It’s the 11th day of the 11th month of the 4th year, which means that the School Master is coming that night to kidnap two children, one good and one evil, and take them to the School for Good and Evil, where they will graduate into a fairy tale.

Sophie, a young Gavaldonian girl, dreams of choosing a handsome prince out of a line of other princes, finally finding someone she feels is worthy of her. Unlike the rest of the people in town, who want to avoid attracting attention, Sophie wakes, puts on a pink dress, and goes to do good deeds to get noticed by the School Master. Meanwhile, the townspeople, including Sophie’s father, anxiously board up the town to ensure the School Master won’t kidnap their children.

On her way to Agatha’s house, a boy named Radley interrupts Sophie’s reverie about her good deeds. Sophie snaps at him, but she decides the School Master will understand her outburst because she is beautiful, and Radley is ugly. Sophie approaches Agatha’s house in the cemetery, and Agatha reluctantly agrees to go on a walk.

While Agatha doesn’t believe in fairy tales or the School Master, Sophie argues that Agatha’s scared because she knows that she will be kidnapped, too.