them to Shastina was beyond me. For I have visited Shastina Falls and left there almost scarred for life.
"Where are we?" Violet asked looking around them.
"We're in Shastina Falls... the happiest place on earth. Now isn't that odd," Klaus replied squinting at a sing at the end of the block.
"Snow Flake," said Sunny chewing on a rock that Violet had cleaned off for her.
"We're on Snow Flake Way. What kind of street name is that?" Klaus said.
Violet shifted Sunny in her arms and looked at all the houses, "These houses all look the same!"
"It's very strange. Just like a book I read: 'The Stepford Wives.'" he said.
"And what happened in 'The Stepford Wives?'" Violet said uneasily.
"Well," Klaus started. "you see all the houses looked the same and all the families were perfect. In the end they all find out that the men had made their wives brainwashed to be so perfect."
"So what you're saying is that we are in Stepford?" she asked her eyes narrowing.
"It was book. But, I'm starting to think that most things are possible." he said staring at a little girl on a porch. She was smiling with one of those maniac looks on her face, making Klaus shiver.
"Thanks Alice." Violet said gloomily with sarcasm dripping in her voice.
"What is wrong with you nowadays?" said Klaus angrily stopping in front of her.
"Not here." was all she said and began walking over to a small playground where she sat Sunny on a rocking horse and beckoned Klaus over to sit next to her on a bench. She turned away as if in shame as he sat down.
"What is going on?" he asked her putting a hand on her shoulder.
Violet turned around and Klaus gasped. Only twice in his life had he ever seen a phenomenon like this: Violet was crying. She sucked in one breath and collapsed in his arms sobbing. He pulled her close to him and kissed the top of her head.
And then he stopped. It was all becoming clear to him. She was in pain. Never had she ever really shown how she had felt with him or Sunny before. She had always wanted to be strong for them. She had to be strong for them. It was what she had thought her job was. But, she didn't have to show no emotion with them. She could tell them how she felt. And now she was having a mental breakdown right in front of him. Crying out all the pain she had kept inside of her.
Klaus felt so helpless. Just holding her there in his arms. He couldn't do anything. What could he say? Nothing. All he could do was hold her.
"I couldn't help but notice your situation." said a dull voice from in front of them. "I can help you, Baudelaires. Come with me."