A Tale of Wretched Occurrences: The Beginning

𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝓣𝓱𝓲𝓻𝓽𝔂-𝓢𝓲𝔁

“It’s okay, Phil. We got you,” Jimmy says.

But it doesn’t look okay in the slightest, for Phil has somehow ended up on top of the planks of wood that were about to be stamped and gotten his right leg crushed flat underneath it. Some red leeches out from beneath the stamper. You hope it’s just ink.

Klaus, who you know would always take ownership for what he’s done, has stood up and walked away. You’re not sure where, but it doesn’t matter right now, because in his current state you know he won’t go far from the factory. And Phil is more important right now.

You and Violet rush over to the group of four other workers who are all straining to lift the machine. But no matter how much you push, pull, or tug, it doesn’t move an inch.

“What are we gonna do?” Norma Rae asks.

“I think it’s your time to shine, Violet,” you mutter.

She looks at you, nodding once, then looks at the machine, tying her hair up. She shuts her eyes and breathes in and out. Four breaths later, she opens her eyes.

“Millie, I’m going to need your help.”

You follow her up to the control bay. The wires are exposed, and the blue one has been ripped in half. She picks the two halves up and touches the two parts together. There’s a small spark, then the machine begins to whir again — in all the chaos, you hadn't noticed it stopped.

“Pull the lever that moves the stamper up,” Violet orders.

You grab the right lever, push it up, and the stamper follows suit. Cesar takes a sharp breath when he sees the damage. You wait until you and Violet have rejoined the other workers before chancing a look at his leg for yourself.

Astonishingly, there aren't any broken bones, blood, or even exposed skin. But the damage is still awful. From the middle of the upper part of the leg to just above the ankle has been forced into a wide, flat circle, exactly the same shape as the stamper. Most of the green pant leg has been caked down by red ink, but little bits of green fabric stick up, forming the letters of the company’s name. It’s not gory, but it’s still difficult to look at. And, based on the winces of the workers surrounding Phil, they feel the same.

Phil slowly sits up, taking stock of the damage for himself. You brace yourself for another anguished cry, but it never comes. Instead, Phil begins to laugh.

“Oh, boy! Half-priced pedicures for life!” he exclaims joyously. “If somebody could help me up to my foot, I’m pretty sure I’ll be able to get back to work.”

“You need to go to a hospital,” Violet says.

“Oh, hey, we got coupons for 50% off a visit to Heimlich Hospital last month,” Norma Rae remembers.

“Two of us will chip in,” Jimmy tells Phil.

“It can’t be fixed.”

You jump slightly, turning around to see Sir standing in the doorway to the factory, watching all of you. Charles stands right behind him, but he rushes to Phil’s side to get a better look at the damage.

“Oh, I wouldn’t say that. I mean, Phil’s leg is going to need some… ah… help.” His voice gets very high-pitched here, and he takes a deep breath before continuing. “But, uh, we’re fortunate that, uh, the damage wasn’t worse.”

“‘Wasn’t worse’?!” Sir repeats in disbelief. “The debarker dispenser is destroyed! Who’s responsible?”

“Klaus Baudelaire caused all the damage. He said he knew how to operate heavy machinery,” Foreman Flacutono says. For once, he’s standing next to his booth instead of in it, but that’s probably because it was tipped over in the destruction.