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My name is Arianelle Baudelaire. You might be wondering how to pronounce my name. I get that often. Aria-nelle. Simple as that. You also might be wondering why I am even introducing myself. Well, that's because right here right now we are living in an age no one has seen before. With the craziness of myself and my sibling's lives, it only seems like I should narrate it.
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Adventure. The very same word I've first-ever said. You might not believe it but it came out my mouth perfectly. Every single syllable is pronounced exquisitely. Hmm, I rhymed, looks like we're getting to a great start already. Well ever since I was just four I enjoyed reading books about travelers and adventurers. I've always wanted to see the mountains over the horizon. The ice caps in the arctic. Feeling the overbearing heat in the Amazon rainforest.
My parents always called me the curious one in the family. Always trying to get outside and do things outside the box. Of course, I loved that title of being the curious one. I always thought I was unique. Well besides the obvious that I had red hair I stuck out like a sore thumb in pictures. But with my passion for becoming an adventurer. Even though with my uniqueness I was always second to someone. Violet. Violet is my older sister. I love her, I do but I just can't go a day where our parents would tell, "Why aren't you like Violet." or "See if Violet were here she would know what to do.". It's rather annoying. Violet this Violet that. I'm Arianelle. Just Arianelle.
Now all of my siblings and I. Violet, Klaus, and Sunny. Were on the trolley to Briny Beach. I breathed in the fresh air and smiled. Today felt like it was going to be good. No sad endings, just happiness. Our heads turned to the siren of the red fire truck blaring through the air. I wonder what's going on? I held my book, "The Autobiography of Penelope Chang'' tight in my hands. Penelope Chang is a very famous author and traveler. She traveled to so many places discovering so many new artifacts and species she's an icon to live on.
Violet brought the microphone to her lips and said, "Briny Beach, please." The train took a steep stop to the seashore of Briny Beach. Klaus led our way out.
"I wonder why Mother and Father didn't want to come with us." Klaus wondered.
"Maybe they don't like this rickety trolley," Violet responded.
"Or maybe because they don't like the smell of the seashore," I responded as well. They both smiled at me and we continued to get off the rickety trolley.
"Hey, kids! Aren't you going to the Festive Fun Fair, with all the jolly rides and games and snacks? "Festive" means fun." The trolley commander questioned all four of us.
"We know what "Festive" means."
"Thank you, but it's a perfect morning to go to the beach."
"What the great Penelope Chang has said, "A great morning always starts with an adventure," I suggested to the trolley commander.
Sunny babbled, "What she said."
The trolley commander still questioned us, "It's gray and cloudy."
"That's what makes it perfect," Violet admitted. The man mumbled, "Suit yourself." The trolley's bell began to ring noting it was leaving.
We chuckled and got back to our way to the sand. Klaus laid out the bright yellow mat on the sandy floor. Violet laid Sunny to the mat.
"Are you both ready?" She questioned us excitedly.
"Let's get to work!" Klaus and I said in unison.
"Do you think this will be as good as the mailbox?" Violet questioned.
"I think this will be even better than the mailbox."
"I'm still questioning why we even decided to give them that. I think we should get another copy of "The Autobiography of Penelope Chang''. I admitted.
"We already gave them that." Violet disagreed.
"They never said we couldn't give them the same one." I shrug playfully. They all barked with laughter.
Before we begin with our project. Let me explain the order of where my siblings' ages go. Violet is the oldest, 14 to be exact. Klaus and I are twins for some odd reason. I was the one to get the fiery red hair and freckles. We are now 13. Sunny is the youngest.
Violet began to tie her hair up. She always does this when she begins to work. Mainly for inventing.
"Hm, seems like the wind is going to pick up more today. Possibility of rain too. I better get these samples now before they wash away." I told my siblings. They nodded. I ran over to the shore. I was experimenting with the fastest times these different seaweeds would burn faster. If you know me you would always know I would have something on me. From pocket watches to pencils and even a simple parchment. Right now I had three plastic zip lock bags in my hand. I got all my samples and put them in the tote bag we brought.
Moments later we were on the sandy shore of Briny Beach our invention worked luckily. But, we were questioning why Mother and Father let us leave so quickly. My thoughts were concluded by a man coughing in the distance. Violet, Klaus, and I got and stood our distance from the coughing man. We took small steps toward him.
"It only seems scary because of all the mist," Klaus said.
Soon the man came out of the mist. In realization, it was Mr. Poe. I'm pretty sure he works at the bank.
"It's Mr. Poe." Violet and I said in unison.
I rolled my eyes at his coughing, "The old hag stills coughing like he caught the flu."
Klaus was still questioning his appearance, "From the bank? What's he doing here?" Mr. Poe finally got to us. His coughing fit still hasn't ended though. He sniffles in his handkerchief. He chuckles lightly when he meets our eyes.
"How do you do?" We all said to him equally.
He coughs, "Fine, thank you."
"It's a nice day," Violet said, trying to ruin the awkward tension. I coughed mockingly.
"It is a nice day." Mr. Poe replied happily.
That was cut short though.
"I have some very bad news for you children. Your parents have perished in a terrible fire."
My body froze. My brain went haywire. Fire. Dead. Perished. Those three keywords struck through my head.
Mr. Poe continued, "They perished in a fire that destroyed your entire home. I'm very, very sorry to have to tell you this... my dears."
A single tear rolled down my eye.
"Perished" means dead." Mr. Poe tried to explain.
"We know what "perished" means," Klaus said sadly.
I take back my words from earlier. Today wasn't going to be a happy ending.
