Disclaimer: I don't own anything that you recognize in this story; I only own the mere idea of the story. Otherwise I would be rich right now.
Chapter Five
Sitting in the barbershop chair, the famous Willy Wonka twirled around in his seat. He was thinking about his sole heir to the chocolate factory, Charlie Bucket. The young man had grown up beautifully and had come to love the factory as much as if not more than Willy Wonka himself.
Thinking about the conversation that he and Charlie had that day, Wonka smiled. He hoped that Charlie would say yes to Wonka's proposition about bringing back the old ticket holders and finding someone to marry. It would be just delightful if it could become a family business.
"How would you like your haircut today, Mr. Wonka?" the Oompa Loompa asked, breaking Wonka's thoughts.
"Oh, just the same as usual, my dear friend," Wonka exclaimed.
The Oompa Loompa smiled and nodded. "Of course. There can be no other haircut for the famous Willy Wonka."
Wonka nodded. Of course. He was the Willy Wonka, the one and only. No one else could be him. Then why did he send out five golden tickets those many years ago if no one else could be him? Because you're getting old and need someone to pass the factory on to, a tiny voice echoed in Wonka's brain.
Wonka smiled. And he had found the perfect person, too. Charlie was everything that Wonka had ever been, except that he was more family oriented. And that had changed all the views that Wonka had ever come to believe. How could one so small change him so dramatically? Well, because Wonka was so much like a child himself, delighting in the whole chocolate-making business.
But it still irked him that he was so into families now. He never wanted a family since he left home from his father's business so many years ago. It was in despicable.
"Why do people change their views on everything simply by one small moment, my dear Oompa Loompa?" Wonka finally asked.
The Oompa Loompa just smiled and shrugged. "That's one of life's greatest mysteries, Mr. Wonka. We just won't be able to find the answer until just the right moment."
Wonka mumbled under his breath. "And when is the right moment? How do I know when I know the answer?"
"It all just depends, Mr. Wonka. For everyone, it is different. But you will find out in the end."
Wonka sighed. "But I'm too impatient to find out until the end, dear friend."
The Oompa Loompa just smiled. "Patience, Wonka, is a virtue."
Wonka said no more for the rest of the haircutting session. He very much wanted to sit and think and this was one of those few rare moments in which he could think. Finally, when the haircut was done, Willy Wonka stood, stretched, and headed out the door. He needed to mull this over some chocolate. Maybe he would get the right answer he wanted and maybe get some good chocolate out of it in the process. Kill two birds with one stone as they say.
While sitting in the invention room, Wonka heard the door open suddenly and close loudly behind the intruder. He was just about to retort an insult when he saw that it was Charlie. Smiling broadly, Wonka stood up and went over to Charlie, giving the boy a hug.
"What brings you here of all places, my dear boy?" Wonka asked delightedly.
Charlie shrugged. "Just came in to talk."
Wonka nodded eagerly. "And did you make a decision about what I have told you?"
"Yes, I have actually," Charlie answered.
"And what is your answer?" Wonka asked quickly, too impatient to have a slow conversation.
"I have decided that we should allow the other four ticket holders to come back, but I am not going to find someone to marry. At least not yet," Charlie exclaimed.
Wonka's face fell slightly. "Not marry yet? And why ever not? It would be the perfect opportunity for you, dear Charlie."
"Because I want to find the right person to marry and not to rush into it if I do not love the girl," Charlie said.
"But, Charlie, that's the whole point of the whole ticket thing is to find an heir and then to get married and have another heir," Wonka despaired.
"Then why didn't you get married, Mr. Wonka?" Charlie asked. "If you are so concerned about an heir, why didn't you get married and have an heir?"
"Because I didn't think it was a good idea until you came along," Wonka said.
"Then why not marry now?" Charlie asked innocently.
Why not marry now? My, the boy did bring up all the old memories and hurtful subjects that he had endured over the years, especially when he was a child. His father had wanted him to grow up, take over the practice, marry, and have children. Now Wonka was seeing the same things in him and slightly in Charlie.
Wonka shook his head. "I am too old for a wife. And we shouldn't be talking about such things about me. We are talking about you."
"But this is about you, as well, Mr. Wonka," Charlie pointed out.
Wonka backed away. "We shall not have this conversation right now. Anyways, I have some other pieces of business now that you said that you would be delighted to have the other ticket holders come back again."
And with that, Wonka swept out of the Invention Room, leaving an astounded Charlie Bucket behind. Shaking his head, Charlie slowly left the room as well. Wonka was different, that's for sure. But it seemed that Wonka was being more odd than usual just now.
Charlie shook his head again. He just didn't know. Maybe he could talk it over with him later or with his family. But until then, he had millions of things to do in the factory. With that, Charlie disappeared down the long corridor, lost in thought.