A/N: I'm so happy so many of you responded and could identify with my OC. I hope she is someone you want to cheer for. For those of you who may be wondering why it will take three months to get an interview done inside a chocolate factory, rest assured. All will begin to come to light...in the next chapter! Meanwhile, Freddy arrives in England...and you know who makes an official appearance...sort of...Enjoy!
peace, love and lipgloss,
Mlle.Fox
ps. Still not too late to enter my fan art contest! See my profile and send me something by August 14th!
Two day's later I was in London. I took a cab at the airport to the small town outside East London called Sweet Haven. It was mostly gray with unexpected dashes of bright colors. The autumn leaves falling added additional color and magic to the place. The driver stopped at a stop light on Cherry Lane. That's where I saw it. Now considered a historic landmark, the red building on the corner was the Original Wonka Candy Shop. Now it was a candy shop and museum dedicated to the town hero who brought the poor Industrial Town back on it's feet. Well at one point anyway. When Wonka had closed his factory and not let anyone return when he reopened hurt the village really badly. But, Wonka did rehire some drivers to at least enter his front courtyard and direct his massive fleet of trucks. And when a toothpaste factory opened on the other end of the town, the town was saved. Some say that it was no coincidence a toothpaste factory was built so close to a chocolate factory, but I think that was just conspiracy theory talking.
Finally, the black cab turned up a long narrow street and there was the factory in all her glory. It was the largest factory in the world, even bigger than some auto manufacture factories. It looked like a contemporary, massive Gothic castle, and Willy Wonka was the king. The cab stopped before the gigantic iron gates and I stepped out, getting vertigo just looking up to take it all in. The driver deposited my luggage on the side walk as I pulled out a handful of Euro,
"Can you help me bring those inside please?"
He looked up at me in disbelief, eyes like saucers,
"You mean you were serious? You're really allowed to go in there?"
"Well yeah, I'm a writer and...wait, what's it to you? Do you want a tip or not?" I asked him. I may have been a little harsh, but it was getting cold, I had killer jet lag and indigestion from the airplane food. Plus I was dieting in a chocolate factory. My life couldn't get any better. He looked up at the huge building, fear in his eyes,
"Part of me wants to go in...to satisfy that which plagues humanity...curiosity...but the part of my humanity that fears death tells me to stay away..."
"Um...yeah okay...Plato? Are you coming in or what?" I asked dryly. He sighed and grudgingly picked up my bags,
"Yeah yeah I suppose so..."
"Chivalry lives! Your mother must be so proud!" I quipped going up the square metal call box. I pushed the large purple button, a loud deep beep echoing off the outer stone walls. After waiting a moment, the driver grinned spinning on his heel,
"Well! Nobody's home! I heard the London Hilton is excellent Miss..." Before I could tell him to freeze, the gate clicked and slowly inched open all by itself. I watched in awe until I heard the squealing of tires. I turned my head and saw the cabby driving off, my bags on the sidewalk.
"Hey! Hey! I didn't pay you! Yeesh...well thank you Sir Scared-a-Lot!" I yelled in vain. I sighed, bending over to gather my bags together. Meanwhile, without my realization, a camera zoomed in on a closeup of my butt. A dark figure cast in shadow tilted his head this way and that, glancing in appreciation, before picking up at headset and putting it on over his chocolate brown hair. He replaced a tall silk black hat on his head and tapped the mike on.
"Who goes there?" he said making me jump.
"AAH!" I cried dropping my bags. As I clutched a hand to my beating heart, the faceless voice said while spinning around in his chair,
"Hellooo? Cat got your tongue? Because I wouldn't be surprised if they did get your tongue, pesky things."
Hesitating at the curious comment, finally I said,
"Uh...Sir? My name is Freddy James...I'm from..."
"First of all little girl, don't call me Sir! It makes me sound old! Secondly, what kind of name is Freddy for a girl? Hahaha..." the voice giggled twirling a cane in his fingers as he propped his black boots on the desk, a series of black and white surveillance screens before him, one by one showing my picture. Seriously, I could tell he was an adult male, but he giggled!
"Freddy's my nickname...Short for Winifred?" I offered. Silence followed a moment before he asked in a serious, slightly deeper voice,
"You have a 'W' name?"
"Well yes...but what does that have to do with any..."
"Step forward!" he ordered before leaving the room only to get catapulted back by the headset still on his ears. Of course, I couldn't see all the chaos, but I heard the crash and the mike squeal and strain. Covering my ears and blinking rapidly in pain, I waited until it died down before asking again,
"Sir? Sir! Are you there?" I shrugged, bending down to gather my things once more, cautiously stepping closer into one of the world's greatest mysteries. Willy Wonka's chocolate factory. The front doors loomed over me, beckoning me ever so closer. The only sounds I heard was my own breathing, the beating of my heart, and my Jimmy Choo's tapping on the cobblestones. To my wonder, the doors began to unlock big heavy locks. The doors began to slide aside showing another entryway. And as anticlimactic as it sounds, a tall skinny teenage boy in brown corduroy jeans, tanned sweater over a blue oxford shirt, and PF Flyers came out.
"Hullo!" he said in a smooth English accent, containing qualities of youth, but definitely past puberty. Seeing those same kind eyes and wide, charming and shy smile I saw in a picture now tucked away in my briefcase, I knew exactly who it was.
"Charlie Bucket I presume?"
He laughed trying not to blush,
"Yeah that's me." Then he furrowed his brow looking me over, "You're...not the Fred James from Lady Luck magazine are you?"
"Actually it's Freddy as in short for Winifred...but yes, I am from Lady Luck magazine. It's a pleasure to meet you Charlie." I said shaking his hand. He laughed looking me over from the top of my head to the soles of heels (yeah the kid was foot taller than me, I hate being short) ,
"Oh ho ho...Willy was not expecting you..."
"What do you mean?" I asked. He bent down to take my bags from me,
"Come, I'll explain inside. Let's get you out of this cold first hmm?"
"Thank you Charlie!" I exclaimed, my faith in mankind restored a little. At least future generations of women had hope. He even struggled to pull open the door for me. I stepped into a fifty foot tall cathedral ceiling foyer, a long red carpet dotted with gold 'W's down the long hallway. That's when I noticed it was stifling! I began to unbutton my ivory wool coat, commenting to Charlie as he kicked the door closed,
"Whew! It's hot in here! Doesn't this heat invite the chocolate to melt?"
"Not Wonka chocolate!" he said with pride before adding as he began to walk ahead, "Besides, our workers are used to a warm climate."
"Workers? You mean people are working here? Who?" I asked. He hesitated before not so subtlety switching subjects,
"You wanted to know why Willy wasn't expecting you right? Well it's because you're a girl...and Willy's under the impression that girls have girls names, and boys have boys names. I'm still trying to explain to him the concept of Leslie."
"What is he? Three years old?" I asked jokingly. But Charlie wasn't kidding as he mumbled under his breath,
"Sometimes..."
"So Charlie...why are you schlepping my stuff around for anyway? In a few years you're going to have your own chocolate factory." I inquired.
"Well, my family and I discussed it with Willy, and my mum thought it was best if somebody practical prepared you." Charlie said as I gradually noticed the long hallway wasn't so long, but a optical illusion, getting smaller and smaller until we had to stoop over, our heads touching the ceiling.
"Prepare me for what?" A small tiny door was before us and I doubted I could get my size ten butt through there. Charlie gave a mischievous but apologetic grin as he began to push on the door,
"For the craziest three months of your life!" The door was another optical illusion, for it was a really large door that opened up to a sight that made my jaw drop to my stilettos. Laying before me, was a colorful, magical Garden of Eden...made entirely of candy.
There were rolling green hills, red and white striped trees like bonsai trees, bushes, flowers, even a chocolate squirrel running here and there, with chocolate birds flying overhead. To top it all off, was a chocolate waterfall starting at the other end of the room. Charlie smiled at my gaping wonder and said,
"This is the Chocolate Room. Almost everything in this room in eatable. The trees, the grass, the animals. All except my family's house. That we moved into the factory after I agreed to come here. Come on then. Supper's on the table." I followed behind him, trying to take in everything, when I noticed a noise coming from the bushes around us. For a moment I thought I caught a glimpse of a black top hat, but then it was gone. I returned my gaze forward where a darling sight met my eyes. A little house, slightly crooked, repainted a charming white with red shutters rested on the top of the highest hill in the Chocolate Room. Charlie set my bags down and entered the front door, letting me in first as he called,
"Evening Buckets!"
There were four elderly grandparents, only one standing and helping to set the table,the other three lying in a bed by the fireplace. Also there was a tall, slightly attractive middle aged man with graying black hair and a pretty little woman with long brown curls standing over a hot stove. They all shouted in unison,
"Good evening Charlie!"
"Oh Charlie, who's this?" asked one of the grandmothers.
"Apples!" said the other grandmother sweetly looking up into my eyes.
"This...is Miss Winifred James...from that American magazine Willy agreed to do the story with..." Charlie explained. I extended my hand towards Mr. Bucket,
"But you can just call me Freddy. How do you all do!" Charlie's father looked questioningly to Charlie who simply shrugged and then he greeted me in a warm smile,
"Welcome to England Miss Freddy. My name's Sam and this is my wife Kara." Kara Bucket stepped forward and shook my hand, gesturing towards the grandparents,
"Very nice to meet you! And this is my mother and father, Grandpa Joe and Grandma Josephine, and my father and mother in law Grandpa George and Grandma Georgina."
"Hello all." I said nodding to them. Grandpa George started laughing his old bald head off,
"HA! Old Wonka's going to soil his pants when he finds out about this! HAHAHA!"
"Pop..."warned Sam wrapping an arm around Kara's waist.
"What George means is Miss James...is that none of us really...were expecting such a pretty young lady coming." Grandpa Joe told me. I smiled at the compliment, and Grandpa George added under his breath,
"Especially one with great legs..."
"POP!" hissed Sam. I tried to control my laughter,
"So when will I meet Mr. Wonka?"
"Well he should be along any moment for supper. So you'll join us won't you?" asked Kara. I lifted my arms up off my sides a bit in a shrug,
"Absolutely!" We sat down to supper, which was a task in itself because I had to decline generous servings of food. But Mr. Wonka never showed up. As Kara pulled out a rather tempting chocolate cake for dessert, I asked Charlie,
"Do you think I could excuse myself to my room? I've got killer jet lag."
"Sure...I'll show you...And while you're getting settled, I'll talk to Willy and see if he wants to talk to you tonight. Alright?" asked Charlie getting up.
"Works for me." I said as Charlie turned to his mother,
"May we be excused?" I stared in disbelief. Growing up, Jack never asked permission to leave the table. ..and neither did I since I never left the table. But I digress. Kara smiled,
"I'll save you both a slice of cake."
"Oh no...that's perfectly alright...Charlie can have my piece...Goodnight everybody!" I said with a wave out the door. I stopped when I noticed my luggage was gone. "Uh...Charlie? Where's my stuff?" I asked. Looking to the spot, Charlie tucked his hands into his pockets and smiled,
"Oh...they must have already come and gone to take your stuff to your room." As he walked off without another word, I chased after him demanding,
"Who!"
Charlie led me to a hidden door on the side of the Chocolate room, opening it to reveal a short spiral staircase. Up the stairs, was a long gold and crème marble hallway with different colored doors. As we passed a few, I noticed the names on the doors,
WHITE CHERRY CHOCOLATE
BLUEBERRY DREAM
ORANGE AND LIME SHERBET
Stopping at a room labeled MINT CHOCOLATE, Charlie pulled out a small key ring with about ten keys. I asked eying the rooms,
"Are these rooms with certain flavors or something?"
"Decor...These are Mr. Wonka's guest rooms." Charlie said opening the door and switching on the lights. I gasped in delight. The room was various shades of rich browns with mint green accents. A large four poster bed was in the center of the room, with a small sitting area to the side made of a couch, two plush armchairs and a coffee table and a fireplace. One door on the side of the fireplace led to a large mint green bathroom with chocolate accents, a second door on the opposite end of the room was a large dressing area, a walk in closet to top all walk ins. I noticed all of my clothes were already unpacked and put away. Even my shoes were nice and neat in their own little cubby holes. Before I could ask who did all this, Charlie went over to a small writing desk and picked up a violet colored envelope.
"Oh look...Willy left you a note." he said handing it to me. I opened the note finding black stationary with gold ink writing,
'Dear Miss James,
I, Willy Wonka welcome you to my chocolate factory. I hope the room is to your liking. I ask that you join me tomorrow morning for breakfast in my private conference room. And then we can talk a little in my office if you like. I apologize for not greeting you tonight, but unforeseen circumstances came up. So until tomorrow morning, promptly at eight o'clock. Don't be late! I will send one of my workers to wake you in the morning.
Sincerely,
WW'
"Well...looks like I'm meeting Mr. Wonka for breakfast tomorrow." I told Charlie tucking the note away.
"Well I got school tomorrow morning, so I won't see you until tomorrow afternoon. So I'll say goodnight to you then." Charlie said turning towards the door.
"Thanks Charlie...Goodnight." I called after him.
"Goodnight." he said closing the door behind him. Charlie didn't get two feet down the hall, when a purple latex glove reached out from behind a column and yanked him into the shadows. Although Charlie couldn't see his face, he knew who it was.
"Willy! Have you gone batty? You nearly scared me to death!" Charlie snapped at the chocolate maker.
"Sorry! But we have to talk!" Willy whispered.
"Alright what is it? I have to study maths for tomorrow." Charlie sighed and folded his arms across his chest. Willy took a deep breath,
"Charlie...the writer from the magazine is a woman!"
Charlie laughed,
"I know that Willy."
"But I didn't...I didn't know she was pretty either." Willy said.
"So what's the big deal?" asked Charlie.
"Well...when I saw her in my cameras today...I...felt funny..." Willy said.
"How so?" asked Charlie in concern.
"Well, it started in my chest, not painful just something...then it moved up in my throat...and then...south..." Willy said cryptically.
"South?" asked Charlie.
"South!" Willy said casting his eyes in the direction of his boots.
"Oh...that south!" Charlie nodded in understanding.
"So you know what's wrong with me? I mean we have to get to the bottom of this before the candy starts to taste like how I feel...funny!" Willy said innocently. Charlie shook his head and laughed,
"Uh yeah...we wouldn't want that!"
"So will you help me?" Willy pleaded. As Charlie sighed and silently nodded his agreement to help, knowing his elder friend was going to be shocked when he discovered what he was feeling; I was turning down my covers for the night, finding the chocolate on the pillow. I bit my lower lip as it taunted me...then I picked it up...the aroma of sweet chocolate wafting up to my nostrils, before I went over to the waste basket and threw it out. I sighed in relief and turned in, proud of myself for passing my second test of the night. Little did I know the next three months weren't going to be that easy.
Preview
Coming soon to F . F. Net
Switcheroo
Sarah Barnes is a lonely bar maid at a inn in Montserrat. She dreams of love and adventure, but bound by English rules of exile, the young Irish woman is trapped. Until the stormy night a handsome and dripping wet sailor seeks shelter. He mystifies her with his golden grin, high cheekbones, exotic hair and deep brown eyes. But his manners are deplorable, he only thinks of himself and he's a wicked womanizer. He tries to give Sarah a pretty trinket in exchange for a role in the hay, but she merely wishes she had his life. He in turn wishes he understood women. When they wake the next morning, they are shocked to discover that they are in each others bodies! And Sarah is even more shocked to discover her mysterious sailor is the infamous pirate Captain Jack Sparrow! Turns out that pretty trinket was a cursed talisman that grants wishes. When it won't work anymore, Jack (now in Sarah's body) takes Sarah (now in Jack's body) to Tia Dalma's where the voodoo priestess tells them that the only way to counter the wishes is with a second talisman...whose location is unknown save for a map owned by a particularly nasty pirate. As Sarah finds herself dodging Navy men, enemy pirates, superstitious crew members, and magic forces, she also comes to realize that Captain Sparrow is not all that he seems. And Jack soon learns what it means to be a woman in a man's world. And what's this? Could they learn to fall in love as well?