As he roused from his thoughts, James became aware that Ellie was still waiting for an answer. "That all depends on you Ellie, that, and all other important decisions as to your family will be taken by you, in conjunction with others available here at the factory. I've currently got you down for an appointment with Willy for those discussions at around 11am. As for finances... I believe you have a job outside the factory. Willy is prepared to give you the option of keeping that job and using the funds as you desire, or of your taking a job within the structure of the factory. There are plenty of options available here, and he'd prefer it if you chose something you would enjoy doing."
Then he realised that the family were almost done eating. "Sorry, I got sidetracked." He admitted. "The next thing on the cards is for Ellie to speak with Magda, who is head of the kitchens. That will get things rolling as to what you require food wise. Ellie, Magda will want to know what meals you want to eat here, what ones in your suite, and how much assistance you would like her to give with preparing them as well as the sorts of things you would like to eat. The foodstuffs will be added to the weekly food deliveries as that is typically how all food is sorted here."
Seeing Ellie was about to object he continued on, holding up his hand to stall her a little. "And as to how you pay for it – that's for your discussion with Willy later on." He tried to soften the blow by explaining things a little further. "the stuff has to be brought in anyway, and much of what we actually consume is grown in our variety of different gardens. We even have some of our own livestock as that's the way to get the best cream for the chocolate. However, we do want to boost the local economy as much as we can, and some things are bought in from outside."
Ellie subsided with a sigh, seeing that she was out argued on this point, and mentally adding it to the list of things she needed to discuss with Wonka. She hoped there would be plenty of time set aside for that particular meeting.
"Once you have had your discussion with Magda, you have all been scheduled for a tour of the residential and relaxation quarters. Medical alley is situated just above the relaxation areas, so you may as well have a quick look round there as well. It's well worth the look I can assure you." Given the various physio's would likely want to look all four of the grandparents over it would also prove fairly necessary that they know where they were going for the various medical departments – and they all had to make appointments for check up's with the doctors when their tour was finished. Living in a chocolate factory, regular dental appointments were also fairly mandatory – especially for the Oompa Loompa's, given how much cacao they consumed on a daily basis.
"While you are away on your tour, I would like to take a small team of Oompa Loompa's to bring what's left of your belongings to you. That's if you would allow me to do so?" Ellie quickly gave her permission for him to do this, as she believed that they would all feel far happier when they had more familiar items around them.
James smiled his thanks at her before continuing. "As you know, at eleven, Ellie is due to see Willy to discuss how best for the family to move on. Would you like anyone with you for that Ellie?" After a little discussion it was agreed that her parents would accompany her, and Joe and his wife would both entertain Charlie for the time, and they would all meet up for lunch again at 1pm. Charlie did register an interest in having some say in those parts which related to him, but he was soon convinced to let his Mom handle those decisions for the moment.
James suggested that they take their next meal in the communal kitchen. Chances were that Wonka might be in the area, but he could have decided to get the kitchen to send a meal along to his office, and James was happy to either lunch with them, or get what he wanted to eat and retreat to his own room.
Wonka, he then went on to inform them, had requested that Charlie spend the hours between two and five with him – if that was OK with Ellie. He had much for his new apprentice to start learning, and as the boy would be in school the following day he hoped to begin teaching him about his new role as soon as possible.
On hearing James mention that it was expected for Charlie to follow his normal routine of attending school, something in Ellie relaxed. One of her biggest concerns had been about how much of his normal life Charlie would be able to live. Was he to be ripped from everything he knew already, or would he be able to have some semblance of normalcy? If Willy anticipated her son being in school on Monday, that suggested that their lives would go on pretty well as they almost had despite their change of abode. At least, as much as they wanted them to that was.
Her mothering instinct had gone into overdrive the night before, and had felt that everything she knew was being torn apart. The need to protect her son from this stranger who seemed to be ready to sweep in and change their whole lives had been strong. As much as Charlie adored the man he had seemed to be a usurper to her, and this strange life had appeared restrictive... Almost as if the promise of a new life was nothing more than a gilded lump of coal, looking attractive at first, but eventually chipping off and leaving you covered in dirt.
The realisation that she had pegged him wrong caused her to slump in relief. She had pegged him wrong. That was OK. She still needed to have it out with him as boundaries definitely needed to be drawn, but maybe she could be more lenient with him than she had been anticipating at first.
It was as she was reflecting on this that a knock came at the door. James went to answer it, as her father put a comforting hand on her arm. A soft voice that somehow added to the comfort came, as James invited whoever it was in. Looking up, she soon beheld the strangest person she had ever seen. It was a small lady, with a bright orange face and bright green hair. She wore a simple dress, with an apron over it. As her jaw dropped in shock at the sight James turned to her and said. "Ellie, this is our head of cooking, Magda. Magda, this is Ellie, her parents George and Georgina, her in-law's Joe and Josephine, and her son Charlie. Charlie is to be apprenticed to Willy as I'm sure you've heard by now.
Magda swept into the room and quickly came and jumped up on a chair next to Ellie, before putting her arms round her in a protective hug. "James Wilkenson! I'll bet you never told her what to expect!" she scolded him, as she held Ellie close to her.
Ellie, who was feeling rather as if she had been put through the emotional wringer, ended up in tears again as she felt the care the smaller woman had for this stranger she had just met. Magda felt quite sure from looking at them that all the adults in this group, at the very least – she had her reservations about the boy as well – were at least slightly anaemic. The three who were wheelchair bound would probably be able to walk again if fed well enough, and given the right exercises to encourage their muscles to develop again. Rickets may well also be an issue.
She gently talked through all the options with Ellie, encouraging her to go for the most labour saving options, and making sure there was a good mix of time spent with everyone as well as family time being built in. She suggested that on the days Charlie was at school they have family meals together in the evening – Charlie would be off far too early in the day to see his grandparents at breakfast time after all. She suggested that they go down to the canteen at least once a week – she would make sure that food that they would enjoy would be available for them there. That would give them the chance to get to know some of the other Oompa Loompa's – who would form much of their new support network after all. She also suggested a good way of building up the different foods their bodies could handle, so that the rich food wouldn't be too much of a shock to their systems. She then made a plan for weekly meetings to make sure that the arrangements could be kept as up to date with their requirements as possible.
"That's not to say I'll not be available any other time though my dear." Magda told her fondly. "My door is always open to you. Come along at any time."
Ellie had to smile at the little motherly woman. Her caring nature had obviously touched a part of Ellie that had been begging out for comfort, and Ellie had found herself talking to this once was stranger about finding Wonka in Charlie's room the night before. Magda had been all that was comforting. "Silly man!" she'd exclaimed in exasperation. "Tis very like him though." She had confirmed gently. "He takes the trouble of the world on his shoulders, and cares for each person he adds to his list of friends, especially those of us inside the factory.
"He shouldn't have done what he did my dear, but it simply won't have occurred to him that it wasn't his job. He's taken Charlie on as an apprentice, and that role was reserved for a very special child as to Willy, his apprentice is pretty well his adopted son. He won't have wanted to step on your toes my dear, but it will take everyone a while to shake down together.
"Charlie is first and foremost your son, but he is now someone of high importance to a lonely and hurting soul. Willy has gone through a lot of hard times in his life, and if he can start to care for your son as a part of his family it might make all the difference in the world to him."
Ellie looked at the woman in suspicion. "Oh not you as well!" she exclaimed. "I may have lost my husband many years ago, but I am not in the market for another one!" she exclaimed in exasperation, before stating her thoughts carefully. "Jim was a very special man, and there's no way I'm going to put anyone else in the position he held in my heart." Magda looked at her with twinkling eyes. "Like that is it?" she questioned, a chuckle hiding just behind her words for a moment.
The gentle teasing didn't go on for long before she became more serious though. "Oh no!" she then stated firmly, causing Ellie to relax in relief at being able to see that this was someone who would take her seriously on this score. "I wouldn't have thought that. You two just wouldn't be suited at all. He'd drive you up the wall with all his shop talk about confectionary, and you'd not stop challenging him enough for him to get close to you. Besides which, from all you've said, you've both got pretty tragic pasts that way, and by the looks of it, neither of you have been able to work past that. I would be surprised if he hooked up with anyone if I'm honest..." Magda had sighed as she trailed off.
"However," she then finished with a little more steel in her tones, "that doesn't excuse him for his utterly thoughtless behaviour last night. And asking you down for a meeting this morning when you're quite obviously exhausted and would be better off on bed rest!? That man has got a piece of my mind coming to him!" she exclaimed in frustration, although Ellie quickly intervened here and stated that she wouldn't be able to relax properly until all the details were worked out.
Magda had nodded in understanding, and then slipped down off of the chair she had been sitting on. "I'll take this to the kitchen now dearie, and I'll see you later on." She said, making her way to the door. As she opened it a commotion was heard outside, as three smaller Oompa Loompa's skittered to a halt, apparently arguing as to who was going to knock on the door. This, it turned out was the delegation of young people who were designated as tour guides to the residential and recreational parts of the factory.
With one final smile of encouragement Magda told Ellie that she would leave them in the good hands of the younger generation, and then headed on her way. First she would stop off at the kitchen to deliver her lists there for those on cooking duties that day, then she would take herself off to the office.
It was time for her to have a word with Willy Wonka and inform him of all she had learned that morning, and tell him exactly what she thought of his behaviour. Although she would be gentle about it as she knew that he had only acted as he had out of what he believed to be the best interests of his guests. Now he knew better, although Magda was hoping that in time Ellie would be persuaded to let Willy take on some of those duties, at least on occasions she was feeling the worse for wear as she so obviously was right now.
James, who had sat quietly with the rest of the Bucket family while Ellie had conducted her business with Magda quickly introduced the three youths (Sarach, Mannie, and Jin) to them. Then, realising he was no longer needed, he instructed the boys to make sure that appointments were made for the family at the medical facilities once they had finished the tour, and headed off to begin his normal Sunday routine.