A/N Own Nothing that didn't come from my mind. Enjoy!
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Chapter 6: Rules
When the next afternoon came around, I was just coming back to full reality. I went to a water fountain to clean my hands and face and went back to the factory. I inhaled the chocolate smell. It was still just as strong, but for some reason not as offensive to me as it once was. Maybe I was getting used to it. After all I did spend a whole day smelling it.
Willy was waiting for me at the gate looking anxious. He led me in through the factory and into a large office. He took his seat at his desk and gestured for me to sit on the opposite side. Slowly I walked over as I looked around. He had souvenirs from all over the world. The walls were covered in maps and blueprints of different parts of the factory. I sat down and did my best to look at him instead of all his stuff.
He laughed his creepy laugh and got some note cards out. "I got the results from the oompa-loompas and a list from the Buckets on some things we should talk about."
"Why do you need the Buckets to tell you what to talk about?" I sat back, crossing my arms. I was a little worried about this talk. I knew myself well enough to know that I was going to lose my temper several times during this discussion. It was just that short. On the bright side though, I can hold my tongue when necessary. Usually when I do that some part of my body gets some pretty deep nail marks in it.
"You're mumbling again. Anyway, the results are in and….." He left a big long waiting period to build the suspense and then started flipping through the cards quickly.
"You don't know the results?"
"Um, I didn't look at it yet." He shuffled through the cards some more and smiled when he finally found it. "Ok, you are… my daughter." He said the words very softly. We were both sure of that the day before, but having it confirmed was unreal. He looked at me differently now. I wasn't sure what to think of this. I immediately put up my emotional guard and shrugged.
"I think I prefer Mazer to Wonka. I'll keep my own name." He nodded, not totally listening to me.
"Heh, well now onto what the Buckets wanted to discuss with you. They read the results before I did. Ok, first if you are going to live here then there are going to be a few rules."
"What?" Live here? I never asked to live in the factory. I made it perfectly clear to myself that I wanted nothing from this man other than information.
"Yeah, I guess they thought that you might want to live here since you don't look like you have any place else. Where did you sleep last night?"
"None of your damn business."
"Mumbler, so I am sorry to tell you that Charlie is heir to my entire factory. I can't change that."
I got up and turned to leave. I had enough. "I don't want your fucking factory. I don't want to live here. I want to leave now. You told me what I wanted to know; now I am going. This doesn't change a damn thing."
"Wait, wait, I think I want you to stay; at least for a little while. Here I will just give you the list of their rules and we can talk later. Kay?" Willy looked really nervous as he held out a piece of paper to me. I took it and sighed. I didn't want anything just given to me. Stealing, being a whore or coming up with a scam was all acceptable in my eyes. However, I did not want his charity or his pity. I don't even want his assistance.
I glance down at saw a lot of writing. I couldn't read a word of it. I understand enough to know that it was a long list. I handed the paper back to him. To be honest, I didn't want to tell him or any of the Buckets that I couldn't read. "I... I can't."
Willy looked at me quite confused trying to figure out what I was trying to tell him. "Following these rules won't be so bad. We'll… I'll help you."
I shook my head. "No, I am sure I could follow most of the rules. I don't know what they are." I began to get mad at myself. Why couldn't I just say it flat out?
"Uh that's what the paper is here for." He gave me another strange look. "You're really weird."
"No, you god damn moron! I can't read the damn paper." I took in a quick breath and held it to get myself under control. Dealing with people was not at the top of my list of talents. I never really had to, at least not for very long.
"You can't read? Didn't you ever go to school?"
"No."
"Oh, well then we will have to go through them then. Sit back down?"
I did and tried to glare at Willy. Sometimes it was hard to keep my angry expression on. He was just so strange. He handed me a mug full of a hot liquid. I looked into it. It didn't look like liquid actually. It looked more like a thinner version of melted chocolate. I took a small sip and was disgusted. It smelled like chocolate and now I figured I knew exactly what chocolate tasted like. I put the mug on the desk and waited for him to go through the list.
"You don't like chocolate?" He looked horrified at the thought. I shook my head and didn't speak. "Heh, well that's weird. Ok, first rule: No giving out my secret recipes to other candy makers or anyone for that matter. Second rule: No more being a prostitute. Rule three: No more drugs. Rule four: watch your language around Charlie." Willy was scanning the list. I thought there was more on it than that but he put the paper down and looked at me. "Any questions?"
"No, but I have no intentions of staying here. What I do for money is my own business. What I do with my money is my business. I can abide by the other two rules."
He began to speak and then stopped himself. He started walking around the room and thought for a bit. "Alright, for now. We will discuss the other two rules later. Now when would you like to meet your grandfather?" I shrugged again. "Ok then we will go tomorrow. I'll have Charlie call and make us an appointment."
"An appointment?"
"Yeah, he is a dentist." I laughed to myself. A dentist spawned the world's greatest candy maker. I laughed again; the world's greatest candy maker's daughter doesn't like candy.