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Charlie adores the factory. It's his absolute favorite place ever.
He's only been here for a week and a half but he could never-ever give any of it up.
But, he's still a little lost.
He knows he can't become the best candymaker ever over the span of a week or two, but he feels like he should. He almost feels like a failure.
Wonka's been teaching him so many things, so many tricks and tactics and recipes. He's learned so much.
And Wonka's already setting him in front of a bunch of ingredients on his own and letting him do whatever he wants.
Wonka stands by the table, by Charlie. There are far too many choices in front of them and he has no clue where to start.
"So!" Wonka is smiling, he's excited. "I'll be in my office- I have left the door unlocked - just in case," He says, "Let your imagination run wild!"
He leaves.
Charlie is lost.
He's had ideas, plenty of them! Hasn't he?
But how would he...
He knows how to make chocolate. Well, the most basic chocolate. Maybe Wonka would like him to just make some regular chocolate? But, he was told to use his imagination.
He looks at what's on the table, trying to decide what the best choices would be. Marshmallow, almonds, a collection of smaller candies...
Charlie pauses and takes it all in.
He grabs one of the bowls.
Only one way to find out.
"I haven't heard anything from you recently," Wonka says suddenly, startling Charlie. The spoon he was holding has clattered across the table skittering to the edge and being dangerously close to falling.
Charlie looks up at him, tempted to cover up everything he's been working on.
"What have you made?"
"Uh-" He starts, but Wonka picks up one of the first pieces of chocolate on the table.
"May I?"
"If you want, but I don't think it'll be great-"
Wonka takes a bite of the chocolate, chewing jt thoughtfully. "Did you add Nerds to this?"
"Uh, I think so?"
"An interesting combination, Charlie," He hums, taking another bite. "But, I am not quite sure that the grape goes too well with this particular variety of chocolate. We can go through some more recipes later. The chocolate itself is perfect though, I am very impressed."
"Really?" Charlie gasps. He was so sure that it wasn't going to go well...
"Yes, now what else do you have for me?"
They go through the rest of the candies on the table, and Wonka comments on every single one, offering ideas and trying to help out with recipes.
Charlie feels proud of himself.
"Now, Charlie," Wonka says, once they have gotten through all of the chocolates, "I can only assume you just added each ingredient to the same batch of chocolate."
Oh.
"I did," Charlie meekly says, worried that he's done something wrong with this.
"I'm glad you were trying new things," Wonka continues, "But is there a reason you didn't focus on only one?"
"I didn't know what to do, so I just-" Charlie waves his hands over the table, "Tried everything?"
Wonka laughs a little bit. "Which is a very good idea, Charlie," He taps his chin, thinking. "How about we learn how to choose what type of chocolate to use, yes?"
Charlie’s still got a long way to go before he can become a full-blown chocolatier.
But, he'll get there someday.