The minute Willy came home he was besieged by the Buckett clan. Everyone wanted to know how it went, what they discussed, and if there was a second date. Willy brushed them aside and told them about the park tomorrow.

Mrs. Buckett was so overjoyed she even hugged Willy. When he was free, Willy went straight to the kitchens and told the Oompa Loompa's to get started on a most marvelous picnic meal.

He went to bed that night surprised, elated, and nervous. All he could think about was what would happen if he continued to see Nina. He did like her, but then he didn't like being around people; yet he enjoyed being around Nina.

It confused him to feel this way. He fell asleep much later in the evening.

The next morning Willy gave Charlie entire control of the factory. He allowed the boy to make final decisions, adjustments, and told him to do what he thought would be best.

It was the first time Charlie had ever worked in the factory without Willy's assistance. Willy, on the other hand, grabbed the picnic basket and headed into the Glass Elevator.

At the front gates Nina was standing paitently, until she saw the elevator. She shrieked and backed away as Willy landed before her and opened the door. He couldn't help but laugh as she stared at him. "What on earth is that thing?" She asked.

Willy laughed a bit more and replied, "It's a glass elevator see. You can go almost anywhere, to the museum, and theater, and park, and it flies all over my factory so I can see what's going on at every point."

Nina laughed and reached out to touch the glass panel. "It's amazing. You invented this yourself?" Willy nodded eagerly. "Step inside please." Suddenly he noticed Nina was carrying her own picnic basket. "Oh, er, I packed our lunch.umm." Willy pointed to the basket at his feet.

Nina gasped "Oh! I packed some too. I suppose we can just pick out the foods we want from both baskets." Willy smiled as Nina stepped into the elevator and placed her basket beside his. He pressed the button that said "Park" and they lifted up.

"Wow, this is so amazing!" Nina was looking down at the shrinking town as they flew into the air. Willy pointed to the clouds "Don't look down, look up. We are flying just like birds." Nina watched as they soared towards the park at the end of town. Willy giggled and she laughed. "What an unusual invention."

They landed beside the park on the sidewalk and Nina picked up both baskets. Hers had a small yellow blanket on the top. "Let's find some shade to put these under." Nina told him.

Willy followed as he looked around the park. "I never realized how bright and cheerful it is outside." He commented. Nina nodded, "It's always nice to get out for a while. Constant solitude can become depressing."

Willy helped unfold the blanket and then looked at the swings in the play area. "Er, want to swing?" He asked shyly. Nina replied, "Sure, I haven't done that in years." Together they walked to the swings and began swinging.

Nina laughed as she flew up, and Willy smiled. "This is fun!" She called out. Willy called back, "Yep!" After a few minutes they slowed down.

Willy looked at Nina shyly, holding on to the chains of the swing. "What's your favorite thing to do?" He asked. Nina told him, "I like taking pictures and painting." Willy smiled and said, "I like to paint too."

Nina asked, "What's your favorite thing?" Willy replied, "Dancing." Nina smiled, "Are you a good dancer?" She asked. Willy shrugged, "I've never had a critic before. All I ever do is dance to music by myself and when my workers sing."

Nina swung a bit on her swing and said, "I'm sort of ok, but I tend to be a bit clumsy." Willy smiled and looked over the play area.

Two children were sifting sand into a pail. Nina watched him and asked, "Do you like children?" Willy nodded no. "They can be irritating. I had kids at my factory and they messed everything up." Nina replied, "Oh. I figured since you make candy and all."

Willy told her, "Candy makes the kids go away. Give them some and they leave you alone."

Nina's face softened a bit and she looked at the ground. Willy turned to her, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to sound cruel or anything." She looked up and replied, "No, it's fine. You want to go walk?"

Willy nodded and they stood up. Together they walked around the kids in the sand and headed towards the hiking trail.

"What about animals?" Nina asked. Willy looked at her, "What about them?" He asked.

Nina smiled and said, "Do you like animals?" Willy replied, "Yes, I do like animals. Especially kitties." Nina told him, "I like birds the most."

Willy told Nina, "I have forty trained squirrels at my factory. They shell the nuts for the candy." Nina looked at Willy bewildered. "Trained? How did you train a squirrel?" Willy laughed, "Lots of time, and patience, and band-aids."

Nina giggled. "Do you have any other animals?" Willy told her, "Yep. I've got several cows for the milk and the,er...I also have sheep..err, heh, let's not talk about them. Oh! and I have chickens too."

Nina smiled. "Do you have pets, or do the animals just work?" Willy told her, "I treat them as pets, and they get every Sunday off."

Nina looked confused. "Well, they are my employees. How do you know if an animal might want a day off of work?"

Nina laughed and Willy laughed with her. They had walked along the trail to an old railroad track. The wood planks had decayed and weeds had grown around the rest of the tracks.

Willy commented, "Trains are fun, but no body uses them anymore." Nina asked, "How do you get your candy shipped across the world?" Willy responded, "I use trucks and airplanes. Once a month they come and get the candy and then ship it off."

Nina walked across the rail and bent down. "Here's a flat penny." She held up a rusty, smashed penny and Willy told her, "Make a wish." She smiled and put the penny in her pocket. "Maybe it will come true."

Willy walked beside her as they followed the tracks. Nina looked at the ground and then back at Willy. He smiled and she held out her hand.

His smile faltered as he stared at her. Finally he placed his hand in hers and they walked along, hand in hand.

After a few moments of silence Willy looked behind him. "We shouldn't go too far or we'll get lost." Nina agreed and they walked the other way.

"Do you like adventures Willy?" She asked. He nodded, "I like learning new things. I've traveled to a lot of places to find stuff."

Nina told him, "I've only been here, and in France." Willy told her, "You should really visit Japan. They have all kinds of unique traditions, and funny people too."

Nina giggled. They came to the park and walked over to their blanket. Willy asked Nina, "Are you hungry now?" She nodded yes and he opened her basket first. "Lets see, you brought fried chicken, some cole slaw, and potato salad, and whats this?"
He held up a glass of sparkling grape soda. Nina told him "I thought you may like it. It's non alcoholic."

Willy opened the lid and picked out two glasses. "Okey Dokey." He said as he handed the glass to Nina. She held it up and said, "Let's have a toast." Willy looked thoughtful. "Did you bring any? I always thought toast was a breakfast food."

Nina laughed and replied, "No, I meant let's celebrate something. A toast with our glasses." Willy held his up and replied, "Oh. ok. Well. um. We can toast being together?" Nina nodded, "To being together." They knocked their glassed together and drank.

Willy said, "Tasty." Nina pulled Willy's basket to her. "Now what do you have in here?" Actually Willy didn't know, the Oompa Loompa's had packed it for him.

"That's adorable." Nina had pulled out some turkey and ham sandwiches shaped like hearts. "Oh, I like pecan salad, and some deviled eggs." She placed them on the blanket and pulled out a bottle of Pepsi. "I didn't bring dessert. Thanks."

Willy was blushing just as pink as the strawberry, heart shaped cake that Nina placed on the blanket. "Oh Willy, don't be modest."

Willy only giggled nervously. "Heh, I actually.he ee.didn't. er hehe." Nina picked up a plate and asked, "Would you like some more grape soda or some Pepsi?"

Willy picked up his glass and filled it with grape soda, then refilled Nina's glass. He chose some fried chicken and pecan salad, and together they ate. Willy asked Nina, "You said you took pictures on the side of your job at the store. When do you fit time to do that?"

Nina replied, "Often after work, or on weekends. Sometimes I have to feign sickness for a day off." Willy asked, "Do you think I can see some of them?" Nina nodded, "Sure. If you want to come by tomorrow I can show you." Willy smiled and then realized they had just agreed to see each other again.

He smiled even more. Nina looked closely at Willy, "Can I ask you a question?" Willy replied, "That was a question. If you'd like to ask me another you can."

Nina laughed and asked, "When I look into your eyes. It's strange, are they purple?" Willy shook his head. "Nah. I have to wear contacts you see. So I chose purple. I also have blue contacts."

Nina giggled. "So what color are your eyes really?" Willy told her, "As brown as chocolate." She smiled. Willy told Nina, "I like your eyes. Their as blue as water. I wouldn't care if I drowned in your eyes."

Nina laughed hard. "Willy, I've never known anyone to be as sweet as you." Willy smiled, "I've never known anyone, ever." He told her. Nina drank a little and asked, "You must have had someone in your life. Could you tell me?"

Willy fidgeted with his fingers and then ate a sandwich. Nina ate her salad and then Willy looked at her. "I knew... this girl. A long, long, long time ago. She was ..er..nice and comforting, but we were, both young. Her parent's didn't approve because I was just a homeless bum.I mean I was working and all, but my money was being invested, and they said I..I was, worthless. Parents hate me."

Nina held out her hand and Willy took it. He began to trace her fingers as he told her, "They found us together one night. I had been living in her attic, heh. Worst night of my life." Willy traced Nina's hand with his own, and she scooted closer to him.

Willy looked at her as she asked, "Was she the only girl you've ever known?" Willy nodded. Nina moved her hand away from Willy and reached out to his cheek. Willy gasped and jumped. Nina pulled her hand back. "I didn't mean to startle you." Willy giggled nervously. "I'm not comfortable with touching." He told her.

Nina nodded. Willy asked quietly, "What about you Nina? Have you, ever, you know?" Nina told him softly, "My last boyfriend was over two years ago. I got so caught up with finishing college and starting my career, we just sort of, fell apart. I haven't seen anyone since."

Willy began figet with the grass and said, "At least two years isn't long. I've been alone for so long, I've forgotten what it was like to even be close to anyone." Nina nodded and asked silently, "Do you ever get lonely?"

Willy nodded quietly and whispered, "At night, sometimes. I fe..fee.I feel like no one really cares about me...as a person, I'm just a candy maker, some entertainer for children." Nina whispered, "I care. I think your nice, and charming." Willy giggled nervously.

He then looked up at the clouds and asked, "Have you ever touched a cloud before?" Nina told him, "No. Why?" Willy stood up and held out his hand. "Leave the picnic here. I want to show you something."

Nina shrugged and went with Willy. He led her into the Glass Elevator and pressed a button that said, "Straight Up". As it said, the elevator shot straight up and Nina gasped. Suddenly they were high above the park, in the midst of a large, white cloud.

Willy put his hand out and told Nina, "Stay where you are." He opened the door quickly and grabbed parts of the cloud. When he brought the material inside, the Elevator began to fill with white fog. Nina put her hand inside the fog and laughed.

Willy came beside her and told her, "When I get lonely, I like to play inside clouds. You can lose yourself in them, lose all your feelings and doubts and thoughts."

Willy turned a circle inside the Elevator and Nina smiled. She turned herself and Willy blew a small puff of fog toward her.

She waved her hands inside the fog until she felt Willy's own hands grasp hers. He turned her in a circle and they laughed as the fog swirled around them.

Willy looked at Nina and said quietly, "I've never realized how much fun I was missing because I shut myself away." Nina held Willy's hand as she came closer to him.

He stiffened a bit but allowed Nina to come shoulder to shoulder with him. "Sometimes you need people, just to talk to and share thoughts with." Willy told her, "I've learned that from being with Charlie. He's a really good friend, and his family, and you. Your a very nice friend."

He reached up and placed his hand on Nina's shoulder. They looked at each other for a few moments, and then Willy told her, "I need to let this fog out before the cloud condenses. Water messes up the Elevator." Nina nodded as Willy opened the door.

The fog drifted back to the sky and Nina held Willy's hand as they descended. The Elevator hit the ground but Willy told Nina, "Don't worry, I'll get the stuff. You can stay here." She watched as Willy gathered up the rest of the picnic and placed everything back in the two containers.

He brought them into the Elevator and asked, "It's almost 4 pm. Would you like to watch the sunset with me?" Nina nodded eagerly and Willy pressed a button that said, "Optimum Sunset View."

The two shot into the air and began to fly.