Chapter 3

"A Visit with Wilbur Wonka"

With his mind made up, Wonka ordered the production of the five random golden tickets that would be sent with our latest distribution. However, while Wonka was eager to get the process started on finding his successor, he couldn't help but wonder of what he was getting himself into. Following our latest meeting in his office, he retreated into his private apartment within the factory and sat down on the sofa in his living room. All he could do was think, think of his mortality and the future of the empire he worked hard to build.

But his solitude was interrupted when a knock was heard at his door. Getting up from the sofa, he answered the door and found an older looking man standing in the doorway.

"You asked for me, son?" he asked, taking off the stovetop hat he was wearing on his head.

"I did, dad. Thanks for coming," answered Wonka, letting his father inside. "How's mom doing?"

"Well, she's doing fine for a woman in her 90's," replied Willy's father, taking off his jacket and hanging it up on Wonka's hand grabber coat hanger. "So, it appears to me that you are planning to find a successor to this factory, is that right?"

"Yes, dad. Ever since I was forced to close the factory down after Slugworth, my mental health hasn't been the same."

Wonka's father sat down next to him and looked at his son with a worried glance, something that most mothers and fathers would do whenever their children was in distress.

"William, I do commend you for putting your mental first and foremost. But, are you sure that is what you want? You are only 56 years old and still have your whole career ahead of you."

"Dad, don't you see? I am 56 years old, yes. But, ever since Wilma and I divorced after I closed the factory, I've been dealing with these…voices in my head…telling me that I should get out of the business entirely. Surely you understand?"

"I do understand son that you want to get out of the business. Not everything is destined to last forever, but why now? The business is still trying to get back on its feet."

Of course, if there is one thing I have learned from being Wonka's assistant, it was that he didn't like to be criticized, even if it was meant to be constructive.

"Because if I wait, there won't be a business for my successor to run," answered Wonka. "Do you remember that movie we saw six years ago, that movie starring Richard Burton and Peter O'Toole?"

"Ah yes, Becket, I remember," remarked Wilbur. "But why do you bring it up now, William?"

"Because there is a scene where King Henry II decides to have his eldest son crowned in his lifetime. He did it to protect the English kingdom from future pretenders to the throne."

"True, but he was really only doing it to teach Becket a lesson for choosing God over King. As I recall, he was going to have the coronation be held at York and not Canterbury. In fact, where are you going with this, my son?"

"I'm going to send a message to my competitors that naming a child as my successor will make them understand that I will keep my factory going forever. If there is one thing that Ficklegrubber, Prodnose and Slugworth will do is that they will name grownups as their successors and that will ultimately spell doom for them."

While Wilbur was pleased with his son's intentions, he still held a sense of concern over whether his son's enemies would take advantage of this idea.

"Are you certain you wish to do that, William?"

"I do, dad. So far, you haven't questioned my actions yet and I assume that you won't question them now. I've already discussed everything with Arthur and we are moving ahead with the next phase of the plan."

"And what is that?"

"To create five golden tickets for five possible candidates that will one day take over my factory," Wonka answered, reaching onto the coffee table for the piece of paper with the words for the golden ticket on it. "Where they go will be a complete mystery to us."

"Why five golden tickets, son? Why not ten?"

"It would be too much, dad. I already explained everything to Arthur."

Wilbur studied the paper and then passed it back over to his son.

"Why do you question the decisions?"

"Because I feel like five candidates isn't enough. The more candidates, the better, son. But this is just a suggestion, William. It's your factory, your business."

Of course, Wonka was the man in charge and his father was indeed not going to question him. Whatever he would say would go, nothing more.

"You are right, dad. It is my business. I made my life making candies for children all over the world. You made your mark by being a dentist, sort of cleaning up after my messes."

"And yet, I let you follow your own path because that's how my family did it. I never questioned your marriage to Wilma and I certainly never questioned your decision to go into candy making. Whatever destiny wants us to go, we will follow it."

Wonka couldn't help but produce a small smile. Yes, he was the son of a prominent dentist, but he was following his own path and his own dreams and no one was going to stop him.

"I just want you to find the right heir, that's all," he remarked. "A child that will run according to your philosophy and your way of life. If that candidate proves to be someone that you find is wrong to run your factory, then I will question your decisions, son. I just hope you prove me wrong."

"Dad, I will prove you wrong. You can count on that."

With those words, Wonka saw his father to the door and after a brief embrace, watched him leave the factory.

Wonka had a desire to prove his father wrong and that was just what he was going to do…