It Must Be Believed To Be Seen

Fizzy Lifting Drinks

The factory was deceivingly huge. A maze of endless corridors snaked their way up and down, forwards and backwards, doors leading off in all sorts of directions; some small, some big, some fancy, some with no handles at all. Wonderful smells and sounds seemed to emanate from the very walls of the building. Em and Charlie wanted to explore every room, however there simply wasn't enough time. They craned their necks to look through small windows, trying to catch a glimpse of more of Mr. Wonka's wonderful creations.

"How much farther?" moaned Veruca, stomping her feet as they rounded yet another corner, the walls plastered with detailed drawings of various fruits, some Em had never even seen before.

Mr. Wonka stopped abruptly, Mike colliding gormlessly into his back sending the two stumbling slightly.

"Wait a minute," ordered Mr. Wonka, straightening his top hat, "must show you this." He gestured to the images on the walls, the group leaning in for a closer look. "Lickable wallpaper," he grinned, "for nursery walls. Lick an orange, it tastes like an orange. Lick a pineapple, it tastes like a pineapple." He looked at them all excitedly. "Go ahead, try it!"

Em watched skeptically as Veruca stuck her tongue out greedily, slobbering all over an image of a banana.

"Mmm, I got a plum!" hummed Mike.

"Em, this strawberry's fantastic!" she heard Charlie praise.

"Tomato?" Mrs. Teevee grimaced, searching for something tastier.

"Can't I interest you in anything, m'lady?" queried Mr. Wonka, watching Em carefully, surprise dancing carefully in his eyes.

Em had to admit, despite all the fantastical things she'd been presented with already today, the idea of licking a wall – a wall that could have been licked by any number of people, no less – was not something that appealed to her.

"I'm okay, thank you," she declined, aware that the man's contagious smile was faltering ever so slightly.

"I – you're sure?" he stammered. "You should try some! The lemons taste like lemons. The snozzberries taste like snozzberries!"

"Snozzberries?" scoffed Veruca, moving now to a miniature watermelon. "Who ever heard of a snozzberry?"

"Aw, c'mon Em!" urged Charlie.

"It's okay," Em shook her head, not wishing to offend Mr. Wonka. "I don't want to spoil my appetite," she joked.

Mr. Salt looked at her haughtily before returning to a bunch of grapes.

She shifted uncomfortably as Mr. Wonka frowned at her, jumping as he clapped his hands together assertively.

"Very well! Come along, come along." He ushered them quickly through the wallpaper corridor, Em concerned she had hit a nerve.

They hurried to keep up with the man, passing doors labeled 'Eatable Marshmallow Pillows' and rooms containing 'Hot Ice Cream' and 'Chocolate Milk Cows.'

"How do you come up with such creative ideas, Mr. Wonka?" quizzed Em, as they hurried along, unable to stop for a closer look.

"It's simply second nature," he answered, turning to her with a smile. She was relieved to see the frown had disappeared from his face. What was it about the man that was so damn enchanting? "Now," he continued, addressing the group. "Something very unusual in here."

They followed him into a futuristic looking, circular room; the walls were lined with sheets of metal, giving the impression of the inside of a spaceship. A small machine was quietly producing bottles, bubbles rising out of the tops and disappearing into the sky. Em craned her neck upwards, squinting up the ceiling.