If the Baudelaire Parents had Lived - Series of Unfortunate Events

V.F.D.

Isadora
After the game finished, the parents filed back in, confused as hell as to why Quigley's hair was messy, Klaus was grinning like a fool, and Vi was topless (wearing a bra still, of course). The Baudelaire parents and mother and father sat in the couch across from us. The couch we sat on was built for three people, so I had to sit on Klaus's lap, Vi had to sit on Quigley, and Sunny was settled easily on Duncan's knee.

Violet's mother began again. "Children, as you know, we belong to a secret organization called V.F.D., or the volunteer fire department. We put out figurative fires all over the world.

"Of course, as with all great dynasties, there was a schism. I started a long time ago, with a sugar bowl, which led to a theft, leading to a poison dart, which led to an unnecessary murder, which led to a romantic speech, a series of murders, fires, arsons, and countless terrible acting performances. All of these things led us here, together, to this living room.

"And also, as all great organizations do, we have had a series of headquarters. While we were lucky, escaping the fire, countless others have not been."

She set a list on the table, and the five of us who could read began reading them off.

"Ike Anwhistle."

"Mrs. Widdershins."

"Fernald Widdershins."

"Gregor Anwhistle."

"Isaac Anwhistle."

Mrs. Baudelaire sucked in a quick breath before Vi read off the last name.

"Lemony Snicket."

My mother laughed without humor. "To name a few."

Mrs. Baudelaire continued. "The schism divided us into the fire-starters and the fire-fighters."

Vi asked the question on all of our minds; "You said this started with a sugar bowl. What's in the sugar bowl?"

All our parents shared a look. Finally father spoke up.

"Something very important."

Well, that clears up everything.

Ugh.

I looked at everyone on our side of the table. I tried very hard to make my eyes say, How do we get them to tell us what's in the sugar bowl?

Can we convince them?

I looked at the parents, having their own silent exchange.

I doubt it.

Then what do we do?

Can we guilt them?

...

Maybe.

It's our best bet, though I don't like it.

I straightened my posture as the parents turned back to us. "Don't we deserve to know? We are being given incomplete information. You said you would tell us the whole story." We started filling each other's sentences.

Klaus continued mine; "We should get all the information."

Vi: "You promised to be completely honest."

Quigley: "The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth."

Duncan: "Incomplete is a fancy word for inaccurate."

Finally, Sunny finished off our rant; "Grahpolalaoogadoop!" Which meant, We can handle this! We deserve the truth!

All the parents simultaneously sighed in defeat. "The truth is..." my father looked a little embarrassed, "Beatrice is the only one who knows."