Chapter 8

After Willy was born, Candace decided not to return to work. Instead, she dedicated herself to being a mother and raising her and Walter's son. Every night, she had dinner ready on the table and greeted Walter when he came home from the candy shop. Walter would always greet her with a kiss and rub the top of his son's curly head. At dinner, they asked each other about their respective days, then spent the rest of the evening playing with Willy.

Once in a while, Candace invented a new candy and sometimes went to visit her friends in the candy shop. Business was still as good as ever, but family always came first for the Wonkas. Every weekend, Walter and Candace went out with their son to the park or down by the beach. Willy was a happy little boy, and Candace was a loving mother to her son. Every night, she would read a storybook to Willy or sing him a special song called Pure Imagination. Years went by, and although she loved her son, Candace still didn't want Willy to know about her powers or the fact that she was a witch, for fear that she would frighten him.

"I don't know why you're so worried about telling him, Candace", said Walter. "One day, Willy's gonna have to know the truth, and when he does, I'm sure he'll understand."

"Walter, he's only a boy", Candace replied. "What if he gets scared of me?"

"Darling, you worry too much. Just tell Willy the truth. Be gentle with him, but make him understand that you are not a bad witch. Our son will still love you just as much as I do. You remember how you first told me?"

"How could I forget?"

"There. You see? If I took it so easily, I'm sure he will, too."

"All right, I'll tell him tomorrow."

The next day, Candace asked Mr. Wilkinson to send Willy to her office. The ten-year-old boy entered his mother's office, seeing she was writing something down on her desk. Her head was resting against her fist.

"Mother?"

Candace looked at her son, then set down her pen and turned in her chair so she could face him and placed her gloved hands in her lap, showing him a soft smile.

"Hello, Willy."

"Did you want to see me?"

"Yes, there's something very important I want to talk to you about", said Candace. "Grab that chair and sit by me."

Willy turned and dragged a chair over to the desk and sat down to listen.

"Now, Willy, there's something I thought you should know about me", said Candace. "You see, I'm a little...different than most mothers. Your father is very much normal like most fathers, but he and I came from two very different worlds. When I first met your father, I was afraid of telling him the truth, fearing he would become angry or frightened, but it turned out he loved me and accepted me, no matter what I was or what I looked like."

"What are you saying?" Willy asked her, not understanding.

"Do you remember that movie we saw on telly not too long ago? The one where the girl melted that evil witch with a bucket of water?"

"Yes, I remember it."

"Well, Willy, I am a witch."

"You don't look like a witch to me."

"No, but I am one. I'm a good witch, though."

Willy shook his head and said, "I don't believe you."

"You don't believe me? All right, I guess I'll just have to show you." Candace reached up and grabbed her blonde wig, pulling it off and revealing her bald head. There was a small rash forming on the left side of it.

Willy's eyes grew wide in shock and concern. Candace feared she upset him, but then he asked her, "Mother, what happened to you? Are you sick?"

Candace took her son's hand into her own and reassured him, "No, Willy, I'm not sick. I promise you that. This is just the way witches look."

"You mean witches are bald?"

"Yes, Willy dear. We're very bald."

"Are there others like you out there, Mother?"

Candace laughed and told him, "Your father asked me those very same words the day I told him."

"He did?" Willy asked her.

"Yes, he did", Candace answered, putting her wig back on and adjusting it. "And yes, there are other witches out there in the world, but you must first now how to spot one. Would you like me to tell you how to spot a witch?"

"Yes, please!" Willy exclaimed, sounding amazed. "Tell me everything, Mother. I want to know everything there is to know about witches."

Indeed, Candace told him everything, that witches wear gloves and hide their baldness by wearing wigs that itch terribly, and only wear plain and simple shoes, never pretty or pointed ones. She explained to Willy how to tell the difference between a real woman and a real witch, and warned him especially to beware if he ever saw a bright purple tint to their eyes or was seen holding their noses whenever they came around children. Candace also explained to him that witches hate children with a deadly passion and spend countless hours trying to figure out on how to get rid of them. She told her son that she came from a family of evil witches, but chose to lead a different life and go live like a normal woman.

"Do witches really hate children?"

"Yes, I'm afraid so. I don't know how many children have fallen victim to the Grand High Witch. Hundreds, maybe even thousands."

"The Grand High Witch?" Willy questioned her. "Who's she?"

"She's the most foul and evilest of witches in the world", Candace told him. "She's also my aunt and she hates children more than any other witch."

"Is she the reason why you wanted to be a good witch and not a bad witch like her?"

"That's exactly the answer. Meeting your father and having you was the best thing that ever happened to me, Willy. And I wouldn't give either one of you up for anything."

Willy smiled gratefully and said, "I'm glad you're a good witch and not a bad witch, Mother."

"So am I", Candace agreed, nodding slightly. "Well, I think I told you enough for one afternoon. Now then, Willy, it's time for lunch."

"May I have some chocolate after lunch?"

"Yes, but only if you eat all your vegetables."

Later, Walter came home and asked Candace how the talk went with Willy. Candace told him Willy took it very well and that there was nothing to worry about. Walter was pleased to hear that and gave her a kiss on her lips, then placed a hand on her round stomach, rubbing it gently. Seven and a half months ago, the couple found out they were going to be parents again. Willy was excited and couldn't wait to have a new baby brother or sister.

One night, Candace prepared a special meal and baked her famous chocolate chip cake for dessert. Willy liked the dinner his mother made for him, but took his time when it came to eating his vegetables. He hated vegetables, but knew he wouldn't be able to have any of his mother's cake unless he finished them all.

"They ought to make vegetables that taste like candy", said Willy. "If vegetables tasted like candy, I think a lot of kids would eat them."

"You know, Willy, I tried once to figure out a way to make vegetables taste better", said Candace. "One time, I tired experimenting with a carrot to make it taste like cake, but my spell only managed to turn it into soup."

"I bet it tasted a lot better than the tomato soup you buy at the supermarket and take out of a can", said Walter.

"Naturally", said Candace. "If cherry tomatoes actually tasted like cherries, I think children would enjoy eating them a lot more than candy. It'd be healthy for them."

"One day when I grow up, I'm gonna build a chocolate factory", Willy proclaimed. "It'll have giant candy canes and buttercup teacups that grow on bushes and gummy bears that grow on trees and a garden of lollipop flowers."

"That's very inventive, son", said Walter.

"That's not even the best part", said Willy. "The best part will be the chocolate river and waterfall. The chocolate will run over the waterfall and churn at the bottom and make it taste like the best chocolate you've ever eaten."

"Ooh!" Candace exclaimed in surprise, placing a hand on her stomach. At first, she looked confused, then a smile came to her face and she laughed a little.

"What is it, Candace?" Walter asked her.

"I think the baby loves Willy's idea", Candace answered.

"Is my brother or sister kicking again?" Willy asked her.

"Yes, I think so", said Candace, still giggling.

Two months later, Walter and Candace welcomed a new addition to their family: a baby girl named Susan. She had blonde hair and blue eyes, with just a very faint purple tint to them. Willy was more than happy to have a little sister to play with and talk to. Even though she was too young to riding a bike or play a board game with him, Willy loved Susan and often helped his parents to take care of her. He told her stories and sang to her the same song their mother used to sing to him when he was little. For a short while, the world seemed like a brighter and more colorful place for the Wonka family.

Then, one night, a terrible tragedy struck them. A thunderstorm woke up Willy and he saw a woman wearing a black dress and purple cape standing next to his sister's crib.

"Who are you?" Willy asked her, calmly. "How did you get in here?"

"I flew in", the woman answered, speaking in a German accent. "I have come to take away the baby."

"Why? What do you want my little sister for?"

"For revenge on what your foolish mother did", said the woman. "For marrying that candy maker and bringing two filthy children into this world. Witches are for killing children, not raising them!"

"Get out!" Willy demanded. "Get out or you'll be sorry!"

The woman's eyes glowed a bright purple and she pointed her finger at him, casting a ray of green light. Willy ducked out of the way just in time, but not quick enough, as the light struck him in his right ear. Baby Susan started to cry, which woke up Walter and Candace. They, along with Mr. Wilkinson, rushed into the children's room just in time to see it was none other than the Grand High Witch stealing the baby. Candace screamed in fright as she watched her aunt jump out the window and vanish into thin air. Walter grabbed hold of Candace as she tried to run over to the window and started to cry hysterically. Mr. Wilkinson saw Willy lying down on the floor, unconscious, and urged them to take him to the hospital right away. When they arrived, the adults waited until the doctor came out and told them Willy was all right, but had lost part of his hearing. He was now partially deaf. Candace continued to cry, thankful that Willy was alive, but still thinking the loss of her daughter was all her fault.