A/N: Thanks to so many who reviewed. Not too late to join the club...or enter my fan art contest. Deadline is midnight on August 15th. SOMEBODY PLEASE ENTER!

peace, love and lipgloss,

Mlle.Fox

I woke to the sound of curtains being drawn back, letting in the bright warm sunshine. I blinked a few times, feeling positively snuggly under the covers. Then I turned over on my back, stretching all my muscles from my arms to my toes feeling as if I could melt into the covers. I don't remember the last time I slept that soundly. The bed was so soft and inviting. And they smelled like lavender, not mint as the rest of the decor suggested. I heard someone shuffling about in my closet and then heard footsteps stop before the foot of themselves the bed. I sat up, my black bed head sticking out at all angles before a puzzled expression caused me to pout my lips. No one seemed to be in the room.

"Hello?" I called looking to the closet. A small cough brought my attention back to the foot of the bed. I crawled to the edge and gasped. There was a tiny man in a red vinyl jumpsuit, no higher than my knee! He looked up at me with a dull, waiting expression and big black eyes. He had an orange brown complexion and black hair pulled back into a tight bun on the top of his head. My mouth hanged open a moment before I closed it, figuring that it might be rude.

"Um...hello?" I tried. Without a word he held up a small violet envelope. I pulled out a small note in black paper and gold ink, the handwriting small.

Dear Lady Visitor,

My name is Murray. I am of a people called the Oompah Loompahs. The Great Tall Cocoa Bean Man saved us from our sorry existence and brought us here to work for him. Unfortunately, not many of us can speak English, but we do understand it when spoken to and as you can see, we can write it. The Great Tall Cocoa Bean Man asked me to be your valet during your stay. I have taken the liberty of laying out an appropriate ensemble and will wait for you outside the door to take you to breakfast. If there is anything you ever require during your stay, do not hesitate to ask.

Kindest regards,

Murray

I looked back up at the strange little man, taking all this new information in before I nodded and said,

"Thank you Murray." Then he crossed his arms over his chest and bowed slightly, before putting his arms down and walking out the door. I watched him go, scarcely believing he existed. I got out of the bed, putting Murray's note on the desk, taking a moment to look out my window. Over the roof of some of the factory, laid Sweet Haven, the rising sun still casting pinks and oranges on the horizon line. I turned to my dressing room, finding a pair of jeans, flat light brown ballet slippers, and a bright Kelly green gingham shirt with three quarter length sleeves. Murray even picked out a blue green pendant on a gold chain and matching gold bangle bracelets to accessorize. I shrugged, coming to the conclusion that Murray had good taste. But as I dressed and completed my morning toilet, I couldn't help but get the feeling that I was getting ready to go on a blind date. Shaking off the silly notion, I left my room, tape recorder in hand and met Murray out in the hall.

I only caught glimpses, but the rooms we passed were marvels. In one room I saw fireworks, another room seemed to have a horde of squirrels shelling nuts. A third room saw a pasture of pink sheep. Finally we approached a large set of double doors, a large 'WW' painted on the front in gold. Murray pushed on the door and held it open for me to enter. What a gentleman. I was in a front office, another set of double doors with the double 'W' to the front of me. To the left sat a desk, once belonging to a private secretary, but now it served as a mantel for all of the awards and plaques awarded Mr. Wonka for candy making. To the right was a blue and green polka dot conference room, with oak panel chair railings and oak furniture. To my fear, there was also a large assortment of food on the kidney shaped table surrounded by deep blue velvet chairs, the backs shaped in a squiggle.

"Oy vey..."I sighed thinking of all the calories. I mean honestly, doesn't just looking at food cause some women to balloon up? I think I read a scientific study about that once. Meanwhile, Murry had stepped forward to the main office and knocked.

"Yeah?" came the voice within. Murray entered silently and the owner of the voice looked up from his paperwork and smiled, "Oh! She's here for breakfast? Oh good! Be right there."

I was looking around at the dining room, my eyes avoiding the rich food before me, when a voice cleared his throat at the door. I turned, my mouth opening just a bit at the sight before me. Willy Wonka in the flesh.

He was tall at six feet, but the black silk top hat he wore made him look taller. He put most of his weight on one black boot with a red 'W' stitched on the top, his right hand tucked into the pocket of his black slacks. He wore a asymmetrical black satin vest over a rainbow print oxford shirt and a blood red cravat to match his violet red velvet overcoat. A gold 'W' brooch sparkled against the cravat. He twirled a cane filled with Wonka Nerds in his left hand, which wore a purple latex glove.

What surprised me the most was how handsome he was. He was very pale, almost sickly. But his high cheekbones and Roman nose more than made up for it. He cut his reddish brown hair in a pageboy cut. But he had dark amethyst eyes that sparkled like a fine wine. Those eyes regarded me dully as he smirked a little and said,

"You must be Miss James."

I smiled and extended my hand to shake his,

"Yes I am. And it's very nice to meet you Mr. Wonka."

Wonka immediately stepped back,

"Uh...yeah...one thing...I don't touch people...Well now I don't touch people I just meet. I have to get to know you first, kay?" he asked with a wide plastic grin. It unnerved me a little how straight and white those teeth were, but I nodded lowering my hand.

"Of course."

"So come on. Have a seat...dig in!" he said going to his chair at the head of the table.

"Thank you...um...So...What kept you from meeting me last night?" I asked as Murray pulled out my chair for me. Wonka sat down setting his cane aside,

"Oh you know...work stuff. But why place all the blame on me? You could have insisted on coming to see me."

"But...you didn't have time for me." I said my eyes darting to the side. He held up a pointer finger,

"Persistence is a virtue!"

"So is consideration." I countered.

"You know Miss James it's not too late to return to New York." Wonka said placing his napkin in his lap. I narrowed my eyes and pursed my lips.

"Does that thinly veiled contemptuous remark mean that if I don't do what you want you'll cancel the interview?" I asked.

"Pretty much." Wonka said digging into the eggs. I took a deep calming breath. My inner feminist was riled up, I was hungry and dieting in a chocolate factory. I wasn't in the mood to argue. Plus my job needed this interview. I gritted my teeth and replied,

"Alright then. From now on, I'll do what you want even if you don't ask."

"Now that's silly! How can you possibly know what I want you to do if I don't ask you to do something?" Wonka asked.

"But you just said..." I started.

""I guess you'll just have to ask me what I want you to do so you can do what I want." Wonka said.

"Oh-kay..." I said confused and filling my own plate.

"Groovy! Would you like some chocolate chip waffles? Made only with Wonka chocolate chips of course!" Wonka offered.

"No thank you." I said amazed as the man shrugged and filled his plate with three waffles dripping with syrup, scrambled eggs, four sausages, two pieces of toast with jam, hashbrowns and a glass of chocolate milk.

"You're going to eat all of that?" I asked digging into my own plate of eggs, one piece of toast and two sausages.

"If I didn't I'd be starving by dinner time because I get so distracted with my work I forget to take lunch." Wonka explained. I was amazed. That was the first answer he gave her that made any sort of sense.

"Oh that makes sense. But aren't you afraid of gaining weight?" I asked him.

"Oh I never gain weight. My doctor says I have an incredibly fast metabolism. Like a hummingbird's!" Wonka told her his mouth full of waffles. Of course! I thought mentally rolling my eyes at another skinny person who could eat like a pig. We sat in silence and ate for a few minutes, giving me time to collect my thoughts. I wanted to start asking him about his childhood. Learn about his parents, how they shaped his life, all that jazz. I started by asking,

"So Mr. Wonka. I notice you have an American accent. Where are you from?"

"America." Willy said between bites. I laughed,

"Well I know that..."

"Then why did you ask?"

"Well I wanted to know where in America you're from." I said.

"Why?" he asked.

"Because people want to know." I answered.

"What people?" asked Willy chewing on his waffles. I shrugged,

"Well, I can at least say the readers of Lady Luck magazine. Who happen to be young single career women."

"Like you?" Willy asked. That question caught me off guard. I did represent every reader at Lady Luck. I was young, hopelessly single, and if it weren't for my career, I would have no life. Yet he was completely innocent in his question as he took a plastic swizzle straw, placed it in his milk, blew some bubbles and then took a few sips.

"Uh...yeah...what was I asking again?" I asked.

"I don't know."

"Okay...um...how about this question. Why did you contact Lady Luck and ask for an interview?" I asked.

"I told your editor. There was this really funny ad in there with a dog, a duck and a blond..." Wonka started to explain. I interrupted,

"Okay...okay...um...Why let me stay three months? Can't three weeks or even three days be enough time for an interview?"

"Oh heavens no! It takes three months alone just to completely see the factory." Wonka said seriously.

"You mean...you're going to show me everything?" I asked in total disbelief. Why would he show me everything? Didn't he understand I would basically publish all his secrets in hundreds of millions of magazines to an entire country? It didn't make any sense. He only added to the mystery, when he took out a pocket watch and opened the face,

"Certainly! In fact...we better get started. It's already ten past the lemon drop. We have so little to do and so much time to do it!" And taking up his cane and depositing his napkin on the table, he stood and grabbed my wrist pulling me up. Then he paused and said, "Strike that...reverse it!"

"Okay..."I said confused as he yanked me out towards the door.

Sparrow's Nest

The small island town of Sparrow's Nest off the coast of South Carolina USA was founded by a pirate. Captain Jack Sparrow. He used the island as his own special cache and hideout, his crewmen eventually settling down and starting families there. Then one day, he and his ship the Black Pearl set sail to find the treasure of the Bermuda Triangle. Before he went, he passed a law in the town that upon his return, he would rule Sparrow's Nest once more. He and the Black Pearl were never to be seen again. Three hundred years later, the small town is a popular tourist attraction for the history buff, pirate lovers and sunbathers...until a black ship with black sails coasts into the harbor one night. The town of Sparrow's Nest wake to discover Captain Sparrow has returned, having been trapped in the Triangle these three hundred years. The handsome, cunning pirate is welcomed with open arms, but he's determined to take his rightful place as pirate king, find his lost treasure trove, and win the heart of the bonnie Miss Melanie Thames, the engaged owner of the Turner Inn.