Chapter 16

"mmmm, very delicious," Edward said, licking the last crystals of sugar off of his lips. "what is it?" he asked.

That is called a green squirrel," Charlie said.

"where'd you get the squirrel part from?" Edward asked.

"well, I was in the Nut Sorting Room one day and I don't know really, it just popped in my head at the sight of the squirrels," Charlie explained.

Edward smiled. Charlie was a good kid. He didn't question Edward about his "hands" and showed signs of discomfort at the sight of them. He always smiled and asked clever questions that sometimes challenged Willy's intelligence. Edward liked him.

"that is very impressive Charlie," Willy said, patting Charlie on the shoulder.

"can I have a word with you please?" Willy asked Charlie.

Charlie nodded and the two of them moved several feet away from Edward, into a huddle. Edwards paid no attention to them, he was bust sampling the assortment of candy before him. Edward popped a blue piece of candy in his mouth. It tasted very sweet, until Edward bit it and a bolt of sourness shot off in his mouth. He twisted his face in alarm and quickly ate the rest of the candy.

Willy and Charlie were watching Edward and his reactions to each piece of candy.

"You know, we could fix him. We really could," Willy said quietly to Charlie. "it may be difficult, but we can do it."

"well, Willy, that would be excellent, but how do you know Edward wants to be fixed. How do you know he doesn't want to stay the way he is?" Charlie questioned him.

"I don't know, but if you were him, how would you feel? To never be able to touch anybody, never be able to ride a bike, never be able to walk down the street as a normal person. I feel bad for him Charlie, and I want to help," Edward said, looking at Edward once again.

"alright, I'll help you, but if he ever decides that he doesn't want us to fix him, I'll obey his wishes," Charlie said smiling.

"Edward come here," Will called, beckoning Edward over to him.

Edward pulled himself away from the candy, licking his lips as he shuffled over to Charlie and Willy. "yes?" he said.

Willy picked up Edward's arm and looked over his scissors, saying, "We're gonna fix you."

"Fix me? Why, am I broken?" Edward asked.

"we're gonna give you hands, maybe not real hands, but hands real enough," Willy explained.

Edward's face was blank as he examined his scissors along with Willy and Charlie's patient faces. A sloe smile spread across his face and he said, "Really? You'd do that for me?"

"of course," Willy said.

"unless of course you don't want us to and would rather stay the way you are," Charlie added.

"well, I don't know. Will it hurt?" Edward asked quietly.

"yeah well, maybe just a little-" Willy was cut off by a sharp jab in the ribs and Charlie said, "It won't hurt a bit."

Edward was silent for a moment, contemplating on wither or not he should make this decision that would change his life forever.

"let's do it," Edward said smiling.

"oh good, tomorrow then," Willy said.

"tomorrow? Um, okay," Edward said with a little fear in his voice.

"okay, off to the lab!" Willy shouted, pulling Charlie with him. "Edward, you an stay here or do whatever you want, K?"

Edward nodded sheepishly and shuffled off to the candy again. He'd find a way to keep himself occupied.

Charlie and Willy entered the Wonkavator and pushed the button that said LABORATORY. The Wonkavator shot upwards towards the lab.

"so Charlie, what do you think of Edward?" Willy asked.

"He's great. Very kind. He sort of reminds me of a puppy the way he finds the most common things to be so fascinating. I wish I was like that, perhaps I would appreciate things more," Charlie said scratching his cheek.

"yes, everything is new to him, because from what he told me, he was locked away inside a castle all alone for many years," Willy said matter of factly.

"that's interesting," Charlie said.

"very interesting," Willy said smiling at the use of Jack's words.

The Wonkavator stopped outside the lab and Charlie and Willy went inside. They put on their aprons, goggles and gloves, and stepped over to the lab table.

"what should they be made out of?" Charlie asked.

"well we want them to be soft, but durable, able to bend. How about a mixture of taffy and rock candy!" Willy exclaimed, proud of his genius idea.

Charlie rose his eyebrows saying, "Candy? You're going to give Edward candy hands? That's no different! Instead of people calling him Edward scissorhands, they'll call him Edward candyhands! No no no no, that won't work at all."

"well them Mr. Smarty-pants, what should we use?" Willy said, jutting his chin foreword.

"we'll make our own mixture," Charlie said.

Charlie walked over to a gigantic cabinet and took out several bottles of different chemicals. He picked up a beaker and set it in front of him. Charlie started poring in ingredients, trying to get the right consistency and color. He slowly stirred it, looking up at Willy who was watching with wide eyes. Charlie picked up the beaker and carried it over to the oven, setting it on the countertop. He pulled out a mold, used to make gloves and poured the mixture inside. The mixture clung to the mold and Charlie hung it upside down to dry. He placed it in the oven and turned to Willy.

"now we wait," he said.