Wallaby Notes: I had someone ask me why I always refer to Willy Wonka as just "Wonka" instead of his first name. Using just "Willy" seemed a little to personal to me for some reason. This is a man that nobody but his employees have seen for twenty years. I doubt anyone has called him by his first name in a while.
Also, in the movie everyone (besides Charlie) just called him "Wonka" instead of Mr. Wonka (this may have been to show the lack of respect the others had for him).
I like to think of it as in the 18th and 19th century when you wouldn't always call a friend by their first name, similar to Pride and Prejudice. No one called Mr. Darcy by his first name, Fritzwilliam (I don't blame them) instead just calling him "Darcy."
So there you go.
The next few weeks around the factory were a bit chaotic, as everyone was hard at work for St. Patrick's day, but everything came to a halt when there was a break in the weather and the sun came out for the first time in months.
Wonka had seen how fidgety Charlie had been, and there seemed to be a general restlessness in the air. Knowing better than to try and keep his wards attention when the sunshine was calling, Wonka told everyone to take a sick day and stop production until tomorrow.
The restlessness seemed to catch on and Grandpa Joe decided to drag Grandpa George to the local pub for some fresh air (because there was so much fresh air in a pub). With the menfolk out of the house, the women (minus an at work Rebecca) decided to have tea on the back patio and watch Charlie run around the yard.
"Mr. Wonka!" Grandma Georgina called to the passing chocolatier, "Come have a seat with us, and enjoy a spot of tea!"
"Hm, my apologies ladies, but I must decline. I have much to do..." Wonka murmured distractedly as he shuffled papers.
"Oh, no excuses!" Grandma Josephine cut in, "Come have a seat!"
Mrs. Bucket Interjected a much more politely. "Mr. Wonka, do have a seat with us. You've given everyone else an afternoon off, why not take one yourself?"
Wonka looked up from his papers, and smiled benevolently. "How can I refuse such an invitation from such lovely companions?" He tossed the papers over his shoulder and excepted a cup.
The four watched Charlie explore the yard as they sipped their tea companionably.
"It's so nice to see him getting to enjoy his days instead of working them away." Grandma Georgina commented.
Mrs. Bucket smiled sadly. "I'm glad he gets to have this now. Both he and Rebecca have worked to hard for to long."
Wonka was beginning to regret excepting his cup of tea.
It was getting far to melancholy for his taste.
Looking down at his cup of tea, he added a couple lemon drops.
"Ah, that Rebecca. She's been working nonstop since she was a little girl. It's high time she took some time for herself." Grandma Josephine nodded. "Let her hair down every once and a while."
"Hm," Wonka wondered. Come to think of it he never had seen her with her hair down.
"How long has Rebecca been working?"
"Oh since her father died I suppose." Mrs. Bucket said as she watched her son. "Charlie had just been born so I was unable to work. Rebecca had always picked up odd jobs for a little pocket change, but once our savings dried up she quit school and picked up any job she could find. She's been working ever since."
"Oh she was the most curious child! Always had a question about everything and sticking her nose into any trouble she could find." Grandma Josephine laughed.
Grandma Georgina smiled as well, apparently recalling an old memory. "Charlie reminds me so much of her at that age. The both of them are so cautious now, acting so bewildered when someone does something nice for them."
Wonka pondered this thought for a moment. The thought of a Rebecca who's smile came more easy, and looked at the world with the same wonder her brother did, before adulthood claimed her to early.
Shaking his head, he set his cup down on the table. "Dear ladies, I think you for your tea, but alas time waits for no man- Especially not the candy man!" He gave them a bow and a tip of his hat before leaving them to their afternoon.
Walking down the hallway he could hear the sounds of the Oompa Loompa's impromptu party in the fudge room, but after the slightly depressing conversation he'd just left behind, he didn't feel much like partying for the moment.
Deciding to swing by his office and drop off his paperwork, he rounded the corner and was surprised to come face to face with the topic of the previous conversation.
Rebecca herself looked a little surprised to see him as well.
"Mr. Wonka! You startled me!" She clutched her hands to her chest.
Hand that where unusually free of paperwork.
"Miss Bucket, back from work early! And from the look of things you didn't bring any of it with you this time."
She smiled. "Hm, not today. My employer decided to call the weekend early and let us off for the holiday. This weather has put everyone in such a good mood!"
Pleased to see her smiling after his disheartening insight to her childhood, his own mood lifted.
"Yes, I believe your grandfathers left for an outing earlier to enjoy it. And what do you have planed for the rest of your day off?"
Holding up her jacket for the coat hangers to grab, she gave a shrug of her shoulders. "I have no idea."
An idea struck him then. "The rest of your family is through those doors, but if I could steal a moment of your time there is something I would like to show you."
"It's not exploding candy again is it?"
Wonka chortled. "My dear Miss Bucket, so suspicious! One would think you don't trust me." He placed a hand at her back and started leading her down the hallway.
Rebecca watched him from the corner of her eye. "There is a difference between suspicion and experience." She smirked.
"I'll have to inform Charlie that you're on to us."
It was her turn to chortle as they walked into the Mixing and Making room.
"Well... That's a lot of green."
"Of course!" Wonka was immediately distracted by one of the pots the Oompa Loompa's left to simmer. "Tis the color of the season!"
Sticking a spoon in he gave it a taste. "Hmm, what do you think of this?"
Taking the spoon Rebecca took a dainty sip. "Mmm, it's very good!"
"Good, yes, but not quite perfect." Reaching into a nearby bowl he tossed a handful of four leaves clovers in the pot and stirred them around.
Used to his odd ways by now, Rebecca waited as he tasted again.
"Perfect!" He twisted a nob, and turned back to her. "My apologies, let us continue!"
Guiding her over to a table covered in hard candies he held one up to her.
"Do you know what this is?"
Her eye's widened in recognition. "It's a whistle!"
"Almost! It's a bird whistle!" He placed it in her hand. "Wonka Whistlers! All thanks to you my dear."
He watched her attentively as she examined it in wonder.
"Go ahead! Blow it!"
Her eyes danced as she put it to her lips and blew.
'Fweet!'
"Haha! It's fantastic!" Wonka clapped.
"It's blueberry!"
"Correct! That is the Bluejay Whistle! Sounds like a blueberry, taste like a bluejay- Wait! Reverse that!"
She snickered and blew it again.
"What others do you have?"
Glancing at her blue lips as he turned back to the table, Wonka selected another whistle.
"This one is a Whippoorwill, now let's see if you can guess the flavor,"