It took them a while, but Violet, Klaus and Sunny eventually got used to living with Dr. Finklestein. Jack was right, this man could be a little grumpy at times but he wasn't like Count Olaf at all. In fact, he was somewhat nice towards the children which they greatly appreciated. They didn't eat most of the food served to them by Igor at meals, as it was food not normally eaten by humans. Luckily Jack told them about a small store in town that sold human food, although it wasn't frequented by the citizens that often. But it was a lifesaver for the children as they finally had access to proper meals.
They also really enjoyed putting their many talents to good use. Violet especially enjoyed helping the doctor invent experiments in the lab. In return, Dr. Finklestein was grateful for her input. Klaus also was able to provide good input for the doctor's experiments from his knowledge of the many science books he had read in the past and the ones in the doctor's home that he was currently reading. Sunny, meanwhile, didn't use her biting skills as much due to the fact that most of the creatures and chemicals Dr. Finklestein used would taste too disgusting to her. So she only bit the tools he used to help with repairs, provided that they were clean enough beforehand.
"You children have been very good to help to me and Igor." Dr. Finklestein said after a particularly long day in his lab.
"Why thank you, doctor." Klaus said, thrilled with the compliment.
"In fact, Jack and Sally are also pleased with your help around here as well. All of us have been assigned tasks to help plan this year's Halloween celebration." Dr. Finklestein said.
"What?" Sunny asked.
"My task this year is to create an undead animal that Jack will enter Halloweentown on the night of the big celebration. He will be by today to tell you three your specific tasks." the doctor replied.
Just then the doorbell rang and Dr. Finklestein responded with his usual "The door is open!" The front door slowly creaked open and the group could hear Jack call out "Hello, I'm here."
Violet, Klaus, Sunny, Dr. Finklestein and Igor made their way down the long winding ramp from the top to the main entrance to greet the Pumpkin King.
"Greetings, your majesty." Igor said in his normal growling voice.
"Greetings, Igor. And greetings to all of you." Jack said, addressing the whole entire group.
"Jack, my boy, do you have the tasks for the children here?" Dr. Finklestein said.
"Yes I do doctor." Jack said.
The group gathered in the center of the main entrance so Jack could explain the children's tasks to everyone.
"Allright, as you all are aware Halloween night is a very big night here in this town. All citizens take part in planning this very eventful celebration. And I'm pleased that the Baudelaires will help us out this year." Jack said.
"What will we do?" Violet asked.
"Well, first of all you Violet will help the witches create a potion. This particular potion will make a scary apparition of a corpse appear and scare the humans." Jack said.
"And wouldn't I love to send that after Olaf and his cronies." Violet whispered to Klaus.
"You, Klaus, will read up on various places in the world where I can send some of the citizens to do some scaring." Jack continued, not hearing what Violet had just said.
"I already know the perfect place: Count Olaf's house." Klaus whispered back to Violet, who tried not to snicker at that comment.
Again not hearing what Klaus had said, Jack continued by saying "And you, little Sunny, your biting skills will be used with decorating the town square on Halloween night. You will bite various decorations into the required sizes."
"Hako!" Sunny squealed, which most likely meant "I would like to bite Count Olaf, but biting decorations is pretty fun too."
"Excellent! Well, I must be returning to Town Hall right now. You will begin your assignments next week Monday morning at Town Hall. Find me there and I will tell you children where to go." Jack said and with that exited Dr. Finklestein's home.
The Baudelaires stood there in awe as Jack left. They had been in Halloweentown not even a month now and there were already being allowed to help plan Halloween. Of course, they would have to leave right after Halloween in order to get to Hotel Denoument and meet the rest of the VFD members in time for the meeting, which was at the end of November. But they chose not to worry about that right now and instead focus on their Halloween duties.
"Dr. Finklestein, how will we help you with the undead animal for Jack's entrance?" Violet finally asked.
"You can help me after you return home from your Town Hall tasks and after you eat dinner." Dr. Finklestein replied.
"Oh ok. That sounds fine to us." Violet replied.
"Good, good. Now hurry upstairs to your rooms. You can rest for a bit before I need you again for my next experiment." the doctor said.
The children made their way up to their room, happy their skills were being put to even better uses. But they would soon find out that they would have to use them for something very serious very soon.