Disclaimer: I don't own anything you recognize in this story. Otherwise I would be really rich right now.

Chapter Fourteen

October 31 dawned bright and clear, the air cool enough to wear a jacket but warm enough to be able to stay outside for long periods of time. A small crowd had gathered outside the gates of the famous chocolate factory, awaiting 10 a.m. Rumors traveled fast, but none fast as the ones about Willy Wonka and Charlie Bucket, so naturally they all knew about the get together that Wonka was holding for the former ticket holders. Why, they wondered, was he doing one so many years afterwards, no one could fathom.

"You have no idea what this is doing to my poor nerves," Mrs. Salt wept, keeping a firm hand on her daughter's shoulder.

"Then why didn't you let father come like last time?" Veruca asked impatiently, in no mood for her mother's nerves.

"Because I had to see this man for myself and give him a what for," Mrs. Salt said firmly, regaining some of her composure.

Veruca just rolled her eyes in exasperation. Leave it to her mother to get a handle on everything. Mrs. Salt could never understand what had happened last time she was here, or how different and strange Wonka was to the rest of the world.

Glancing around, Veruca noticed that everybody else seemed a little nervous. It seemed like everybody was reluctant to be hear, as if everything was going to happen like it had the last time they were all here. The only thing different was that Charlie Bucket wasn't out among them. Of course, he got the grandest prize of all, and that was the building that they were all standing in front of at that exact moment.

"Mike, must you tear your fingernails off?" Mrs. Teavee asked nervously, shifting from one foot to the other as if she was ready to run if anything should happen.

Mike rolled his eyes. "What else am I supposed to do, mother? There's nothing to do while we wait."

"Well, find something more productive," Mrs. Teavee snapped. "We'll clearly be standing here a while. He was late last time."

Mike sighed. Already he knew it was going to be a long day and it hadn't even started yet. He just hoped that nothing would go wrong today.

Violet stood on her tiptoes, trying to see over the other ticket holders, trying to see if Willy Wonka was coming out yet. She hoped he would come out quickly. She was an impatient person and didn't like to wait. No matter how many bad things happened in her life, nothing would stamp that out of her.

"Violet, please stand still. You're driving me insane," Mrs. Beauregarde said sharply. "I would hate to be on the wrong side of Mr. Wonka this time."

"I think you're the one who needs to be calm, mother," Violet retorted. "You're the one who's going all of the place."

"I don't need words like that from you, young lady," Mrs. Beauregarde said. "I would appreciate it if you obeyed."

Violet sighed and fell silent, obeying her mother. She could tell that her mother was going to be in a bad mood today and it would best not to cross sides with her. She had learned that from experience.

"Are you sure this is the right thing to do, Augustus?" Mrs. Gloop asked. "Something bad might happen."

"Only because last time I was too greedy for chocolate to heed Mr. Wonka's words," Augustus answered. "I'm a different person now, so nothing can go wrong today."

Suddenly the big iron gates opened, creaking loudly, made everyone fall silent instantly. A voice on an intercom beckoned the golden ticket holders foreword. As they passed through the opening, the gates clanged shut loudly behind them. After several moments of silence, nothing seemed to be happening.

"Now what do we do?" Violet asked impatiently.

"Why, you follow me into the chocolate factory," a voice said to their left. "And you'll have the most memorable and pleasant days that you'll ever have in your life."

--

Author's Note: Sorry for the long delay, but I've been busy, I hope you forgive me. Another short chapter, but I don't know what I want to do next. I kind of due, but it's not clear in my head just yet. I hope everybody enjoyed the chapter nonetheless and I'll write once I get my ideas sorted out. Thanks for your patience and I hope you continue reading. Thanks to those who had reviewed that past few chapters and I didn't get the chance to thank.