(Live Broadcast/Charlie's POV)
"Fiona Trout, reporting live from the Great City," Fiona reports as I stand beside her.
"Outside the gates of the Wonka factory, where thousands of people from across the globe have come to see the candy legend himself, the Howard Hughes of candy; Mr. Willy Wonka. Now only 5 of these thousands are going to be allowed inside. We received report yesterday that the fifth Golden Ticket from Paraguay was, in fact, a fraudulent ticket. The person in question will be sent to court and charged for counterfeiting, though we have no word from Wonka himself on whether a lawsuit should follow.
"But just last night, the true fifth and final Golden Ticket was found by a ten year old boy from the very Great City I am standing in; his name is Charlie Bucket and we have him with us right now. Charlie, how are you this morning?"
"Thank you, Fiona. I'm quite excited," I say.
"My family hasn't exactly had much luck and I'm hoping maybe today will change that."
"And tell me, who is the man in the suit standing next to you?"
"Oh, this is my grandpa. Grandpa Joe."
"Pleasure to meet you," he says enthusiastically as he shakes her hand.
Fiona seems a bit shaken by how enthusiastic my grandpa's handshake is.
"I'm very excited to be here this morning. I actually used to work for Wonka as did my wife, Josephine."
"Oh? How exactly did you two meet?"
"Oh, glad to tell you! I remember it like it was yesterday. Well," he begins.
"I was working in one of the smaller outlets just before the factory closed some years back. I was in charge of the taffy puller that day. I turned my back to get some more flavoring for the strawberry taffy and the next thing I knew, I heard a scream. I turned back around and this beautiful brunette was stuck in the strawberry taffy. Must've gotten caught on her uniform.
"It took me sometime to get her out. The taffy back then was incredibly sticky. You could almost use it as superglue. That's actually what it was called; Superglue Taffy Stix. Anyway, to make a long story short, it took a lot of water, nail polish remover, and a chicken to get her uniform out of there. Now I call her my little strawberry."
"Aww," chorus the others around us.
"Very touching, Mr. Bucket. Now Charlie, is there anyone out there you'd like to thank?" she asks me.
I nod as I shiver in the cold.
"My friend James Adams and my other friend Matilda Prescott. She's actually the one who gave me most of the bars. If I win that extra prize, I'm hoping I can share it with her and James as a way to say thanks for helping me out. She really wanted to go, but insisted I take the ticket."
"Now we've actually heard of Matilda Prescott before from another one of the ticket winners, eleven year old Veruca Salt. Is it true that Matilda has a notebook of candy ideas?"
My mind freezes up. I promised Matilda I wouldn't tell anyone, but this could be her chance to get some recognition. But on the other hand, if you make a promise with a fellow Wonkarer, you must keep it.
"I'm sorry, Fiona," I apologize politely.
"But I cannot comment on that at this time."
She nods respectfully.
"Well, thank you for your time, Charlie Bucket."
"You're welcome, ma'am."
"Well, it's ten o clock on the dot and people are anxiously crowding around the gates to get a glimpse of Mr. Willy Wonka. There seems to be no sign of him—wait a second, the door's opening now. Could it be?"
Everyone, including me and Grandpa Joe, leans forward in anticipation. Out comes a man in a plum-purple coat and top hat.
"Yes, it's him!" Fiona exclaims.
"The great Mr. Willy Wonka!"