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Noodle had two places she could call paradise and they didn’t mix well together. Her mother had been grateful to Willy for reuniting them. But she didn’t like him coming into the library. He was too noisy, she said. And Noodle had to admit she was right : Willy was not the kind who sat down quietly to read. Oh, he was reading now that he knew how to. But not while seating, and not quietly. When he had a book in his hands, he would walk, and read out loud and comment on it. Noodle found it funny and endearing. Most people found it annoying. He wasn’t exactly banned from her mother’s library, but when he came here, he always had to leave quickly.
Noodle made do, dividing her time between the library and the repaired chocolate shop. Soon, she’ll have to add the factory in the equation, but Willy had said it wasn’t quite ready to be opened yet. She was pretty sure it was finished, but for a reason or another, Willy didn’t want to open it right away. She knew better than to question him on it, he wouldn’t answer, or he would give an answer that would raise more questions.
Soon it would be Christmas, and Noodle wanted to find the perfect present for Willy. Not just something he would like, but something that would link both of their worlds together. So far, she had drawn a blank. She had sat all morning in her mother’s library, reading various books with titles like : ‘The Ultimate Guide to Gift Giving’, ‘What to Get your Siblings for Christmas’ or ‘The Great History of Gifts’. But nothing seemed good for Willy. Everything was either too ordinary, or too special. She didn’t want something extraordinary, she wanted something fitting.
She was browsing the books again when her mother arrived. Noodle smiled at her, and went back to her browsing.
“What are you searching for ?” asked Dorothy.
“A book about gifts.”
“For Wonka I suppose ?”
Noodle nodded.
“You know sweetie, not every answer you seek will be in a book.”
Her daughter looked at her.
“Then where ?”
Dorothy smiled, an amused smile.
“Maybe… in a gift shop ?”
Now Noodle felt a bit silly. She hadn’t even thought about that. But she had a good reason.
“I’ve never been in a gift shop.”
The only places she knew were Mrs Scrubbit’s boarding house, Willy’s chocolate shop and her mother’s library. She had never been anywhere else.
“There is one just outside the galleries Gourmet. I can go with you after work if you want.”
“I think I’ll go now. If you don’t mind.”
Dorothy smiled at her daughter.
“I don’t mind. Just be back before dark.”
“I will. Thanks mamma !”
Noodle gave her mother a kiss on the cheek before rushing out of the library. She stopped a brief instant outside, just to check if she had money in her pocket. She had. Her mother gave her plenty, and she had been saving. She went on her way.
For the first time, Noodle paid attention to the shops she was passing. As she approached the galleries, she indeed saw the gift shop. But it was not this shop that caught her eye. It was the one right next to it. She stopped in front of the door. Above it, it was written in golden letters : ‘Bookshop’. She had never been in one. It couldn’t hurt to go inside just to look. She did just that.
The place looked a lot like her mother’s library. Except that the counter was not to check out books but to buy them. An old man was sitting behind it.
“Hello,” she said.
“Hello,” the old man answered back.
She went a bit further into the bookshop. It seemed to be divided in two parts, one with brand new books, and another one with used books. Noodle went towards the latter. This was where there were the most titles she didn’t recognise. She browsed happily through the books. Maybe she could buy one for herself, as an early Christmas’ present. After ten minutes of reading every title, one book finally caught her eye. It was under a pile of other books. She pulled it out in one swift motion. The book was quite large and big, with a brown cover. On it was written : ‘History of the chocolate-making world’. She opened it. There were a lot of texts in it, but illustrations too. To her amazement, some were moving. On a closer inspection, she realized they were not really moving. It was an optical illusion. A really well made one. Noodle smiled. She would go to the gift shop afterwards. But she had already found the perfect one for Willy.
Christmas morning, she spent with her mother. In the afternoon, as she had planned, she went to Willy’s shop. All the streets and shops were decorated for Christmas. But none as well and as prettily as Wonka’s chocolate shop. There were no words to describe it, inside and out. To Noodle, it was the most beautiful place on Earth. Even if it was closed today, and there was nobody in, it still seemed so alive. Willy was nowhere in sight. But she knew where he was.
Climbing the tree at first had seemed a bit hazardous. But now, she was used to it. She didn’t climb up with as much ease as Willy, but she was still pretty quick. Once she breached through the clouds, she saw him. He was sitting on one of the clouds, his legs dangling in the air. She went to sit next to him.
“Merry Christmas,” she said.
He turned towards her and gave her a smile.
“Merry Christmas Noodle.”
Noodle had never given anyone a Christmas present before. Except for her mother, this morning. But she had just put it under the Christmas Tree. She was not quite sure how to go about it. So she just handed the wrapped present to him.
“It’s for me ?” asked Willy, his eyes shining.
“Yes.”
“You shouldn’t have.”
Noodle laughed.
“Willy, you deserve way more than just my silly little present.”
“It’s not silly, it comes from you.”
Quickly, he unwrapped the present. He saw the book, read the title aloud. And then he laughed. It was like he had just read a hilarious joke. Noodle looked at him with confusion. Willy got up. He was still laughing. He removed his hat, and from it got out a wrapped present, too big to fit in there. He handed it to Noodle. He was still laughing.
“What’s so funny ?” she asked.
She could tell he was not mocking her choice of present. There was something he genuinely thought was funny.
“Open your present,” he said, taking a deep breath to stop the laughter.
Noodle was still confused, but she ripped up the paper. And saw the book. With the brown cover. Willy started laughing again. And so did Noodle. They had both searched for the perfect present, one that would combine both of their worlds. So it was logical that they had come up with the same present. They kept laughing for a long moment.
Finally, they were back sitting on the edge of the cloud.
“I didn’t even say thank you,” realized Willy. “Thank you Noodle.”
She smiled.
“Thank you,” she said, insisting on the last word. “I’ll enjoy the book.”
“So will I,” said Willy. “And, I almost forgot.”
He got something out of his pocket and handed it to her. A chocolate.
“I made it just for you.”
“Thanks,” she said.
She bit into it. The taste was a bit strange. But it was delicious. Heavenly.
“It tastes like chocolate and…”
Willy smiled.
“... apple strudel,” finished Noodle.
“Fitting, isn't it ?”
“Quite so. It’s lovely.”
“I’ll never sell it. But if you want one, I’ll make one.”
“I want a hundred of them,” said Noodle.
“And you will have them.”
Willy got up.
“You’re not gonna make them right now are you ?”
“Why not ?”
“It’s Christmas !”
“And what better way to spend Christmas than making things for your friends ?”
Noodle thought about it for a second, and the answer quickly came to her.
“Making things with your friends,” said Noodle.
“What a great idea !”
He took her hand.
“Come on Noodle, I’ll show you my new machine !”
He looked so excited. It made Noodle very happy. Her first real Christmas would be something to remember, as a moment where everything in both of her paradises was absolutely perfect.