A/N: Okay then, here we go for round two! We get to meet Charlie's friend, and find out why he's more than a little nervous about going back to school. Also, this chapter may feel a little slow, cause it's mostly background, but after this the fun starts, kay? So stick with me here.
Disclaimer: If I owned a huge chocolate factory, would I be here right now? Don't think so.
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Chapter 2: Of Bullies and Friendship
Charlie clutched the straps of his backpack nervously as he neared the schoolyard. He knew with absolute certainty that his family had every right to be worried about him. His parents didn't know it, but Charlie was often prey to one of the meanest bullies at his school. Terrence Mitchell had failed the eighth grade twice, and as a result, he was the oldest kid at Pillars St. A lot of the time Charlie was lucky enough to slide under his radar, but with the attention he'd received over the Golden Ticket, he doubted that Terrence would pass up the opportunity to torment him.
The children who noticed Charlie as he entered the schoolyard fell silent as he passed them, before quickly whispering behind their hands as soon as he'd passed. The boy sighed and headed inside, trudging through the slush that had formed on the ground.
"Hey Bucket!" Charlie froze in his tracks at the sound of Terrence's voice. He turned slowly, and saw Terrence and his cache of friends closing in on him. Somehow, Charlie doubted that Terrence was coming to congratulate him.
"So what's this I hear about you winning some big contest, Bucket?" Terrence sneered as he stepped up to Charlie. "Wonder how you even made it inside of that factory at all. What'd you do, snatch the ticket out of some little old lady's hand?"
Terrence's friends snickered at the remark while Charlie remained silent. He'd learned long ago that the best thing to do with Terrence is simply to keep one's mouth shut.
"No, no, what I bet he did was he stole the money for the chocolate from his parents, and then he just happened to hit it rich. So what'd ya win, Bucket? That crackpot Wonka wouldn't say." Terrence stared down at Charlie expectantly.
Charlie Bucket was somewhat startled by his own response. "Mr. Wonka is a genius," he said heatedly. "He's certainly smarter than you'll ever be."
It wasn't until Terrence's face contorted with fury that Charlie realized the danger of what he'd just said. "What'd you say to me, shrimp?" Terrence demanded, grabbing Charlie's shirt with both hands. "I'm gonna make you sorry you ever talked back to me, Bucket."
Fortunately, for Charlie, the bell rang at that exact moment, and teachers came out into the schoolyard to start ushering children inside. Terrence slowly let go of Charlie's shirt and smoothed it over with one hand. "I'll deal with you later," he said in a low voice, before straightening and leading his buddies into the school. As they cleared out, Charlie sighed, and caught sight of someone who had been standing behind the crowd of bullies.
It was a small, thin girl, about Charlie's age, with thick brown hair that was braided down her back. She was wearing a worn simple dress and boots that appeared to be two sizes too big for her. She caught Charlie's gaze and smiled almost shyly.
"Hi Charlie," she said softly. Charlie smiled back at her.
"Hi Beka," he replied, and they headed into the school together.
Rebeka Smithens and Charlie Bucket had been very good friends for as long as they could remember. Their mothers had been close friends since high school, and lived just a few houses apart from each other after they were married; so when Sara Bucket and Mary Smithens gave birth just a few months apart, it was clear that their children were going to grow up close.
Charlie and Beka had other things in common as well, besides their mothers. They were both only children, with no siblings to speak of. Both of their fathers worked at the toothpaste factory. They were both dreadfully poor, though for different reasons. For years, Charlie's father had simply not been able to make enough money for seven people. Beka's family was far smaller, with only her and her parents, but Beka's father spent most of his money on liquor each week. This meant that Mrs. Smithens had to work as a washwoman to make ends meet.
It was not uncommon to see Beka Smithens at the Bucket's house on any given day of the week. Many days she would come over after school with Charlie, go home for supper, and come back till dark. You see, though Charlie's family was poor and hungry, they loved each other very much, so they were a generally happy family. Beka's family, though they were a little bit richer, was quite miserable, as her father was a mean drunk and her mother was usually exhausted from working all the time. This is why Beka usually took haven at the Bucket's home, as it was much more pleasant than her own.
This is part of the reason why Beka became so terrible concerned when the entire Bucket clan--indeed their whole house--seemed to disappear overnight. Beka of course didn't believe the nonsense that they'd simply moved and their house had been demolished. First of all, she knew that Charlie would have told her ahead of time, and second…well, who demolishes a house at night? Besides, Charlie had told her all about the strange Mr. Wonka, and his invitation for Charlie to come and live at the factory--and after seeing what had happened to the other four children who had visited Wonka's factory, she didn't put anything past the man.
Nevertheless, Beka was very relieved to see Charlie back at school, after neither hearing from him nor seeing him for several days. Even if he had been on the verge of being beaten up…
It wasn't until lunch that the two had a chance to talk, and Charlie was excited to share his tale with his best friend. They sat on the school steps, huddled close together, speaking in excited whispers.
"So you're living there now?" Beka asked, her eyes lit up with enthusiasm.
"Yeah. It's great--we're right in the Chocolate Room, right beside the river. It's wonderful!" Charlie answered, grinning from ear to ear.
"It sounds beautiful. A little weird, granted, but it must be absolutely fabulous!" Beka said.
"It is. But you can't say anything, alright? My parents think it's better if nobody knows what I've won."
"Don't worry Charlie. Your secret's safe with me."