A surprise could be both a pleasant and unpleasant thing. If your friends plan a birthday party for you and surprise you with it, then the surprise would be pleasant. If someone surprises you with the information that you have to leave your friends and family and move to another country, then the surprise would be an unpleasant one. In this story, you have yet to find out what type of surprise the two Quagmire triplets were given.
The following day went quite similar to the previous one, except Duncan and Isadora were a little more cheerful.
"Good morning!"
Isadora and Hector were still asleep, but Duncan was wide awake. As soon as he noticed that everyone else was sleeping, he took off his Prufrock Prep blazer, folded his thin blanket, placed it nicely onto his green-covered mattress, and headed towards the top level of the self-sustaining hot air mobile home.
It was really cold outside, so Duncan was lucky to have taken his blazer with him. He put on his blazer and grabbed a water bottle, which was also very cold. He took a book called 'Anna Karenina', sat down inside the entrance basket for warmth, and began reading.
Duncan had read through half the book before he was hit by something. Isadora had awoken and opened the door.
"Ouch."
"Sorry. And, good morning!"
She flung her arms around her brother and when she let go, she snatched the book from his hands.
"Anna Karenina? I feel like I've heard of it."
"Me too," explained Duncan, "That's why I felt like I should read it."
"Oh."
"Now, can I have it back?"
"Sure. Right after I check for a blank page."
Duncan got a bit grumpy when his sister began to look for one.
"Duncan, look."
Duncan looked at his sister, then at the book. The last page was open, but the information on it was not typed; it was hand written. He began to read what was written aloud.
"The central theme of 'Anna Karenina' is that a rural life of moral simplicity, despite its monotony, is the preferable personal narrative to a daring life of impulsive passion, which only leads to tragedy."
"That's a long theme," said Isadora.
"Well it's a long book."
Isadora looked back at that page and noticed something.
"Look, it's signed V.F.D."
Before Duncan could reply to Isadora's statement, she was hit by the mini door.
"I guess Hector woke up," sniggered Duncan.
Isadora rolled her eyes and moved away from the door by getting out of the basket.
"Good morning, and why are you seated here?"
"It's warm in here," explained Duncan.
"Alright. I better check the controls, but I may need your help."
"I'll be there."
Duncan took his water bottle and the book, and exited the entrance basket. Isadora was already busy helping out Hector, so Duncan put away his things and went to help him too.
The next few days went quite similarly. Almost two weeks had passed since anything interesting happened, but that ends on this day in the lives of the Quagmire triplets.
Hector had awoken before Duncan and Isadora to check on the controls. He was worried that something had happened to them after the storm he felt in the middle of the night. Of course he had covered them and all the supplies, yet he couldn't help but worry.
The controls and supplies were fine, and thankfully, so was Hector. As he headed towards the book basket, he spotted a murder of crows. One crow seemed to be holding a sugar bowl, while another, dropped a paper right into the basket of books. Hector picked up the paper, still surprised, and he slowly unfolded it.
When he read what was written, his eyes widened. He ran down to the lower level of the hot air mobile home and burst through the door.
"Duncan! Isadora! Wake up!"
Duncan rubbed his eyes while Isadora turned over. They were both still laying in their mattresses.
Hector ran towards them and gently shook them.
"I've got a surprise for you!"
Duncan immediately sat up, and Isadora, startled by her brother's sudden awakening, sat up too.
"We've got someone to pick up."
"Who?" Duncan questioned.
"Are they the Baudelaires?" Isadora asked, her eyes opening even wider.
"Better," stated Hector, and he walked away.
"Better? Who could be better than the Baudelaires?" Duncan asked his sister.
"I don't know. Could it be a member of V.F.D.?"
"But why would Hector be excited? We haven't even told him about V.F.D."
"I guess we'll have to wait and see."
They folded their blankets, made sure everything was neat, and went to the top level of the mobile home.
"We're going to Anwhistle Aquatics," stated an excited Hector.
"How will we get there?" Duncan queried.
"Well, whoever informed me of this person's arrival drew a map on the piece of paper. They even marked where we are so that it's easier."
"Interesting," Isadora admitted.
"Isadora," Duncan called in a whisper, "Anwhistle Aquatics was V.F.D.'s marine research center and rhetorical advice."
"Maybe I am right then. Maybe it's a member of V.F.D."
"But it burnt down years ago. Remember?"
"Right. Then who would be waiting for us at the ruins of Anwhistle Aquatics?"
"I don't know. I really don't."
Duncan and Isadora impatiently waited to arrive at the ruins of Anwhistle Aquatics.
"Is that it? It looks burnt down," Isadora began.
"According to the map, I think it is," Hector replied.
"Isadora. Whoever's waiting for us has a spyglass."
"He or she looks about our age," Isadora added.
The self-sustaining hot air mobile home grew closer and closer to the figure waiting at Anwhistle Aquatics. Anwhistle Aquatics was still somewhat standing. It was almost burnt to a crisp, but it was strong enough to maintain its shape. It was standing on a rock and had a round base. It also had a long staircase that leads to the top of the tower, which would be a good place to search for crows and eagles.
The figure was standing at the base of the ruins of Anwhistle Aquatics. As the hot air mobile home grew closer, the figure grew clearer.
Isadora gasped, "Is that?"
Duncan denied her thoughts, "It can't be."
Hector jumped in, "He looks just like you."
"Quigley!" Duncan and Isadora yelled. Isadora's eyes filled with tears like never before. Duncan stared in disbelief.
They watched as their triplet brother climbed up the ladder of the self-sustaining hot air mobile home. The triplets couldn't believe any of what was happening, but Duncan and Isadora chose to appreciatively watch their youngest triplet approach them with a huge smile on his face.
Quigley had finally made it to the top of the ladder when Duncan clutched his arm and helped him up. Isadora made way for him to get onto the mobile home. Duncan threw himself onto his brother, and so did Isadora. Isadora now had a damp face and Duncan allowed himself to shed one tear of happiness. Quigley remained quiet. He wished with all his might that this moment would last forever.
Duncan and Isadora finally let go of Quigley to start an interrogation.
"We thought you died!" exclaimed Isadora, gently hitting him on the shoulder as another tear left her eye.
"Don't you ever do that to us again!" yelled Duncan.
Quigley, however, giggled something that shocked both his siblings. "Happy Birthday."
Duncan and Isadora were speechless. They had completely forgotten about their birthday. When Isadora was finally able to speak, she confessed.
"I always imagined that the best birthday ever was to meet a famous poet, but this. This is the best birthday ever." She flung her arms around Quigley once again and sighed, "Happy Birthday."
"But I don't understand," admitted Duncan, "How is this possible? How are you alive?"
"It's a long story," sighed Quigley as Isadora let go of him, "But I suppose I should start at the beginning."