Dear Reviewers,
Visualpurple: Ok, let me sum up Chapter the 8th for you:
At the train station, Klaus and Sunny see a strange man wearing a long coat and a hat that covers his face, who is supposedly following them. After meeting Duncan, who amazes Sunny with the old "quarter behind the ear" trick, they board the train to the airport. On the train, they see the same man sitting behind them. When they get on the airplane that will take them to France, Klaus starts to wonder if Violet possibly could have kept Sunny a secret from him for a reason. He takes out a small book of photographs and flips through it. Sunny claims that she knows a man in one of the pictures whose name I will not mention here, (because it is a Grim Grotto spoiler,) someone Sunny should have forgotten a long time ago. Klaus wondered how he could be a friend of Violet's, as Sunny said. They land in Paris. Hope that helps! No spoilers in this chapter!
Phoenix72389: Yes, it thickens indeed... The answers should be coming up in a while...
NewbiaTheElf: Yes, Klaus had his notebook, not typewriter. I think once I wrote, "Klaus stopped writing", not typing, but I only indicated it once, so it would be kinda hard to catch anyway, lol. And I'm thinking I might do another fic from Sunny's POV after I finish this one, so...It's possible.
Lady Emily: Oh thank you! -Takes award- I'd like to thank my mom, and my dad, and Lemony Snicket, and ALL my readers!!! -Sniff- Ok. Anyway, about Duncan's secret... The truth will soon be revealed! Muah-ha-ha!! Sorry. And Violet... Well, she'll be around...
Ed, the Giant Racoon: Thank you much! I am utterly and truly flattered. –Grins-
MlynnBloom: Bonjour! Merci! And...well, that's just about the only French I know, or know how to spell anyway... Luckily I have my trusty French-English dictionary on hand! So let's see, while I've got it... "Quel temps fait-il? Je voudrais envoyer un telegramme," a phrase which here means, "How is the weather? I would like to send a telegram." Hey, wait a minute...
Powerof1P3PadfootsGrl: I'm trying to remember if there's anything past Chapter 11 of TGG I just spoiled... Well, if I did, sorry, and please finish it soon! :) Anyway... Ok, this part is pretty cool: "Les Fleurs Du Mal" was a real book written by poet Charles Baudelaire. One of the poems included in it was titled "La Beatrice." Awesome huh? The Bad Beginning Rare Edition has a verse of that poem at the end, signed only "C. Baudelaire"...
WonkaVision: Yes, Ferdy. And no, you shouldn't be worried; it will all make sense in the end! –Wink-
Well, again, I must say, thank you so so so so so much Readers! I appreciate how you guys are taking the time to read my story! Here's a longer chapter to reward you for your loyalty!
Chapter 8: P a r i s
Dear Dairy,
When we finally found a hotel, we were all dog-tired. One, because our translators, Isadora and Sunny, were outside with the luggage, so I had an especially hard time checking in at the front desk. I finally had to run outside and grab Isadora who made the reservations with the ease of a true Parisian. And two, because we were all jet-lagged, it being nighttime back at home and daytime here.
After we got 3 rooms, (Sunny and Isadora are sharing) I set up the typewriter on the small table in my room. I always take it with me in a special carrying case when I travel, so I can write, like I am now.
Duncan has been awfully quiet. I'm beginning to wonder why.
Well, we're leaving to go eat. I can't wait to see what kind of fancy restaurants they've got here.
Like Mr. Snicket used to say:
With all due respect.
. . .
The restaurant was the "Véritable Diner Français", a highly recommended eating establishment located in a busy section of Paris. All the waiters were dressed in expensive white tuxedos and even the air smelled sophisticated. This wasn't your average, "Eat at Joe's" restaurant; this was the eatery of the wealthy. And the four had money to spend.
They all had to order from a French menu, and Klaus couldn't help but feel proud when he learned that Sunny could identify and pronounce the names of every dish on the list. She gave the waiter several complicated tips on how to prepare a certain dish, and told him to pass the information on to the cook. The waiter left with a slightly puzzled look on his face, as if the only thing he had understood was "Oh yes, and hold the mushrooms," or the French equivalent of it.
Sunny silently twiddled a quarter around in her fingers for a while, before looking up at Duncan and asking, "Hey Duncan, you knew my brother Klyde, right?"
"Klyde? You mean Klau-"
Isadora kicked him under the table.
"Ow! I mean, yeah, sure I knew Klyde. Isadora had a huge crush on him when they were kids," Duncan said.
Isadora's jaw dropped and everyone flinched when her menu hit Duncan's head. Klaus raised an eyebrow and blinked at the menu Isadora was now hiding behind.
Lucky for her, the waiter showed up with the beverages they ordered. Klaus watched as he poured Sunny a cup of coffee.
"Are you sure you should be drinking that, Sunny?" he asked.
Sunny shrugged and sprinkled in some sugar from the sugar bowl the waiter had set on the table. "Well, you know what they say," she said. "When in Rome... Or France..."
Well, obviously Sunny's system was not used to the caffeine in the coffee, because she was wired for the rest of the day. When they left the restaurant, she skipped out to the rental car and hopped in the front seat, shouting "Shotgun!" And when they finally got her to sit in the back, she bounced up and down in her seat for the duration of the ride.
"So where are we off to?" Duncan asked.
"Well, I happen to have a friend who works nearby, so I figured we should stop in and ask if she's seen anything," Klaus replied.
"Who is it?" Isadora asked.
"You'll see. I think you'll recognize her."
Duncan turned and stared thoughtfully out the window.
"Are we there yet?" Sunny called from the backseat.
"Almost, Sunny," Klaus replied.
Sunny paused. "Now are we there?"
"Sunny..." Isadora said.
"Sorry."
. . .
Klaus's friend turned out to be a singer at a local theater and café. The place was crowded with audience members, instrumental performers, dancers and actors. Sunny, Isadora, and Duncan, who was becoming rather nervous, followed Klaus backstage to the entertainers' dressing rooms. They approached a door that had a brass plate fastened to it, and on it was engraved only one word:
Spats
Isadora's mouth dropped open. "Oh, so this is the mysterious 'friend,'" she said. "I've been wondering what she's been up to lately..."
However, when Duncan saw the name, his eyes widened and he took a step backwards.
Klaus knocked on the door.
"Oui?" called a voice from the inside.
"Hey, guess who!" Klaus shouted.
There was a pause. "Oh, great," she said. Klaus could picture her rolling her eyes as she primly filed her fingernails. They heard footsteps as she walked over to the door.
Duncan fidgeted. "Hey, um... There's something I didn't tell you guys..."
Too late. The door swung open and standing there was a young woman. She had curly red hair that tumbled past her shoulders and she was wearing a long blue dress adorned with sapphires that gleamed as bright as her eyes. In her hand she held a foldable fan the same color as her dress, only a shade lighter. Sunny could have sworn was looking at Nicole Kidman from Moulin Rouge.
Duncan gulped and ducked behind his sister.
"Didn't I tell you never to bug me again?" she asked as she folded her arms impatiently.
"Sorry, Carmelita, I just wanted to ask you something," Klaus said.
She sighed testily. "Ok, but make it quick. I've got a performance in a few minutes."
Isadora raised her eyebrows. "Really? I hope you gave up the tap-dancing act."
Carmelita glared. "I have, and anyway, I don't dance anymore."
"Alright," Klaus said. "We heard that Violet is supposed to be in the area and I was just wondering if you've seen her."
"Violet, huh?" she said. "Hmm... Actually, I think I may have heard some-"
Carmelita suddenly stopped. She narrowed her eyes at something past Isadora's shoulder. "Wait a minute, who is that?"
She shoved Isadora aside. Standing there was Duncan, trying to hide his face behind his hat. Carmelita gasped.
"Duncan! I knew it was you!" she said accusingly.
"Hello, Carmsy," Duncan feebly replied.
"Duncan Quagmire. Only an insensitive, two-timing, pig-faced, Cakesniffer such as yourself would have the nerve to show his face around here after what you did!" she shouted at him, using her fan to smack him on the head with every insult.
"Ah, come on, Caramel Cake..." Duncan said.
"Don't you 'Caramel Cake' me!" she said. "I just can't believe you, you jerk!" Carmelita planted her hands on her hips. "Well? Where is she?"
"Who?" Duncan asked.
"'Who?' What do you mean 'Who?' I mean that Rosita Chiquita Anna Maria Garcia What's-her-face girl!"
"Oh!" Duncan said. "Was that her name?"
"Don't play stupid with me, Duncan!"
"Listen, Carmelita, I'm really sorry. It was only that one time!" he pleaded.
"Well you know what? One time can really matter Duncan, it really can!"
"Please forgive me...?"
"Forgive you?!" Carmelita cried. "How can I ever forgive you after what you did?"
"I followed you all the way to France, didn't I?" he offered.
Carmelita took a deep breath and let it out slowly. She seemed to consider it for a moment.
A man with a clipboard came up to her. "Carmelita, les débuts d'exposition en cinq minutes."
"Oui, François," she replied.
"Listen, I got a show to do. I'll talk to you later," she said, and walked away.
Duncan stared after her for a long time. Then he turned back to his friends. Sunny's eyes were wide open, and Isadora and Klaus's jaws had dropped as they gawked at the scene.
He rolled his eyes. "Long story," he said flatly.
"Duncan Quagmire...and Carmelita Spats...?" Klaus inquired, disbelievingly.
"Hey Duncan, you know that's the second girl to hit you on the head with something today," Sunny said cheerily, still under the influence (of coffee, that is.) She grinned sheepishly when he shot her a look.
"Well... How about we go see what the show is like?" Isadora suggested.
"Yeah, let's go do that," Klaus agreed.
Sunny led the way to the tables, and Duncan trailed behind them.
"Things sure have been loopy lately," Isadora said, shaking her head.
"Loopiness is a way of life," Sunny stated, matter-of-factly.
"Right..." Klaus said.
. . .
Dear Dairy,
We're back at the hotel, after a long night. It turns out Duncan has a "history" with Carmelita Spats, much to our surprise. Duncan is a lot quieter than he normally is.
We decided to stay and watch the show anyway. Astonishingly, all those dance and song recitals Carmelita forced everyone to sit through actually did her some good. She's not a half-bad singer. She sang the classic, "Fly Me to the Moon." Despite the fact that the majority of the audience was French, everyone responded to the American song pretty well.
Before it was over, Isadora grabbed my wrists and pulled me out to the dance floor. I noticed her eyes were an amber color.
She says she's worried about her brother. During the whole presentation, he kind of just stared into his drink. Even when Sunny pulled a quarter from behind his ear.
I can understand how he feels, but still... Over Carmelita Spats?
When we got back to the hotel, Sunny's eyes were drooping and she immediately flopped down on one of the beds and started snoring. That's the thing about caffeine. Keeps you awake during the day, but as soon as it wears off, it leaves you exhausted.
Isadora laughed. "Reminds me of that time when we were kids. Quigley and I dared Duncan to drink the rest of Dad's brandy and he ended up passing out."
I laughed too. I haven't laughed for a while.
I asked Isadora what Quigley was up to. She said that he was supposed to be in uncharted parts of Brazil, mapping out rainforests. They haven't heard from him in over a year though. She said he does that sometimes, but they always end up getting a letter or a package from him, eventually.
"Too bad he isn't here," Isadora said. "I'm sure he'd love to see Violet."
That reminded me. We couldn't find Carmelita after the show. We'll have to go back and talk to her about Violet tomorrow.
Boy, everything's been so weird. I'm in France, and it's to find my sister. Duncan's just been told off by an old girlfriend, and it's Carmelita Spats. And Sunny happens to be a friend of one of my old friends, someone she shouldn't remember.
Yes, I'll have to agree with Sunny. Loopiness is a way of life.