Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (my version)

Chapter 2: The Golden Tickets

In the words of William Shakespeare: 'Love me or hate me, both in my favor. If you love me, I'll always be in your heart. If you hate me, I'll always be in your mind.'" recited the teacher, Miss. Merchant, to the classroom. "Now class, it is too be fair to be dishonest. No one can earn trust with just a smile or charisma. It's the point of character that makes the person and how we see is how we understand, not from what we think."

Charlie listened to every word his teacher spoke as did the rest of his classmates. He was learning so much and had already learned plenty. He had a high IQ in science and chemistry, but didn't show has often as he was afraid of what other people would say or think about him.

"Charlie, care to recite to me another one of Shakespeare's quotes?" asked Miss. Merchant, cutting Charlie off from his train of thoughts as he looked up from his textbook to look her in the eye.

"Uh...."Some are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them."" said Charlie.

"Very good." Miss. Merchant said.

As soon as class was dismissed, Charlie carried his satchel with him through the school hallways as everyone assembled their things and got ready to leave. His words explored the area around him, full of talkative children, undoubtable discussing Wonka's delightful candies and whatnot. Who wouldn't be? It's pretty much the only thing everyone ever wants to talk about. There were a couple kids who would tease him for being poor, only to earn a good scolding from others. Charlie didn't care much for their opinions so he just paid no mind. As he did everyday, he walked past the front gates of Wonka's factory and the local candy store. He returned home to his family.

At that evening, Grandpa Joe was sharing with his stories about Wonka with Charlie, but this time, regarding the mystery of the anonymous employees Mr. Wonka currently has that nobody knows about.

"Oh, yes, that factory has been like a ghost town ever since Wonka's trouble with industrial espionage." explained the old man. "The factory became deserted and quiet ever since he shut those gates and never opened them again for a long time before he opened them again for the shipping trucks. The chimneys were no longer smoking, the machines stopped whirring and not even a single chocolate bar was made and sold. Months and months went by when the people began to see the smoke rising from the chimneys again. They were shocked and bewildered that Mr. Wonka was back in business again. They waited by the gate, hoping that they would open and Mr. Wonka would come out after months of his isolation, welcoming his old workers back. But sadly, he never did. He never showed his face to public. Not even once. But nevertheless, he still ran his factory again with the machines whirring once more and that sweet smell of chocolate you could smell for miles. But that's not all, they also noticed shadows in the windows."

"Shadows?" repeated Charlie with disbelief. "Shadows of who?"

"That's exactly what everyone wanted to know for themselves." said Grandpa Joe. "The place is full of workers, but nobody's ever gone inside! And nobody ever comes out! But Wonka manufactured more chocolates and sweets these last 10 years. And they've been turning out more delicious every time. Up until now, Mr. Wonka invents newer candies everyday that even Slugworth, Fickelgruber or Prodnose would try to steal and copy. No more spies infiltrated that factory since then."

"But who, Grandpa?" asked Charlie. "Who is Mr. Wonka using to do all the work in the factory?"

"It's quite unknown, Charlie."

"But it's absurd. Hasn't anyone asked Mr. Wonka?" asked Charlie.

"Nobody sees him anymore. He never comes out. The only things that will ever come out of that place is the chocolate and sweets already packed and addressed and picked up everyday by the trucks. I would give anything in the world just to go inside, just once, and have a look at what goes on in that amazing factory."