Chapter 12 – The Terms and Conditions
The factory doors swung closed behind the group with a resounding clang.
The reception area in front of them was a large open space with white walls and white tiled floors. The plush red carpet from outside was also present, and snaked away into the distance.
The reception desk was empty and the red leather chairs in the waiting area appeared to have the slightest covering of dust. The entire area felt abandoned and slightly intimidating.
Isabelle was still trying to process the fact that she was inside the factory with Charlie. Her head was spinning and she followed the group in a daze with Charlie still excitedly hanging onto her arm.
"This way please."
Isabelle jumped as the silence was suddenly broken by Mr Wonka, as he briskly brushed past. The group followed him through reception area and into another large open room.
There were no windows inside this room and heavy double doors barred the entrance to what Isabelle guessed led further into the factory.
On the wall in front of them hung a long, floor to ceiling golden velvet curtain.
"Please leave all coats, gloves, galoshes and umbrellas in this room. We shan't be needing them on the tour as it is wonderfully warm inside. Wouldn't want anyone to suffer from heatstroke now would we?" Mr Wonka grandly gestured to the wall to the side as he strode up to the velvet curtain and the platform in front of it.
Isabelle hung up her light jacket and scarf and gasped as the hooks, which looked like hands, actually sprang to life and grabbed hold of the items. The others were all equally shocked and quickly swung back round to face Mr Wonka, who was leaning against the wall and looking faintly amused at their surprise.
"Little surprises around every corner, but please, don't be alarmed." He said teasingly.
Charlie laughed with delight, and tried to take back his coat. The hand immediately let go and then grabbed the coat again as it was hung up once more.
As he walked over to stand next to Isabelle, he felt his beanie being snatched from his head. Oops, he had forgotten to take it off. Thankfully it would be kept safe with his coat.
They regrouped in front of Mr. Wonka, who was now standing next to the golden curtain.
"Would the children kindly step up here…?" Mr. Wonka gestured to the little platform as he stepped to the side and pressed a tiny button on the wall.
As the children gathered together, the curtain drew back to reveal a giant parchment full of writing that became smaller and smaller further down until the last sentences became unreadable without help.
Isabelle began reading the strange writing and immediately realised that it was a contract. A very odd contract. What exactly was frippery, she wondered. The other parents and children read the various parts out loud and throwing out all sorts of questions.
She glanced at Mr. Wonka, who was simply standing in the same spot and waiting for everyone to calm down.
Violet's mother stepped forward and loudly voiced her thoughts. At her tone, everyone else fell silent.
"Wait a minute, Mr. Wonka. This appears to be a contract and my Violet does not sign any contracts unless her agent is present."
"Moooom!" Violet looked terribly embarrassed as her mother pushed herself past her daughter and stood directly in front of Mr. Wonka.
"No Violet." She snapped at her daughter. "Mr. Wonka, please explain."
"Oh, you wouldn't begrudge me a drop of protection now, would you?"
Mr. Wonka's smile was beguiling but Violets' mother did not look convinced.
"My Veruca isn't signing anything either!" Veruca's father pulled his daughter away from the platform.
Without missing a beat, Mr. Wonka replied "Then she isn't allowed entry. I'm sorry, but those are the rules." He handed a large, ornate feathery pen to Violet. "Here you go Violet, you first."
At that statement Veruca wrenched her arm away from her father and ran back up the steps. "I'm going in and you can't stop me!" She yelled as her father tried to hold her back.
She snatched the pen out of Mr. Wonkas hand before Violet could reach for it, and wrote her name beautifully in the empty space provided.
She then turned and glared at her father as she stomped back towards him. "Stop getting in my way daddy!"
"If Veruca's signing, I'm signing too!" Violet picked up the pen and neatly printed her name next to Veruca's. "I won't lose mom, I swear!" She snapped her gum with vigour as if to emphasize her point. The two had a brief, but intense staring contest. Violet gave a triumphant grin the moment her mother glanced away.
"Ok, darling, I trust you." Mother and daughter stepped off the platform together.
"What about you Mike?" Mr Wonka may have been holding out the pen to Mike, but he was carefully watching instead. Mike's father said nothing, as Mike stepped up and signed as well.
"Played a game once. My character had to convince its wife to sign over her life insurance to him, then killed her and got all the money."
"Clever" Mr. Wonka replied. "What about you Augustus?"
"Please Mama, I really vant to go inside!" Augustus begged his mother and she gave in without a fight. Augustus signed his name with a big messy scrawl and left a smudge of chocolate behind as well.
Isabelle grew nervous again. Charlie stood alone on the platform with Mr. Wonka holding the feathery pen out towards him. "Your turn Charlie." Mr. Wonka said expectantly.
Isabelle held her breath; what would Charlie decide? To her surprise, he turned around and asked her. "Should I sign this Izzy?" Charlie was unsure, but she could tell that he really wanted to go inside. She could feel everyone staring at her.
"Let's go, what's taking so long? Hurry up!" Veruca had been impatiently complaining for a while now.
Isabelle cleared her throat. "Yes Charlie, you can sign it." She watched as he wrote his name as neatly as he could and handed the pen back to Mr. Wonka.
As he jumped off the small platform and headed towards her, she stood up straighter and asked a very important question.
"What about us Mr. Wonka? Where do we sign?"
"Thank you kindly my dear, but that will not be necessary." He gave her a tight smile and then gestured grandly towards the double doors that were still closed. "The factory awaits us. Hurry now, so much time, so little to do." He then made a funny little gesture and added, "strike that, reverse it," and waggled his eyebrows at her.
He turned away and strode up to the doors, but stopped abruptly and spun back around to face them. The group reeled back quickly, not yet used to how fast the man changed direction.
"I almost forgot." He stated calmly and rested his cane lightly on his right shoulder as looked over the group huddled in front of him.
"One final task remains before we enter the heart of my factory." He gestured with his cane towards a wall of unobtrusive lockers that Isabelle had only just noticed.
"Please choose a locker for yourselves. All personal electronic items, smart watches, phones and any communication devices of any description must remain here." He raised his free hand to prevent the complaints from starting.
"This hallway is specifically designed to neutralise any electronics that enter this facility. If you choose to take them with you, I cannot guarantee they will ever work again when you leave. They will be returned to you safely at end of your tour."
The contestants looked at each other.
Violet snapped her gum in frustration whilst Veruca stomped a foot and rolled her eyes at yet another hold up.
Mike shrugged. "Whatever" He muttered and began removing his gadgets from various pockets, shoving them into a locker and slamming the door.
The others copied Mike without too much complaining, after that.
Isabelle placed her cheap phone into a locker and pocketed a key. Charlie, who didn't own anything, simply stood where he was.
Mr Wonka waited patiently for everyone to finish.
"Right then, are we all set? Marvellous, on we go."
He jauntily vanished down the hallway as everyone trailed after him like ducklings.
Welcome to the year 2020 dear readers. I hope this year is good to you all.
It's finally showtime for Izzy and Charlie! It's taken a looong time, but everyone is finally inside the factory.
Sit back and watch Willy Wona and his loyal Oompa Loompas entertain you.