Doris was waiting for Andreas when he slipped inside the factory after school was over. "How was your first day?" she asked.
Andreas tossed his jacket on the floor before answering. "Actually, it wasn't that bad. I did meet a nice boy who's a great artist."
"I knew you'd make friends," Doris said with a smile. Andreas grinned and the two of them walked along the corridor in companionable silence. In a minute, Doris broke it. "Will you be looking for Willy after you've changed out of your school clothes?" she asked.
Andreas nodded down at the tiny woman. "Where is he?" he asked.
"You have three guesses and the first two don't count," Doris replied with a grin.
"Inventing room?" Andreas asked, raising an eyebrow.
Doris nodded, still grinning, and the two of them laughed.
"I'd better get back to the administration offices," she said once their laughter had subsided.
"Okay, bye, Doris!" Andreas called and headed for the suite he shared with Willy.
"Doris told me you made a friend in school today," Willy said that evening at dinner.
Andreas nodded and quickly swallowed. "I did," he said. "His name's Charlie and he's a great artist. He drew a picture of the factory. It came out really well." He hesitated and then added, "Actually, I wanted to ask you if he could come and visit sometime. He loves the factory as much as we do, I think."
Wily smiled. "If he loves this factory as much and you say he does, then I'd like to meet him," he said. He gave Andreas a playful poke in the arm and added. "Besides, I need to make sure this buddy of yours isn't a brat. I won't have my foster kid and heir hanging out with brats."
Andreas noticed a mischievous little twinkle in Willy's eyes. Knowing he couldn't stop Willy from doing whatever he was going to, he rolled his eyes. "All right," he said. Then he smiled as an idea came to him. "Why don't we give him a tour of the factory?" he asked.
"Great idea!" Willy said with a grin. "Why don't we make it sometime this week? It's fairly quiet right now, and we have some time before we have to start thinking up new ideas for the next candy rush."
"Okay!" Andreas said, returning the smile. He couldn't wait to see the look on Charlie's face when he asked him to come over to visit the factory...even though he knew Willy would be testing him.
The next morning, Andreas was walking with Willy and happened to glance out a nearby window. "Hey, Willy! Look!" he exclaimed.
"Huh?" Wily came over and glanced out the window.
"That's Charlie!" Andreas said with a grin. "He must be headed for school. I'm going to see if I can catch him and walk with him."
"Good thing you're ready to go," Willy said. He waved a gloved hand. "Go on! Scoot!" he said.
Andreas raced for the glass elevator and flew for the front hall. Once the elevator came to a stop, he dashed along the front hall and burst out front door, clutching his book bag as he ran. Once he was outside the factory gates, he called out "Charlie! Wait up!"
"Andreas!" Charlie said with a smile, clearly happy to see him.
"I saw you from inside the factory," Andreas said, "And I was wondering if I could walk to school with you."
"Sure," Charlie said.
"I told Willy about you," Andreas said.
"You did?" Charlie asked.
"Yep," Andreas said. "He said he'd like to meet you. He even promised to give you a tour."
"Really?" Charlie asked. "Do you mean that?"
"Absolutely," Andreas said. "In fact, could you come tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow?" Charlie repeated in amazement.
"Yeah," Andreas said. "After school. And stay for dinner. Willy and I will take you home afterward."
"I'll really meet Mr. Wonka? And have a tour led by him?" Charlie asked.
"We can spend all day at the factory with Willy if you want," Andreas said with a smile.
Charlie grinned at Andreas, speechless with excitement.