Collection of stories about ordinary American people as they go through their daily lives. Reality check: Three stories of people who hatched plans in the hopes of making their dreams come true, but were snapped back to reality by unpleasant outcomes: an elementary school student tries to solve a common childhood problem; a rancher resuscitates a beloved pet, which later turns on him; people team up to give an unknown rock band the greatest night...

"Called upon to investigate thirteen suspicious incidents in Stain'd-by-the-Sea, young Lemony Snicket collects clues, questions witnesses, and cracks every case"--

For eleven years, the six-person comedy team known as The Commune has killed onstage, waiting for its big break. The team finds itself at a crossroads, when one of the group becomes a solo success and the others start to wonder if they will make it after all.