Little Wonka, Part 9

The End

Pre-Story Author's Note: The setting is several years later, now, and Weldon is looking forward to being a grandfather. He also has a less pleasant task awaiting him.

As Weldon walked into his father's room, he choked back despair at the condition he was in. Willy lay, frail and old, on the bed, aged 89, but he smiled as Weldon entered.

"Look at my boy now...45 and already about to become a grandfather..." he said.

"Hi, dad..." Weldon said, smiling weakly.

"Now, Weldon, don't be sad just because I'm dying...we all live on this earth knowing we will die...it's best for us to face it like it's part of everyday life..." Willy said.

"But, dad, this is a major step in your life...the end of it..." Weldon said, tears shining in his brilliant, dark blue eyes.

"There is an end to everything, Weldon...all good things must come to an end..." Willy said, shushing Weldon.

"But...dad...I don't want to see you go..." Weldon whimpered, the tears starting to fall down his face like rain on a window. "You're one of the best things this world has seen..."

"And, I told you, all good things must come to an end...but let me tell you, Weldon...I regret nothing...not one thing." Willy said, his voice starting to weaken.

"I wish I could say the same..." Weldon said.

"When you're on the brink of death, you don't remember any of the things you regret..." Willy said. Weldon continued to let tears drip down his face.

"So I guess this is goodbye?" Weldon asked.

"Yes...goodbye, Weldon..." Willy said. Even he was starting to cry.

"Goodbye, dad..." Weldon said. Willy closed his eyes and fell back on his pillows, taking a deep breath and slowly releasing a death rattle.

Weldon stroked the face of the man that had once treated him as a friend, an equal...Weldon began sobbing uncontrollably, realizing with a terrible ache that his father was gone, and would never be coming back.

"He's...he's never coming back...never...never..." Weldon shook his head, he didn't want to believe this anymore. But he had no choice. One of the Oompa Loompas had come into the room, and seeing that Willy Wonka, the chocolatier extraordinary, the genius of the century, had now passed on, bowed out, his face now marred with the expression one wears when holding back tears. Weldon understood the pain. He clutched a tightness in his chest, debating whether or not to leave. He didn't want to leave his father, or, now, rather, ex-father here alone, but he knew that company was no longer needed. He couldn't shake off the horrible feeling of loss, knowing that his father's beautiful violet eyes would never again open, nor would Weldon ever see that wonderful little spark that always seemed to persist even through Willy's final days; that his charmingly high-pitched voice had been silenced forever. Weldon stood up, his tears becoming ever more numerous, as he repeated the last words he had said to his father.

"Goodbye dad..." he sobbed, turning for the door and walking out, his head spinning from shock. The Oompa Loompas were starting to make their way to the room where their longtime friend's now-empty body lay. It was their turn to mourn. Weldon now had to call the funeral home. He also decided to call Lillian, having since reconciled with her (and administering Vita-Wonk to her and Helena).

As Weldon stood in the back of the room, breathing deeply and forcing himself not to cry, Charlie Bucket had come back (with offers of possible collaborations between himself and Weldon) and spoke of his experiences, and then it was Weldon's turn.

"I loved my dad...I don't think he could say the same about his own father...but...well...I don't know what I'll do for a while...his death has really taken a huge chunk out of me...but I'm always gonna remember his upbeat attitude and absolute genius...he was just so creative...and..." Weldon sighed and looked at the podium in front of him, trying not to cry again. "I...I-I'm at a loss for words at this point..." he said, stepping down. Helena made her contribution by going up and singing "Wake Me Up When September Ends".

Weldon closed his eyes from despair as Winston and Helena stood stiffly by his side. Lillian put her arm around Weldon to try to comfort him. Weldon waited for the light clunk of the coffin hitting the soil below it, and after the sound came, finally opened his eyes. He tossed his flower onto the coffin and nearly fainted as a new wave of tears came from his eyes. The skin on his face stung from the salt, but he ignored it; there was no way he could focus on something so petty as pain in his skin. He stood there, staring down into the ground for a moment, then choked out his third and final "Bye, dad..." before turning and leaving with his family...

Afterthought: I was crying as I wrote this...I'm not sure about your reaction, but if you were crying too, then I know I captured the despair of loss quite well...I'm sorry it had to end like this...I'm also sad to see the series end...and I'm very, very sad to see Willy Wonka go...even though he's a fictional character, he's become so deeply integrated into my personality that having him die has caused all the feelings that Weldon had to to happen to me as well...