It Must Be Believed To Be Seen

Daydreaming

Five minutes.

Em couldn't help the laugh that escaped her lips as her younger brother bounced from bed to bed in their small room, his arms flailing dramatically as he flew through the air, the bed springs creaking ominously with each bounce.

"This is no laughing matter my young apprentice!" he howled, mid-air, "these marshmallows are far too bouncy, I fear I shall be stuck up here forever!"

"Oh Mr. Wonka what can I do?!" she cried dramatically, jumping into action once again. "I can't catch you!"

"Quick! The Forever Fudge! Spread it on the marshmallows and it may stick to my feet!"

"Right away!" Em clambered onto her bed, bouncing around along with her brother. "Oh no Mr. Wonka, I've started bouncing too! What will we do now?!"

"We must hope that one of my workers comes to investigate. I am the owner of the world's most famous chocolate factory after all! Someone's bound to notice I'm missing sooner or later!"

As if on cue their bedroom door swung open, Charlie hurtling headfirst onto his own bed and collapsing into a heap.

"What have I told you about jumping on your beds? Off! Now!"

"Mum! They're not beds! They're marshmallows!" wined Charlie, lifting his head up from his thinning duvet in protest. Em clambered down from her own bed, slightly breathless from the bouncing.

"Of course, how silly of me." Their mother shook her head tediously. "Didn't anyone ever tell you not to play with your food? Get down now before you break something." She waved her hands, shooing Charlie off his bed. "Don't you have homework you should be doing?"

"Aw mum!"

"Homework first, then you can get back to running your chocolate factory, minus the bouncing," she warned. Her overworked eyes settled on Em as Charlie whined. "Em, can you come help me with dinner?"

"Sure," smiled Em. She knew better than to jump on the beds, but she'd had such a long day at work she'd wanted to pretend she was a child again, just for a little while.

Four minutes.

"Cabbage again?" croaked Grandpa George as Em searched through their cutlery drawer for a sharp knife.

"Nothing but the best for you, dad." Em heard the tiredness in her mother's voice and frowned, turning around to face her mother.

"If you'd just let me work some extra hours mum, I really don't mind. We might be able to afford something more than just cabbage."

"Oh Emily, don't be silly," sighed her mother, a weary smile lighting up her face. "You've got your whole life ahead of you, you don't need to spend every hour of it stuck in work. And besides, we don't mind cabbage, do we?" Her mother shot Grandpa George a stern look and he pulled the covers up to his chin.

"Of course not, sorry. Tastiest thing around."

Em smiled to herself and set to work on the cabbage whilst her mum brought a pot of water to the boil.

"How was work, Emily?" questioned Grandma Josephine, Grandpa Joe snoring loudly next to her.

"Very good thank you," she nodded. "Nothing exciting to report."

"No sign of that Mr. Wonka yet then?"

"Don't be silly," chastised her mother from the stove. "Nobody's seen him in years."

"A girl can dream," huffed Grandma Josephine as she eyed her husband warily. Em laughed.

She'd started working at the Candy Store two years ago, as soon as she'd finished school. She had been delighted when Bill offered her the position; her and Charlie frequented the shop after school, despite not being able to buy anything – they simply enjoyed looking at all the Wonka merchandise, and the shop had a faint smell of chocolate that could make even the sternest of mouths water.