It was getting closer to Veruca's birthday, and she still didn't know who she wanted to invite. She surely wanted to invite Hanna, but who else? Inviting all 25 kids wasn't an option knowing that she was hated by many of them. Eventually, she decided to pick four random children that she knew didn't dislike her. Wonka printed out five invitations on sheets of gold to be put into pastel pink envelopes. Veruca had wanted to add glitter inside, but was told it'd be too messy.
She went to school wearing a yellow tie with daisies on it. Standing in front of everyone with the five pink envelopes in her hand, she looks around at all the students. Ms. Tasko stood behind her. Leaning around to see if she had something to say before class started. Placing the items on the desks of her four choices, Veruca sits down at her desk; giving the final one to Hanna.
She watches everyone open up their letters. Their eyes widening as the light reflects gold onto their excited faces. Hanna excitedly taps her toes against the ground. "I didn't know your birthday was soon. Happy early birthday!"
Shiloh, being the first to finish reading the invitation, jumps up from her seat and comes over to stand in front of Veruca. Seeing her wild grey eyes staring down at her almost made Veruca regret her decision to invite her.
She rakes her thin fingers thru her long, white hair and starts humming to herself. Like she was trying to speak but couldn't remember any words. When she had what she wanted to say, it was only a simple question.
"I'm invited to your birthday party?"
"Yes." Veruca says, almost like a question.
Her wide smile stays plastered on her face when she slowly turns away to walk back to her desk. Making a high-pitched squeaking noise as she sunk back down into her seat.
When the excitement started dying down a bit, Ms. Tasko got started on the first lesson. The positive energy around the room making her feel excited as well.
• • •
In her bedroom, Veruca lays down her white painting cloth over her pink vanity desk. A pair of goggles from the Television Room that Veruca claimed as her own were laid upon the fabric. Already painted a pastel yellow, Veruca takes out two tubes of glitter paint and two small brushes. Very carefully, she begins to paint sparkling pink and purple swirls onto her protective eyewear.
A knock at her door does not sway her attention. "Come in." She calls. Her blue eyes staying latched onto her art project.
Her door opens with a tall figure slowly approaching her from behind. Bending down to get a closer look at her work, the candy man smiles to himself. "Oh look at those purple swirls. How beautiful. Those would look wonderful on a box of grape flavored fudge. Are you ready to boogie on down to the Inventing Room?" He straightened himself back up to full height.
The young girl's eyes stay glued to the goggles. "I want to finish painting first."
"Okey dokie. I'm not one to disrupt creativity. I'll just... Wait untill your're done." He stands in her room with both hands atop his cane. Looking at his surroundings for about two minutes before he starts walking around and touching things.
"Stop touching everything! Stand still or sit down somewhere. I don't want you to possibly break something." Squirrel jumps down from their purple cushion and squeaks at Wonka's feet. He crouches down and pets the little animal until Veruca puts her brushes into a cup of water. She stands up from her stool and smiles proudly at her work before spinning around to face Wonka. "I'm ready to go now." Kneeling on the fuzzy pink carpet, she puts her arm out for Squirrel.
• • •
As the two of them are walking thru falling pink and white tree petals of the warm forest, Veruca's still amazed and wonders how it all works. "It's still very cold out in the real world." She informs him.
"I'm certain it is. Seasons take far too long to change outside. They take weeks instead of a few hours like they do down here. It's so boring. Now, do you want to take the boat or the train to the Inventing Room?"
"Why can't we take the flying glass elevator?"
Wonka frowns at her. "First of all, little girl, it's called the Great Glass Elevator. Not the flying glass elevator. Kay? And they're all in for maintenance right now."
"When will they be out of maintenance?" Veruca asks, tilting her head away from Squirrel, who was trying to catch the falling petals in their paws.
"Very soon. If nothing is wrong with them, they'll be out before tomorrow. So you can take as many joyrides as you want."
• • •
In the Inventing Room, Wonka and Veruca tested out the newest batch of chewing gum meals. Wonka began excitedly giggling and clapping his hands when he found that three of the recipes were finally perfected and ready for the shelves.
He picked out one that he thought Veruca might like. One with roast chicken, buttery mash potatoes, and strawberry cheesecake.
When he handed her the gum, she looked afraid. "Don't worry. You won't turn into a giant strawberry or anything like that. Hehe." He assured her. Still, Veruca didn't want to take it. Wonka decided he would give it to Julia instead. He went to put it in his pocket, then paused. Remembering that Julia likes cherry flavor, he should give her the one with a cherry dessert.
He switched the formulas and allowed Veruca to push the lever. When the new piece of gum was produced, he takes it and wraps it up for Julia.
As they're walking back to the Salt house, Veruca informs Wonka that the gum machine needs maintenance too.
"What do you mean?" He asks her.
"The pressure gauge has no needle. You need to put one on."
Stepping in perfect sync with his successor down a dark hallway lit by blue and purple lights, Wonka feels like an idiot for not realizing that. He remembers seeing it, but somehow didn't realize that it was a problem. That might've been not long after his rejection from Charlie. It was so hard for him to focus then. He laughs nervously. "You have a good eye for spotting that, my dear girl. We'll have to fix it soon."