What Friends Are For

Norma Henry, The Keeper of Secrets Past

The tunnels were dark, but Norma knew where she was at all times. She had been the best at walking in the dark. Even Kit Snicket was jealous of that. Stopping at Olaf, she went up the ladder and interrupted him trying to open a bottle of wine.

"I believe you need a sharp utensil, Olaf."

"Norma? You should have called first. We could have made this a celebration."

"What are you celebrating that needs bottle wine when you know perfectly well box wine tastes just the same?"

"Thanks for giving me that tip all those years ago, it saved me a lot of broken glass. As for the occasion, your niece is going to give me her fortune." Norma handed him a knife to uncork the bottle with a look of disbelief on her face.

"I don't think she knows that, Olaf."

"I got a radio call that she's ready to surrender everything. I thought she was being betrayed by one of the boys that tried to rescue her, but this person didn't sound whining so I just figured she used a voice changer thing next to the microphone."

"So Lily herself didn't call?"

"Someone with access to her fortune did. If it wasn't you, it had to be her. Who else could it have been?"

"Olaf, I'm only going to say this because I owe you for that fire years ago: This is a trap."

"So your niece is going to set my house on fire like how yours caught on fire and when a beam pins me to the floor she's going to save me?"

"No, but I wouldn't put it past Trevor."

"He's still alive? The Shade family is a persistent bunch."

"Like the Olaf's." 

"I guess you have a point. Remember that time at Prufrock Prep where we snuck out to have some fun with the Snickets and Lemony had to bring Beatrice?" Norma laughed, despite her reason she was really there.

"And we borrowed a car and Jaques told us he knew how to drive."

"Talk about a crash course." To Norma's surprise, Olaf took out two clean crystal glasses.

"My parents left them to me." He said to her surprised face.

"Olaf, I don't know what happened at the Opera house, but I am sorry for your lose."

"And I'm sorry about your sister."

"It took time, I suppose. Lily will learn that one day."

"I hate to admit it, but she does take after the best."

"That she does. I'm actually her because she mentioned someone, a Fiona Widdershins? Her step-father is recovering in a hospital near Paris. Can you pass that on to her and her step-brother?"

"Alright. Do I still get a fortune? I'll take a Baudelaire if I have to."

"Really, Olaf, what happened to you? You wanted to be an actor, married to a certain someone, and fighting fires like your father. You even said money had no value." Suddenly the two heard a sound of disgust. Familiar to that sound, Norma Henry turned to the source. "Hello, Esme. I suppose you did that to my nieces hair."

"Having no hair is incredibly out, Norma."

"So is your tiny little word. And it's going to get smaller the more you obsess over that sugar bowl, you fruitcake." Olaf snickered, catching a glare from Esme.

"What? She failed insult class 101! Maybe you had to know it for it to be funny."

"Why are you even here, Norma?"

"Errand. If you have a problem, talk to the blade."

"Oh, please. When was the last time you even used a weapon?" As if to prove a point, Esme threw an apple at her. Never even seeing her move, the apple fell in eighths on the floor.

"It was nice to catch up, Olaf. But stay away from my niece, the Baudelaire orphans, and the Quagmire triplets."

"All of them? Why?"

"They remind me of the old gang. Us, my sister, the Snicket siblings, everyone. And the death of a loved one won't divide them. The only thing that might is--"

"Trevor?"

"Exactly. Lily wants him to be a part of her life, but to him, she's just what my sister was to me."

"Annoying or a know-it-all?"

"I'm not sure yet. I didn't exactly spend a lot of time with him."

"Thanks for the tip, Norma. And if you don't mind--"

"Your secrets are safe with me. Now if you'll excuse me, I'll show myself out." And just like that, she was gone, taking with her secrets that only a few people would know of now, one reflecting on these secrets now as he put away his parents wedding glasses. Another thought about them as her baby girl was born. And the three could agree on one thing in the end.

Secrets like these were meant to be remembered, especially when you were among friends.