The factory wasn't the first place where they met. Mike and Violet have seen each other a few times before. Two to be exact.
The first time, six year old Violet was stood by the Colorado River on a huge rock staring at the stream. It was a windy day. Her mother was in the soft grass doing yoga. Violet was wearing a blue track suit and a black headband. She had pride in the hair accessory. She always took it off then put it back on because it felt funny. It made her feel like she was Alice in Alice in Wonderland. Then her hands slipped and her headband fell into the current. Desperate to rescue it, Violet lay on her stomach and tried to grab it. Tears poured down her eyes as she saw it run away. Gone forever. It was too late because of the speed of the water flow and the fact that she couldn't swim. She stood up to walk away when the wind ran right into her and pushed her into the river.
"Mommy!" she screamed. "Help me!"
Her mother shot her eyes open and sprang up from the flowerbed she sat by. She ran as fast as she could with horror filled eyes but it was no use. Her daughter was drowning on the other side. There was nothing she could do. Violets small body sank with her arm sticking out of the water. Then she felt a hand grab it. It forced her back on land and into safety. It wasn't her mother's hand. It was the hand of a nine year old boy. His air was spiky and brown like milk chocolate. He had dark chocolate eyes and looked fit for his age. Scarlet sighed with relief.
But Violet wasn't breathing. She looked like a dead fish. The boy pushed her chest with all his might. Violet was up. She spat out an unusual amount of water from her mouth and coughed severely, several times in a row.
"Hey dad!" the boy called. "Get over here!"
Scarlet watched from across the river to see a middle aged man come up to him. He noticed Violet's mother right away.
"Hey miss!" he yelled. "Is this your kid?"
"Yes!" Scarlet cried with relief. "She's ok!"
Violet got up from the ground and crossed her arms.
"Alright hero boy." She said. "Get me across!"
"Who do you think I am? Tarzan?" the boy snapped.
"You saved me didn't you?" she asked. "Take me back to my mother now!"
"I would." Said the boy. "But the waters deep, the wind is strong and I'm no gentlemen."
"Well I'm no lady!" she spat.
She walked down the coast of the river to find a bridge and crossed.
The second time was at a carnival. It took place in Denver in the summer and Mike was there with his best friend, Duke. They were there for the wild rides, when they spotted an enormous blue tent.
"Wanna peep?" Duke asked.
"Sure." said Mike. Duke approached the tent entrance and ripped off a few strands of Velcro.
"Woa Lord." He said.
"What's in there?" Mike peeped his eye through the open air. Inside the tent were girls; circus performers. They were all dressed in beautiful clothes, some drinking champagne. They all looked in their twenties… except there was a little blonde girl brushing her hair. They watched her as she put on a diamond tiara. Then a man walked in.
"You're on the stage in one minute Ms. Beauregarde." The girl stood up to reveal a sparkly red dress. She looked like a gypsy.
"Let's go watch her!" said Duke.
Before Mike could argue with him, Duke ran into the circus tent next door. Mike rolled his eyes and walked in with him. They sat down in the front row as an older man was singing, "Here's Violet Beauregarde!" he disappeared and right when the smoke faded away, there she was. And Mike thought he was gonna be disappointed.
For a nine year old, she sure was hot, he thought.
"We should come here every year." Said Duke watching Violet dance. She reminded them of Esmeralda from The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
"She's ok." Said Mike. Then Violet took a plate and a stick and spun the plate.
"Not impressive enough?" the ringmaster asked. "Watch this!"
Violet lifted her right foot off the ground and placed the stick on it. She spun the plate on her foot.
"Wow." Said Duke. "Victoria's Secret?"
"Their called bloomers fool. I don't know why girls wear them."
The audience behind them cheered and applauded. Then she laid eyes on Mike. He looked familiar, she thought. Then out of nowhere, the plate fell and broke.
"What!" the ringmaster yelled. "You never make that mistake back at home. How many times do I have to tell you Ms. Beauregarde?"
"Cut it out!" Mike yelled. "It's a mistake. We make them everyday!"
"You, boy quiet!" he turned to Violet. "Your—"
"Please Sir!" she begged. "Let me try again. If I mess up then you can fire me!"
She tried again, this time, getting it right.
"Do you think she'll come next year?" Duke asked.
"No." said Mike. But I hope so. He thought about the humiliation that girl faced. Screwing up at a show and getting yelled at by her boss.
Then they met again a year later in front of Willy Wonka's factory. They didn't bother to speak to each other. They went home, not even saying goodbye.
Then a year later, Violet saw a moving truck from across the street. And the kids coming out were twins. Mike was one of them.