The Dirslies were the most normal family in the history of the world, or so they would have the world believe. They were the most boring people imaginable. They lived in a grey house, on a grey street, in the middle of a very grey neighborhood. In fact, to become part of this exclusive community, you had to sign an agreement to give up all color, and if you put any color other than grey, black or white in your home, or wore any other color, the Home Owners' Association reserves the right to kick you out of this exclusive club. But that is another matter entirely.
On this normal day, the Dirslies were not concerned about what the HOA thought about colors, because Mr. Dirslie was off to work. Mr. Dirslie worked for a big company on the twelfth floor of the second biggest building in the middle of the city, for a tax firm. He was expecting a rather important person who shall remain unnamed because he is completely useless in this plot, and was delighted to find that the important person was right on time. Afterwards, Mr. Dirslie got to shout at a few people in the building and was on his way home when he finally noticed what every other person on the block had noticed: free samples!
Yes, this was very unusual, for the free samples came from the water ice shop that was rather like Starbucks (meaning that it was very expensive, but not very tasty). Feeling irritable, Mr. Dirslie brushed past thinking that there must be some catch for the samples over heard a few of the people whispering.
"He-Who-Should-Not-Be-Named-In-Public –"
"Yes, I heard it was the Plotter boy—"
Mr. Dirslie stopped in his tracks. What was this? News from the other side? The Plotters where Mrs. Dirslie's good for nothing sister and her sister's husband. And they had a son, that would be about Dexter's age now. Mr. Dirslie was grateful that his own son, Dexter, was nothing like Harrie Plotter. If his son had been one of them… well… he did not like to think about that.
Mr. Dirslie shook himself and hurried to his car as quickly as he could. When he finally got home, he listened to Mrs. Dirslie about her big day with Dexter, who had learned to actually put a fork in his mouth, which was about time too, because he was nearly 3. Later on Mr. Dirslie was watching the news when the announcer came on and began a story about Wal-Mart.
"Well, Wal-Mart has once again raised its prices. And in other news, everyone's left shoe has gone missing. We think it is the work of a local …"
Mr. Dirslie drowned out the rest of the report in his mind. Free samples? Wal-Mart raising prices? Left shoe's missing? Something was going on, and he would have to tell Mrs. Dirslie very soon.
"Funny stuff on the news dear… Wal-Mart's lowering prices, and left shoe's are missing everywhere… and today they were giving out free samples."
"So?" Mrs. Dirslie snapped. "It has nothing to do with their lot!" and that was all that was said on the matter.
