The Banana Splits and The Chocolate Factory

The Candy Man

4,882 miles away in Munich, Germany, in a local village where its clock tower struck its bell. Several school children excitedly ran from the school. The children ran into a tiny shop called 'Bill's Candy Shop'. All the children sit and stood along the counter. The owner, Bill, wearing a colorfully striped shirt, was gathering the treats the children wanted.

"All right, all right, all right, what's it going to be?" Bill rambled. "A triple cream cup for Christopher; a Squelchy Snorter for Otis; a sizzler for June Marie... And listen! Wonka's got a new one today!"

"What is it? The kids asked, in unison.

From a nearby drawer, Bill pulled out a rather long, thin candy bar.

"This is called a 'Scrumdidilyumptious Bar'," said Bill.

"Scrumdidilyumptious Bar?" One boy asked. "How does he do it?"

"My dear boy, do you ask fish how it swims?" Bill asked, surprised.

"No," said the boy.

"Or a bird how it flies?" asked Bill.

"No," said the boy.

"No siree, you don't," Bill explained. "They do it because they were born to do it. Just like Willy Wonka was born to be a candy man, you look like you were born to be a Wonkarer!"

All the children laugh, as Bill explained. Then, he smiles brightly as he began to sing.

Bill: Who can take a sunrise

Sprinkle it with dew

Cover it with choc'late and a miracle or two

The Candy Man

The Candy Man can'

Cause he mixes it with love

And makes the world taste good

Who can take a Rainbow?

Wrap it in a sigh?

Soak it in the Sun and make a Strawberry Lemon Pie?

Kids: The Candy Man?

Bill: The Candy Man

The Candy Man can

The Candy Man can

'Cause he mixes it with love

And makes the world taste good

Willy Wonka makes everything he bakes

Satisfying and Delicious

Talk about you're childhood wishes

You can even eat the dishes

As Bill sang, he passed along several bits of candy to all the children to share. Eventually, all the kids ran around the store grabbing any other candy they could get their hands on. They reached through jars, held their arms out to falling gumballs from the machines, pulled gumdrops from shelves, and even drank from the soda fountain served by the kindly shop keeper.

Bill: Who can take tomorrow

Dip it in a deam

Separate the sorrow and

collect up all the cream?

The Candy Man...

Kids: Willy Wonka can

Bill: The Candy Man can

The Candy Man can

'Cause he mixes it with love

And makes the world taste good

And the world taste good cause

The Candy Man thinks it should.

Bill finished singing while unwrapping and sharing a lollipop with a child, outside Charlie Bucket, a little boy with blonde hair, wearing a red sweater with brown slacks, simply stood outside looking through the window. He then sadly walked from the shop and walked down the street toward a man at the newspaper stand and Charlie approached the man.

"Hi, Mr. Jopeck!" Charlie greeted the man.

"Ah, come along Charlie," The man responds. "You're late."

The man led Charlie behind the booth, handing him a bag full of newspapers.

"It's Pay Day, Mr. Jopeck," Charlie reminded his boss.

"You're right," said Mr. Jopeck.

Mr. Jopeck handed Charlie his pay, a mere few coins, smiling at the boy.

"There you are!" said Mr. Jopeck'

"Thanks!" Charlie smiled.

"Say hello to your Grandpa Joe!" Mr. Jopeck called, as Charlie left.

"Okay!" Charlie called back.

Charlie proceeded to race down the street, rushing all through the town for a moment or two. One by one, he threw newspapers toward any houses, apartments and even yards receiving them and one newspaper was accidentally through one straight into some lady's flower basket and Charlie continued with his job.

Banana Vac: Charlie Bucket will meet the Banana Splits Fleegle, Bingo, Drooper and Snorky in the next chapter.