In my mind I traveled through the snow that always seemed to come down in sheets upon our town. Up. Up. Up. I went. Over the gates to a place long lost in time.
The Chocolate Factory.
A place the used to hold such hope, joy…but now was only a magnanimous reminder of what was lost. I could almost taste the sweet chocolate that was made there. Smell the rich sweetness of it.
In my mind I struggled to stop it. I didn't want to go back. There was no place for me there anymore. I made my choice.
However just as I got close enough to touch the front door…
I woke up.
"Mum…mum…it's time for school. I wanted to say goodbye before I left," Charlie said waking me up.
Groaning I pushed dark chocolate brown curls from my face. After I rubbed the sleep from my eyes I smiled and sat up. "Good bye, sweetie." Giving him a hug and a kiss. "Have a good day at school."
Charlie gave me a kiss on the cheek, "Bye, Mum." With that he climbed down the ladder. Faintly I could hear him say. "Bye Grandma. Bye Grandpa George. Bye Grandma Georgina. Bye Grandpa Jo. Bye Grandma Josephine." Then I heard the door close behind him.
Groaning I got out of the bed I shared with Charlie since he was a baby and got dressed. I shivered. The room was always so cold that when Charlie was a baby I was afraid he'd freeze to death, so since then he'd always slept with me.
I too climbed downstairs and ate the meager breakfast quickly.
"Morning Mum."
"Morning Rosie-Cheeks," Mum said. "Gave a good day at work."
I nodded, "I will. Bye Grandpa George. Bye Grandma Georgina. Bye Grandpa Jo. Bye Grandma Josephine!" With that I ran off to my job. However before I could get very far Mum came after me. Waving a red book in her hand.
"Rosie, dear, Charlie left his school book here," Mum said handing me a red book school book.
"Thanks Mum," I smiled and ran. I knew that if I ran fast enough I'd catch up. Today was Friday so that meant that a shipment of chocolate would be going out and Charlie would be standing there on the sidewalk in front of the candy shop watching them drive by.
And true to my mind schedule I found him there, watching the red trucks drive by.
"Charlie W. Bucket," I said using his full name in a stern voice. He turned quickly and I handed him his book. Smiling I said in a much nicer voice, "You left your book at home. You're lucky Grandma found it before I left."
"Sorry, Mum," he said tucking it into his bag.
"That's ok, sweetie, I'll see you after work. Kay?" I gave him a small hug.
He nodded and ran off.
With that I turned around and walked into the candy shop, my own personal minimum wage nightmare. The customers were nice enough, mostly mother's and father's with children who seemed to already be on a sugar high at the thought of eating a Wonka Bar. My boss, Bob, was nice. Very understanding, kind, and when Charlie was young he allowed me to bring him to work every once in a while. But my coworkers were a nightmare
I'd get dirty glances from the older women because of my single status.
The younger women thought I was boring because I had a child and didn't sleep around.
And the men thought I was easy.
"Hey, Rosie," said Bob, throwing me an apron.
"Bob." I nodded at by boss and slipped on my apron easily then smoothing out the wrinkles. Then started to stock the shelves with candy from the local chocolate factory. As I did so I felt that something…something important or special or amazing was about to happen to Charlie and I. I just couldn't put my finger on what it was though.