Charisma.

Some say it's a gift for people who have confidence. It allows them to speak with others without having to worry about what they'll say in response. It gives them an uncanny ability to be liked by their peers. It helps them to be classified as a proper leader. So why am I nothing like these things? Just so you'll know later on, my name is Simon. Some nicknamed me "Simon Says." As for why, you'll find out soon enough. I'll be honest with you, I'm not easy to get along with. I'm not kind-hearted, or altruistic, or even all that social. So you'll find me sitting in the dark, thinking about anything that comes to mind.

I don't know why my family decided today would be the day I crawl out into the light. I rather like the dark, because it keeps my head clear. My thoughts always being gathered into a central place really takes the edge out of my mind. But that's enough about me. I'm not really all that exciting, anyway.

You see, there's this contest going on.

Some crazed billionaire hid golden tickets in candy bars, and those who find them get to see inside his factory. Four have already been found, and it's the last day before the contest ends. Now that kids are rushing to buy candy bars, I have to see them run by and cause chaos. It seriously stresses me out just looking at them. I mean, I may be a kid, but I just don't have interest in this sort of thing. And yet, I can't help myself. Here I am, in a small shop, buying a candy bar. Whipple-Scrumptious Fudge Mallow Delight. That's one I haven't have had before. Just as I get the bar, a kid walks in. He doesn't look so good: he's shivering, his threadbare clothes caked in mud, and judging by his appearance he hasn't eaten in weeks. In his hand, there's money that looks like he just found it in the snow. He gets the same bar as me and starts opening it, so I decide to open mine too.

This had to be a hoax.

It's a golden ticket. I found the last golden ticket. The look on the shopkeeper's face has pure joy written all over it, saying, "You found the last ticket in my shop of all places! This is a great day!" The kid next to me smiled a little, but I could tell he was disappointed. I began to get harassed by some people asking to buy it from me, but the shopkeeper intervened. "Leave him alone! You are adults, not vultures!" He turned to me, "As for you, my boy, take that straight to your home and let no one take it." But as I left, the boy stopped me.

"Wait!" He shouted. "You dropped something!"

I looked over. He had money in his hand. I checked my pocket to find that it was empty. I walked up to him and said, "Most people would've taken off with that, and yet here you are, someone whom I can tell is having troubles, giving it back. You really wanted to go to the factory, didn't you?"

"Yes," He meekly replied. "I really wanted that. But it's okay that I'm not. Here's your money back."

"Keep it," I told him. "You need it more than I do."

"I can't take this."

"Take it. I don't need it. All I ask is that you tell me your name."

"Charlie. Charlie Bucket."

"Charlie Bucket, I wish you the best of luck for your future. I hope this can give you a new start. Take care."

"Thank you, sir. Thank you so much."

And so the both of us left the store, with both of us going the opposite way of each other. I looked up at the sky as I held the ticket in my hand. "Well...I admit that things are not as I pictured, but I'll just have to accept it. Maybe everything will turn out okay tomorrow."

Hey peeps thought I'd make this intro short n sweet.

So after a year or so away I'm back, new and improved. I've cut back a lot on my wording and I'm now here to put genuinely better content out there :)

Thanks for reading!