A Blueberry Boy and the Chocolate Factory P 1

A Blueberry Boy and the Chocolate Factory

Part 1
(Dude inflation sorry folks)

There was an amazing confectioner called Wilma Wonka, a mysterious woman that survived in a business that was full of much older and more experienced men. Anyone could walk into her factory, they said she wasn't even 16 then, or at least looked it. But then she closed her factory off to the world, all except for the army of trucks that went in and out in the morning. Many suspected she had closed off because of spies and some believed that for all her genius she was a naive woman for even allowing so many into her chocolate factory in the first place.
Victor Beauregarde, who hated his name, stood poised and ready to run for his high school track team. He was a fit young man and he had a feeling from the way his body was arched and tense that a lot of women there were watching him especially close. The signal was given and Victor was around the middle of the mass of runners, his short brown hair swaying slightly by the wind but mostly keeping in place making him look quite cool. Then he was at the front, he had conserved his energy wisely and burst forward first over the finish line.
Then he just smiled calmly as he was surrounded by classmates who cheered him louder than ever and patted his back and shoulders.
"Oh my god! I just gotta..." one woman said after fighting her way through the ground and kissed Victor. He smiled around her lips and started to feel her tongue when he was pulled back by another woman who started to lean in to give him a kiss too.
There were others, women wanted to date him and men wanted to hang out with him. Until a strong arm grabbed Victor from behind and threw a smoke bomb onto the ground. Victor and the crowd were blinded for a moment and they all began to cough while Victor was hauled off by the smoke bomb thrower. The runner was pulled behind the bleachers and coughed for a few more moments as a figure all in dark and a mask just stood patiently.
"God why not make us all choke to death?" Victor said as tears bubbled in his eyes.
"Sorry," the figure said and removed his mask to show a blonde haired young man about the same age as Victor but much taller.
"They're going to think you were a terrorist or something."
"Is that my thanks for coming up with a plan to get you out of there?"
"It wasn't very good, Charles."
"You didn't give me any time to plan."
"Alright well thanks anyway. You could have waited a few more minutes and left me with the ladies."
"Hm-hm. So you're not going to any of the parties in your honor or-"
"Never! I don't know any of those damn people. They just pretend to be my friends in hopes of some of my fame or talent rubbing off on them."
"You want to get a burger then or something?"
Victor shook his head, "Not just yet. I got a fencing lesson."
"I'll tag along then."
"And afterwards I should do some math homework," he was sinking his teeth into some college level stuff early.
Charles shrugged, "Okay we can have a burger for dinner then."
Victor grinned, "Alright if you don't mind waiting so be it. I'll have my victory meal with you for dinner. I gotta change up." He made a meeting spot and he went off to quickly shower and change before being assaulted by more fans.

Victor was something of the 'ace' of his school. At a young age his parents pushed him into many activities in hopes he would find his passion early. They were not exactly the fittest parents and worried their child would follow in their footsteps, they hoped he would take an interest in soccer and that would have been good enough. However somehow Victor excelled at everything they had him try from sports to academics and for that matter he was apparently blessed with looks and was quite friendly too.
Only problem was he didn't trust anyone, sometimes even members of his own family. Though maybe he did show a little trust to a pretty girl. Except for Charles his oldest friend. The only friend that stuck with him and that did not give a damn about Victor's skills, popularity and just wanted to chill with 'The Ace'. To Charles he wasn't the ace of the school but because he was Victor from way back.
"Just watching you do all that stuff exhausts me." Charles said hours later as they waited for their food in an old time burger joint that was much like a malt shop. He had seen him fencing and then saw him pour into his college level math, even stopping to give Charles a hand with his homework and Victor looked only slightly worn out.
Victor smiled slightly, "I dunno either. I'll probably live until thirty or something."
"Hey don't say that!"
The Ace fiddled with his phone a moment and showed a list to him. "Well this was a slower day. Here's my to do list."
"What? That's for the week?"
"No, that's for tomorrow."
"Christ! I think you'll be lucky to live to twenty!"
"Aw well, I'll have lived a full life." He stopped talking when their food arrived, even the pretty server gave him a wink.
"Do you even like any of the stuff you do?" Charles asked halfway through the meal.
"Like?"
"You know. Fulfillment?"
"Well...I hate to admit it but it does feel good to be congratulated..." Victor thought of all those faces cheering him. They were happy with him but he did not want to admit it. Did he really do it for attention while at the same time never trusting them? Shouldn't he be more trusting if he liked all that attention? And was it wrong to like the attention while preferring quiet company? He most certainly didn't have answers for something like that.
Charles shook his head, "I don't mean fulfillment like that. I think walls full of trophies, medals and degrees are nothing to sneer at, loads to be proud of in fact. But I'm not asking that. I'm asking: do you enjoy all these things?"
"I..." he stopped to think a moment just before taking a bite from his burger. "Well archery is kind of fun and mastering computers is useful-"
"Yes but is it fun? I mean you're fencing...that's something only rich kids do or people who really like doing it. Or are you trying to be Zorro or Batman? That's great you like archery so why not stick to that on weekends and we'll hang out more?"
"Yeah but...I can't just drop all these commitments. Basketball game, dance stuff and-"
"That's what you told me a year ago. You won all that and then picked up more!"
"Get off my back. You're not my dad. I'll do what I want."
"No you're doing what you think you need." Charles noticed something odd about Victor's face, he quickly leaned forward with a napkin and wiped a the skin beneath his eyes.
"Hey!" Victor said and caught his wrist but Charles could see the make up Victor had smeared under his eyes to hide the fact they were very dark.
"So what do you do to keep your eyes from going red?"
Victor took the napkin and crumbled it up. "Look I missed sleep a few days-"
"And? God you're a hell of an actor. I bet a stiff breeze could knock you out."
"Aw shut up," Victor said and suddenly felt very weary. As though being discovered suddenly made him realize how worn out he really was.
"I bet I could take you! All those Karate, Brazilian Ju-Jitsu and other stuff doesn't mean much if you're too tired to lift your arms."
They were best friends and though Victor was thoughtful about all the attention he got he still figured he would have to fight if challenged. It was not the first time and usually it was Charles who pushed it, Victor had to admire his determination.
"Alright. But you'll be sorry as usual but first..." Victor got up and bought a Wonka bar and then went back to the table. "So you got a time and date set up?"
"As soon as possible...like right outside this place if you got time for it in your schedule..."
Victor stopped taking the outer wrapping off, leaving the inner foil around the bar. "Oh I can fit it. How about a dare to spice it up?"
"Gladly..." The two took out note cards and scribbled down their dare for the loser then folded them over and then traded cards and put them in their pockets.
"Let me just enjoy my dessert and we can get to business," he was about to take the foil off.
"Oh you heard about the tour huh?" Charles' normal demeanor returned since they weren't going to fight for a little while longer. "Oh duh who hasn't heard of it?"
"Tour?" Victor stopped.
"The tour."
"What 'the tour?'"
"Are you kidding!? Wilma Wonka is having a tour of her factory! Five lucky fuckers are going to get in and see a shit load of secrets that people may have killed for! People have been buying up her candy to find one of the five golden tickets!"
"Sounds creepy and a little like a rip off. I mean it sounds like she was watching that movie where an eccentric toy maker invites-"
"Hey just open the candy bar already."
"Why you think I'm going to get one of these golden tickets?"
"Just hurry up so we can fight."
He started to take off the foil "The chances of a single person finding a golden ticket are..." Victor stopped when a golden ticket landed on the table.
The two friends sat in silence in a moment before Victor quickly grabbed it and stuffed it into his pocket.
"Oh god...I can't believe it...You just found the last-" but Charles was stopped by Victor putting his hand over his mouth.
Victor put a finger to his lips, "Shush! I don't want people to know!"
"Why not? You're the fifth and final person. How are you going to go if no one-"
"Look it's going to clash with my schedule! You take it!"
Charles blinked and saw the chance of a life time right before him. He loved writing best and he could only imagine the kind of poetry and stories he could get from seeing the factory and yet he remembered those dark circles under his friend's eyes.
"No. You take it Victor. You found it and you should have fun for once in your life."
"I told you I won't have time to go! I'm sure my schedule is filled up then!"
"Aw for the love of god!" Maybe he should just take it since he would appreciate it.
Victor got up, "I got to use the bathroom and then I'll give it to you."
There was another talent Charles had that Victor did not, aside from a love of the English language, a knack for chemistry, one that excelled Victor's, and one skill he kept a secret from Victor. That skill was how he was able to bring a smoke bomb past security earlier that day. His hand shot out and perfectly sank into Victor's pocket, while he was getting up and turning away, and thus he extracted back his own 'dare card.'
Victor did not even notice in that brief second so he went to the restroom without noticing he was missing something. Charles took a deep breathe, made sure he had the same pen as before, and added a little something to his dare, then hid the card in his sleeve when he saw Victor coming back.
They both put money on the table and started to leave, Charles tapped Victor's shoulder, making him turn, then put the card back in his pocket smoothly.
"I hate it when you do that," Victor said irritably.
"Well just showing you how easy it is for me to get close and hit you." Charles said and opened the door for Victor.
"We're not seriously still going to fight are we?"
"Yes! Let's go!" Charles put his fists up and stupidly starting darting around like an idiot down the alley next to the diner.
"Oh please..." Victor sighed and followed down. He would end it quickly rather than letting himself waste energy struggling with his friend.
"You ready?" Charles asked.
"Yeah..."
"I SAID ARE YOU READY!?"
"I'm ready already!" Victor put his fists up, he figured a good punch to Charles' jaw would do it.
"Alright!" Charles ran forward and everything was going to plan for Victor.
Until Charles threw his second smoke bomb, his emergency back up for earlier that day, and blinded Victor.
"What the hell-"
*BAM!*

The two friends were right about a few things. The first was that Victor was right: even months ahead for the tour far his schedule was quite filled. He grumbled as he canceled all his lessons for that day. The second thing, the thing Charles was correct about, was that it wouldn't take much for Victor to be knocked out, even a punch from Charles.
It was a cold morning and Victor had a thick coat on with Charles next to him.
"Can't believe you cheated." Victor muttered.
"Hey we set no rules."
"Hmph. I'm a gentleman so I have to respect the outcome."
"Knock it off. You're going to enjoy yourself today."
Victor begrudgingly admitted that it was great sleeping in so late, what with having no Tai-Chi lessons that morning.
"Hey you're wearing it right?" Charles asked.
Victor sighed, "Yes."
"C'mon let me see it."
Victor sighed again and opened his coat up to show what was Charles' original dare. It was a blue suit with bright yellow buttons and a red belt around his waste. How Victor would have preferred jeans and a t-shirt.
"It looks great on you."
"Shut up!" Charles closed his coat again. He had to admit it was comfortable and kept him warm, he just tightened his coat to hide it. But he hoped he only had to go number 1 while wearing it, it wasn't as useful as wearing pants.
Victor had changed the dare from wearing that, to adding 'do what Charles says for one day.' With his command being 'cancel your things, you're going to the Chocolate Factory.'
"Hmm!" A voice said and another teenager man stepped between Victor and Charles. "That shows off your hips so well!"
"Who the hell are you?" Victor demanded.
The teenager just grinned devilishly, his hair was black and very straight and his skin was a handsome bronze. "Oh please! If you don't know who I am you've been living under a rock!" He then walked off in his fancy Italian coat without another word.
"Asshole." Victor muttered.
"That asshole is Vincent Salto."
"So?"
"He's one of the Golden Ticket winners."
"Crap," Victor closed his coat tighter.
"He comes from a rich family that produces-"
"I don't care what he produces. All I know is that he's a dick."
"I doubt many would disagree with you."
The crowds parted and for a moment Victor thought Wilma Wonka was coming but instead another woman came out, though you would think from her shape it was she that ran the Chocolate Factory.
"Hey Mr. Know It All," Victor said. "Who is that lard ball?"
"Do you seriously not pay attention to anything aside from winning?"
"And the ladies...the nice looking ones," he quickly added,
Charles sighed, "That's Anges Gloop."
"She sure looks like a gloop."
"Be nice already!"
Anges was most certainly not one one would call obese but she was quite curvy and defined and some men loved that in women, Victor certainly didn't. But even he admitted that while she seemed big her personality seems bigger. She waved happily to the crowd and without arrogance and seemed genuinely happy to see so many strangers about. She even blew a few kisses. So far she was the oldest of all the Golden Ticket winners, what with not being a teenager.
Victor looked towards his friend, "So...warn me ahead of time: are the other two freaks or assholes or-"
A great cry broke out from around where Agnes was, Victor spun to see a man with a knife that seemed bent on trying to press against her throat while his hand roamed for something on her person: a Golden Ticket. The knife was not meant to kill her, just keep her in fright as he took what wasn't his. Victor had thoughts of trying to help her but like lightning Anges' hand shut up and twisted the knife out of the mugger's hand in the blink of an eye.
"Whoa..." Charles whispered.
He hadn't seen anything yet for Agnes then lifted her would be attacker up and flung him into a batch of garbage cans, making them and their lids roll and scatter. Gloop then marched over to her assailant...and helped him up. Even dusting off his coat.
"There there. I forgive you. Maybe this will be a lesson for you to go straight. Here..." she even extracted a small butterscotch from her blouse pocket and put it in one of his coat pockets.  "A little something." The man quickly ran away from her and in great fear leaving her to shrug.
Charles relaxed his grip on his coat for he had gripped it tightly during the scene just before them. "Uh... you better watch what you say around that lady."
"Yeah...think you're right on that one," Victor nodded. He tensed again when he saw Anges begin to make towards them.
"Hello!" she said smiling and in excellent English. "Victor Beauregarde was it?"
"Yes, how do you do?" he held his hand out and was surprised that for all her strength Anges took it quite gently.
"So polite! I knew never to believe the rumors about American teenagers being rude! Who is your friend?"
"I'm Charles..." he said and shook her hand.
"I don't like to brag, Victor" Gloop said, "But I think I'll be the one to win the prize."
Victor blinked. "Prize? What prize?"
Charles slapped is forehead, "Jesus! Do you really not care!?"
Gloop hushed him, "No need to shout. Victor struck me as a very hard working man. He has good reasons to not know about the mystery prize. Just how many trophies do you have?"
"Well uh-" Victor began to say when there was gun fire. Quickly he found himself getting shoved down with Charles by Gloop for protection and people began to scream.
Then there was a woman's laughter and "They're blanks! Relax folks!"
As Gloop relaxed Victor looked up to see a tall woman garbed like a cowgirl. She even had a cowboy hat on with jeans, a black vest and dark pink shirt. Her black hair was in a pony tail and she twirled her two revolved around while walking and performed all sorts of tricks with them before putting them away into their hostels.
"Howdy!" she tilted her hat.
Victor whispered, "Please don't tell me she's another winner."
"Yeah..." Charles said and made Victor sigh.
Vincent stood up and quickly brushed off his coat. "The hell is wrong with you!?"
The cow-woman, she was a teenager as well, just tisked. "If you can't stand the heat then get out of the kitchen, amigo. I like a strong entrance."
"You probably hurt someone!" Gloop said and stood up.
"What are you so afraid of? You threw that mugger like he was just a pebble. I'd have just drawn one of these suckers..." she patted one of her revolvers "and pointed it right in his face. No fuse no muse and he wouldn't know there were no live ammunition in them."
Victor stood up, "J-just who are you?"
The cow-woman seemed surprised for a moment then grinned and tipped her hat. "Handsome, the name's Tee-Vee, if you can believe it. You can call me Michelle."
"How about I call you crazy woman?"
"Oh! I heard you were lively! You make me want to hog tie you!"
"W-What!?"
"That'd be mighty rude on a first date though," with that Tee-Vee marched off while whistling.
Victor just red in the face a moment. "A...date...the hell?"
Charles nudged him, "Sometimes you're like that actually."
"You're not helping!"
Vincent just snorted in irritation and leaned against a light post. He was becoming impatient with all the weirdos that were gathering around. He was used to getting his way right away and wanted to demand Wilma Wonka hand over the grande prize pronto. Frustrated was he and he wanted to lash out. No one, not even Victor or Gloop noticed the small young woman with blonde hair and glasses get up off the ground and adjusted her long skirt and blouse. She took off her glasses to clean them and took a few steps forward only to trip over the foot Salto had extended out.
"Oh!" she cried and fell forward but was able to save her glasses.
"Oh dear..." Vincent said but made no movement to help her up.
"Hey!" shouted Victor and he bolted forward to stand in front of Salto "What's the big idea?" He quickly knelt down to help up the lady. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine...it was just an accident. Thank you." Her face became bright red when she saw who was helping her up.
She looked rather plain to Victor but that was no excuse for what Salto had done. "Hey you! Say you're sorry!"
"Why? She's okay with it. And even if she wasn't I'm from the Salto family."
"I don't care what family you're from!" With that Victor struck his leg out but his foot only hit the lamp post for Vincent had dodged skillfully and he made his own poise.
"I um-um..." the blonde said.
"You wanna be friends?" Vincente asked and his knuckles cracked
"Yeah. Best friends!" Victor said and the two started to move towards each other.
Bells began to sound from the Chocolate Factory. Long ago that was a daily occurrence when anyone could tour the factory just as the day started. Those bells were ringing again for the first time in over ten years. Tensely Victor and Vincent stepped away from each other and watched to see what would happen.
And a voice from the factory boomed: "Now presenting Wilma Wonka!" Thus the front doors of the factory opened and no one stepped out.
"So she's invisible?" Tee Vee asked.
A tiny cart had been cutting its way through the crowds. It honked frequently and took some time to get there. It was still coming even as Victor and Vincent prepared for their showdown and then with a final push it reached the front gates of the factory.
"What's that?" Victor asked and then looked at Charles, expecting his friend to be exasperated. Yet his friend didn't seem to know what it was either.
One of the doors of the cart opened and a pantsed leg extended out with a business shoe at the end. Another leg and then her rear and the rest of a short woman followed. Her movements had a burst of energy yet her face looked kind of glum as though she was just waking up. Wilma Wonka had bright red and frizzly hair and her face had a tiny nose and high cheek bones. She had long eye lashes and grey eyes with slightly plump lips that could easily turn into a smile or a frown with a flick of her cheek muscles. She was dressed in a red vest and striped shirt and reminded Victor of a clown that forgot her make up. Adjusting her coat Wilma reached back into the car to pull out a mug of coffee and then promptly locked the tiny car and started to search for keys in all her pockets.
"Morning, morning, good morning," she said quietly to each of the Golden Ticket winners and finally fished out a single key and opened the gate. "Hold this please," she said and handed Charles her mug of coffee to clear her throat and turn around to the crowd. "I have returned! With me are my Five Golden Ticket-hold on!"
Wonka reached behind her and pulled out a clipboard. "Michelle Tee Vee? Are you here?"
"Yes ma'am," Tee Vee replied "May I say that you make the best-"
"Yes I know. Anges Gloop?"
"Present, ma'am!"
"Thank you." Wonka made a notch on her check list of names. "Vincent Salto?"
"The great Vincent Salto has long been-"
"We ain't got all day, Salto." Wonka checked his name off. "Charlotte Bucket?"
Victor looked around, realizing he had forgotten that there were five winners and much to his surprise the blonde woman he had defended from Vincent raised her hand. "H-h-here Mrs. Wonka."
Wonka looked up from her clipboard and smiled pleasantly, Charlotte was afraid she had said something wrong.
"Hon, no need to be so shy. I don't bite. And second I've never been married, divorced or widowed. Ms. Wonka is fine but Wilma would be better."
"Y-yes Ms.-I mean Wilma," Charlotte replied quietly.
Wonka nodded and went to the last name, "Victor Beauregarde?"
"I'm here!" he raised his hand.
"Hmm" Wonka studied him a moment, and then a cane shot out from her sleeve, somehow. She grasped it and slide it between his coat lapels to get a look at the blue clothes underneath his coat.
"Hey!" Victor cried and swatted her cane aside.
Wonka chuckled, "I heard you were very talented, something of a Renaissance Man. Alas you don't have taste in clothing."
Victor shoved his hands into his pockets while his cheeks burned. "I lost a bet with this guy!" He nodded his head towards Charles who just grinned.
Wonka's red eyebrows jumped a moment, "Oh yes the Charles Ostrum! I've heard of you!"
"You...have?"
Wonka strolled forward and put an arm around Charles' shoulders. "Yes...I heard about how Victor got his golden ticket."
"But-but how?"
"That was a very unselfish and kind thing to do for your friend. All work and no play does make Victor a dull boy."
"What?" Victor said nearly shouting, Charlotte covered her mouth and giggled slightly.
Wonka reached into her coat pocket, "You should be rewarded! Here you're an honory tour member!" She then stuck a star shaped sticker onto Charles' shirt.
"What!?" shouted Tee Vee while throwing her hat to the ground.
"That's not fair!" Vincent roared.
Wonka folded her arms behind her back and stepped towards the two. "You're right I only sent out five Golden Tickets. Just deciding to bring in a sixth like this isn't fair."
"Darn tootin'!" Tee Vee said and put her hat back on.
"Let's see..." Wonka tapped her chin with a well manicured finger. "Tee Vee I hear that in spite of your...flamboyant appearance you're a math wiz."
Tee Vee stuck he chest out proudly "Someone who isn't accomplished in the mathematics isn't fit to run a ranch or any business!"
"Too true! A lady after my own heart! But I hear you did a lot of calculations to figure out the probability of finding a golden ticket."
"That ain't cheating! That's what you're implying!"
"No it's thinking outside of the box. What is cheating is that hacking into shipping directories and figuring out what bars go to which store or plane. Then driving off and rummaging through a certain box and looking for an exact chocolate bar. However that's only a rumor right?"
"...Only a rumor ma'am." Tee Vee wished that she had some real bullets all of a sudden.
"Well if that was true then I'd say who ever did that should give up their ticket. Oh well...and as for you Vincent Salto"
Wonka turned to him and he tensed up, "Hey! I got my golden ticket fair and square!"
"I hear your father bought ship loads upon ship loads of Wonka bars and had one hundred workers unwrap them just to look for a golden ticket. What happened to the chocolate?"
"Threw it away."
Wonka clutched at her heart "Oh that poor chocolate!"
"There's no rules that say golden tickets can't be traded!"
"True. But if there was proof it was...taken. Then-"
"There ain't any other truth! Look, can we get on with this tour or not!?"
Wonka looked to Charles, "All I'm saying is that if I allowed two people who did those things, two people worth only, maybe, half a ticket, at best, then I think it's only fair I make it a full five with Charles here. Besides I'm the boss so what I say goes! So yes let's begin the tour!"
Thus she ushered the five lucky, and one extremely lucky, young people past the gates.
"Way to go man!" Victor said and punched Charles' shoulder.
"I um...thanks..." he could hardly believe the last few moments that transpired. Apparently sometimes karma did work out! To the great joy of those there Wonka lead them right into the Chocolate Factory.
"Sorry about the heat." Wilma said as perspiration started to form on some of the guests' faces within a few minutes of walking in. "My workers like it hot. Never fear some places are a bit cooler. Your coats will be safe here."
"If you think this is hot," Vincent said "You haven't been to Spain in the summer."
"This is a pleasant day for me out on a trail." Tee Vee boasted.
"Blow hards," Victor muttered and finally surrendered his coat to the coat hanger, showing off his stupid blue jump suit and belt.
"Yeah! Take it all off!" Tee Vee said and whistled.
"Can't believe you made me wear this!" Victor hissed at Charles.
"You lost the bet," Charles shrugged. He admitted it himself it felt really good winning a bet for once.
While hanging her coat up Charlotte's lips twitched just slightly. "...nice...you.."
"What?" Victor said and looked to the quiet woman.
"Oh! Nothing!"
"You said: 'nice you?'"
"No. I didn't say anything."
"Oh c'mon you can tell me. I know it looks bad on me so you can say it."
"No no!" Charlotte waved her arms quickly. "I said it looks nice on you!"
"Oh. Well, thanks. I'm glad someone likes it." He started to walk off but he saw her lips move again. "What was that again?"
"Thank you. I never thanked you for..." she looked over her shoulder to see Salto walking away.
"Oh that. Don't think anything of it."
"But it meant a lot-" Charlotte tried to explain but Wonka called to all of them.
"C'mon now! So much to see and so little time!"
Charlotte quickly shuffled away from Victor while pushing her glasses up her face. Charles and Victor walked on with Charles grinning and started sliding his finger through an 'o' he was making with his thumb and index.
"Stop it!" Victor said and knocked his hands aside.
"Just saying its the quiet and shy ones that turn out to be total animals."
"Yeah like you would know that!"
"Yeah, like you've totally gotten laid a 1,000 times already."
"Oh shut up," Victor said. But if anyone knew the truth it was Charles, for all his swagger Victor didn't go all the way with as many women as the people in school said. In fact maybe even Charles' numbers were inflated far too much.
"I thought we'd start off with some place special!" Wonka said while brimming with smiles. It seemed as though the further they went into the factory the happier she was. Like an elf or a pixie returning to its hidden domain in a great forest. "I could show all of you the more conventional boring stuff but it has been an awful long time since I've had any guests here I really should bring out the expensive china so to speak." Thus far on the tour they had not seen anything too odd. Just very typical floors, wall, lighting and so on for a factory. At least until they reached an enormous door that would have been used for a bank vault. Wilma Wonka turned the dial around and opened up a room that was full of machines no one had a clue what any did. Machines that whistled and danced as though alive, machines that should have collapsed upon themselves or seemingly had no function. There were machines that transformed from one to another and some machines would beep and then roar like a lion all while carrying on their tasks.
Gloop looked the most bewildered out of the whole group, even Salto could not hide how impressed he was. "Goodness..." Gloop whispered, "My father is an engineer and I can't even tell what any of this stuff does." She wondered if her dad could either.
"This is the Inventing Room!!" Wonka said and spread her arms out. "WA-LA!"
"What an inventive name..." Salto said.
Wonka turned to him. "Young man you need to speak up."
"What?"
"You have a problem with mumbling. No need to be so shy, your English is excellent! Let us all hear it!"
Charlotte covered her mouth to stop from giggling.
"Here's something I just started trying out a week ago." Wonka said and went to a box shaped machine and reached in holding  chocolate bar. "Exploding Candy for Your Enemies!"
"Waaa...." Gloop said.
"Yeah," Wonka grinned. "Sneak this into your enemy's food supply and BOOM!"
Salto's eyes glittered at that.
Victor whispered to Charlotte. "You think she's an assassin or something?"
"With her it'd be a hobby."
"Heh heh heh! Fair enough, Charlotte!" The group started moving and Charles stepped away from his friend and Charlotte.
"So..uh...hm..." Charlotte said.
"Hey you gotta stop doing that." Victor said and gently took her chin and had her look into his eyes. She had lovely green eyes he realized but her glasses hid that. "Now what do you have to say?"
"I was wondering if you had a favorite out of all those hobbies you do?" Her face was fighting not to turn red.
"Aw, I dunno. I'm not sure which I hate or which I tolerate or which I like."
"But don't you like any of that?" She blinked. "How could you be so talented and yet not enjoy any of that?"
Victor sighed. "Y'know it's crazy. For most of my life I've gone around schedules and going to this and that."
"Yeah?"
Wonka kept talking about candies. So Victor said "I lost a bet. But for the first time ever I'm not following a schedule to cram something in...I kinda like not knowing what is ahead today."
"It's good to live like that. I don't think I could stand seeing what's coming all the time."
"Really? No offense but you seem so...afraid of everything I figure you dislike random."
"It's alrigh, heh. I kind of like some excitement...uh..."
"Just ask it!" Victor said and laughed.
"Do you know how to dance?"
"Which one? I think I know them all."
"I've never gotten around to dance and-"
"Tell you what. I'll give you a lesson whatever you want. Ballroom, flamigo whatever you want!"
"Oh cool!" With that Charlotte spun on one foot. Her side nudged a machine, one that towered all the others and she jumped back with a squeak. "W-what's this?" she said barely above a whisper.
Then Wonka was right behind her, having heard perfectly what she said. "Oh the name of this is too long and silly. It's something of a gene food splicer you could say.
Salto patted Charlotte's shoulder. "Hey you should try speaking up! I barely heard you!"
Wonka turned on Salto. "Again with the mumbling! If you got something to say young man then spit it out!"
Salto frowned at Wonka. "How the hell did you not hear-"
"Anyway!" Wonka said and began to press buttons on the mysterious tower. "This is something of a gene splicer from various foods to create certain candies. It isn't perfect but y'know you can't have perfect inventions without hiccups!"
"Cool..." whispered Victor as the machine started to shake and jig with work.
"Excuse me." Tee Vee said, "But foods and plants and stuff don't have genes!"
"Hon, I tend to look at hard sciences and go 'get out of my way I'm making magic!" with that Wonka held her hand out to a little door on the machine and waited. A few seconds passed and then she slapped her forehead. "I forgot! I haven't used this in a while." She then put a quarter in a little slot, turned a knob, making it click and then a cube landed in her waiting hand.
"I'd think that'd be really inconvenient." Charles whispered to Victor.
"No kidding."
"Anyone know what this is?" Wonka asked and held the tiny cube between her fingers.
"Gum?" asked Victor.
"Correct! But not just any gum! It's an amazing idea-"
"So modest!" Salto whispered to Tee Vee.
"MUMBLING! STOP MUMBLING!" Wonka shouted out loud while in the middle of her explanation and making everyone jump. "...So anyway you wouldn't believe it but this little cube has-"
"Three meals in it..?" Charlotte asked.
Wonka blinked. "Why yes! What tipped you off?"
"Well uh..." Charlotte nervously played with her pony tail a moment. "I notice there's several layers in the cube, like sandwich layers, each a different color. They could have been decoration but...really just a lucky guess, Wilma."
"You are quite perceptive! Maybe I should give you a job interview some time."
"Oh I could never..." Charlotte smiled and blushed.
"I'm green with envy!" Gloop said and patted Charlotte gently.
Victor was not listening but ever staring at the cube in Wonka's hand. The last layer seemed to call to him. It was blue and not exactly the prettiest blue he had ever seen but very alluring. It was saying 'take me take me! I want to be in your mouth! Chew chew chew all day long!' Even his mouth watered slightly and his hand grabbed at a pant leg as he fought the urge to jet forward and snatch it from Ms. Wonka's hand. Then he unclenched his hand as though he decided and backed a few feet away to break contact with the gum cube. He was a guest after all and he wouldn't want to get pulled away by security or break something of Wonka's.
Wonka shrugged. "There's a few problems with the dessert. Would you believe me that each person who tested this turned in a blueberry?"
"Oh you're joking!" Gloop said and laughed.
Wonka smiled. "My dear I am quite serious. Each one had to be rolled away for juicing! The first two stages are perfect but it's always the blueberry pie! Something in the blueberry I haven't got my finger quite on. Hm" She turned and put the cube back in the slot it came out of.
Salto gave a significant glance to Tee Vee and she grinned back.
The Candy Wizard brushed her red hair a moment and said "While I haven't given up on the three course meal, it did lead into an interesting branch off. These are called Ever Lasting Gobstoppers!!" She lead to bulk of the group to another machine but Tee Vee and Salto lagged behind.
Salto's hand shot out and quickly took the cube from the slot  Wonka had put it in.
"You act like you have a plan." Tee Vee said.
"I think I've found a brilliant way to knock off one of these goody goodies."
"One down. Making our chances of getting the grand prize better."
"Yes."
The duo walked closer as to not rouse suspicion from Wonka or anyone but far enough enough so no one could hear their plans.
"Hm, I thought I could just..." Salto weighed the cube in his hand. "Maybe throw it into one of their mouths at just the right moment."
"That's your brilliant plan?" Tee Vee hissed.
"Oh and I suppose you know anything about throwing?"
"Even better." Tee Vee extracted from her back pocket a kiddy sling shot.
"Do you carry that everywhere you go?"
"Of course I do. It's my lucky sling shot from when I was a girl." She then snatched the gum from Salto's hand since he left it out in the open. "Hmm who first?" She thought out loud while putting it into the sling.
"How about the blonde wuss? I'd love to see her turn into a blueberry." He was referring to Charlotte as Wonka seemed to decide to start passing candy out. A perfect time!
"Very well." Tee Vee waited a few moments and was rewarded by Charlotte opening her mouth and preparing to roll the candy in it to eat. The cow-woman pulled back, aimed and fired.
At the same time Victor turned away and as far as he could see Tee Vee was aiming to shoot something at Charlotte. Poor Charlotte was completely unaware and already she was harassed enough on that trip. He was very athletic and in his prime, easily getting in the way of whatever it was Tee Vee was launching.
"Watch-" Victor started to say but the projectile went into his mouth, hitting the roof of his mouth. His jaw closed and sucked in air and accidentally swallowed it. The young man doubled over and started coughing while everyone turned their attention to him in concern.
"Are you okay?" Charlotte asked, having no idea about Tee Vee shooting at her.
"Hey man what's wrong?" Charles asked and started slapping Victor on the back.
"That won't do!" Gloop said and seized Victor and tried the Heimlich Maneuver , forgetting that if a person is coughing then they can't be choking.
Victor slapped at her arms, "I'm fine! I'm fine! I'm not choking!"
"Sorry!" Anges Gloop let him go.
"What did you do!?" Victor stomped towards Tee Vee and Salto who seemed to be fighting smiles.
"N-nothin'." Tee Vee said.
"What did I swallow?" Victor demanded.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Salto said and realized Victor was a better target and hoped Wonka wasn't pulling their legs about that gum.
"What's this about?" Wonka asked and stepped next to Victor.
"It's...it's..." he stopped when he tasted something in his mouth. It wasn't blood but something else. "There's something weird in my mouth." He licked his lips, licked the inside of his mouth, even felt around with a finger but found nothing. And yet he couldn't stop tasting.... "Tomato soup?"
"Oh...that's interesting..." Wonka said and her face fell slightly but she looked suspicious at not just Tee Vee and Salto but Victor as well.
The taste was changing in Victor's mouth. From soup to steak and baked potato and he said that out loud. He hated to admit it but it tasted good. "Wow..." he moved his tongue around eagerly to savor it all.
"Hmmm." Wonka folded her arms. "Those are the first two courses for the three course gum. Somehow it got into your stomach. But you're supposed to chew gum not swallow it young Victor."
Then Victor remembered what Wonka said about the third course. She must have been joking and yet...His hand went to his mouth and he tried to make himself gag and throw up but Wonka's hand caught his wrist and stopped him.
"A good try but throwing up will do you no good at this stage. Some of it has become juice and gotten in your system. Might as well save your strength for what's next."
Victor glared at the duo that was causing trouble in the tour. "What did you do to me?"
Sadly Michelle Tee Vee was not intimidated by his glare. Instead she put a hand to her mouth and started giggle. "Holy cow it is true!"
"What?" Victor looked over his shoulder, showing to everyone else that his nose had become blue.
"Um...your nose..." Charles said.
"Now you're cheeks!" Gloop added.
Victor touched his nose and then his blueing cheeks. "There's nothing there." He was expecting to find some food that was somehow missed. He didn't feel anything amiss that would leave everyone reacting so strongly.
Charlotte drilled the tip of her shoe against the floor. "It's spreading around. Oh I'm sorry." She said as though pointing out the obvious was going to make it worse.
The mysterious blueness that had invaded Victor's skin crept not only over his cheeks but up his face, darting into his forehead and hiding under his wild bangs. It did not stop moving and touched his temples and even to his ears.
"You feeling alright, man?" Charles asked and placed his hand on his friend's forehead.
"A little hot because I'm getting angry." He slapped Charle's hand away when he tried to insert a finger into the collar of Victor's suit to watch the blue seeping into there too.
"What's happening to him?" Gloop asked and spun on Wonka.
Wonka sighed "Well I guess I wasn't clear enough earlier. Ah you'll see. Here" She extracted from her vest a tiny mirror and held it up to Victor's face.
He was not too pleased to see a blue version of his face staring back at him with wide eyes. "W-what!? What the fuck!?" He ignored the chuckles of Salto and Tee Vee as he pulled at his collar to see the smooth and hairless skin on his chest becoming blue, and then at his sleeves to see his wrists and down to his fingers changed to blue. He let his hands go over, checking places on his body to see if it was stopping or not. He wedged two fingers in the lapels of his jumpsuit to check his stomach: blue pecs. He opened an even lower button and saw blue upper thighs, being careful that no one saw his skin or underwear before closing it back up. Then he bent down, pulled at a pant leg and saw his very ankle changing too.
Blue, blue, blue every where blue!
"Wow he does look like a blueberry!" Tee Vee laughed.
"You!" Victor said and sprang at Tee Vee. Victor was quick but so was she and she lead him around various machines while Wonka didn't seem to be bothered to much. Victor would have caught her but he changed his target to Salto who also was quite quick...and yet somehow getting faster.
Or maybe Victor was getting slower.
Victor put his hands on his knees and started to catch his breathe. "Damn...it!" He huffed and wondered why he was out of breathe so fast. Surely it must have just been the heat? He could still hear Tee Vee's mocking laughter around him and Victor had stopped next to Charlotte who seemed to be staring at him very intently.
"Uh..un..." she said and pointed at him.
"Yeah?" Victor asked and forgot his manners since he wasn't in a good mood.
"You're-hm..." She couldn't find the words.
"Well? Spit it out!" Victor barked at her.
Charlotte yelped and clenched her hands into her fists and said with her eyes closed. "You're getting big!"
"Big?" Victor asked and could hardly understand what she was saying. He did notice out of the corner of his eye: a gold button around his belly was sticking out further. "Hmph!" He said and passed a hand over the button to smooth his suit out. Only for the offending button to bounce back out of place once his hand had passed it. "Whatever."
"Yeah big..." Charles muttered.
"What are you guys talking about?" Victor tugged at the lower half of his suit and then at his belt. He was getting angry, everyone was looking at him, he had blue skin, Tee Vee and Salto were pissing him off, he couldn't catch them even though he was a star track runner and never missed practice.
And the stupid blue suit his friend made him wear wasn't so comfortable anymore and seemed to stick to him. Victor noticed again that the bright, almost mocking, button was still protruding out and what was worse was that another was glimmering up at him. The young man did not look down but instead slapped at the glittering buttons in frustration.
The sound wasn't that of his hand hitting muscles...softer...and...and...
He swore that he felt jiggly.
It was only a few seconds but it felt like Victor was standing there in confusion and trepidation for minutes. Victor did what he normally did when staring down a tough contest. He licked his lips and decided to deal with it as calmly as possible. One of his fingers went down and he poked at his stomach. It sank in through the soft fabric of his suit but also felt it touching his skin. That was off. He moved his finger around and tried to find a tracing of one of his abs, moving in spirals, nudging his finger against his buttons and finally started to stab frantically as his abs seemed to have been replaced by a slight beer gut.
"W-w-what the..." at long last he found the courage to look down. To his horror he was seeing what his finger was feeling: his midsection was growing. Victor's stomach was pushing out against his suit, blue fabric and more shiny yellow buttons looking up along with his belt trying to deal with his new figure.
Tee Vee nearly started cackling but Salto put a hand over her mouth and motioned with his head. The two then fled while everyone was focused on Victor's transformation.
"I...feel funny..." Victor finally admitted to himself as he thought he heard a gurgling coming from within his suddenly unfamiliar body.
"It happens ever time..." Wonka sighed. "They all turn into blueberries."

To be continued.