Chapter 2: Willy Wonka Eats A Big Mac
Author's Note: Hello, readers, and welcome back to the next chapter of Dimension Dilemma! This actually was planning to be a separate story, but, looking back at the now-first chapter, as well as the fact that a Big Mac is a real-world item, I decided to combine the two together, and so, I got this. To reflect this, the first chapter of this story has been changed to "Clerk Chaos", although the overall title of this story will remain the same. I will respond to all of your reviews right now. :)
Matt, I'm glad that you enjoyed the last chapter! These "knock-off companies" will actually come into play later on in this story. I hope that you'll enjoy this one. :)
walnutcoffeecake, I'll answer your questions now :)
1. Yup, he did go through a portal, but as for how it was created, I'll leave that up to you and the rest of my readers to decide, but you'll find out exactly what did it in the course of this story.
2. He actually beat up the clerk, and not the store manager.
3. You'll find out whether or not our heroes get back home towards the end. As for the "knock-off candies", they actually aren't. These are the real-life Wonka brand products that we eat in our everyday lives, but Mr. Wonka thinks that they are a knock-off, not knowing that he is in our world.
4. You'll see what happens to the clerk, Charlie, and Mr. Wonka in this chapter.
5. I don't mind it. I enjoyed reading your concerns, and I hope that you'll enjoy this chapter as well. :)
nightmarecake426, this is the Johnny Depp Willy Wonka, although the Gene one could be referenced in some way later on. :)
DISCLAIMER: This story is not really meant to be taken seriously in any way, shape, or form. This is just a fun thing that I will update while on the break from my main stories, as well as during my writing breaks in general, just to keep my writing habit alive and well. :) This chapter was influenced by Guest reviewers marty munster and herman wewatch, so kudos to them for this random spark of inspiration. :D
DISCLAIMER 2, BECAUSE WHY NOT?: This chapter is not meant to offend anyone whatsoever. This chapter is meant to take a jab at how a lot of people have seemed to become meaner and more impatient, compared to those from past generations (not all people, of course, are mean and impatient, that would be an absolutely horrible assumption; I'm just taking a jab at how everyone, mainly our modern media, seems to report the fact on only mostly people being mean and cruel to each other), as well as the 'adult turning into a kid again' concept.
DISCLAIMER 3, BECAUSE 2 ARE NOT ENOUGH XD: None of my opinions of any of these real-life places will be reflected in this story. These reactions are meant to be Charlie's and Mr. Wonka's reactions, and Charlie's and Mr. Wonka's only. Thank you all for your understanding.
(Credits: I DO NOT own McDonald's or Chuck and the Cocoa Bean Processing Facility. That story belongs to Matt.)
With all that out of the way, I hope that you all will enjoy this chapter. :D
"W-where could I have gone wrong?" Mr. Wonka said out loud to himself.
Charlie Bucket put a hand on his mentor's shoulders.
"Mr. Wonka," Charlie said in his typical quiet, mouse-like tone, "I seriously think that you should go back into the Walgreens and apologize to that poor clerk. What you did was wrong, and you must realize that."
"B-but…" stammered Mr. Wonka, before being interrupted by Charlie.
"Mr. Wonka, please," interrupted Charlie.
"Ugh, fine," said Mr. Wonka, giving into his heir's wishes.
Together, the two of them entered the Walgreens and walked up to the desk.
"Oh, it's you again," the clerk said weakly. "Either buy or get out."
"My...friend has something that he would like to say to you," Charlie Bucket said, looking up at the injured clerk.
"Friend?" Mr. Wonka whispered to himself out loud.
"Mr. Wonka," Charlie said to his mentor, looking at him then back at the clerk.
Mr. Wonka sighed.
"I-I...would like…" he gulped and cleared his throat like he did back then at the Entrance Hall in front of Charlie, his Grandpa Joe, and the other four children (as well as their parents), "to say that…"
He rubbed his fingers against one of his gloves, and it made a squeaky sound as the chocolatier struggled to gather his thoughts.
"I would like to say that I'm sorry," Mr. Wonka continued. "What I did was extremely immature and foolish, and I regret every second of it."
He held out his hand towards the clerk. At this point, Mr. Wonka had a genuine look of sorrow on his face as he struggled to gather his thoughts once more, as he continued to gulp.
"As much as I hate to say it," the clerk replied to Mr. Wonka, as the chocolatier had an extremely nervous look on his face, "I forgive you."
Mr. Wonka looked behind him and saw that a very elderly janitor was bending down and picking up various wrappers and boxes from the floor, as well as some displays that Mr. Wonka had knocked over.
"Here," Mr. Wonka smiled. "Let me help you."
Mr. Wonka smiled at the old man and helped him pick up every wrapper and box from the floor, as well as the various displays.
"I...I don't know how to thank you!" the old janitor said, extremely surprised.
"Here," Mr. Wonka smiled, taking a candy out of his plum-colored velvet coat and handing it to the janitor. "This is for you."
The candy that Mr. Wonka had given the janitor was not just a candy, but a small bag. The cover showed candy of multiple colors in balls, like red balls, green balls, yellow balls, orange balls, and purple balls. The bag said, "WONKA OOMPAS."
"W-why, sonny!" exclaimed the janitor, extremely flabbergasted. "W-why, sonny, I thought that these candies were discontinued decades ago! I used to love these as a kid!"
"Nope," smiled Mr. Wonka. "I still make them back at my factory. You can come visit me if you like!"
"Why, if I ever-!" the janitor cried, extremely happy.
Mr. Wonka took out another candy from his plum-colored velvet coat and handed it to the clerk. It was a Wonka Bar, and the wrapper said: "WONKA CHILLY CHOCOLATE CREME."
The clerk was dumbfounded. He didn't know what to say.
"You did good, Mr. Wonka," Charlie smiled as the two of them walked out of the Walgreens.
"I-it feels...good," said Mr. Wonka. "I think that we should celebrate!"
Charlie Bucket pointed over towards another building. It said: "MCDONALD'S."
"Does this thing own a farm?" Mr. Wonka smiled before letting out a high-pitched, childish laugh.
"We'll soon find out," Charlie Bucket smiled as the two of them walked towards the McDonald's.
The two of them walked into the McDonald's. Oven bells were heard, and wrappers were on tables all over the place, as it is in most fast-food restaurants. People behind a counter in the front of the McDonald's were talking quickly with customers and taking their orders, and in the back, other employees were running quickly around in order to prepare food for everybody.
"Ten-piece Chicken McNuggets with a large fry!" one worker shouted to the people in the back. "Along with a Coca-Cola and a chocolate milk!"
Another oven bell went off.
Mr. Wonka and Charlie Bucket were walking up into the counter, when a man carrying their order accidentally bumped into our duo. He stumbled, and his food spilled to the floor.
"Hey, buddy!" the angry man shouted in Mr. Wonka's face. "Watch where you're goin', buddy!"
"I was," Mr. Wonka responded. "I made sure that no one was by me. You should be the one that's more careful. But I will help you pick up your food, though."
"Why would I want help from a little tot and a man that looks so pale that he's a dead guy or somethin'?!" the man screamed angrily.
He turned towards the counter and started barking orders.
"HEY, I NEED A JANITOR- NOW!" the angry man screamed, spit flying out of his mouth. A few seconds later, an employee with a mop and a bucket came out from behind a lifting segment in the counter and started cleaning up the spilled food.
"That guy is really feisty," Mr. Wonka said. "He reminds me of Veruca Salt."
"I agree," Charlie Bucket responded. "I wonder if other people in this dimension are as cruel as he is."
"Well, I guess we'll find out soon," Mr. Wonka responded as he and Charlie walked up to the counter to take their orders.
Mr. Wonka turned to Charlie.
"What would you like, Charlie?" Mr. Wonka asked, turning to his heir.
"Just some apple slices," Charlie responded. "And a chocolate milk. Please."
"Well…" Mr. Wonka said thoughtfully. "I'd like this...Small Macaroni thingie."
"I think you mean Big Mac," Charlie responded.
"Yeah," Mr. Wonka responded.
A cashier stood behind the counter in front of Charlie and Mr. Wonka. She had brown hair, tied up, as well as blue eyes and smooth skin. Her name tag said: "MONA."
"What would you like, sirs?" Mora asked Mr. Wonka and Charlie.
"Well, my buddy Charlie here would like some apple slices and a chocolate milk!" Mr. Wonka said gleefully. "And I would like a Small Macaroni, please."
"Big Mac," Charlie responded.
Mona giggled at Mr. Wonka's remark.
"That would be three-dollars and fifty cents, please," Mona said.
Mr. Wonka fumbled in his pockets and took out a note. This note was long and skinny, and resembled a combination of the American dollar and the British pound. He put it in front of Mona, who looked at it confusingly.
"What is this?" Mona asked confusingly.
"Why, our currency of course!" Mr. Wonka smiled.
"This doesn't look like any currency that I've seen," Mona responded.
"I assure you, dear lady, it is," Mr. Wonka responded.
Mr. Wonka and Charlie Bucket suddenly heard a commotion stirring up behind them. People were starting to become impatient, and they were yelling, screaming, and stomping around each other. They were also yelling at Mr. Wonka, Charlie, and Mona.
"Hey, where's my food?!" one man yelled, waving his fists up in the air and spit flying out of his mouth.
"I need my food!" a woman yelled.
"Today's our date!" a young man and woman screamed. "We need our food now!"
Mona sighed.
"Fine," Mona sighed, putting Mr. Wonka's currency into the cash register. "I'll register your order, but next time, remember to go to a currency exchange place beforehand."
"Hahaha!" Mr. Wonka giggled, prompting a strange look from Mona. "That's funny!"
"What is?" Mona asked.
"You said, exchange, and we were talking about currency!" Mr. Wonka smiled, and Mona giggled.
"That is funny," Mona smiled. "Now," she continued, looking at Mr. Wonka and Charlie, "your orders are registered, and we will deliver them to you when they're done. Please go locate a seat."
Charlie and Mr. Wonka looked at all of the seats. Quite a bit of them had grease and sandwich wrappers on them, as well as bits and pieces of French fries.
"This place could need some cleaning," Charlie remarked.
"I'm cringing a bit," Mr. Wonka said, biting his lips.
They managed to find a table, and they sat down, waiting for their orders. They watched as the line that they were in slowly dwindled down as people grabbed their food and exited the building.
"Wow," Willy Wonka remarked. "Mona sure did take those orders fast. She would sure get along with Doris in the Administration Offices!"
Charlie smiled at his mentor, and he looked up.
"Why, thank you for the compliment," Mona smiled as she held their orders on a large black tray and carefully placed it down on their table. "I'm sure that I would get along well with your...Doris. Can I meet her?"
"Well, unfortunately, she didn't come with us," Charlie Bucket responded.
"Oh, that's alright," Mona said. "Can I go where she is and meet her?"
"Oh," Mr. Wonka responded. "Well, the thing is, we don't actually know where we are."
Mr. Wonka paused, and looked at Charlie, who was slowly drinking his chocolate milk and opening his packet of apple slices.
"What do you think, Charlie?" Mr. Wonka asked.
"I think that this is good food," Charlie responded, "although not as good as your chocolate milk, Mr. Wonka. This one could be creamier than it is now. Also, I like apples with the skin on them. It gives the consumer more vitamins, which can make them healthier."
"Thanks for the feedback," Mona smiled. "I'll be sure to pass that along."
Mr. Wonka looked down at his Big Mac. He peeled back the white wrapper, which had "BIG MAC" written all over it, and stared at his meal. He cringed at the sight of it. The bun was soggy, and the patty was very flimsy.
"Is this really what you people serve over here?" Mr. Wonka asked.
"Yup," Mona responded.
"And those angry customers?" Mr. Wonka continued. "Do you really have to deal with those sorts of warts all day long?"
"Yes," Mona sighed. "It gets tiring when people yell in your face all day long."
"Back where I come from, people are friendlier than over here. Sure, there may be a fight or two, but certainly not of this scale."
"I sure do wish people would just get along," Charlie Bucket agreed.
The chocolatier picked up his Big Mac with both of his hands. He cringed at the sight of it, and bit his lips.
What is this thing? Mr. Wonka asked himself. And more importantly, what kinda crazy person would eat this? It's all dry, and the patty looks so skinny it's like just came out of a...whatever. Just staring at it is making me gag.
He sighed.
Well, I better get this over with.
He took a bite out of the Big Mac, and let the taste of the bun and the patty spread out all over his tongue. The taste of melted cheese, as well as ketchup and mustard, went into Mr. Wonka's taste buds as he looked at everyone with a curious expression.
"Well, what do you think?" Mona asked.
Mr. Wonka paused.
"The buns are soggy, the patty is dry," Mr. Wonka responded. "Even my grandmother could have made a better thing than this."
"I agree," Mona whispered back, and Mr. Wonka and Charlie giggled.
"You're very good!" Mr. Wonka smiled at Mona referencing his psychiatrist Oompa-Loompa who always helped him in the Therapy Hall.
"Thank you," Mona responded with a giggle, then looked back at Mr. Wonka and Charlie. "You said that you and…"
"Charlie," Mr. Wonka added.
"...Charlie here don't know where you two actually are," she continued, and looked at the two again. "What is Charlie's last name?"
"Bucket," Charlie responded politely as he picked up his trash and threw it away. "Charlie Bucket."
"Did you say...Charlie Bucket?" Mona said, extremely surprised.
"Yes," responded Charlie politely, sitting at his spot in the table. "Why? Did I upset you, Mona?"
"No, none of that," Mona responded. "It's just...that...you sorta remind me of a young boy that I read about when I was a young girl...by Roald Dahl or someone like that. Excuse me if I sound strange. I apologize."
"No, it's alright," Mr. Wonka responded. "Please, carry on."
"Really?" Mona asked.
"Sure," Charlie responded. "I'm very interested as well."
"Alright," Mona said. "You see, and you…" she said, looking at Mr. Wonka, "you look like some guy that I watched way back when, like, in...2005?"
She looked up at the ceiling of the McDonald's thoughtfully.
"Now, what was the name?" she said out loud. "Chuck and the Cocoa Bean Processing Facility? No, no, no. Not that."
She looked back at Charlie Bucket and snapped her fingers.
"That's it!" she exclaimed. "I know the title now!"
"What is it?" asked Mr. Wonka curiously.
"Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," she responded to herself. "Yeah, that's it! It was about a once-poor boy named Charlie Bucket who found a Golden Ticket and travelled in a mysterious chocolate factory with his grandfather named Grandpa Joe and a mysterious chocolatier named Mr. Willy Wonka!"
The duo looked at Mona, extremely dumbfounded.
"What is it?" Mona asked.
"Why, that's my name!" gaped the famous chocolatier. "Mr. Willy Wonka."
Author's Note: Well, well, well! What did you all think of this chapter? Did you like it? As usual, feel free to review, and stay tuned for more. :)
A question for all of my readers: What read-world places would you like to see Mr. Wonka and Charlie (and potentially Mona) visit and react to? If you would like, please leave your desires in the review section. :)
Fun Fact: The character of "Mona" is a reference to an unused character created by The Island Hopper for his one-shot, Cell Block F. This reference is in name only. I just thought it would be a fun reference to make. :)
As usual, feel free to review, and stay tuned for more, everyone! :D
Until then,
Gabe S. :)