Chapter 8: Deceptive Eyes

"I considered taking you all on the boat again, but I thought about a different mode of transportation. All we have to do is head down this absurdly long hallway." Everyone begins to groan, so Wonka responds, "Oh, come now. There will be plenty to see along the way."

I don't feel like using my power, and I have a feeling Wonka will answer no matter what. So I ask, "Mr. Wonka, how come you decided to let people in?"

Mr. Wonka answered, "So they could see the factory, of course!"

"But why now? You haven't been out in the public for years, from what I heard."

Mr. Wonka didn't know what to say, but Mike cut in. "What's the special prize and who gets it?"

Mr. Wonka answered, "I can't tell you that. It's a surprize!" He noticed all of the glares, so he cleared his throat and said, "As I mentioned before, it's a prize that is beyond your wildest imagination. Didn't you read the ticket?"

"Yes, but-"

"There's no buts about it. It just is what it is and you have to wait before you can know about it." Violet then raised her hand. "This isn't a classroom, Miss Beauregarde. Ask your question."

"If I did chew the gum, would I have really mutated?" Violet notably shuddered while asking this, almost like some kind of timidness was overtaking her.

"Most assuredly. I'd wager at least 20 feet tall. Blue skin, blue hair, blue eyes: the whole works. Speaking of which, you don't already have blue eyes, do you? No, they appear to be green. So yes, blue eyes. On top of that, you'd inflate into a round creature full of blueberry juice. You'd be so round, you wouldn't be able to move your arms or legs. Think of it as looking like a giant beach ball. With a little head, hands, and feet poking out!" Violet freaked out and hid behind me.

"Don't touch me," I said with a grumble. "But really, Mr. Wonka? Did you have to say that last sentence with excessive delight? She looks shaken-up as it is." I also noticed Mrs. Beauregarde was glaring at her daughter.

"Like a regular basket case," Veruca said with a subtle smirk.

Augustus shrugged. "I would've liked to taste zat gum."

"You're not helping," I replied with disgust. Augustus closed his mouth after that. It was silent for a moment, but it was broken by Mr. Wonka excitedly maneuvering to a room with a spring in his step.

"Hey everyone!" He said while ushering us over. "Take a look in this window." Everyone took a peek inside. It was a group of pink cubes with faces on them. "These are Square Candies that Look Round."

"Those are square," Veruca stated. "Those aren't round."

"I didn't say that. I said they look round."

"Zey look mighty tasty," Augustus said while licking his lips.

"They do, and they look round as well."

Mike grumbled. "That makes no logical sense. They are square and they look square."

"No. They look round."

Mr. Salt looked inside. "Mr. Wonka, I'm sure you have your reasons. But I can assure you, I can clearly see that they are square."

Mr. Wonka widened his eyes in shock. "I know! I said it myself that they are square. But they look round! Can't you see?"

Mr. Salt looked again. "Apparently not."

"I'm telling you the truth. They are Square Candies that look round. Mr. Teavee, surely you can see-"

Mr. Teavee turned away and quickly responded, "I'm not getting involved in this."

Mrs. Beauregarde then stated, "Even my daughter can see they look square. Right, Violet? Violet?" Violet wasn't looking at all. She held her elbow with her other hand and started whispering to herself.

Mr. Wonka smiled, "I can still promise you that they look round."

Mike and Veruca shouted at the same time, "THEY DON'T LOOK ROUND THEY LOOK SQUARE!"

Finally, I had enough. "Do you seriously not see how they look round?"

Mike asked me, "C'mon, Simon. You can't seriously believe that-"

I interrupted. "Just look at their eyes." Mike and Veruca turned to look at the eyes, noticing what I spotted from the very start. The eyes were moving in a circle, and then it clicked. Square candies that were looking around.

"Shouldn't you have learned by now that not everything is what it seems? Those eyes easily deceived you two, so answer me this. Do my eyes do the same?" Nobody saw Wonka smiling at me in an almost proud way.