Despite the chocolatier's warning being quite serious, it did not stop the group from entering the room quickly and eagerly as soon as the door started to open. All of them except Sam, who did it so slowly and cautiously you would think he was sneaking into the den of a sleeping pack of wolves. After experiencing the chocolate room, he had learned that rushing into this tour would be too much for his brain to take. This however didn't prevent his eyes from widening nor his mouth from opening in wonder at the things he saw on the invention room. "This looks like a mad scientist's lab!" Was his first thought as he strolled between bubbling pots and strange, buzzing machines. He was holding Charlie's hand firmly to prevent him from touching anything, his caution contrasting with the host's vivid excitement. If the last room they visited was Noodle's favorite, this was clearly Willy's favorite. He jumped and danced from one gadget to another, giggling at whatever it was in them like a child on a toy store. He paused from time to time to explain the function of some of the machines, his daughter joining in occasionally to point out how they had come up with the idea behind them. Samuel had always been a rational person. Even as a child, he was not keen on daydreams or fantasies, and there was a long list of things he considered to be impossible. Said list was steadily growing shorter and shorter the more time he spent on this factory. "Are these two chocolatiers or wizards?" He wondered, the thought creeping inside his mind against his will, and he bit his tongue to make sure he didn't accidentally speak it out loud. It was okay for the kids to think things like that, but him? Believe in magic? It was absurd. He shouldn't and yet he was starting to, for how else would all this be possible?
Sam wandered over to a shiny silver machine, similar to a gun shooting large and colorful marbles into a basket. He hadn't even realized he'd gone still, staring at it intensely until he felt a hand rest on his shoulder.
-They're called everlasting gobstoppers-Mr. Wonka explained-One of my most recent creations. I designed them so kids could have a candy to enjoy for as long as they wanted, without it shrinking or wasting away. What do you think?
-That's a brilliant idea!
The eighteen-year-old was surprised to hear his own joyful voice. Normally he would've been careful on his answer, choosing his words as cautiously as possible to avoid showing his emotions. But this time the words just came out quickly, without a second thought. Only then he turned around to look at the candy-maker, who wore a familiar smile on his face. It was the same smile Charlie had every time Sam scolded him away from the factory they now toured, as if the man had realized the boy wasn't as immune to the appeal of childish things (like candy, curiosity or wonder) as he seemed to be.
-NO, NO, spit that out right now! – The sound of Noodle shouting suddenly interrupted them. And soon she wasn't the only one. Sam and Willy both turned around to see Violet swelling and her skin go purple, to the horror of her parents.
"Just when I thought this place couldn't possibly get crazier…" Thought Sam as he rushed to see what was going on.