CHAPTER 2

Hazel worked as a bartender in a big city until years later, when one of her coworkers told her that there was a job opening for a librarian in the city she grew up in. She jumped at the opportunity. Books were some of her most favorite objects in the world, and she could finally return home after so long.

Willy had never left her mind. She was excited to see the factory was back up and running again after the announcement that the factory would close forever, but she chose not to discuss the fact that she knew him personally out of respect for his privacy. However, she wondered whether or not the old workers got their jobs back, or if he hired new people…but she had more important things to worry about, like making sure the decimals on all the nonfictions were in numerical order, and all the fictions were in alphabetical order via the author's name.

One of the library's frequenters was a boy named Charlie Bucket, whom she had grown quite an acquaintance with. For some inexplicable reason, she saw a lot of herself in him. He said he had a family to come home to, so he wasn't an orphan. And he had a house that was said home, albeit it was a run-down shack of a place according to his words whenever he brought it up. Even so, he wasn't homeless either. It was just something about him and his essence that gave Hazel memories of her past. Perhaps it was her time with Willy Wonka that granted her that sense of knowing a person.

One day, she noticed him looking at a newspaper that had a headline which caught her attention. Charlie took notice immediately.

"Something wrong, Miss Blackwood?"

"My eyes might be playing a trick on me, but does that headline say the name Willy Wonka?"

"It does. The story in the paper says he's inviting people into his factory. He's holding a contest and only five "golden ticket" winners can attend the tour of his factory."

Hazel gazed at the headline with pure bliss. "Imagine that, Charlie. Wouldn't you like to win a contest like that?"

"I would, but it's not possible. I only get one bar a year on my birthday."

Hazel paused. She figured this was time to give Charlie a pep talk. "Young Charlie…"

"Yes?"

"You know what optimism is, right?"

"Yes. It's when you think positively, even during the worst of times. It may not rid you of your problems, but it helps get you through them and sometimes it could help you make the right decisions that may change your situation."

"Correct. I myself learned that when I was a young girl who lost her mom and dad…but that's a story that will be saved for another time" she said with a smile and a wink. "The odds indeed seem against you. But regardless, it wouldn't hurt to take a chance. Who knows? That chance may be your lucky break! And if not, then at least you know you took a shot. It's always best to know you tried than to spend life wondering what if."

Charlie smiled and nodded. "My Grandpa Joe told me the exact same thing." Then he bid Hazel farewell. Hazel stopped to wonder…Charlie's grandfather was named Joe…could it be the same Joe Bucket that worked for Willy years ago?

Not too long after that, the contest had ended. Hazel had wondered whether or not Charlie had that lucky break she told him about. Either way, she didn't hear from him for quite a while, but that was all soon to change when she saw him at the library one day while she was shelving books, but he wasn't alone.

The figure alongside him took her by shock. It couldn't be who she thought it was. Perhaps her eyes were playing a trick on her? If not, what were the odds that this would occur? Still, she had to know. She approached them quietly. But as she did so, suddenly…

"Long time no see, Hazel."

"Willy! You know Miss Blackwood?"

"I sure do. Hazel and I are old friends."

"I see you took your chance, Charlie."

"Yeah. And believe me, it was quite the experience!"

Charlie told her about how he and the other golden ticket winners took a tour of his reopened factory and the awful fates that befell the others who let their flaws control their moves and lead them to making the wrong decisions.

"I found it odd that Willy didn't do a thing to stop them. It was like he knew what was going to happen and actually wanted it to happen to them."

"If you ask me, one of the best ways to learn a lesson is by making mistakes. That way, you'll look back on what you did wrong and find ways to improve yourself."

"It's so great to see you again, Willy." Hazel said as she pulled him into a big hug, which he gladly returned.

"Same here. In fact, if you ask me, I think we have a lot of catching up to do."

"Think we can all spend the afternoon together?" Charlie asked.

"I think we can" Hazel replied. "We can begin after I finish up."

After Hazel's shift was over, she clocked out for the day and the three of them hit the streets. The first stop they made was the location of the original shop itself, where she first met Willy.

"Just being around here brings back memories" Willy said.

"Sure does" Hazel replied.

"If you remember, Charlie, this was the site of my original shop. Once I gained enough money and recognition, that was when I decided to establish my factory."

"Wow!" Charlie exclaimed.

"Even the giants began small." Willy said, a twinkle in his eye.

"You sure seem to know a lot about this place, Hazel" Charlie inquired.

"Yeah, because believe it or not, this is where Willy and I met."

"It is?"

"Right on this very street. Well, actually, I was walking them. Then I saw his shop. Until that time, I had never actually been inside it and only saw it from afar. I decided to muster up the courage and go in for the first time. Upon entry, it felt like all my troubles left. Then again, I suppose that's to be expected once you surround yourself with all the sights, smells, and sounds of anything Wonka. It's a moment I'll never forget. Once Willy encountered me in his shop, that's when my life changed forever."

After visiting the spot where the shop used to be, the group decided to grab a small bite at a nearby cafe.

It was there when Willy told her, "You know, Hazel, you're more than welcome to come visit me anytime you want."

"Well then" she replied, "I'll just have to do that."

"All you have to do is use the secret entrances around the factory. I'll tell the Oompa Loompa guards about you so they'll let you in." He wrote them on a slip of paper and gave them to her.

The parting was bittersweet, but knowing she could always visit her old friend whenever she wanted lightened her mood.

—

That evening, Willy joined the Buckets (as always) for supper. Charlie was more than eager to tell his family about Hazel.

"So she began working for him until those spies ran him out."

"Ah, yes, Hazel!" Exclaimed Grandpa Joe. "I remember her! She and Willy were such good friends, and she was quite the Jack, or rather, Jane of all trades! But she put all those skills to rest once she discovered how much she loved making treats!"

"Willy was really happy to see her again." Charlie replied. "Weren't you?" He called over to Willy.

"Huh? Oh, yeah. I was." Willy, meanwhile, seemed to be somewhere else with his thoughts. For some reason, he couldn't stop thinking about her. He knew her for several years, yet he never saw her as anything more than a friend and employee. Why should that change now? Charlie glanced at him and noticed the look on his face.

"Something the matter, Willy?" He asked.

"Oh? Nothing, Charlie. I was just pondering more projects for my factory to work on."

"A-are your cheeks…pink?"

Willy knew that Charlie was beginning to catch on.

"Y-you really shouldn't mumble, because I can't understand a word you're saying!"

"But I wasn't-"

But before Charlie could utter another word, Willy got up and ran out the door.

Willy stood outside the Buckets' house, trying to catch his breath and collect his emotions when Mr. and Mrs. Bucket approached him.

"Willy, what's with your sudden behavior?" Asked Mrs. Bucket.

"Sudden behavior? I suppose it's because I…have…some sudden obligations at the factory to tend to."

And with that, Willy darted off. "I shall see you again soon enough!" He called out in the distance.

Charlie's parents walked back into the house. "He started acting funny once I brought up Hazel" the boy told them. "Do you think she may have something to do with this?"

Mrs. Bucket shook her head. "I believe so. Your father acted the same way once he found out he had feelings for me."

"No joke" agreed Mr. Bucket. "I had to muster up all my courage to confess to her, but she too had feelings for me."

"If you ask me, it took him long enough!" Shouted Grandpa George.

"Dad!" Mrs. Bucket hissed.

"We were both too shy to say we loved each other, but we did." Said Mr. Bucket.

"So, that may be why Willy was acting that way? Because he loves Hazel?" Charlie asked.

"Sounds about right!" Beamed Grandma Josephine.

"Isn't it obvious?" Grumbled Grandpa George.

"I love butterflies!" Grandma Georgina suddenly exclaimed.

"We should find a way to get them together and let him tell her his true feelings then." Charlie declared.

"Charlie, I don't think you should meddle in their business too much." Said Mrs. Bucket.