Candy and the Chocolate Factory

Chapter Eight: Don't Touch His Nuts!

With Violet and her mother using the boat we we're now forced back to walking I was so hating my boots right now. " Mr. Wonka?" both me and Willy turned down to look at Charlie " Yeah?". " Why did you decide to let people in?" Willy gave a deviously little smile " Why so they could see the factory of course." Which meant he would tell the winner and no one else. " But why only five?" Willy looked to me as though to help him out but Mike interrupted before I could. " What's the special prize at the end and who gets it?" Willy smiled probably glad for the interruption. " The best prize is a surprise." both me and Willy laughed at his joke Mike walked right into that one. " Will Violet always be a blueberry?" The look on Verruca's face show she didn't seem to broken up about the idea. "No maybe I don't know that's what you get for chewing gum all day. It's just disgusting." I couldn't help but agree though I still didn't know why Willy hated it I know why I did. Subconsciously I ran my finger through my hair " If you hate gum so much why do you make it." Hello he's a candy maker he has to make what the public wants I thought this kid was suppose to be smart.

" You know I really wish you wouldn't mumble cause your really starting to bum me out." I was starting to realize the mumbling thing was more a warning to Mike that he was ticking Willy off. Of course the brat wasn't getting it " Do you remember the first candy you ever ate?" I smiled at Charlie I had told him a hundred times about how Willy had given me my first candy. It was the lollipop when we had first met I still had the stick mum had put it in my baby book. She had saved the wrapper from Charlie's as well it had been a Cocoa's Delight she had felt it only right the bar I inspired be my brothers first. Willy had stopped with a smile before it was quickly turned into a frown " No." That was the first lie I had ever heard come out of Willy's mouth. " I think that's enough questions Charlie no more." My brother just nodded as Willy shook his head " I'm sorry I was having a flashback." Mr. Salt gave him a weary look " I see. These happen often?" Willy just gave him a look " Increasingly today." As he led us to a new room.

Mr. Salt's eyes just lit up as he read the sign Nut Sorting Room " Ahh this is a room I know well. I myself am in the nut buisness." He handed Willy a card which Willy threw over his shoulder as soon as Salt turned his back. I couldn't help but giggle as Willy smiled and whispered in my ear " Shhhh darling he might try to give me another one." Salt turned back around raising his eyebrow a bit " Are you using the Havermaster four thousand to do your sorting?" Willy just laughed in his face "No. Your really weird." As he opened the door and walked in. The room was simple more simple than the rest of the factory as it was round in a swirl of blue and white with a huge hole in the center and a huge container of nuts hanging from the ceiling. In fact the only thing weird was the little seats filled with squirrels. Who were either cracking the nuts open as they dropped down the tubes from the container or throwing them down the huge hole. Verruca looked very excited " Squirrels!" Willy nodded at her " Yeah squirrels. These squirrels are especially trained you see to get the nuts out of the shells."

Mr. Salt was actually amazed " You use squirrels? Why not Oompa Loompa's?" Willy sighed I think he was getting tired of people questioning his methods. " Because you see only squirrels can get the whole nut out every single time. You see how they tap their little knuckles on the shells that's how they see if its a good nut or a bad nut." He turned and pointed to one of the squirrels " Oh look I think he's got a bad nut." I moved closer to the gate watching as the little creature tapped the shell before throwing it towards the hole. " Daddy I want a squirrel. Get me one of those squirrels." Salt rolled his eyes apparently he heard this a lot. " Verruca my dear you already have a ton of marvelous pets. " a ton no it couldn't be that many could it? "All I've got at home is one pony and two dogs and four cats and six bunny rabbits and two parakeets and three canaries and a green parrot and a turtle and a silly old hamster. I want a squirrel!" okay I stand corrected she has a ton. " Alright dear I'll get you one as soon as we get home." Verruca was not done yet though " But I don't want just any old squirrel I want a trained squirrel." Salt nodded as he reached for his check book.

" Very well. how much do you want for one of your squirrels Wonka name your price." Verruca looked up at Willy smiling like the angel she wasn't. " I'm sorry they're not for sale. She can't have one." Verruca looked at her father in anger obviously she had never been told no before. " Daddy!" Mr. Salt just looked at his daughter also in shock. The look increased when Mr. Salts voice actually came out of Willy's mouth in a perfect intimidation. " I'm sorry darling but Mr. Wonka is being unreasonable." I smiled at him completely surprised " How did you do that?" Willy just winked as Verruca grew furious. " Well if you wont get me a squirrel I'll get one myself." We all watched as she crawled through the gate storming her way down the steps as her father yelled after her. " Little girl don't touch that squirrel's nuts it will drive him crazy." I blushed and snorted. " Willy that didn't sound right." It took him awhile to figure out what I meant and smirked at me. " Naughty little cocoa bean aren't you?"

Verruca was looking over all the squirrels until she started to approach one holding out her arms to pick it up. " I'll have you." The little guy didn't agree as he gave a little squeak gaining the attention of the other squirrels. Immediately they started attacking Verruca as she started calling out for her father. " Willy do something before they hurt her. " Grabbing a huge ring of keys from under his belt Willy started to try to find the right key mumbling to himself. " Damn it Willy why didn't you mark them it would make it easier." grabbing the keys I realized they were marked. Looking at Willy he placed a finger to his lips what was he playing at. " What are they doing?" Charlie's question caught mine and Willy's attention as we turned to see Verruca pinned to the ground. The same squirrel she had tried to take was sniffing at her head " I think he's testing to see if she's a bad nut?" With it's little claws I watched as it tapped her forehead. I didn't even notice Willy taking the keys and putting the right one in the lock. Soon the squirrel sat up and giving a little nod to Willy jumped off. " Oh my she is a bad nut." What did that mean?

and I watched in horror keys forgotten as they dragged Verruca to the huge hole in the ground her nails scratching the floor. " Where are they taking her? " Salt demanded looking frantic " Where all the other bad nuts go. Down the garbage shoot." I looked at Willy " Where does that lead?" Willy gave me an almost evil little smirk " To the incinerator. Don't worry we only light it on Fridays." I was so shocked didn't he know that's what today is " Willy today is Friday. " His smile faltered actually looking nervous. " There's always the chance they didn't light it today? " Hearing a cry from below we all watched in horror as Verruca went down the chute. " No!" Willy was quick to turn the key and open the gate. " Now,now don't worry she could just be stuck in the shoot. All you have to do is reach in and grab her. " Mr. Salt looked hesitant before going down the steps as Willy closed and locked the gate. " Willy how are they going to get back up?" My only answer was a wink as Oompa Loompa's came out of no where and started singing.

" Verruca Salt, the little brute, Has just gone down the garbage chute And She will meet as she descends A rather different set of friends A rather different set of friends A rather different set of friends A fish head, for example, cut This morning from a halibut. An oyster from an oyster stew, A steak that no one else would chew, And lots of other things as well, Each with a rather horrid smell. horrid smell These are Verruca's new found friends That she will meet as she descends, These are Verruca's new found friends The one's who spoiler herWho indeed? Who pandered to her every need?Who turned her into such a brat? Who are the culprits? Who did that? The guilty ones now this is sad Dear Old Mum and Loving Dad "

I watched as they danced and threw things down the whole as Mr. Salt inched closer. What was he waiting for his daughter was down there go get her. Slowly he bent over and that's when I notice that same squirrel approaching. I opened my mouth to warn him only for a purple glove to silence me as Willy whispered into my ear. " Don't cocoa bean. They'll be safe I promise but this is the only way they'll learn." And that's when I finally got it. Right there as I watched the squirrel push Salt down the chute with his daughter. Willy was testing the children that's how he was going to determine the winner of the big prize at the end. Willy's attention was pulled away from me by one of the Oompa Loompa's I watched as he knelt down so he could hear him. " Oh good. I've just been informed the incinerators broken. So they should have a weeks worth of garbage to break their fall." Mr. TeeVee looked shocked at this whole thing. " Well that's good news." Willy took my arm as he winked at Charlie. " Lets keep on trucking."