Greetings readers, here I have my penultimate chapter for this story, enjoy.
The chipmunks and the chipettes returned after their break.
" Welcome back, we are now halfway through the story, and are about to begin the second half, to recap Billy and Nita were able to bypass their imprisonment, and would be able to sneak in and out of the wash house without being caught by Miss Crinkle or her Brothers Haggis and Bogus", said Simon.
" They're also able to get Miss Green the grocer, Mr Cod the fisherman, and Bessie the milk maid to join in on the action, to help get the other wash house workers free from their debt, and now they begin their journey making and selling Billy's confections, while under the noses of the confection cartel, and also avoiding the hands of the police, especially the corrupt chief", said Jeanette.
" And also, Billy comes face to face with the little orange men who keep taking his ice-cream, played by yours truly, as I've yet to make my appearance", said Alvin.
" Anyway, ladies and gentlemen, here is Act III of Bonka", said Simon.
The next day, near a florist shop, a taxi driver, was getting down on one knee, proposing to the young florist girl.
" Will you marry me", said the taxi driver, stuttering a bit, he was an absolute nervous wreck.
" I don't know, I mean, you're a lovely man, and you mean well, but I'm looking for someone who'll sweep me off my feet, could that be you", said the florist girl.
Hesitant, the taxi driver said, " No", before getting up and walking away.
The taxi driver sat down outside a café, gloomy from the chance he'd blown.
Billy approached the depressed taxi driver, dressed up as a waiter.
" How may I help you monsieur", he said in a French accent.
" Have you got anything for a broken heart", said the taxi driver.
So despair will never stop,
the girls think you're a flop,
you're wet and cold
you're getting old,
your confidence has shot.
" It's true", the taxi driver said, disappointedly.
When people look at you,
they seem to look straight through,
or like you're something brown they found
upon the bottom of their shoe.
" Have you been stalking me", said the taxi driver.
Billy then placed on a silver plate, red marshmallows, forming a shape of a heart.
But this should make you glow,
my passion marshmallow,
with passionfruit
so dashing you'd
be flashing to and fro.
Curious, the taxi driver picked up a marshmallow, and took a bite of it, any fear and self abasement he felt is slowly leaving him, leaving only courage, confidence, and joy.
Goodbye to feeling small,
of frightened of it all,
just eat a few of these
and you'll be feeling ten feet tall", Billy sang.
True to his word, the taxi driver stood up on his feet, head held high, feeling the bravest he's ever been.
Well there's marshmallow,
and there's marshmallow,
but only Bonka's keeps you
from being a harsh fellow.
Take out your money,
do not daydream
get yourself some Bonka ice-cream.
" Madam just one kiss", the taxi driver said, picking up the flower lady, bridle style.
" Oh my", swooned the young flower girl as her lips met with the taxi drivers.
" You've never had ice-cream like this", sang Billy.
" No we've never had ice-cream like this", sang the crowd, astounded by Billy's marshmallow treat.
However, this amazing moment was cut short, when Billy noticed the police arriving, taking his leave, he picked up a white table cloth, and lifted it up, keeping himself hidden behind, out of the cops view, split second later, the table cloth dropped to the ground, but Billy vanished from their sight.
In a barbers shop, a bald man with facial hair was sitting down, waiting for a shave, when Billy approached him, dressed up as a barber.
" No hair up there, oh well", sang Billy.
" It just makes me feel like hell", sang the bald man.
" Lucky for thee, I have with me, a hair growth caramel", sang Billy, holding onto a plate, containing a bunch of brown square caramels.
" With essence of vanilla, from the markets of Manilla, take heed, take too many, and you'll be hairy than a gorilla", sang Billy, warning the customer not to take too many.
True to his word, the once bald customer left the barber shop, face shaven, and on top of his head, an Elvis Presley hairstyle.
In a tram, two ladies were talking about Billy Bonka's confections.
" Have you tried his new one", said one lady.
" No", said the second lady.
" Well you've got to have a go", said the first lady again.
It was then the telemarketer approached them, holding some jubilees, it was Billy in disguise.
" Just plop one in, and everything becomes a west end show", said Billy.
Every passenger tried a jubilee, and true to his word, everyone got up on their feet, and started to dance.
" The news that makes you gasp", sang the first lady.
" The jokes that make you laugh", sang the second.
" And everything we do or say feels it's choreographed", sang the entire tram, including the driver.
Billy then pulled out a wand, stood in front of the passengers, and while waving his wand like a conductors baton, encouraged the passengers.
" Well there jubilees,
and there's jubilees,
but only Bonka's makes you
dance around harmoniously".
Once again, Billy heard the whistle, and saw the police approaching the tram, telling the driver to stop, taking his leave, he encouraged the passengers to continue singing, while he opened a trapdoor on the floor, and went down it, just as the police entered, luckily they didn't see him go through.
" Grab your money,
tightly grip it,
and get yourself...", the passengers were cut off.
" Oh won't you zip it", snapped the chief, he then turned to his partner, " Make sure they're all frisked".
While confiscating some of the jubilees, the chief turned to his partner holding one.
" Have you ever had candy like this", the chief said.
The partner took a bite of the jubilee, and then, sang out.
" I've never had candy like this".
A couple of days later, Nita and Billy were looking around a spectacle shop, looking for some glasses to buy, and replace Billy's old ones, with Billy still in disguise to keep away from the police.
" Well there's spectacles", Nita sang, " And there's spectacles, are there any that you fancy".
" None impeccable", sang Billy.
Nita then held out two pairs, one blue and one green.
" This one's worth ten, this one's worth twenty", sang Nita, showing Billy each of the pair.
" How bout this, though it's thirty", sang Billy, showing a black pair of glasses.
" These can see through mist", sang Nita, showing another pair.
" Well I've never seen glasses like this", sang Billy, showing a pair of X-ray glasses.
" Um, it's best you didn't see through those ones", said Nita.
Meanwhile, with the confection cartel, Trufflesnout, Finnywig and Snakesworth were looking at the jubilees the chief got a hold of from the tram.
" Well there's jubilees", sang Trufflesnout.
" Yes, like I sh...", the chief was cut off.
" And there's jubilees", sang Finnywig.
" But these are putting us in danger, quite financially", sang Snakesworth angrily.
" If we don't get on top of this", sang Trufflesnout.
" Or we'll go broke, sweet apocalypse", sang Finnywig in terror.
" We'll seize to exist", sang Snakesworth.
" But fella, you've never had candy like this", sang the chief, holding out the jubilees, in which the trio each took a piece of and took a bite out of, a few seconds later, they linked arms, and sang out, " We've never had candy like this".
Billy was now standing in front of a stall, giving out his latest ice-cream, which a lot of people gathered around at.
" Well there's ice-cream
and there's ice-cream" customers sang as many of them continued buying Billy's wonderful confections.
" But mine will find you
and your lover married
it's no dream", Billy sang.
It was then, the taxi driver from earlier, and the flower shop girl were seen leaving out of a church, the taxi driver was wearing a black grooms suit, while the bride is wearing a white wedding dress.
" We have just tied the knot and it's
all because of Bonka's chocolate", the pair sang.
" Off to a life of bliss", the crowd sang, almost sounding like a chorus as the married couple entered a car, which drove off, the back window showing the words, JUST MARRIED.
" You've never had ice-cream like this", sang Billy
" No we've never had ice-cream like this", sang the crowd.
" Have you ever had ice-cream like this", sang Billy.
" No we've never had ice-cream like this", the crowd sang.
Billy then heard the whistle blow, and then folded up his stall, until it was just small enough, and placed it inside his carpet bag, by then, over twenty police officers surrounded him, there was no way out.
So, Billy took out a small purple ball out of his bag, and slammed it onto the ground, and it burst, purple smoke began appearing, and engulfed Billy from the police officers sight, a few second later, the smoke cleared, and Billy was no where in sight.
The chief arrived, this time, he looked a little different.
Was it because he had a haircut.
Or was it because he had a shave.
No, what was different was, he looked like he gained a bit of weight, he no longer looks a slim as he used to, but rather, a bit chubby, not just from the ice-cream the cartel was giving him, but also from the Billy's confections that the chief confiscated and consumed.
" Where is he", he grunted.
He then discovers, the large still cover for a manhole leading to the sewers.
" Hmm, so this is how he does it, you're a smart guy Bonka, but not smart enough, the number one rule a magician should always follow, is never reveal your secrets", said the chief.
" Technically he didn't reveal it, you just found it on your own", said one of the officers.
" And he didn't do a good job at covering it up", said the chief.
" I want you all to each pick a manhole, and be watchful, if you see him going in and out of one let me know", said the chief.
" Shouldn't we be focusing on the unsolved murders", said the chief's partner.
" No, this is the number one priority", said the chief.
" But what are you going to be doing", said the chief's partner.
" Me, I'm going to take a quick break, and have a walk around, I'm pretty sure I've gain over a hundred pounds the last couple of weeks", said the chief.
It was another dark night, and Billy was laying in his bed, asleep.
It was all quiet and peaceful, until the window opened, and five small figures entered the room.
" What flavor this time", whispered one one them.
" Shut up, you're going to give us away", whispered another.
" Look, there's the tub", said the third voice, pointing at the tub of ice-cream at a nearby corner.
" It's weird that it's left out there, and not in that bag as usual", whispered the fourth voice.
" Who cares, let's grab it and get out of here, before he wakes up", whispered the fifth.
The five figures then crept up towards the tub, but suddenly, a loud click was heard, and beneath them, a trapdoor open, and they fell through the hole, underneath was revealed to be a cage.
" GOTCHA", shouted Billy.
" What's going one", screamed one voice.
" Get us out of here", shouted another.
" Wow, you guys can talk", said Billy.
" Not as much as you do, big lips", shouted a third voice.
Billy switched on the light so he can get a good look at his intruders.
Five little orange men, four of them have green hair, the other one is bald, one of the other little men is a little chubby, the third one looked like he's in a trance, the fourth one was glaring at Billy menacingly, while the fifth one looked a little intelligent.
" So you're the funny little creatures that have been following me", said Billy.
" Funny little creatures, you've got a lot of nerve, first you trap us in here, and now you insult us", said the grouchy little man.
" For your information, for a bunch of Woompa Loompas, we're quite a respectable size", said the intelligent little man.
" A Woompa Whoopa", Billy said, confused.
" No, not Whoopa, Loompa, I am called Hoffa, and these are my comrades, Baldy, Tubby, Wacky, and Grouchy", said Hoffa.
" Now, if you don't mind, we appreciate that you stop gawking at us, like we're a bunch of circus freaks, because we find it incredibly rude", said Hoffa.
" I apologize", said Billy.
" Not good enough", said Grouchy.
" Now will you please let us out, we don't deserve to be locked up like this, and you have no right imprisoning us.", said Hoffa.
" Now hang on, you five have been stealing from me, for so many years", said Billy.
" You started it", said Grouchy.
" What do you mean", said Billy.
" You stole our cocoa beans, and at the same time ruined our lives four years ago", said Grouchy.
" What are you on about", said Billy.
" You mean you don't remember, well in that case, allow us to refresh your memory", said Hoffa.
" In the form of a song so catchy, that as soon as the first tune enters your ears, the entire song will stay in your mind forever", said Baldy, the five started their little dance as they lined up.
" I don't think I want to hear it", said Billy.
" Too late, we've started dancing", said Hoffa.
" And once start, we can only stop when it's over", said Tubby.
Woompa Loompa
Doopity Doo,
We've got a saddening
story for you.
Woompa Loompa
Doopity Dee,
If you are wise
you'll listen to me.
" In Woompa land, it's both luscious and green", Wacky sang.
" But not conducive to growing the bean", Tubby sang.
" Our job was to guard what little we got", Baldy sang.
" You came along and pinched, the, lot", Grouchy sang.
" Even though we drifted off", sang Hoffa.
Woompa Loompa
Doopity Day,
When we awoke
they sent us away.
We're disgraced
cast out in the cold,
Till we
paid them
back one
thousand fold.
Billy then remembered one time he went to an uninhabitable island, and found a few cocoa beans on a tree, and took them, but had absolutely no idea the island was in fact inhabited.
" A thousand fold, really, over a few cocoa beans, if you guys really think that's a reasonable punishment because of me taking only a mere few beans, then, I'm sure we can negotiate, but, I can't give you my entire supply, I've got people relying on me", said Billy.
" Plus, I'm just going to be honest here, it's not entirely my fault you guys were banished, it's like you said, you dozed off, when it was your responsibility to guard the tree, or at least place a sign near the tree that says, DON'T TOUCH THE BEANS", said Billy.
" You know what, you're right", said Grouchy.
" Of course, if you let us out, we'll talk, like civilized gentlemen", said Hoffa.
" Why don't we just discuss it now, to make sure you don't get away", said Billy.
" Well in that case, can you at least close that window, it's freezing out there", said Hoffa, gesturing to the window that was still open.
" Fair enough, I'm getting a bit cold myself", said Billy, getting up, and approaching the window, and closing it.
As he was doing that, his eyes turned back from the Woompa Loompas, only for a short moment, at that time, Hoffa pulled out a paper clip, and used it to pick the lock.
He moved the lock away, and joined the other Woompa Loompas, just as Billy returned.
" Okay, there, the window's closed, the room's warmer, now we can talk", said Billy.
" Alright, NOW", shouted Hoffa.
The Woompa Loompa's then burst out of the cage, Grouchy forcing Billy to the ground, Wacky grabbing the tub of ice-cream as he, Tubby and Baldy took off out the window.
" Woompa Loompa's do not negotiate with humans, good day sir", said Hoffa, as he and Grouchy approached the window.
" But that's my last tub", said Billy.
" I said, good day", said Hoffa, as he and Grouchy took off out the window.
" And then they fled", said Billy, as he and Nita, along with Miss Green and Mr Cod were walking out of Miss Crinkle's wash house, meeting with Bessie, Billy was telling Nita about his encounter with the Woompa Loompa's, by this point, all the other workers have had their debts paid off resulting in Miss Crinkle letting them go, now that only leaves, Billy, Nita, Mr Cod and Miss Green.
" And they took my latest tub of ice-cream, and I laid out a trap for them this time, at least now I know their motive, they're in debt, just like we are, and I thought it was just one, but there were five of them", said Billy.
" Sure they are", said Nita.
" You don't believe me do you", said Billy.
" No", said Nita.
" Neither do I", said Bessie.
" Nor me", said Miss Green.
" Don't worry Billy, I believe ya", said Mr Cod.
" That makes one of you at least", said Billy.
" Seriously Conrad", said Miss Green.
" I mean, in all fairness, we believed him when he made caramel that makes you grow hair, or lemonade that makes you fly", said Mr Cod.
" That's different, we didn't believe those things either until he proved it to us, I'm sorry Billy, but unless you prove that the, what do you call the little men again, Whoopy Loopy", said Bessie.
" Woompa Loompa's", said Billy.
" Yeah, that, until you can prove they exist, I don't believe you", said Bessie.
" It doesn't matter, changing the subject, we're not going to be selling ice-cream today", said Nita.
" Why not", said Billy.
" We have a surprise for you", said Nita.
Billy, Nita, Mr Cod, Miss Green and Bessie entered an old building.
" We managed to buy this place for cheep, because nobody would risk it after the last owner had an accident", said Miss Green.
" It may be very crooked, but nothing like a quick fix up, and be as good as new", said Mr Cod.
" Not to mention your business will officially be legit, you won't have to worry about the pigs breathing down your back anymore, because they'll have no reason to do so", said Bessie.
" So what do you think Billy, do you like it", said Nita.
Billy lowered his head and said, " I don't like it, I think it's awful".
" Oh", said Nita, sadly.
However, Billy then raised his head and grinned at Nita, " Strike that, reverse it, I think it's amazing", he said.
" I knew you would love it", said Mr Cod.
" You all mark my words, in one week from now, this will be the greatest ice-cream shop the worlds ever known, you won't be scrub scrubbing anymore", said Billy.
Nita then ran to Billy and wrapped her arms around him as he spun her around.
" And even better, once all of our debts will be paid off, we can be able to go for what we've wanted to do, Miss Green, you'll finally run that grocery shop you always wanted, Mr Cod, you be able to run you fish and chip shop, and Bessie, you'll be able to sing, dance and perform on stage, and will never have to work as a milk maid ever again", said Billy.
" We'll all be free, I can just taste the freedom already", said Mr Cod.
" We better get started, so much time, so little to do", said Billy, but then he stopped and turned to the others, " Strike that, reverse it".
He then made his way to the door.
" I've got so many ideas, I can't wait t... Oof", Billy groaned as he bumped against the door, dropping onto the ground, the other four stood there silent, until Billy got up.
" Pull, not push", he said, pulling the door open.
" So there's five of them in total, the confectioner himself, along with the orphan girl, the grocer, the fisherman, and finally, the milk maid", said the chief.
" Wasn't the milk maid the one who modeled for your products", Finnywig said to Snakesworth.
" They go in and out of Miss Crinkle's wash house, except for the milk maid, she lives elsewhere", said the chief.
" Wait, Miss Crinkle's wash house", said Snakesworth.
" Shouldn't you phone the labor camp, to thin the heard", said Trufflesnout.
" The labor camp burnt down a long time ago, they won't be able to take her in", said Snakesworth.
" But she doesn't know that", said Finnywig.
" They now own a shop, so legally I can't touch them, but illegally, I'm wiling to do whatever you want, but it will cost you, I sort of finished off the last of my payments", said the chief, sheepishly.
" Wait, all of them", said Finnywig, shocked.
" I tried eating the packages itself, but they don't give you the same kick as the ice-cream itself", said the chief.
Snakesworth then gave the chief a small packet of ice-cream.
" We'll keep you up to date, meanwhile you just lay low", said Snakesworth.
" Thank you", said the chief, before leaving.
" What about the orphan girl, Salazar, you assured us she wouldn't be any trouble", said Finnywig.
" She won't be, and neither will Bonka", said Snakesworth.
" What about the milkmaid", said Finnywig.
" What if we blackmail the milkmaid to back off", said Trufflesnout.
" No, I have a better idea, in the bible, Jesus had 12 disciples, however, only 11 were truly loyal, the remaining one, Judas, was not", said Snakesworth.
Bessie was about to enter the her inn, when she came across a certain person.
" Mr Sna...", Bessie was cut off when a hand covered the face, and she was lured into an alleyway.
" What are you doing", she grunted.
" We are aware, that you've been working with Mr Bonka, selling his confections all across town", said Snakesworth.
" Yeah, so, it's not like I've gone back on my end of the blackmail, I didn't tell anybody about your scandal", said Bessie.
" But I'm sure you told him, anyway, that's not why I'm here, I've come to offer you a deal", said Snakesworth.
" If you're trying to persuade me to back down on Mr Bonka's business, it won't work", said Bessie.
" Oh, I want you to do more than back down, I want you to sabotage, and put an end to his business", said Snakesworth.
" And why should I do that, if you think because you have leverage over me, that you own me, well guess what, I'm not afraid of you, call the labor camp, send them over here, I'm not going down without a fight", said Bessie.
" I figured you wouldn't be intimidated by me anymore, which is why I have a different solution", said Snakesworth, holding out a large sum of cash.
" Now you're trying to bribe me", said Bessie.
" I hold ten thousand Euro, that should be at least enough to get through four to six months, you won't have to work at the dairy industry anymore, and you'll have more than enough time to find a theatre that'll accept you, I'll give you 10% now, and 90% after the job is done", said Snakesworth, putting 1,000 euro in Bessie's hand.
" Get real, Mr Bonka is already helping me on achieving my dream, you're money is useless", said Bessie.
" How long exactly have you been working with him for, how long will it take until you actually succeed, how about 15,000 euro, 20% now, and 80% for after", said Snakesworth, putting another 2,000 euro in Bessie's hands, making it a total of 3,000.
" You may have persuaded the chief pretty easily, but not me", said Bessie, about to give the money back, when Snakesworth stopped her.
" Okay, how about 20,000 euro, 25% now, 75% for later, final offer", said Snakesworth, adding another 2,000 euro in Bessie's hands.
Bessie then looked at the five thousand euro in her hand, then at Snakesworth, temptation was slowly starting to crawl.
Bessie joined Billy and Nita the next day, where Billy was searching, through his bag.
" Hey, is everything alright", said Bessie.
" My ingredients keep disappearing, those Woompa Loompas must be very desperate now, I discovered my bottle of spotty powder has vanished", said Billy, taking out a bottle of a small blue liquid, placing it on a bench.
Bessie grabbed and looked at a bottle, curious of what was in it.
" Oh be careful, don't drink that", said Billy.
" What is it", said Bessie.
" Sasquatch tears, hard to get, but very powerful", said Billy.
" What are you doing with sasquatch tears", said Bessie.
" It's used for hair growth, like I did with the hair growth caramel, one drop makes it work, too many and you'll be growing hair all over", said Billy.
" Oh boy", Bessie cringed, Billy sighed as he stopped looking.
" No luck, I want to assume those Woompa Loompas took them, but up until now, they've only been taking what I've made, and not the ingredients, I'll try again later", said Billy, walking away.
Meanwhile, Bessie looked at the bottle of sasquatch tears, she still holds in her hand
A few days have gone by, Billy walked out of the old shop, and called out to the customers.
" Ladies and gentlemen, greetings to you all, welcome to Bonka's", said Billy.
An old man then approached Billy, then the shop, which still looked like it was deserted, at least from the outside, the inside was all covered up.
" In there", said the old man.
" True it looks a little bit trashed, but nothing like a quick fix up will do", said Billy.
" Close your eyes
and count to ten,
make a wish
now open them", Billy sang, the old man shrugged and closed his eyes, and then Billy clicked his fingers, the old man opened his eyes again, and was astounded, what previously looked like a trashy abandoned exterior of the shop, was now a beautiful entrance, filled with lights, colors.
" Here's a store
that's like no other,
if it were
I wouldn't bother", Billy continued singing as he lead the old man into the shop, if it looked beautiful outside, surely it would be beautiful inside as well.
" Minty bushes,
Wafer trees,
Mallow flowers,
and taffy leaves", Billy pointed out various things, even giving the old man a pink marshmallow flower, and as he took a bite of it, Billy approached a set of ropes, and began tugging, and the curtain that was blocking the customers sight of the inside of the shop, slowly started moving.
" Candy memories,
that a child once saved,
before they melted away", once Billy was finished with the curtains, what was revealed not only surprised the old man, but also the customers who were watching by the door, other passing customers noticed the crowd, and joined in, thus extending the crowd.
" A world of your own
a place to escape to,
a world of your own
where you can be free", Billy sang, showing everyone the interior of his shop, it looked like a beautiful valley during an Autumn Breeze, a giant tree made of chocolate, with taffy leaves, red, yellow, orange, brown, and some green, blooming marshmallow flowers, white, pink, orange and yellow, a fountain sprouting milkshakes, and toadstools, made of marzipan, and giant apples with toffee fillings.
" Wherever you go,
wherever life takes you.
This is your home,
a world of your own", Once he finished singing, Billy turned to the other customers, and gestured for them to come in, and all the customers excitedly went in, Nita and Bessie were giving the customers baskets, it was almost like an Easter Egg hunt.
Meanwhile Billy sat down on a swing that was hung by the tree with licorice rope, and started to swing as he watched the customers try out the flowers and toadstools.
" Here is the child
that you left behind,
here is the kid
with the curious mind.
Here is the wonder
we used to feel,
back when the magic was real", Billy began singing again, soon he got off the swing, and began approaching the tree.
" A world of your own,
a place to go when you're
feeling alone,
feeling unsure", Billy then started climbing the tree, disappearing into the leaves.
" Embrace the unknown
enjoy the adventure", once on top of the tree, Billy picked up an acorn and took a bite from it, above him, cotton candy made clouds began lowering.
" Let's go strolling
in the clouds,
grab a handful
it's allowed", Billy then grabbed a bit of a cloud and plopped it into his mouth.
" Clouds are made
of cotton candy,
just keep your umbrella handy", And with a leap, Billy jumped onto a cloud, and sat down on it.
" Cause there's a rain that's
pouring down,
spearmint milkshakes,
and it's all around", as he sung, spearmint milk began pouring out from under some of the clouds, customers opened their umbrellas and turned them upside down.
" Fireworks bring
sugar strings
to chew", Sugar string fireworks then began going off with a loud bang, and in so many different colors, landed safely onto the customers
" All the colors
of the rainbow,
and some others too", Billy sang, and then he started to get down off the cloud.
" A world of our own
a place to escape to
the world of our own
where we can be free", Billy joined Miss Green, Mr Cod, Nita and Bessie who were working alongside him.
" Wherever you go,
wherever life takes you,
this is our home,
a world of our own", Billy finished, grabbing a cup made out of waffle cone, poured chocolate milk into it, and took a drink, before finally, biting the cup.
" So all that comes to a total of 25 euro", said Mr Cod.
" I believe I have double the price here", said the old man, giving Mr Cod a 50 euro note.
" Thank you, now would you like your change spendable, or edible", said Mr Cod.
" Edible please", said the old man.
" Very well then", said Mr Cod, and so, a bunch of marshmallows, gumdrops, licorice and other candy pieces formed into a bag, in which Mr Cod gave to the old man.
" Thank you very much", said the old man.
" Your welcome, and thank you, also don't forget to eat the basket", said Mr Cod.
" I can't believe it", Nita said, watching the old man leave, " That just just gave us 50 euro".
" I can't believe it either, it's only been the first day, and already, we've got loads of customers, I bet by the end of the day, we'll make enough money to get us all out", said Billy.
The old man was about to leave the shop, only to look at his reflection on the glass window, and discovered his hair was no longer grey but purple, and is slowly growing.
" Er, Mr Bonka", the old man called out.
" Yes", Billy said, turning around, only to discover what's happening to the old man.
" What's going on, should I be worried", said the old man, as the purple hair continued growing.
" That can't be possible, unless", Billy then took a bite from the violet flower, and his eyes widened.
" Sasquatch tears", he said in shock, grabbed a handkerchief out of his pocket, and spat the flower out into the handkerchief.
" Sasquatch tears", the old man said as well, as a purple mustache formed on his face, along with a purple beard on his chin.
" The most powerful hair potion, I use a small dose for the hair growth caramel, too much of it will be absolutely chaotic, but I didn't put any of that in these", said Billy.
Billy then ran toward the counter, and stood on top of it, calling out to the customers.
" Ladies and gentlemen, there is a slight error, whatever you do, do not eat the flowers", said Billy.
" Why not exactly", said a woman, who after eating a red rose, grew a red goatee.
" Is something wrong with them", another customer said, worried, while his hair was turning orange, while holding a bouquet of orange roses.
" What with this marzipan toadstool, my daughter took a bite of it, and she has a mustache", called out a woman, next to her was he daughter who has a blue mustache on her face, after taking a bite off a blue toadstool.
" The spearmint milkshake fountain is alright though, is it", another customer said, who's face was turning green, with purple spots over it.
" I don't know how to tell you all this, but, the confections have been poisoned", said Billy.
" Poisoned", a customer called out in shock.
" YOU POISONED MY CHILD", shrieked the customer with the mustached daughter.
" But I didn't poison them", pleaded Billy.
" Well then why didn't you check to see it they were safe to consume", said the old man, who was by now, covered head to toe in purple hair.
" I... I'm sorry", Billy apologized.
" Sorry is not going to cut it", snapped the lady with the mustached daughter.
" I want my money back", the old man called out angrily.
" I want compensation", the customer with the orange bouquet called out, while he himself is covered in orange hair.
" I want revenge", said the customer with the purple spotted green face, throwing a cone at Billy, who only just managed to dodge it.
And so, other customers began smashing the products, and the decorations, someone even cut down the chandelier, which caused the entire building to go off in flames, which caused the customers to shriek in terror before fleeing the building.
Hours went by, the fire was extinguished, but the damage was done, Bessie, Nita, Miss Green and Mr Cod looked at the wreckage.
" What happened", said Mr Cod.
" Isn't it obvious, the confection cartel, they're the ones behind all this", said Bessie.
" It's alright Billy, we can fix this", said Nita.
" It's only going to be a matter of time before Snakesworth sabotages us again", said Bessie.
" How was he able to do so under our noses", said Mr Cod.
" He's bribed someone to do it", said Miss Green.
" It couldn't have been the chief, we kept a good distance from him all week", said Mr Cod.
" My confections were tainted with sasquatch tears, the last person I remembered holding onto the bottle was Bessie", said Billy.
" I'm going to have to stop you right there Billy, why would Bessie sabotage the shop, she hates Snakesworth more than anyone else", said Miss Green.
Bessie then looked down.
" Why do you have that look", said Nita.
" I have something to confess, a few days ago, Snakesworth approached me, offered me 20,000 euro to sabotage Billy's shop", said Bessie.
" You didn't did you", said Miss Green.
" He gave me 5,000 already, and said he'd give me the rest if I did what was asked, when I had the bottle of sasquatch tears, I knew that was the opportunity to act, but I didn't, I swear I didn't, I left it on the counter, and I thought Billy got it, Snakesworth must've pinched it when we weren't looking", said Bessie.
" And you carelessly left it out in the open, for Snakesworth to grab, I'm starting to wonder if it was even an accident, who's to say you didn't leave it out on purpose", said Billy.
" I-I'm sorry for being so careless, but please, you have to believe me, I never wanted to go through with his scheme", said Bessie.
" I've spent seven years out in the ocean, they were amazing, but then, as I returned to land, I've seen so much awful people in just a month, how greedy, spoilt, boastful, lazy and dishonest, but you Bessie, you're just like them", said Billy.
" Go easy on her Billy, at least she confessed to the bribe", said Miss Green.
" Yeah, after disaster struck, tell me Bessie, do you still have the 5,000 euro Snakesworth gave you", said Billy.
" Well...", Bessie was hesitant to respond.
" You do", Miss Green said shocked.
" I kept it to try and swindle Mr Snakesworth, like he did to me, 5,000 euro was enough for a couple of months, it could've helped me with my dream career as a performer", said Bessie.
" Please leave me be, all of you, I just can't deal with this right now", said Billy.
Bessie looked at Billy sadly before leaving, Miss Green and Mr Cod also left, not long after so did Nita.
" Such a shame what happened", a voice called out, Billy turned to see Snakesworth, Finnywig and Trufflesnout standing behind him.
" Did you come to find Bessie, to give her the rest of the money you owe her", said Billy.
" We did bribe Bessie to try and sabotage you, but her loyalty to you was unbreakable, and from what we witnessed, you repaid that loyalty with distain", said Snakesworth.
" So you snatched the ingredients", said Billy.
" No, Miss Crinkle did, after knowing that Bessie wouldn't betray you, and neither would any of your other friends, we went with the next option, we payed Miss Crinkle a visit", said Snakesworth.
Snakesworth arrived at Miss Crinkles shop, he knocked on the door, and she answered it.
" Mr Snakesworth, it is such an honor to meet you", said Miss Crinkle, surprised that a well known confectionary was at her front door, she opened it.
" I would like to let you know, that Mr Billy Bonka has been going out selling confections, with the help of your servant girl, I believe her name is Nita", said Snakesworth.
" That little brat, you mean they've been leaving under my nose this whole time", growled Miss Crinkle.
" Yes, but, I would like to know, if you can help me put an end to their business", said Mr Snakesworth.
" We didn't just pay her a visit though, after that meeting, we paid Miss Crinkle to poison your enhancements", said Trufflesnout.
" Thank you Terrence", said Snakesworth.
" So what are you here for, to gloat", said Billy.
" Nothing of the sort, we came here to offer you a deal", said Snakesworth.
" A deal", said Billy.
" Of course", said Snakesworth, he then pulls out a briefcase.
" Inside this briefcase is sixty thousand euro, five thousand is to pay off all the debts owed to Miss Crinkle, five thousand is for the grocer so she can run her grocery shop, five thousand for the fisherman, for his fish and chip shop, and fifteen thousand is for the milk maid to go with the five thousand we already gave her, to help with her dream career, so that she won't ever have to work as a milk maid again", said Snakesworth.
" What's the remaining thirty thousand for", said Billy.
" Ten thousand of it for the orphan, Nita I believe her name is", said Finnywig.
" We added a little extra so she can start a new life, some better clothes, some toys even, so she can not waste the rest of her childhood in agony, you can change her life, as would everyone else", said Snakesworth.
" That still leaves twenty thousand", said Billy.
" That's to finance the machinery", said Trufflesnout.
" Machinery", said Billy.
" For the wash house, that way no more unsuspecting victims will fall for Miss Crinkles trap ever again", said Snakesworth.
" And what do I have to do", said Billy.
" Leave town, and never make or sell ice-cream ever again", said Snakesworth.
" There's a train that'll depart at Midnight, if you decide to accept our deal, you'll make your way to the train station, and for yours, and their sake, you'll be there", said Finnywig.
Billy walked down the town that dark cold night, feeling very gloomy.
" Sorry Nita,
I guess I got carried away,
sorry Nita,
I hope you'll forgive me one day", Billy sang.
He returned to Miss Crinkle's wash house to check out, as well as grabbing his belongings.
" Checking out are we", Miss Crinkle sneered.
Once in his room, he grabbed his carpet bag, and placed his clothes inside.
" I just wanted it,
to feel the way that is did,
when I was a kid", Billy sang before leaving the room.
" Sorry Nita".
Billy then arrived at the train station, where Snakesworth, Finnywig, Trufflesnout and the chief of police were waiting for him.
" Your ticket, Mr Wonka, one way, to India", said Snakesworth, giving Billy the train ticket.
" Premium economy", said Finnywig.
" Well, this is the part where we bid each other farewell", said Mr Snakesworth, holding out his hand.
Billy shook it, but as Snakesworth gripped onto Billy's hand tightly, Billy didn't wince, instead, tried to grip tighter onto Snakesworth's hand.
Snakesworth then turned around, and Billy heard the sound of something that dropped, he looked down and noticed something on the ground, it looked like a ring, Billy then picked it up, and turned to Snakesworth, and was about to point out, when the conductor called out.
" ALL ABORD, LAST CALL FOR PLATFORM EIGHT".
" That is your platform, you better hurry up and board", said Snakesworth.
Saying nothing else, Billy entered the train, the conductor turned to the chief and nodded to him.
Billy sat down on his seat, on his own in the carriage, looking out the window as the train moved, seeing the city he spent the last month in going further from his sight, he then hears the door open, and he looked to see two of the five Woompa Loompa's Hoffa and Grouchy approaching him, with Grouchy spitefully gloating in song.
" Woompa Loompa,
doopity dee,
we're not in premium
economy,
I'd go first class
if I were you,
like the Woompa Loompa
doopity do", he sang.
" Well, I'm glad to see you two are here, where are the other three", said Billy.
" In first class, asleep, we came here because we're not letting you out of our sight, as you still owe us, now, lately we've done our sums, and we discovered the debt is nearly paid off entirely, one more tub of ice-cream, and we're even, or we can settle for half a gallon of that fizzy lifting lemonade", said Grouchy.
" Did I not remind you, that it was your own fault for your own banishment, and besides, even if I wanted to, I can't", said Billy.
" Don't tell me you're actually going with their deal", said Grouchy.
" What was I supposed to do", said Billy.
" You're such a coward, you know that, you should've stood up to those bullies, that's what I would've done", said Grouchy.
" Besides, what makes you so certain they'll actually stick to their end of the bargain, and also unlike with Miss Crinkle, you didn't sign a contract or anything to force you to go along with your end of the deal, why not sell ice-cream elsewhere", said Hoffa.
" If I did they'll know about it, one way or another, and they'll come after me, knowing they've been sabotaging other confectioners outside the city, even in different countries", said Billy.
Billy watched as Grouchy and Hoffa laid down on the seats, with the pillows they got from first class.
" Well, since you would rather waste your time feeling sorry for yourself, we're going flat for the night, goodnight", said Hoffa.
It was silence for a few seconds, and then Billy noticed something, " Huh", he pondered.
This caused Grouchy to get up, " What is it".
" Nothing", said Billy.
" I can tell you're lying, obviously something's on your mind, because you said 'Huh'", said Grouchy.
" Don't worry about it, it's nothing", said Billy.
Grouchy stared at Billy for a few seconds before laying back down.
" Very well then", said Grouchy, going back to sleep.
A few second later.
" Huh".
Grouchy groaned frustratingly as he and Hoffa got up.
" You've said it again", grumbled Grouchy, " Are you going to tell us what it is, or am I going to have to ram a pencil up your a...".
" Ah ah ah, settle down Grouchy", said Hoffa, cutting Grouchy off.
" It's this ring", said Billy, showing the Woompa Loompa pair Snakesworth's ring.
" What about it", said Hoffa.
" It belongs to Mr Snakesworth, he dropped it, it has his first initial, Salazar", said Billy, showing Hoffa and Grouchy the large S on Snakesworth's ring.
" So, it's probably just a family ring", said Grouchy.
" My friend Nita has an identical ring, with her first initial on it, it's very ironic that they both have the same type of ring, despite having different initials, plus the ring Nita has was the only thing she has left of her family", said Billy.
" I know what you're thinking, but don't you think it could just be a coincidence", said Hoffa.
" What is he thinking about", said Grouchy.
" Why would Nita the orphan have a family ring same as a corrupt confectionary business owner", said Hoffa.
" Maybe you're right, maybe it is just a coincidence, but at the same time, I don't want to just sit here, and immediately assume that, and act like nothing's wrong, Nita might be in serious trouble", said Billy.
It was then, Baldy, Tubby and Wacky appeared.
" What's going on", said Tubby.
" I'm getting off this train next time it stops", said Billy.
What happens next was a loud click was heard, Billy and the Woompa Loompas approached the window to see the carriage they were in disconnected to the other carts.
" Why are we still moving", said Baldy.
" We're at a hill, it may not be too steep, but it's steep enough to still be moving", said Hoffa.
The six then looked to see that they are approaching a rail switch, the train and the carriages still on the train we're going one way, but then the tracks switched, and the loose cart went the other way.
" The cartel must've bribed the conductor to unhook the carriage, and switched the rails, but don't worry, we'll just wait for the carriage to stop, and then make our way out", said Billy.
" You might want to take a look at this", said Tubby, the group looked to see they went past a sign.
DANGER
BRIDGE OUT
10 KM.
" KM", wondered Grouchy.
" It means kilometers", said Hoffa.
" How much is that in Miles", said Wacky.
" 6.21", said Billy.
" If we go over that we're done for", said Tubby.
" Quick, pull the emergency break", said Baldy.
Billy then approached the breaks, and started pulling it, only to discover it wasn't working.
" They're disabled, the conductor must've known we would try something like this", Hoffa.
" Well if we can't stop the carriage, we're going to have to jump off", said Billy.
" If you have an idea, tell us now, we're only seven and a half kilometers away to certain death", said Grouchy.
" How much is that in Miles", said Wacky.
" 4.66", said Billy.
" Quick, out the back, so we won't get sucked underneath", said Hoffa.
Billy tried to open the door, only to find it's completely jammed.
" It's like that blasted conductor is always one step ahead of us", said Hoffa.
" Stand back, I'm going to try and break the door down", said Billy.
Billy then kicked the door as hard as he could multiple times.
Eventually, he was able to knock it down.
" Excellent, now let's get the heck out of here", Grouchy called out as he sees a sign telling them they are five kilometers away from the bridge.
" Five kilometers, or 3.1 miles", said Billy, looking at Wacky like he was about to ask the conversion of the distance.
" I knew that", said Wacky.
" Shouldn't we slow this down a little", said Tubby.
" How exactly", said Grouchy.
" Wait, I know", Billy said, reaching into his carpet bag, and pulled out a long rope, he tied one end under the train, on a metal bar, the made a lasso on the other end.
He then threw the lasso onto an oncoming street light.
" Brace yourselves", Billy warned, and the carriage then stopped instantly, forcing everyone inside back.
The rope then snapped and carriage continued moving downward towards the broken bridge.
" Alright, we're about two and a half kilometers from the bridge", said Grouchy.
" Or 1.55 miles, in case you were wondering Wacky", said Billy.
" I already knew that", said Wacky.
" The point is, the gap is thinning by the second, any second now, the train's going to fall over the chasm and crash, and burn, and so will we if we don't don't get off this train, it's now or never", shouted Grouchy, and so, one by one, each Woompa Loompa leaped out of the carriage, Billy Bonka was last, he grabbed his carpet bag and cane, and leaped off the carriage, holding out his can as it sprouted out the top of an umbrella, and just after he jumped off, the carriage fell off the edge, and fell into the abyss, crashing and burning.
While floating and hanging onto his umbrella cane and carpet bag, Billy looked at the destruction.
" And to think, that's what we would've looked like, if we didn't get out in time", Billy said to himself.
" And we're going to end it there again, for one last short break", said Simon.
" How good was I on my part as the Woompa Loompa's", said Alvin.
" Not as good as when Theodore played them last time, but you get points for effort", said Brittany.
" You're only saying that because of that 'wart' comment I gave you, if Theodore was a better role, why didn't we have him reprise his role as the Woompa Loompas", said Alvin.
" We were originally going to, and have you play Mr Cod, but you didn't want to play Mr Cod, you wanted to see how you would fair as a Woompa Loompa", said Eleanor.
Simon decided to pitch in, before an argument could escalate.
" Anyway, like I said, we'll have a short break, but tune in for the conclusion", said Simon.
And that's it for now, three chapters down, one more chapter to go, the next chapter will be out either tomorrow or the day after, until then, peace.