I was worried that I wouldn't get this out on time this week, but here it is. I'm going to be focusing on this story from here on out so I can get it done no later than mid-August. I promised you guys that the fourth Lucid Dream would be out for Halloween and I'm trying to stay on track with it. But for now, let's enjoy Wonka's factory.

The area in front of Wonka's gates was packed with people. There were reporters, vendors selling food, spectators with little flags of America, Germany, and Britain, and even a band playing music. It was like a carnival. One of the gates was already open, a red carpet leading from the factory up to a platform where the Golden Ticket winners and their guests sat. There were a couple of policemen minding the gate so no one could sneak in. Reporters with their cameras and microphones were going around to each of the winners trying to get shots and quotes.

Charlie and I sat on one end, next to the Beauregardes. It was chilly, but we were bundled up. Charlie was in his winter coat, the red scarf he got for his birthday, and a knit hat. I knew underneath he was wearing his best set of clothes; a blue sweater and knit pants. I was wearing khaki knit bell bottoms, platform heels, and a pear colored tunic top under my jacket. I also had on chunky shoes and my blonde hair stuck out from under a newsboy cap.

From the other end of the platform Mike Teevee yelled, "Hey, Mom, we're on TV! Hi, everybody in Marble Falls! Hi, Billy! Hi, Maggie! Hi, Fishface! How do I look?"

With all the noise of the crowd and the band, it should have been impossible for me to hear what some individual people were saying.

"You guys ready?" I heard somebody say.

"Yeah, you're on."

It must have been a reporter and a cameraman.

"Well, this is it, folks." Definitely a reporter. "This is the big day, the historic day on which Willy Wonka has promised to open his gates and shower gifts on the five lucky winners. From all over the globe, people have gathered here waiting for the hour to strike, waiting to catch a glimpse of that legendary magician, Mr. Willy Wonka."

Mr. Beauregarde noticed the cameras on him and took advantage of it. "Hi, friends. Sam Beauregarde here. The next time you're in Miles City, Montana, don't forget to visit Beauregarde's AutoMart -."

Violet jabbed her elbow into her father. "Cut it out, Dad! For heaven's sake, this is my show!" She put on a smile and looked at the camera. "Hi, Cornelia sweetie, I've still got it. And how's this for a stretch?" She reached up and stretched her gum out of her mouth and let it snap back.

A moment later I heard Veruca's whining voice. "I want to go in first before anybody else."

"Anything you say, sweetheart," Mr. Salt told her.

I glanced down the row and saw Mrs. Gloop taking food out of Augustus's hand.

"Save some room for later, Augustus liebling," she said.

Charlie nudged me. "Martha?"

"Yes, Charlie?"

"I don't believe it," he said with a smile on his face. "We did it. We're actually going in. We're going to see Willy Wonka."

I smiled at him.

The clock began to strike ten. Everyone quieted down and looked at the factory door. A thought suddenly occurred to me. Wouldn't it be something if Johnny Depp's version of Wonka walked out? And the animatronics came out singing? Oh, screw the rules, I'd blow it all up if they did.

On the tenth chime the door swung open and people began cheering and waving their flags. I was relieved to see it was Gene Wilder's Wonka. His portrayal of Wonka was the only version for me. Sorry Johnny, you're amazing in other things, but whenever somebody says Wonka, I'll always think of Wilder.

Wonka leaned heavily on his cane as he limped down the steps. He looked just like he did in the movie. He had the top hat with his famous curly hair sticking out from under it, the purple tailcoat, the printed vest, and the bow tie. He had a solemn expression as he slowly made his way down the red carpet. The entire crowd went quiet, so much so the tapping of Wonka's cane could be heard on the bricks.

As he approach the gates, Wonka took off his hat. After a few more steps, he stuck his cane in between the bricks and took a hobbling step forward. He was still for a brief moment before leaning forward and executing a somersault, springing back to his feet with a smile on his face. There wasn't a thing wrong with his leg. The crowd cheered wildly.

"Thank you," said Wonka, trying to quiet the crowd. "Thank you. Welcome, my friends. Welcome to my chocolate factory. Would you come forward please?" He beckoned to the winners with his fingers.

We all jumped up to run up to the gate.

"Veruca first!" Mr. Salt yelled. He pushed Augustus back. "Get back you! Come on, Veruca sweetheart!"

Veruca was already running down the red carpet through the cheering crowd. Everyone else trailed behind her. Charlie and I brought up the rear.

"That's Slugworth!" Charlie hissed to me as we ran. "That's the man I told you about."

I glanced over my shoulder and noticed the man in black giving the thumbs up to us.

Wonka put his hat back on and waited for all of us to get to the gate before speaking again.

"Welcome," he greeted. "It's nice to have you here. I'm so glad you could come. This is going to be such an exciting day. I hope you enjoy it. I think you will. And now would you please show me your Golden Tickets."

Veruca stepped up first and handed Wonka her ticket. "I'm Veruca Salt."

"My dear Veruca, what a pleasure," said Wonka. "And how pretty you look in that lovely mink coat."

"I've got three others at home," she boasted.

"And Mr. Salt, overjoyed to see you sir," said Wonka, shaking his hand. "Would you just step over there for a minute."

"Augustus Gloop," the German boy introduced loudly.

"Augustus, my dear boy, how good to see you," Wonka said, shaking his hand as well. "And in such fine shape." He turned to Augustus's mother. "And this must be the radiant Mrs. Gloop. Just over there."

The Gloops went to join the Salts.

The Beauregardes were next.

"Violet Beauregarde," she said, chewing away on her gum.

"Darling child, welcome to Wonka's," Wonka greeted.

"What kind of gum you got here?" she asked bluntly.

"Charming, charming!" Wonka commented. He reached out and gently grasped her chin, whether as an endearing gesture or to pause her chewing, I don't know.

Mr. Beauregarde shoved his way through. "Sam Beauregarde here, Mr. Wonka." He shook his hand energetically.

"My dear sir, what a genuine pleasure." Wonka began to point over to the others who were waiting.

Mr. Beauregarde whipped out a business card. "If you ever need anything in the automotive line, just call on Sam B, phone number's on the card. With Sam B, it's a guarantee."

Next up were the Teevees.

"I'm Mike Teevee," the boy said, handing the Golden Ticket to Wonka. He pulled his pistol and stuck it in Wonka's stomach. "Wham! You're dead!"

Wonka clutched his stomach dramatically and quickly stuck his hand out for the boy to shake. "Wonderful to meet you, Mike." He turned to Mrs. Teevee. "And Mrs. Teevee, how do you do? What an adorable little boy you have."

"Thank you," said Mrs. Teevee.

"Just over there," Wonka requested of her.

Now it was our turn.

"Charlie Bucket."

"Well, well, Charlie Bucket, I read all about you in the papers," said Wonka, seemingly a little disinterested. "And who is this young lady?"

"My cousin, Martha Bucket."

"Delighted to meet you, miss," Wonka said, hurrying along. "Overjoyed, enraptured, entranced; are we ready? Yes! Good! In we go!"

The band started up again and Wonka led the way into the factory, grabbing his cane as he went. He waited by the door, letting us in before him. The door closed firmly behind us.

The entrance hall was dull and gray with the dais and table with quills and the curtain drawn across the contract.

"Now, hats, coats, golashes, over here," Wonka told us, motioning to the coat hangers. "But hurry please, we have so much time and so little to see." He froze. "Wait a minute."

Everyone stopped what they were doing.

"Strike that," said Wonka. "Reverse it. Thank you."

We took off our coats and went to hang them up.

"When do I get my chocolate?" Violet asked.

"First take off your coat, Violet," Mr. Beauregarde said.

"Boy, what weird looking coat hangers," Mike stated.

They were shaped like golden hands. I put my jacket up to it, knowing what to expect. Some of the others screamed and gasped.

"Little surprises around every corner, but nothing dangerous," Mr. Wonka told us from up on the dais. "Don't be alarmed. As soon as your outer vestments are in hand, we'll begin."

I took off my hat and went to hang it up as well. Outer vestments in hand? Oh, my gosh. How many times have I seen this movie and I'm only now getting the joke? I put my hat on the hand-shaped hook.

"Now, will the children kindly step up here." Wonka pulled the curtain back to reveal the contract. The lettering was large at the top and gradually got smaller until it was almost nonexistent.

The fathers muttered as the read the contract.

"Accidents?" Mike asked, reading as well. "What kind of accidents?"

"I didn't know we had to sign anything," said Mrs. Teevee.

"I can't read what it says at the bottom," said Violet.

"Violet?" Wonka called. "You first. Sign here." He pointed to the boxes on the contract with his cane.

Violet stepped up and took a quill.

"Hold it!" called Mr. Beauregarde from the back of the group. He tried to get up the dais. "Lemme through here, you kids. Violet, baby, don't you sign anything there."

He got up and grabbed Violet's shoulder. "What's this all about?" he asked Wonka.

"Standard form of contract," Wonka said plainly, like it was obvious.

"Don't talk to me about contracts, Wonka; I use 'em myself," said Mr. Beauregarde. "They're strictly for suckers."

"Yes, but you wouldn't begrudge me a little protection," said Wonka. "A drop."

"I don't sign anything without my lawyer," said Mr. Beauregarde.

"My Veruca don't sign anything either," said Mr. Salt, stepping up.

"Then she don't go in," said Wonka. "I'm sorry. Rules of the house."

"I want to go in!" Veruca yelled at her father. "Don't you dare stop me!"

"I'm only trying to help you, sweetheart," Mr. Salt said gently.

Veruca pushed him back off the step. "Gimme that pen!" She snatched the quill from Violet's hand. She turned back to Mr. Salt. "You're always making things difficult."

"Nicely handled, Veruca," Wonka told her. He turned to Mr. Salt. "She's a girl who know where's she going. Violet?"

Violet grabbed the other pen to sign.

"Wait a minute, what's all that small print there at the bottom?" Mr. Beauregarde asked.

"Oh, if you have any problems, dial information, thank you for calling," Wonka told him. "Mike? Augustus?"

The girls stepped down, Mr. Beauregarde trailing his daughter.

"I assume there's an accident indemnity clause," said Mrs. Teevee.

"Never between friends," Wonka replied.

"Saw this in a movie once," said Mike as he signed his name. "Guy signed his wife's insurance policy. Then he bumped her off."

"Clever," said Wonka.

"What about me, Martha?" Charlie asked me, taking the pen Augustus handed him.

"Go ahead, Charlie." I knew how this was to play out. Besides, Wonka was having the kids sign this, not the adults. Legally, he couldn't hold the contract over their heads. Even an amateur lawyer could get the kids out of it simply because of their age and the adults not signing off on the contract either.

"Let's go in," whined Veruca, growing impatient. "Come on!"

"Patience, patience, little dear," said Wonka. "Everything has to be in order."

Charlie signed his name and put the quill back in the ink pot.

"Everyone's signed?" Wonka asked. "Yes. Good. On we go!"

He led us over to a frosted glass door. The knob had a combination lock he needed to input.

"Ninety-nine . . . forty-four . . . one hundred percent pure." He pushed the button on the knob and opened the door. Inside the walls and floor were all in black and white squiggles and swirls. "Just through the other door please."

Veruca ran in first followed by everyone else. But there was no other door on the other side.

"Uh, Wonka, there's some mistake here," said Mr. Salt.

Wonka followed us in and closed the door behind him and trapping us all inside the cramped space.

"There is no other door," said Mike.

"There's no way out!" yelled Veruca.

"Well I know there's a door here someplace," said Wonka, making his way around the small room and knocking on the walls.

Mrs. Gloop let out a scream.

"I don't like this, Wonka!" yelled Mr. Beauregarde. "I don't like it at all!"

"Is this a trick or something, Wonka?" Mr. Salt asked.

"Help!" screamed Mrs. Gloop. "Mr. Wonka, help! I'm getting squashed! Save me!"

"Is it my soul that calls upon my name?" Wonka asked absently.

"Let me out or I'll scream!" Veruca yelled from her sandwiched against the wall and Mr. Beauregarde.

Something heavy landed hard on my foot. "Ouch! Augustus!"

"I'm sorry, fräulein," the large boy mumbled.

I scooted away the best I could and bumped into the person behind me.

"Somebody's touching me," Mrs. Teevee said, annoyed.

It was me. "It's a small space," I defended.

She glared at me and pulled away.

"Now look here, Wonka!" Mr. Salt started to say, having a hold on Wonka's coat.

"Excuse me, question time will come at the end of the session," Wonka said calmly. "We must press on. Come along." He pounded on the wall. "Come along. Ah, here we are."

Wonka gazed at the frosted glass door as if he suddenly found it.

"Oh, don't be a dare fool, Wonka, that's the way we came in!" exclaimed Mr. Beauregarde.

"It is?" asked Wonka. "Are you sure?"

"We've just come through there!" a disheveled Mr. Salt argued.

"Huh," said Wonka. "How do you like that?" He opened the door to reveal a room with many wooden doors and painted in beige. He stepped out of the cramped space and into the new room.

The group let out gasps of disbelief.

"What is this, Wonka?" Mr. Salt asked. "Some kind of fun house?"

Wonka stopped and turned around. "Why, having fun?"

"I've had enough. I'm not going in there," said Mrs. Teevee.

"Come on, Violet, we're getting out of here," said Mr. Beauregarde, turning around to find the way back.

Wonka started across the length of the room. "Oh, you can't get out backwards. You've gotta go forwards to go back. Better press on."

As he walked across the room, he took off his hat and crouched down as the ceiling drew lower.

'Hey, the room is getting smaller!" cried Charlie.

"No, it's not; he's getting bigger," Mrs. Teevee said.

At the other end of the room, Wonka was now squatting down and waiting for the rest of us to catch up to him.

"He's at it again!" exclaimed Mr. Salt.

"Where's the chocolate?" Mike asked.

"I doubt that there is any," muttered Mr. Beauregarde.

"I doubt if any of us will get out of here alive," Mr. Salt commented loudly.

"Oh, you should never, never doubt what nobody is sure about," said Wonka.

"You're not squeezing me through that tiny door," said Mrs. Gloop.

"You're off your bleeding nut, Wonka," said Mr. Salt. "No one could fit through there."

"My dear friends," Wonka addressed them, "you are about to enter the nerve center of the entire Wonka Factory. Inside this room, all of my dreams become realities. And some of my realities become dreams. And almost everything you will see is eatable. Edible. I mean, you can eat almost everything."

"Let me in, I'm starving!" whined Augustus.

"Now, don't get overexcited!" Wonka told him. "Don't lose your head, Augustus! We wouldn't want anyone to lose that."

He popped open a panel on the small door and revealed a little piano. "Yet. Now, the combination. This is a musical lock."

He played a quick tune on it. I never learned what the song was, not that it really mattered to the dream or to me.

"Rachmaninoff," Mrs. Teevee told us.

I'll take your word for it.

"Ladies and gentlemen." Wonka flipped the keyboard back up. "Boys and girls." He opened the door. It was actually a much taller door than it appeared, the room we had been standing in designed to be an optical illusion. "The chocolate room."

The chocolate room was bright and colorful. It looked like a garden with giant toadstools, shrubs, little trees with giant gummy bears and candy canes, giant lollipops placed all around, and what looked to be large melons laying around. And then there was the chocolate river. It wasn't like the colored water that was in the movie, but looked like actual chocolate. It smelled like chocolate as well. Another thing I hadn't thought of, the room was hot. It would have to be hot to keep the chocolate flowing through the river and up the numerous of pipes leading to other places in the factory.

Wonka moved to the front of the group. "Hold your breath. Make a wish. Count to three.

"Come with me
"And you'll be
"In a world of pure imagination
"Take a look."

He whipped his cane out, making sure none of us got ahead of him.

"And you'll see
"Into your imagination."

Wonka began leading us down the steps.

"We'll begin."

He whirled around to face us, whipping his cane around again.

"With a spin
"Travelling in the world of my creation
"What we'll see
"Will defy."

His cane shot out to the side, knocking off the banister in front of Violet and Veruca's face. He looked at the two girls, who had been shoving seconds ago.

"Explanation."

Wonka took a few steps down and then jumped back up a step. The rest of us tried not to get ahead of him, but Mike was failing. The boy would stop where he was when Wonka jumped back up the steps. We came down to the landing and turned to the next set of steps.

"If you want to view paradise
"Simply look around and view it."

He reached out and petted at Mike's hair. The boy had gotten a step ahead of him.

"Anything you want to, do it
"Want to change the world."

Wonka gave yank on a strand of Mike's hair.

"There's nothing to it," he sang, letting the loose strand of pluck hair float away.

He danced down the steps and turned to face everyone. He bowed and pointed behind him, letting us go explore. We were all quick to scatter.

"Hurry up, Violet," Mr. Beauregarde said.

"This way, Martha." Charlie grabbed my hand and dragged me off.

He ran up to a candy cane tree. There were white with different colored stripes and longer than my forearm. Charlie took one of them off the tree and handed it to me and grabbed one of his own. We looked at the candy canes in our hands and swapped them before taking a bite out of them.

Wonka walked down the path and stabbed his cane into a toadstool top and used it as a parasol as he continued to sing.

"There is no life I know
"To compare to pure imagination
"Living there you'll be free
"If you truly wish to be."

I noticed Veruca busting open one of the melons on a rock. It looked like it had a candy shell and was filled with either some sort of fruit jelly or maybe chocolate sauce. I saw Mr. Beauregarde with a long piece of red licorice. Augustus was plopped on a rock eating a fruit and Mrs. Teevee was eating frosting from a toadstool.

Charlie pulled me with him and we continued to sample different candies. There were fondant flowers, marshmallows filled with fruit jelly, fudges, taffies, jellybeans, and more. The entire room was a smorgasbord of sweets.

"If you want to view paradise
"Simply look around and view it
"Anything you want to, do it
"Want to change the world
"There's nothing
"To it."

Charlie wanted to explore. I gave him a little push to go off by himself. I turned to see Wonka sitting down in the bushes of flowering teacups. He took off his hat and picked up a flower that was a cup and saucer.

"There is no life I know
"To compare with pure imagination
"Living there
"You'll be free
"If you truly
"Wish to be."

He drank the contents and then bit into the cup.

I made my way down the path over to him. "Care for some company?"

Wonka motioned to the spot beside him. "Be my guest."

I sat down in the bushes next to him.

"Lemonade?" Wonka offered.

"Yes, please."

"Sweetened or unsweetened?"

I raised a brow. "There's an unsweetened option?"

"Of course," said Wonka. "Not everybody likes overly sugary treats. I try to cater to every palette."

"I think I'll go with unsweetened," I said.

He handed me a white flower cup and saucer.

I took a sip out of it. With all the candy I had eaten, it was really tart, not that I minded.

Wonka broke off a piece of the bush. "Add this if you want it sweetened a little."

I took the little leaf he broke off and could smell mint instantly. I gave it a roll in my fingers before dropping it into my cup. I took another sip.

"This is really good," I told him.

I glanced over to look at Charlie. He found something across the chocolate river to look at. I wasn't too concerned about him getting into trouble.

"What do you think of my factory so far?" Wonka asked.

"It's beautiful," I replied. "I can tell a lot of work went into this. The optical illusions alone must have taken so much time."

Wonka smirked. "You're sitting in a room filled with chocolate and sweets and that's what impresses you?"

"Whoever your painters were for that had more patience and skill than I do," I told him. "I wouldn't have been able to pull them off that well."

"You paint?" asked Wonka.

"I do."

"Anything I would know?"

"Probably not," I replied. I looked around the chocolate room. "And I know a lot of love went into this room. It's not like you can slap a few things together and get a masterpiece like this."

"I'm glad you enjoy it," said Wonka.

Whatever else was going to go into this conversation was quickly brought to a halt when we heard Mrs. Gloop's disgusted tone.