Lemony Snicket, eleven years old, stood in the enormous room made of green wood. He was dressed smartly, with a green necktie and a silver pin that nestled proudly atop it bearing the insignia of the organization.
It was his first official VFD lesson. He was nervous, yes, but excited. Excited to begin training to rid the world of fire, as his brother and sister had already.
Leaning back against the bench he looked around the room. It was huge, and very very elegant. A crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, and elaborately patterned rugs decorated the floor. The walls were painted a deep green, to symbolize the emerald lumber.
He recalled the book he had read on the subject. Manufactured in Paltryville, the wood was not dried out before use, unlike other woods. This meant that the wood would burn less easily, giving volunteers a few crucial seconds to get out alive.
Lemony had always been told the evil of fire, how it consumed everything with an undying greed, leaving behind only ashes and sorrow.
The grand door creaked open and in walked three people. These were the first of his classmates he would meet.
The first person was a boy who looked around a year older than Lemony. He was taller than him, and broader shouldered. He had caramel coloured hair and tanned skin, everything Lemony was not.
Unknown to Lemony this was Bertrand.
The second person was a tall girl, a good deal older than him, with long black hair and topaz eyes.
Unknown to him this was the future duchess of Winnipeg, and a dear friend.
The third person was also a girl but unlike the other two she was petite. She looked a year younger than Lemony and had hazelnut coloured hair and blazing brown eyes. She was wearing an elegant scarlet gown and her hair was tied back in a green ribbon. The first thing he noticed was her beauty, from her small pointed nose, to her long dark eyelashes, to her rose shaped mouth.
Unknown to him this was the person who would change his life forever. This was Beatrice.
These three people stood looking at Lemony. He said nothing looking away. At eleven years old Lemony was an awkward shy boy, but he wanted desperately to say something interesting and funny to the beautiful girl.
He looked up right into her eyes, and for the first time their eyes met. He cleared his throat.
"I always thought that showing up early for an event like a masked ball or code class, was one of the signs of a noble person."
She looked taken aback and looked downwards whilst the other two merely stared. He noticed a faint colour in her cheeks- she was blushing.
Lemony thought he had embarrassed her, thought that she would never want to become friends with him or even talk to him. Unknown to him, Beatrice was delighted to be spoken to be such a charming person.
She turned away with the future duchess and Bertrand and the three talked silently together, leaving Lemony in anguish. Every now and then Beatrice would look over her shoulder and give Lemony a smile, which his mistook for a sneer. He had embarrassed her and now they would never speak again.
He stayed alone, worrying, as the three spoke, and even as other students began to arrive. As the old man dressed in a chequered jacket poked his head around the door and called them in, Lemony walked into class alone.