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Chapter Text

Chapter 1

Charlie Jnr

People dressed in bright, colourful clothes stood shoulder to shoulder with people dressed in dull, colourless clothes. Big, fat drops of rain landed on the people dressed in dull, colourless clothes, while bright streams of sunlight landed on the people dressed in bright, colourful clothes, as if the clouds were choosing where the raindrops fell. All the people were there for the same reason. A funeral of two people who were close in life and now close in death. The crowd remembered the fun and joy of those in the caskets in a hole dug deep in the ground. The mourners were not surprised that the two were in unison before them. They had been in a duo, a pair, a symbiotic society of two.

“We commit these bodies to the ground; earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust,” said Father Bastien, his black robes swirling around his feet like flags flying at the bottom of a flagpole. Charlie Jnr became distracted by the imminent rain which looked like it would bucket down from the clouds and drench everyone. His thoughts then turned to the people dressed in bright, colourful clothes and the people dressed in dull, colourless clothes. He briefly wondered if all the colours from the bright, colourful clothes would run out over the ground and into the deep hole. There were ever so many people standing around. He knew there would be a crowd, but even he could not predict the love and support that showed on this very sad day. His own sadness was two-fold. These dear people in his life were now gone. His own father, and, in the grave next to him, a character of such magnitude that, in some way, the whole world mourned. He was the source of joy and wonder in the most eccentric manner, part crazy, part childlike, and part genius. It turns out that his companion of so many years could not continue on in this world without him.

Charlie III

“We’re ready for you now, Charlie,” said Audrey, popping her head into Charlie III’s office. Charlie III sighed. Another board meeting. She rose, taking in a little back twist from side to side and back again and side to side and back again. Her back felt tight after being seated, pouring over financial documents for hours. She popped a piece of chocolate in her mouth, savouring the delicious texture as it melted in her mouth, then followed Audrey down the hall to the meeting room. The long, glass windows showed wonderful sites, from one end of the city and beyond to the other end of the city and beyond.

Seated at the head of a long table, Charlie III surveyed the room. Ten of her trusted staff sat around the table, chatting with each other before the meeting began. All seemed to have coordinated their outfits: dull grey suits. Men and women alike. White shirts, some with a small splash of colour in ties or scarves, but the minimal colour pops did not drown out the greyness. This greyness permeated her mood, leaving her feeling down. It wasn’t the first time recently that she’d been feeling this way.

“Ok, let’s make a start,” Charlie III proclaimed with a sigh. “Audrey, what’s first on the agenda?” She looked up to Audrey, who must have also got the memo about grey. Her whole outfit was grey. Grey skirt and grey shirt and grey shoes. It matched her grey hair. She rarely smiled. Hired her for her no-nonsense approach to getting things done, she reminded Charlie III of her father.

Charlie III let her thoughts drift to her father. Now, about to turn 75, he was finally retiring. He had dedicated his life to the company, handing over to Charlie III towards the end, even though she had been part of the company since she was born. He had visited her yesterday to cover the final details of his birthday party.

“So, I have the cake coming at four, but we can put it in the kitchen until it’s time to bring it out. They said it doesn’t need to be put in the fridge,” Charlie III stated as soon as Charlie Jnr had walked in the door. Charlie Jnr didn’t much care for cake.

“The viability of our Singapore division,” Audrey said a little loudly, bringing Charlie III back from her thoughts. Charlie III sensed Audrey had already said this, and the volume was for her benefit.

“Oh, right, yes,” Charlie III said, turning to address the greyness to her left, “Lisa, what were the quarterly figures? Could we put them on the screen?”

Charlie (the original)

“Mr Wonka? Are your sure this is what you want?” asked Charlie, stunned at the actions of a man he had only recently met.

Charlie Jnr

Charlie Jnr and his wife, Victoria, walked away from the funeral, heads bowed, tears still flowing down their cheeks and splashing to the ground. Charlie Jnr thought of his daughter, Charlie III, in the care of relatives, oblivious that Grandpa Charlie and Grandpa Willy were no longer of this world.

Charlie (the original)

“You mean… all of this? All mine? How…? I mean… Why…? I can’t possibly!” Charlie (the original) stammered, incredulous at what Mr Wonka was offering. It was more than he could imagine. Charlie (the original) looked over at Grandpa Joe, who was doing a little jig, well, as much of a little jig as his old bones would allow.

“I told you Charlie! This is a miracle! I knew that you would get that Golden Ticket and, look-ee, now what do we have? The whole company. Why, Mr Wonka here knows a star when he sees one. Not greedy like that gum-slapping Violet Beauregarde, and not whiney like that Veruca lass!”

“Why, Grandpa Joe, you would be right! Charlie here is not like those bothersome brats. And that is precisely why, my good man, he will inherit the chocolate factory. It shall be his and him be its. Stupendously spectacular pairing of child and factory,” said Mr Wilbur Wonka, his chest puffed out like an excited baboon, so ever pleased with the outcome of his Golden Ticket search for someone to take the helm.

“But Mr Wonka, I don’t know the first thing about running a factory!” Charlie (the original) exclaimed, eye wide with a mixture of fear and elation.

Mr Wonka looked smug. “Of course, Charlie, my boy. And that is precisely why you are the only person I could ever trust to keep the chocolate factory alive while I go off on my adventures.”

“But-but…,” Charlie (the original) stammered.

“But, but, nothing! We must at once get the pesky paperwork processed.”

Charlie III

Charlie III left the office drained as always. The finance meeting was a success, with plans to make the Singapore branch stronger. There was discussion of new projects, none of which sung to Charlie III in the way she hoped. Her father would regale her with how products of old were developed and created. There was actual creativity and experimentation and spectacle and delight. Wacky names, wacky flavours. She rarely made it to the factory these days, always in meetings. She knew his history of taking over the chocolate factory from a young age, and, over time, building into the company it is today. He loved telling her the fantastical tales about gum with never-ending flavour, stunning stories about sherbet that changed flavours and colours before your eyes, and amazing accounts of chocolate with the wildest inclusions such as fairy floss and liquorice. Over time, and especially after her father took over at the helm, mass production became critical for business expansion. Product consistency, ease of production, allergy awareness, eco-friendly packaging all took precedence of the fun and whimsy of the products of old. The Oompa Loompas returned to the land they were from, no longer at risk of harm.

With hindsight, she could see how her father’s personality, the polar opposite to that of Mr Wonka, had sapped some of the fun from the factory. He was methodological not mad. He was punctual not playful. He was successful not spirited.

Charlie Jnr was not as young as his own father (Charlie, the original) when he took over the factory. He knew it was always his destiny to take over. Watching Charlie Jnr and Mr Wonka in their ongoing madcap ways shaped him but he chose to take a different path to that of the dynamic duo.

Charlie Jnr

The mourners moved from the graveside and made their way to the chocolate factory, where a large party of sorts was planned to celebrate the life of Charlie (the original) and Mr Wonka. Teams of black limousines weaved through the streets. Troupes of people, more than was possible to accommodate at the funeral, stood at the gates of the factory, paying their respects. Charlie Jnr, in the first limousine, stared out at the crowds. The swirling wind had died down, but the rain had intensified, thick fat drops hitting the windows of the limousine, hitting the heads of the mourners, and the umbrellas of those who remembered to bring them. He thought many of them looked cold. But they also looked sad. And happy. He saw several laughing loudly. He saw many waving Wonka bar wrappers. He thought he saw Augustus Gloop in the crowd, but it might have just been just a fat man who looked a lot like him, red sweater, green shorts. Charlie Jnr knew it wasn’t Augustus. Whilst he never kept in contact with the group of children thrown together by Mr Wonka, his father one of them, news stories filtered down of their passing or various affairs. Augustus died of complications related to his obesity, which only got worse over time. He had left the factory a thinner child, but his greed returned and so did his weight. Charlie Jnr also knew that Augustus would be unlikely to still dress in red sweater and green shorts, even if he had been alive.

Charlie (the original)

“So, Mr Wonka, what’s our first job at the factory? Do I have to make chocolate? Or meet all the Oompa Loompas?” Charlie (the original) asked the next morning, blurting out all his questions in quick succession as if he’d had the tasks on his mind all night. “Perhaps I could stir the chocolate in the Chocolate River? Or I could go back to the Fizzy Lifting Drinks Room? Or try some Wonka Gum?”

Mr Wonka peered down at the young boy, leaning ever so slightly forward as he did so. Charlie thought that he might continue to lean and perhaps fall, so he took a step backwards. “My dear boy! There will be plenty of time for those shenanigans later. First, we must make sure those pesky prepubescent pests have left the factory.” Mr Wonka strutted off at a striking pace, with Charlie struggling to keep up behind him.

Charlie Jnr

Inside the factory, there were distinct groups gathering. People dressed in bright, colourful clothes stood together with other people dressed in bright, colourful clothes, while people dressed in dull, colourless clothes stood together with people dressed in dull, colourless clothes, like a rainbow with added ribbons of black. Red and orange and yellow and black and green and blue and black and indigo and violet and black.

Oompa Loompas who had flown back in from Loompaland, courtesy of the Wonka estate, wore their more traditional dress of orange and green, but tuxedo style, rather than outfits of old. Whilst the Oompa Loompas had long since left the factory, they had always shown allegiance to Mr Wonka. Mr Wonka had regularly returned to the land of the Oompa Loompas to be with them, share their life back home, and, of course, go on more adventures. Charlie (the original) often joined Mr Wonka on these journeys, catching flights, exploring lands, delving into the rituals and routines of the Oompa Loompas. Charlie (the original) would return with stories that Charlie Jnr found hard to believe as he had never been to Loompaland.

            As festivities began to wrap up, Oompa Loompas and people dressed in bright, colourful clothes and people dressed in dull, colourless clothes farewelled each other and the rainbow seemed to become more twisty. Red and black and orange and black and black and blue and indigo and black and green and black and violet and yellow and black.

Charlie Jnr and Victoria shook hands with all, hundreds of handshakes. Some hugs. Many final tears for the dearly departed. Charlie could not help but think of the bond between the two departed souls. Charlie (the original) had been a poor boy from a poor family. Generations living under one roof, struggling for food, struggling for warmth, struggling to get by. Mr Wonka a poor boy from a rich family. Poor for love and affection. Poor for parental comfort. Two poor souls. Brought together by chance. A one-in-five chance to change his poor life.

Charlie III

Charlie III loved the company. The success. That it was a family company that had the most incredible start. A Golden Ticket. A one-in-five chance to change a person’s life. Her great grandfather was that lucky one. She sometimes wondered if he would have liked the direction it was taking. And what of Mr Wonka? She was four when her grandfather and Mr Wonka passed away. Within days of each other. It was as if they could no longer bare life without each other. She knew that Mr Wonka’s plan for the Golden Ticket was to find an heir to his chocolate throne.

Charlie III sighed. She wanted her own Golden Ticket.

Chapter Text

Chapter 2

Charlie Jnr

            After the funeral and ensuing celebrations, Charlie Jnr felt flat. It was to be expected, Victoria told him. Charlie Jnr knew it was back to business the next day, despite some colour being drained from the world. Colour that may ever be replaced or replicated. He had no desire to be the replacement or replication. Colour was not him. He was grey. And he was ok with that. His job, his birthright, his legacy, his everything, was the factory. And his family. But above all: the factory.

            Victoria understood. She was content to raise Charlie III at home supporting him how she could, with warm meals, freshly made beds, and ironed shirts for work. Each and every day, weekends included, Charlie Jnr filled his briefcase with papers that were previously scattered across the dining table after the evening meal and went to the factory. He arrived at the factory at 8am sharp every morning and left at 6pm every evening. Between these hours, he turned what was once (under the helm of Mr Wonka and his father) a reasonably successful factory, producing a range of unusual and fantastical confectionary items, into a very successful, very efficient, very hygienic, and very consistent factory, producing a range of unusual and fantastical confectionary items.

            The deaths of Mr Wonka and his father would not impact on his life in any way that really mattered. Yes, he would miss his father. Though the pair were often away on “their adventures”, he rarely saw his father growing up. From an early age, Charlie Jnr had been placed front and centre of the factory. In charge of it all so that Mr Wonka and Charlie (the original) could fly and drive and swim and dive. They visited all corners of the globe. A phrase Charlie Jnr found unusual, given the world was round.

Charlie (the original)

            Once all the hubbub of the Golden Ticket and Charlie (the original)’s fantastic win died down, and the terrible tetrad had been taken back from whence they came, and the Oompa Loompas significantly recovered from their ordeal at the hands of the ghastly Golden Ticket turmoil, Mr Wonka moved Charlie (the original), Mr Bucket, Mrs Bucket, Grandpa Joe, Grandma Josephine, Grandpa George, and Grandma Georgina into the Wonka mansion. Behind the Chocolate River, to the left of the Fizzy-Lifting Drink room, through a series of tunnels, past the Spotty Powder room, was Mr Wonka’s office and just beyond that was the most extraordinary expanse of extravagance: the Wonka mansion.

Charlie (the original), Mr Bucket, Mrs Bucket, Grandpa Joe, Grandma Josephine, Grandpa George, and Grandma Georgina did not know what to make of the space. Space was something they were unused to. From seven bodies in one room to eight bodies (including Mr Wonka) in twenty-one rooms was almost too much for the grandpas and grandmas to cope with.

“Well, Charlie. Well, now,” said Grandpa Joe, “It’s the bee’s knees!”

“Charlie, my dear. This is too much!” lamented Grandma Josephine.

“There’s too much space!” exclaimed Grandpa George.

“I like it!” declared Grandma Georgina.

Mr and Mrs Bucket were more subdued in their appraisal. Mrs Bucket thinking of the cleaning needs of such a massive mansion; Mr Bucket worried about the expense of such a huge house.

Charlie, on the other hand, with youth in his joyfulness, ran from room to room to room to room to room to room to room to room to room to room to room to room to room to room to room to room to room to room to room to room to room. And back again.

Mr Wonka stood observing the range of responses from the flock of family members and felt something. Something he was unfamiliar with feeling. He wasn’t sure what it was exactly. It seemed to be the opposite to what he felt when Augustus Gloop fell into the Chocolate River and was sucked up the factory pipework into the Fudge Room. It seemed to be the reverse of what he felt when Veruca Salt demanded and demanded and demanded her every desire and was declared a bad nut. It seemed to be the contrary to what he felt when Mike Teavee shrunk himself with a chocolate transportation device and needed to be re-stretched in the Gum-Stretcher Room. It seemed to be the furthest from what he felt when Violet Beauregarde impatiently injected an experimental three-course meal gum and turned herself into a life-sized blueberry.

Charlie III

            Back in the office Charlie III again stared out the window of her office on the top floor. Her wistfulness of the preceding days continued. As she looked around her spacious office, she found her eyes lingering on large, framed photos that adorned the walls. These frames started on one wall with black and white images. As they weaved around the room, colour emerged. Those closest to the window showed the brightest of colours. Whilst the colour was due to innovation in camera design, they also highlighted the ongoing brightness in the people in the images. There were always two people in the images, sometimes others. But always the two. And always with big smiles or goofy expressions.

Charlie III stood and went to the first photo in the series. Mr Wonka and Charlie (the original), who she knew as Grandpa Charlie, standing in front of a hot air balloon, their grinning faces clear in the grainy photo. Her grandfather was young in the photo. Half the height of Mr Wonka. They both looked small compared to the hot air balloon, which looked like a balloon a child would blow up at a party. She half expected it to go flying off around the room like blown, but untied, balloons did when they were released.

Audrey walked into the office, pausing to watch Charlie III standing in front of the photo, unsure whether to interrupt what looked like deep thought. She settled on a little cough to announce her arrival. Charlie III jumped with a little start. “Oh, sorry, I didn’t see you there.”

“Marketing meeting starting in ten minutes. I’ve got the agenda loaded on screen, ready to go, in the board room,” Audrey said. “We’re focussing on changing up the marketing for the new flavour of Fizzy Lifting Drinks. Marcus and Julia have some good ideas that I think would elevate our current campaign on social media.”

Charlie III took one last look at Mr Wonka and her grandfather before following Audrey off to yet another meeting.

Charlie (the original)

Charlie (the original) had no idea where Mr Wonka was taking him. Hopping in Mr Wonka’s car, they drove off with the roof down. Charlie looked behind him, seeing the blowing smoke coming from the factory smoke stacks like black and grey clouds low in the sky. After giving Charlie a few weeks’ worth of tuition in all things related to the chocolate factory, Mr Wonka decided, as if on a whim, to go on an adventure.

“Charlie, my dear boy! Let’s take to the skies!” he exclaimed, twirling around as the words wisped from his mouth. “You and I, Charlie, will go on many adventures. This shall be but the first of many exciting explorations for you and for me.”

“Where, sir, are we going? What will we be doing?”

“All in good time, young Charlie. All in good time.”

Charlie wasn’t exactly sure what Mr Wonka meant, but he felt a sense of trust in the man who had already given him so much and changed his life in so many ways.

After some time, Mr Wonka turned the car into a large green field. In the distance were enormous orbs with what looked like nets over them and a large basket at the bottom. These gigantic balloons were fascinating to Charlie. He had never seen anything like them!

“Ah, simply sensational!” said Mr Wonka, getting out of the car and striding off towards the gigantic balloons with such long steps that Charlie had to almost run along with to keep up. “We shall be looking down at the world like a bird peering at people from the clouds.”

Charlie felt some nerves emerging from within. Whatever did Mr Wonka intend for them? Charlie stood back as Mr Wonka exchanged explanations with a tall gentleman who had a moustache that curled into little circles on either side of his face and a bowler hat atop his head.

“Come along, young Charlie. Let’s hop aboard this beautiful balloon that will take us up into the serene sky to be among the cool, calm clouds,” said Mr Wonka, going through a little door on the basket of the balloon, gesturing for Charlie to follow. Charlie and Mr Wonka watched with focus and fascination as the man with the curled moustache and bowler hat closed and locked the small door and started turning knobs and pulling levers. To their amazement, the balloon started rising. Charlie saw the ground moving away from him. Soon, he was looking at the tops of trees and the tops of nearby farmhouses.

“Well, isn’t this just wonderful, Charlie!” said Mr Wonka, smiling from ear to ear.

“It certainly is, Mr Wonka!” Charlie said slightly breathlessly. “How high will we go?”

“Up to the clouds, my boy!”

“Oh, look, Mr Wonka. Over there. It’s the factory. You can see the smoke coming from the stacks,” Charlie exclaimed, pointing and doing a little jig.

“Careful, young man,” said the man with the curled moustache and bowler hat, “not a lot of movement, if you don’t mind.”

“Sorry, sir,” Charlie said, stopping his jig instantly.

Mr Wonka and Charlie beamed big, bright smiles as they took in the sites below. Indeed, it was like they were birds, soaring through the sky, looking at little objects far below. Soon, cars and building appeared ant sized. The gentle breeze ruffled the curly parts of the man’s moustache, but he merely re-twirled them with a well-practiced movement.

This adventure was just amazing. And had Mr Wonka really said that they would be doing more and more of these adventures? How lucky could one boy be?

Charlie Jnr

Charlie Jnr remembered when he took over the factory from his father and Mr Wonka, reminiscing about all of the changes he had made since that time. One of the biggest changes he made was to return the Oompa Loompas to Loompaland. After Mr Wonka held his competition to win the Golden Tickets with the ultimate prize of the factory, the Oompa Loompas became celebrities. People came from far and wide to do tours of the factory. Charlie (the original) had wholeheartedly encouraged Mr Wonka to let the tours continue, knowing how much he had loved his tour. However, most people came to see the fascinating Oompa Loompas. The Oompa Loompas initially loved the attention. They loved the time away from chores in the factory to be fawned over. They loved being seen by others, instead of just each other, day in, day out, as it had once been.

Mr Wonka rescued the Oompa Loompas from their land due to the grave danger they faced at the time. He had put them to work in the factory and they had proved very helpful. They were creative, coming up with new and exciting products. To them, food items had to no set purpose or combination. Ice cream was not just a dessert food. To them, it was an anytime food. Ice cream was not just served in a bowl with a cherry on top. To them, it was combined with bacon and made into a sandwich. They had a unique perspective on all things food related. And this made them valuable to Mr Wonka. They were the brains behind the whole operation. Without them, there would be no chocolate river. Chocolate in a river? Whoever would have thought of that fanciful idea? Marshmallows as actual pillows? To munch on whilst sleeping, only for them to be back to their original flavoursome fullness when it was time to wake up. Each and every night, re-forming shape and size and smell and taste to be munched on again whilst sleeping.

Over time, however, the Oompa Loompas became weary and tired. Weary of smiling to groups and groups of guests at the factory. Tired of giving tour after tour to the tourists. Weary of their fame. By the time Charlie Jnr took over the factory, they were so weary and tired that they barely got out of bed anymore. They munched on their marshmallow pillows during the night and day, staying warm and snug and unbothered, day after night, night after day.

And the land of Oompa Loompas? Well, what was once an unsafe environment for them became transformed with people power. When the history of the Oompa Loompas became known, many anthropologists visited the land, assessing and analysing the environment. The anthropologists spent many, many hours, days, months, and years working with the people from Loompaland to bring about peace and harmony. And after many, many hours, days, months, and years, peace and harmony began to emerge. The news of the emerging peace and harmony filtered back to the Oompa Loompas in bed at the factory. They stopped munching on marshmallow pillows. They started venturing out of bed during the day. They started having hope. And hope is a wonderful thing.

Charlie Jnr, having known the Oompa Loompas all his life, saw their transformation from weary and tired Oompa Loompas into happy and hopeful Oompa Loompas. He knew then that he had to help them return to their own land.

It was sad indeed for Mr Wonka and Charlie (the original) on the Oompa Loompa’s last day at the factory. Mr Wonka had been with the Oompa Loompas for many, many hours, days, months, and years. They were his family. Charlie (the original), whilst not having spent as many hours, days, months, and years with the Oompa Loompas, had spent enough hours, days, months, and years with the Oompa Loompas to also feel a great level of sadness not felt since he was hungry and cold in the little room of a house he once shared with his father, his mother, Grandpa Joe, Grandma Josephine, Grandpa George and Grandma Georgina. But he found happiness and the Oompa Loompas, who were weary and tired, deserved happiness too. And so, the Oompa Loompas were farewelled.

Charlie Jnr was worried about the impact of the departure of the Oompa Loompas on the factory, but things seemed to go on as they always went on. The lasting memories of the Oompa Loompas served the company well and the humanitarian efforts by the anthropologists were well received by all.

And the Oompa Loompas made sure they were never to be forgotten. A new range of Oompa Loompa gum was released. It was a gum that turned a glum mood to a mood of happiness and hopefulness. For some reason, when one chewed the gum, the first image that always popped into the chewer’s mind was an image of the Oompa Loompas in Loompaland, happy.

Chapter Text

Chapter 3

Charlie III

            The day of her father’s seventy-fifth birthday party arrived. Charlie III was up early. The party was a large affair, but as Charlie Jnr did not have many friends, the guest list consisted of factory workers, business colleagues, marketing managers, and Oompa Loompas, who flew in for the celebration.

Charlie III flitted around the big backyard of the Wonka mansion, ensuring food was placed perfectly, and drink jugs were displayed directly next to the little signs describing their contents. White chairs were tucked under white tables with white tablecloths. Beautiful floral arrangements adorned each of the white tables.

            Guests began arriving at the agreed time. Charlie Jnr, still somewhat sprightly in his movements, moved from each group of guests, greeting, talking, farewelling, to the next group of guests, greeting, talking, farewelling, until he had made it through all of the groups of guests. Charlie III had encouraged him to give a little speech at the party as a thank you to the groups of guests for coming to help him celebrate.

            Charlie III wheeled a large cake out on a trolley. The cake was shaped like a giant Wonka bar, with 75 candles on the top, all glowing brightly, having been freshly lit by Charlie III. All aglow, the cake on its trolley made its way to Charlie Jnr. He stood. A rousing rendition of Happy Birthday was sung by all. Charlie Jnr attempted to blow all 75 candles out. Puffed, he extinguished about a quarter. He chuckled and sheepishly said, “A little help?”

Saul, a factory worker in charge of the chocolate river, rushed up. “I’ll help, sir,” blowing out some more of the candles.

“I’ll help, sir,” said Natasha, a business colleague, blowing out some more of the candles.

“I’ll help, sir,” said Hope, a marketing manager, blowing out some more of the candles.

“I’ll help, sir,” said Stan, one of the Oompa Loompas, blowing out the remainder of the candles.

“Thank you. Thank you all,” said Charlie Jnr, feeling blessed by those around him. “I believe I am to give a little speech now.” Charlie Jnr took a deep breath. He looked around at the people at his party. Factory workers. Business colleagues. Marketing managers. Oompa Loompas. But where were his friends?

Victoria had passed away when he was much younger. Cancer had claimed her life. Since then, in his life, his main love was Charlie III. And then the factory workers, business colleagues, marketing managers. The Oompa Loompas had not been in his life for years. Was this it? Was this the richness of his 75 years? These people admired him. These people respected him. These people… knew him? Did he know these people?

“Thank you all so much for joining me to celebrate 75 years. My destiny changed, as you would all know, when my father opened a block of Wonka chocolate to find a Golden Ticket. It became my path, my future, to continue the legacy that was started by Mr Wonka, a man we all admire. My father and Mr Wonka continued to build the factory to be the best chocolate factory in the world. When I took over, my father and Mr Wonka continued their love of adventure. In some ways, I wish I could have joined them on these adventures.” Charlie Jnr’s voice held a wistful edge.

Charlie III was busy cutting up slices of Wonka bar cake to distribute to the groups of guests when she stopped, mid-cut. She had never heard her father want for adventure. His voice. That wistful tone. For Charlie III, her father was always down to business, getting things done.

“During their adventures,” Charlie Jnr continued, “they had much fun. I was proud to be the one holding the helm at the factory. Making sure everything ran smoothly.”

            Charlie III put down her knife and directed her full attention to her father.

            “Reflecting on my life this week, knowing I would be seeing you all here at this celebration, I wonder whether life might have been different if I had embraced some of the whimsy and fantasy of Mr Wonka and my father.”

            Charlie III put her hand to her mouth with surprise and shock. Did her father really believe this? Was this just the thinking of a man in the autumn years of his life? Or had he always thought this way?

            Charlie Jnr appeared to blink once or twice and returned to his world of efficiency and order. “I would like to thank you all for coming along and celebrating with me. I would like to thank Charlie, my daughter, for organising this party and the wonderful cake, shaped like the Wonka bar that is so pivotal to our family’s legacy. Please, stay, and enjoy the wonderful food and drinks that Charlie has provided. And thank you once again for coming along.” Charlie Jnr bowed slightly to indicate that this was the end of his speech. The group of guests applauded and returned to eating and talking.

Charlie (the original)

            The hot air balloon ride was the most fantastical adventure of Charlie (the original)’s life, after the factory, that was. “Oh, Charlie, this is just the start of our adventures!” Mr Wonka said as he drove back towards the factory. “We will embark on all manner of exciting adventures,” Mr Wonka said excitedly. “Yes, we will make sure the adoring public has access to our delicious offerings at the chocolate factory, but we shall also have the most fantastic, fabulous fun forever.”

            Charlie could but dream about what might come next in this rollercoaster that was his life.

Charlie Jnr

            By 8am the day after the funeral, Charlie Jnr was back in the office. He was there at 8am every day. There was stock to process. There were employees to manage. There were invoices to reconcile. There was the Chocolate River to keep clean and hygienic. There was the Inventing Room to go to to analyse new inventions. There was the Chewing Gum Stretching Room to go to to check the Taffy Puller.

            It was his duty to run the factory to his best ability. That’s what his father and Mr Wonka would have wanted, though Charlie Jnr was proud of the automation the chocolate factory embraced next. Charlie Jnr was proud of the accomplishments he made in this area. Chocolate bars were now produced on a conveyor belt, with machines pouring the chocolate, automatic blades cutting the chocolate, and robot arms wrapping the chocolate in the distinctive purple wrappers.

Charlie III

Following her father’s party and the speech he gave, coupled with her inability to stop staring at the hot air balloon photo of Charlie (the original) and Mr Wonka, Charlie III was unsettled. She had an unnerving feeling that perhaps her life was not where it should be. She was very much like her father. She did not have many friends. She worked all daylight hours for the company. Unlike her father, however, she had not found love and did not have any children. She knew the love that her mother shared with her father. Even when her mother was alive, her father worked a lot of the time. Charlie realised that, over the years, she spent time with her father only when he was showing her how to run the company. That was time she had cherished over time, but looking back over her past, was it really quality time? Did her father enjoy his life? Did she enjoy hers?

Charlie Jnr

            Once all of the stock was processed and the employees managed and the invoices reconciled and the Chocolate River cleaned and the Inventing Room analysed and the Taffy Puller checked, Charlie Jnr returned to his office. There on his desk was a picture of his lovely wife Victoria holding dear little Charlie III. He had initially resisted calling Charlie, Charlie. His father was Charlie. He was Charlie. Was there really a need for a third? But Victoria had insisted, wanting to continue the family name.

            Leaning back, quite carefully as everything Charlie Jnr did was quite careful, in his office chair, he stared at the photo, thinking back to the time he first saw Victoria. She had been on a tour of the factory. Charlie Jnr thought that she must have been there to see the Oompa Loompas. Everyone seemed to be there to see the Oompa Loompas at the time. Later Victoria told him that she had come to the factory with the sole purpose of bumping into him, carefully, of course. Newspaper stories about Charlie Jnr had portrayed the man as a careful, meticulous man. Victoria saw a rather handsome man too, and this had prompted her to pursue her perfectly formed dreams about meeting him. She set out from her home one dreary morning. Not the weather she had imagined in her perfectly formed dreams but set out she did. She hopped on the bus heading towards the factory. There were regularly scheduled journeys from just about anywhere to the factory, thanks to the awe and wonder of the Oompa Loompas. She sat on the front seat of the bus, as she had planned in her perfectly formed dreams about meeting Charlie Jnr. She alighted the bus right in front of the factory, arriving just in time for the 10am tour of the factory. She hung to the back of the tour group to be able to sneak off, which she did just after the Chocolate River, all as she had planned. She crept down the corridor leading to the Inventing Room. And before she knew it, she was standing right in front of Charlie Jnr, as she had planned in her perfectly formed dreams about meeting Charlie Jnr.

            Charlie Jnr was meticulous in all that he did, including sticking to a strict schedule of processing and managing and reconciling and cleaning and analysing and checking. In one obscure article about Charlie Jnr, where the reporter was, for once, not interested in Oompa Loompas, Charlie Jnr outlined his strict schedule of processing and managing and reconciling and cleaning and analysing and checking. He told the reporter the time of day he processed stock. He told the reporter the time of day he managed employees. He told the reporter the time of day he reconciled invoices. He told the reporter the time of day he cleaned the Chocolate River. He told the reporter the time of day he analysed the Inventing Room. And he told the reporter the time of day he checked the Taffy Puller. So, Victoria knew the exact time of day that Charlie Jnr would be exiting the Chocolate River after cleaning it, heading over to the Inventing Room to analyse it.

Charlie III

Charlie III once again passed the photos in her office, lingering on the image of Charlie (the original) and Mr Wonka standing in front of a hot air balloon. Slowly, a smile crept over her face. An idea seeped into her mind. A light brightened in her eyes. She scanned all of photos on the wall of Charlie (the original) and Mr Wonka, and, if such a thing were possible, there would have been a light bulb illuminating above her head.

Charlie Jnr

Charlie Jnr was startled to see a lovely young lady standing in the corridor between the Chocolate River and the Inventing Room. This was not part of his strict schedule. He stopped. And smiled.

“Mr Bucket…,” she started to say.

“Call me Charlie,” Charlie Jnr jumped in to say, “Mr Bucket was my father.” He said this, even though his father was always called Charlie, never Mr Bucket.

“Alright then. Charlie, it’s a pleasure of mine to be able to meet you. My name is Victoria.”

“Hello, Victoria,” he said somewhat awkwardly. He wasn’t used to speaking to people who did not work for him. He felt fluttering inside him and worried he might have a kaleidoscope of butterflies in his stomach. The image of a kaleidoscope of butterflies fluttering around inside him made his smile increase.

“I hope you don’t mind that I stepped away from the tour group to try to find you?” she said.

Charlie Jnr smiled.

“I’ve been reading about you for many years in the newspaper,” she said.

Charlie Jnr smiled.

“And I tracked your schedule so I knew you would be in this corridor at this time,” she said.

Charlie Jnr smiled, but his brow furrowed slightly. Should he be worried that she tracked him in this way?

“Oh, don’t worry,” she said, as if reading his mind. “I’m not here to cause you any harm. I’m here to ask if you would like to have a cup of coffee or tea with me one day.”

Charlie Jnr smiled, his frown receding.

“I have written my number on this card,” she said, handing over the card, as she had planned in her perfectly formed dreams about meeting Charlie Jnr. “Please do call me for that coffee or tea.”

Charlie Jnr continued smiling as Victoria gave him a small little wave before turned back towards the Chocolate River room to re-join the tour.

Charlie Jnr stood, smiling, the kaleidoscope of butterflies continuing to flitter and flutter in his stomach. He looked down at the card. The name Victoria was written in beautiful calligraphic script. Her number below it.

Chapter Text

Chapter 4

Charlie III

            Charlie III stood nervously as instructions were given. “Please get ready to enter the basket and let staff know if you need assistance. We will then conduct pre-flight equipment checks.”

            Charlie III entered the basket of the hot air balloon. In the photo of Charlie (the original) and Mr Wonka, they were all smiles. She was all nerves.

            After the safety briefing was complete, the balloon began to rise into the sky. Nerves soon gave way to wonderment. The balloon rose into the sky, the sunrise just peaking over the horizon, casting a warming orange hue over the fields below. Charlie III held her face out towards the sunrise, breathed in deeply, and let a smile creep over her face. She turned to the passenger standing next to her. “It’s amazing!” she said, before realising the person next to her did not show the same level of wonderment that she felt inside herself.

            “Are you ok?” Charlie III, looking around at all the other passengers and the staff busily tending to the balloon, keeping it moving gracefully through the air.

            “I’m sc-sc-scared of heights,” the petrified passenger puffed.

            “Why are you up here then!?” Charlie III said, surprised that someone would put themselves in such a position at such as altitude with such fear.

            “I’m t-t-trying to-to-to challenge myself. Work th-th-through my fears,” the petrified passenger puffed.

            “Can I help in any way?” Charlie asked.

            “No, th-th-thank you. I’m j-j-just going to w-w-work through the fear,” the petrified passenger puffed.

            “Well, I’m here if you need me,” Charlie III said. “My name is Charlie.”

            “M-m-my name is Helena.”

Charlie (the original)

            “Charlie, my boy,” said Mr Wonka, “How was that for an adventure?”

            “Mr Wonka, that was awesome!” said Charlie (the original). “I can’t believe how high the balloon went! And all the things we could see from up there! And the sunrise… all that orange!”

            “Yes, young Charlie,” said Mr Wonka, “This gives me an idea! A new invention!”

            “But what, Mr Wonka?” said Charlie.

            “Hmmm, Charlie. What indeed! Orange. Sky. Balloon. Buildings. Fields. People. Sunrise. Hot. Air.”

            “Hot orange…?” said Charlie.

            “If you eat Hot Orange Fudge when you are feeling angry, it will turn in to Cool Bright Blue Cotton Candy and feelings of happiness happen,” said Mr Wonka. “But, of course, you can pretend to be happy or angry to have the deliciousness you desire. If you want fudge, act angry. If you want cotton candy, harness happiness.”

            “Oh, Mr Wonka, that sounds just wonderful!” said Charlie, smiling up at Mr Wonka in wonderment.

Charlie Jnr

            Charlie Jnr paced up and back, up and back, up and back. And then he paced up and back and up and back some more. He turned the card with Victoria’s name and number over and over and over again in his hand. He turned the card, he paced, he turned and paced, turned and paced, turned and paced. He quickly picked up the telephone and dialled the number. Then he hung up. He quickly picked up the telephone and dialled the number. Then he hung up. He quickly picked up the telephone and dialled the number. Then he hung up. He quickly picked up the telephone and dialled the number. Then he hung up.

Charlie III

            Charlie III and Helena stood side-by-side in a majestic hot air balloon. Charlie III was amazed by the experience. Helena was petrified by fear. Charlie III put her hand gently on Helena’s hand. She felt trembling in her palm from Helena’s hand. Helena turned and gave Charlie III a very slight smile. Charlie III knew it was the biggest smile Helena could currently muster. Without saying more, Charlie III looked out again at the magnificent landscape, taking in all the colours. All the shapes. All the smells. All the sounds. She felt admiration for Helena. Facing her fears. Overcoming her uneasiness. Calling on her courage.

            The hot air balloon ride seemed over much too soon. As Charlie exited the basket of the balloon once they were safely on the ground, she turned to check on Helena. She looked more relieved now she was closer to the ground.

            “Helena, how are you feeling?” Charlie asked.

            “That was great. Really good. I think I’m feeling such a mix of emotions. Thanks for checking on me up there! Sorry if I worried you!”

            “Not at all. I’m glad you had a good time, as much as you could,” Charlie replied.

            The balloon operators had set up a picnic for the travellers to enjoy. Before everyone sat on the picnic blankets lined with an astounding assortment of appetizers and glasses of spectacular sparkling wine, the balloon operators requested that people pose for photographs.

            This seemed like a monumental moment for Charlie. A photo of herself, after completing the first of the adventures that Charlie (the original) and Mr Wonka embarked upon. Was this to be the first of her future of adventures?

Charlie Jnr

            “Hello?”

            “Hello?”

            “Hello, is this Victoria?”

            “Yes, this is Victoria.”

            “It’s Charlie. Charlie Bucket.”

            “Hello, Charlie Bucket.”

            Charlie Jnr took a big deep breath.

“Victoria, I was wondering if you would be free for dinner with me one evening soon?”

Victoria smiled very brightly.

“Charlie, I would be delighted.”

Charlie Jnr smiled very brightly.

“Is Friday any good for you?
            “Friday is very good for me.”

Charlie Jnr’s heart skipped a beat.

Victoria’s heart skipped a beat.

“Tell me your address and I can pick you up at 8.”

Charlie (the original)

In the Inventing Room, Charlie (the original) watched as Mr Wonka and one of the Oompa Loompas pressed buttons on a Large Machine with Many Buttons.

“This will add the orange for the hot orange fudge,” said Mr Wonka, pressing an orange button.

“This will add the blue for the Cool Bright Blue Cotton Candy,” said Thermisto, the Oompa Loompa, pressing a blue button.

“This button is for fudge,” said Mr Wonka, pressing the button with a picture of fudge on it.

“This button is for cotton candy,” said Thermisto, pressing the button with a picture of cotton candy on it.

Mr Wonka pulled a lever on the side of the Large Machine with Many Buttons. Thermisto pulled a lever on the other side of the Large Machine with Many Buttons.

“Perfectly precise,” said Mr Wonka.

“Cleverly created,” said Thermisto.

“This is amazing!” said Charlie, fully flabbergasted by the development of the delicious delights that would be manufactured at the factory for all the children of the world to eat.

Mr Wonka strode over towards a big red button on the wall of the Inventing Room, just over from the Large Machine with Many Buttons. “Come with me, Charlie,” he said. “You must press this big red button.”

“What does the big red button do, Mr Wonka?”

“Why, my dear Charlie, this is the big red button that makes our newest invention come to life!”

Charlie hurried over to the big red button and pressed it with a flourish. Noises whirred from behind walls. Clunks clanked in the distance. Sounds of gears and cogs moving crunching evaded the air. Whistling noises could be heard from all angles.

Whirring. Clunking. Clanking. Crunching. Whistling.

Whistling. Crunching. Clanking. Clunking. Whirring.

Out through a chute next to the big red button popped a square of hot orange fudge. Next, out popped a fluffy cloud of Cool Bright Blue Cotton Candy.

A hissing noise emanated from all around as if the effort of making the Hot Orange Fudge and the Cool Bright Blue Cotton Candy was a little too much for the Large Machine with Many Buttons and it needed to sigh in relief.

There were no such sighs from Mr Wonka or Charlie or Thermisto. Instead, there were ‘ooohs’ and ‘aaahs’ and ‘mmmmms’ and ‘woahs’.

“And now to taste the Hot Orange Fudge and the Cool Bright Blue Cotton Candy,” said Mr Wonka, handing a piece of the Hot Orange Fudge to Charlie and handing a piece of the Cool Bright Blue Cotton Candy to Thermisto.

Charlie took a bite of the hot orange fudge.

Thermisto took a bite of the Cool Bright Blue Cotton Candy.

Mr Wonka looked expectantly at Charlie eating the Hot Orange Fudge and then Mr Wonka looked eagerly at Thermisto eating the Cool Bright Blue Cotton Candy.

“Scrumdiddilyuptious!” said Charlie.

“Marvelicious!” said Thermisto.

“Let’s try to change the flavour with our feelings,” said Mr Wonka. “Charlie, you start pretending to feel happy. Thermisto,” Mr Wonka said, looked at the Oompa Loompa, “you star pretending to feel angry.”

Charlie started to pretend to be happy and before his eyes, the Hot Orange Fudge changed into Cool Bright Blue Cotton Candy.

Thermisto, the Oompa Loompa, started to pretend to be angry and before their eyes, the Cool Bright Blue Cotton Candy changed into hot orange fudge.

“Impeccable!” exclaimed Mr Wonka.

Charlie Jnr

            At 8pm exactly, Charlie Jnr knocked on Victoria’s door. As she opened the door, Charlie Jnr stood in awe. If he hadn’t known it before, he was now very clear that this would be the women he would marry, if she would do him the honour.

            “I thought we would stroll to the restaurant two blocks away, if that is alright with you, Victoria?”

            “That would be lovely, Charlie,” Victoria said, as she wrapped her arm in his and they set out over the two blocks to the restaurant.

As they walked arm in arm down the street, Charlie Jnr felt his heart racing. He was unsure how he could be so lucky to have run into Victoria at the factory. He never much went out when he was not at the factory, so the chances of meeting someone, anyone, friend or more, was low. And yet, here, he was strolling arm in arm, on his way to dinner, with one of the most beautiful women he had ever seen. Her long blond hair was neatly held down with peacock blue clips. She had the slightest touch of colour on her lips which made Charlie Jnr want to kiss her.

As they walked arm in arm down the street, Victoria felt her heart racing. She was unsure how she could have been so lucky that Charlie Jnr called her back after she tracked him down at the factory. She was never normally very bold in her behaviour as to do something like leaving an organised tour group to go in search of a man she had only read about and seen pictures of. And for him to call her back, well. That was just grand. He walked next to her, arm in arm, his blond hair a little unkempt the way slightly curly hair always tended to be. He had the slightest touch of colour on his cheeks which made Victoria want to kiss him.

Charlie III

Charlie III nibbled on some nuts and smiled as Helena came to sit next to her on the very large picnic blanket. Helena let out another relieved sigh and took the glass of sparkling wine offered to her by their lovely hosts. “I need this!” she said.

“Yes, it is such a delightful ending to a delightful morning!”

Their helpful hosts then presented the balloon guests with more enchantments, including none other than platters of Wonka’s Hot Orange Fudge and Cool Bright Blue Cotton Candy. Charlie smiled to herself.

“Oh, I love these!” exclaimed an excited Helena, “I just wish you could change into different emotions. And maybe see more colours when you chew them!”

“What emotions and what colours would you like to see?” Charlie asked.

“Maybe something green when you are feeling jealous to make you less jealous. Or dark blue when you’re feeling really sad and don’t want to feel too sad. And a bright yellow for when you are so excited about something and want to be even more excited!”

“Wow, Helena, they are great ideas,” said Charlie. “What colour would go with your nervousness of today?”

“Purple,” said Helena, “Definitely purple!”

Charlie smiled some more. Why had they only kept the two colours and emotions? At her father’s helm at the factory, he had pretty much kept the same product line as Charlie (the original) and Mr Wonka. Sure, they had expanded to different countries. They had changed packaging and made things more environmentally friendly, but the products remained the same. Perhaps her father thought that what was not broken need not be fixed.

“Helena, how would you like to come to Wonka HQ and meet with our research and development team?”

Helena gave Charlie a very strange look.

“I’m Charlie Bucket,” said Charlie III.

Helena looked excited but embarrassed all at the same time. “Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to tell you how to run your business!”

“I’m glad you did!” Charlie beamed. “We need people like you. Thinkers! Let me know your number and I will call you to set it up!”

On the way home from her exquisite morning, Charlie had chocolate and candy flavours and combinations swirling through her thoughts. Honeycomb of some sort seemed to suit yellow and excited. Popping candy was perfect for purple and nervous. When Charlie III thought of green and jealous, jelly snakes that slithered and were slimy seemed apt. She got a little stuck with dark blue and sadness, perhaps because she was currently so very far from feeling that way that she couldn’t even picture pretending to feel that way. Maybe Helena would have some ideas.

Chapter Text

Chapter 5

Charlie III

            Charlie III waved to Helena as she left Wonka HQ. Having come up with blueberry chocolate for dark blue sadness (which Helena said might even bring some much-needed endorphins when eating, helping improve one’s mood), and five other flavours and emotions, Charlie felt happier than she had for some time.

            Back in her office, she stood in front of the next photograph in the line of photographs of her great-grandfather and Mr Wonka. Should she? She’d never done it before.

            Charlie (the original) looked older in the photo, growing more into a teen than a boy. He still displayed a sensational smile standing next to the always debonaire Mr Wonka, himself sporting a smile.

            Charlie returned to her desk and saw that there was a package waiting for her. She opened it. It was the framed picture of her standing in front of the magnificent hot air balloon. If ever there was a sign!

            Charlie went over to Charlie (the original) and Mr Wonka’s hot air balloon photo and held her own version of the photo just below it where she intended to hang it permanently. She smiled. It seemed like she was off on adventure number two.

Charlie (the original)

            “Mr Wonka, where are we going?” Charlie (the original) asked.

            “On our next adventure, young boy!” Mr Wonka exclaimed.

            “Will you tell me what the adventure is?” asked Charlie.

            “Not yet, my boy. You shall see soon enough!” said Mr Wonka.

            Mr Wonka drove his car, with the top down, through the streets, with the buildings decreasing in density, before they made the turn to what was, most clearly, an adventure park. In the distance, Charlie could see the biggest, the twistiest, the most excitingly terrifying roller coaster. Two tracks of black metal curled and bended and kinked and coiled around and up and down and in loops.

            “Are we going on that, Mr Wonka?” Charlie asked, pointing to the ginormous roller coaster.

            “We are, indeed, Charlie,” said Mr Wonka, grinning from ear to ear.

            They entered the adventure park together and weaved their way through crowds of adventure park visitors and adventure park hosts. There were two types of hosts. Those who wore yellow and purple outfits and those who wore purple and yellow outfits. The yellow and purple hosts wore long, smartly tailored pants in yellow and purple stripes with long sleeved button-up shirts in yellow and purple stripes. Atop their heads were canotier hats with horizontal yellow- and purple-striped trim. The purple and yellow hosts, by contrast, wore long, smartly tailored pants in purple and yellow stripes with long sleeves button-up shirts in purple and yellow stripes. Their canotier hats had horizontal purple and yellow stripes.

            “Welcome, Mr Wonka,” said one of the purple and yellow staff hosts. “Are you here to ride our spectacular show ride – the Ravine Roller Coaster Ride?”

            “Yes, please sir!” answered Charlie on behalf of Mr Wonka, unable to contain his excitement.

            The purple and yellow host opened a small gate to let Charlie and Mr Wonka through where they were greeted by a yellow and purple host. “Come this way, gentlemen,” said the yellow and purple host, giving a curt nod to the purple and yellow host.

            The yellow and purple host lead the duo up three flights of metal stairs to a landing deck where Charlie and Mr Wonka were shown into a carriage for the Ravine Roller Coaster Ride. They were strapped in with a seat belt clasped firmly at their hips. A large arch-shaped metal bar was then clicked into place, further securing them into the carriage.

            Charlie began to feel his nerves rise. From where he was sitting, all he could see was a dark tunnel ahead. He knew a little of what was beyond that tunnel, and he feel his knees knocking together in nervousness. “Mr Wonka, I’m scared!”

            “This is an adventure, Charlie. What good would an adventure be without a little thrill and a little terror?”

            “A little thrill and a little terror?” stammered Charlie.

            “Yes, my boy! It will all be worth it, mark my words!”

            Before they could say more, the carriage started to slowly creak forward. Charlie gripped Mr Wonka’s hand tightly. The carriage crept slowing forward to the end of the dark part of the tunnel and emerged into the light, pausing. Charlie and Mr Wonka looked out of the adventure park and beyond. Mr Wonka admired the view. Charlie tried to embrace the little terror which seemed like a big terror to him.

            The carriage then picked up speed. Charlie could not see any metal tracks ahead of him. He started to panic. “Mr W-w-w-onka,” stuttered Charlie, but any more words were gobbled up by his screams. At first, they were screams of fright, but these soon turned to screams of delight. The Ravine Roller Coaster Ride plunged almost immediately, tracking vertically. Charlie’s blond curls flew backwards. Mr Wonka’s suit collars flapped around his chin, his smile so wide, but his lips slightly wavering with the force of the air whipping past his face.

            The Ravine Roller Coaster Ride twisted. The Ravine Roller Coaster Ride turned. The Ravine Roller Coaster Ride tipped. The Ravine Roller Coaster Ride tumbled. At the highest points, the carriage paused for maximum suspense before tumbling again, causing the Ravine Roller Coaster Ride riders to gasp and gush and scream and sigh and wobble and bobble.

            When the Ravine Roller Coaster Ride pulled to a peaceful stop at the end, it felt to Charlie that it was the shortest ride but also the longest ride he had ever had.

            “Well, my boy. How was that for an adventure? A little thrill and a little terror. Just magnificent!”

Charlie Jnr

            The pipe organ rang out a bridal chorus throughout the church. Charlie Jnr turned to look down the aisle, waiting in anticipation. People in the pews peered towards the back of the church. Flutters of white rose petals signalled the entry of a flower girl and boy. They held small baskets in their hands and pulled out handfuls of the white petals to toss gently in the air. The petals landed with contrast on the red carpet below them. As the cute children continued to amble down the aisle, a bridesmaid and a groomsman, arm in arm, entered. As they stepped gently over the white rose petals, towards the front of the aisle, out came another bridesmaid, arm in arm with another groomsman. Quiet whispers were heard through the crowd as Victoria and her father came into sight. When Charlie Jnr saw Victoria, his heart skipped a beat. When Victoria saw Charlie Jnr, her heart skipped a beat.

            Their courtship had been very traditional with dinner dates and picnic dates and river cruise dates and dates at the zoo and dates at the apple picking orchard and dates at the beach and dates at the park.

            Whilst Charlie Jnr had decided that Victoria was the one he wanted to marry from the moment he laid eyes on her, he struggled to find the right time to propose marriage to her. He wanted it to be perfect. He wanted her to be surprised. He wanted her to say yes.

            Six months ago, Charlie Jnr arranged to meet Victoria at the factory with the view to heading out for a dinner date. Charlie Jnr met her at the front gates and lead her through to the Chocolate River room. “Hop in, Victoria,” he said, assisting her to step into the Chocolate River boat. As the boat floated along the Chocolate River, Charlie Jnr pulled out a picnic basket with a baguette and cheese. “Oh Charlie, what is this all about?”

            “I thought you might be a little hungry. I have a few things to check at the factory still,” Charlie Jnr said, trying to throw her off the path of what he had intended for the evening. This was a very common phrase he used, often having to check a few things in the factory before they could go to dinner.

            At the end of the Chocolate River, Charlie Jnr hopped out and held his hand out for Victoria to hold whilst she alighted the boat. “Where to now?” said Victoria, a little hesitant about what Charlie Jnr had in mind next.

            “I just have to check a few things in the Fizzy Lifting Drinks Room,” he said.

            Victoria walked with Charlie Jnr to the Fizzy Lifting Drinks Room. Inside, Charlie Jnr pressed large several buttons on the large machine, and from the conveyor belt, two long-stemmed glasses appeared with some fizzy drink in them. “We might just have to see if these drinks still have any lifting power in them. I heard someone say today that they did not.”

            Victoria looked perplexed but knew how seriously Charlie Jnr took his position in the factory and, if he said they needed to test the fizzy lifting drinks, then she would test the fizzy lifting drinks. She took a sip from the long-stemmed glass of fizzy lifting drink. Charlie Jnr took a little more than a sip from the long-stemmed glass of fizzy lifting drink.

            “When should we know if the fizzy lifting drinks have lost their lifting power?” said Victoria, but before Charlie Jnr could answer, his feet started to lift off the ground. Victoria giggled. Before she knew it, her own feet began to lift from the ground.

            “Oh, Charlie, I think it’s working!” said Victoria, giggling more. Charlie Jnr giggled too. It wasn’t often that Victoria giggled. Victoria giggled more. It wasn’t often that Charlie Jnr giggled.

Charlie Jnr and Victoria floated around the Fizzy Lifting Drinks Room, giggling, and then giggling more because the other was giggling. And they didn’t often giggle.

Charlie (the original)

Mr Wonka paced and paced and paced wall to wall to wall in the Inventing Room, his arms clasped behind him. Charlie paced and paced wall to wall to wall, following right behind Mr Wonka, also clasping his hands behind him. He was unsure what the purpose of the pacing was, but he assumed Mr Wonka knew what he was doing.

Charlie Jnr

            After they had descended from the ceiling of the Fizzy Lifting Drinks Room, Charlie Jnr said, “Just two more rooms to check.” Charlie Jnr led Victoria to the Printing Room. “I heard today that the printing in the Printing Room was not printing things accurately.”

Charlie Jnr led Victoria to the Printing Machine with Large Buttons and requested that she type in a word to be printed on candy and chocolate. Victoria typed letters on the Printing Machine with Large Buttons. Noises whirred from behind walls. Clunks clanked in the distance. Sounds of gears and cogs moving crunching evaded the air. Whistling noises could be heard from all angles.

Whirring. Clunking. Clanking. Crunching. Whistling.

Whistling. Crunching. Clanking. Clunking. Whirring.

            Out popped a chocolate bar shaped in the letters C H A R L I E.

Charlie Jnr then typed letters on the Printing Machine with Large Buttons. Noises whirred from behind walls. Clunks clanked in the distance. Sounds of gears and cogs moving crunching evaded the air. Whistling noises could be heard from all angles.

Whirring. Clunking. Clanking. Crunching. Whistling.

Whistling. Crunching. Clanking. Clunking. Whirring.

            Out popped a chocolate bar shaped in the letters V I C T O R I A.

            Next on their journey to assess the issues with the factory, Charlie Jnr and Victoria walked through the halls munching letter-shaped chocolate, to the back storeroom. This was not one of the fancy factory rooms with Large Machine with Many Buttons or conveyor belts that made a myriad of noises. It was, well, a storeroom. She had never been to the storeroom, and she hoped it would be quick check before they ventured on to dinner. She was thinking of pasta when Charlie Jnr opened the storeroom door with a flourish.

            Victoria gasped. It was not a storeroom. The door labelled storeroom opened to a field of lush green grass. The door labelled storeroom opened to a lush field of green grass with the most beautiful, pastel-coloured flowers dotted all over. The door labelled storeroom opened to a lush field of green grass with the most beautiful, pastel-coloured flowers dotted all over and a picnic blanket spread over the lush green grass. Right in the middle of the picnic blanket on the lush green grass was a picnic basket. On top of the picnic basket was a small box.

            “I have some food in the picnic basket,” said Charlie Jnr, full or nerves. He held Victoria’s hand as he led her over to the picnic blanket and sat beside her. He pretended to disregard the small box. He offered her a glass of sparkling wine. He took a sip of one himself. He offered her a cucumber and cream cheese sandwich cut into a delicate rectangle. He took a bite of one himself. He offered her a watermelon slice cut into a symmetrical triangle. He took a bite of one himself. He offered her a shortbread biscuit, shaped in a perfect circle. He took a bite of one himself.

            And then he could wait no more. He took the little box, still perched, ignored by all, on top of the picnic basket. He raised himself so he was on one knee. He opened the little box and took a very big breath.

            “Victoria. You make me the happiest person I can be. You make me happier than the Oompa Loompas drinking too much Fizzy Lifting Drink. You make me happier than my father when he won the Golden Ticket. Victoria, you are my Golden Ticket. Will you marry me?”

Charlie III

            The same adventure park where Charlie (the original) and Mr Wonka had their next adventure was still in operation. Over the many years since the moment captured in time on Charlie III’s office wall, the roller coaster had become bigger and better and scarier and much, much more menacing-looking. From the car park, Charlie could see a monstrosity of metal, twisting and turning in the sky like a vulture twisting and turning in search of its prey. It was still called the Ravine Roller Coaster Ride.

            Charlie paid for her ticket from a smiling young person, dressed in the same purple and yellow uniform that the adventure park had always had, but in a much more casual presentation. Long, smartly tailored pants in yellow and purple stripes had given way to tailored shorts in yellow and purple stripes. Long sleeved button-up shirts in yellow and purple stripes became yellow and purple striped polo shirts. Atop their heads were yellow caps with a purple stripe down the middle instead of the canotier hats with horizontal yellow and purple striped trim. Of course, there was still purple and yellow hosts, with purple and yellow shorts and purple and yellow polo shirts. Their caps were purple with a yellow striped trim.

            Charlie wondered the adventure park at leisure, taking in the sounds of the rides and of the chatting and laughing patrons. Occasionally, she heard screams from some of the scarier rides, building her own nerves about the roller coaster. Charlie (the original) seemed to be a teen when he rode the roller coaster, so surely Charlie III would cope with the thrills?

            At a food stand, Charlie bought a corn on a cob, speared on a stick, chargrilled and dripping with butter. She wasn’t sure if it was the best idea to eat before she ventured onto the roller coaster, but the corn was so tasty she couldn’t resist gobbling it down, leaving butter dripping from her chin.

            Finally, she made her way to the Ravine Roller Coaster Ride and started the journey up the stairs to the landing where she would get on the rollercoaster with three other people. She saw that the carriages for the Ravine Roller Coaster Ride were four-abreast. Charlie looked at the people ahead of her in the line and behind her in the line. She realised that the person before her and two people behind her would be her fellow Ravine Roller Coaster Ride riders. The person in front of her was a young man with a spikey green mohawk. He wore a bright pink shirt with yellow shorts. Charlie admired the brightness of the colours he wore. She could only catch glimpses of the two people behind her, a couple it seemed, as they were holding hands and giving each other occasional pecks on the cheek whilst they waited in line for their turn.

            Finally, when the Ravine Roller Coaster Ride came back around on its journey, the young man ahead of her entered the carriage, taking the position on the far side. Next, Charlie got in the carriage. She turned to the young man and said, “Hi there, I’m Charlie.”

            “Edward,” said the young man, securing his waist belt.

            “Have you been on this ride before?” Charlie asked.

            “It’s my tenth time today,” he said with a very matter-of-fact manner.

            “Ten times!” said Charlie. “Any tips on survival?”

            “Man, just enjoy it. It’s so cool,” said Edward, in the same matter-of-fact tone.

            Next to Charlie, on the other side, were two young ladies.

            “Hi, I’m Charlie,” Charlie greeted them.

            The young lady next to Charlie offered a small smile and bucked her seatbelt.

            “I’m Ocean and this is Aja,” said the young lady sitting at the end.

            “Nice to meet you,” said Charlie. Before she could say more, the Ravine Roller Coaster Ride began to move. Charlie felt a sense of excitement. Just enjoy it, she thought, mirroring the words of young Edward sitting next to her. And enjoy it, she did! In fact, she rode it nine more times, just as Edward had done. He was right, it was cool.

            As Charlie walked towards the exit of the adventure park, she saw Ocean and Aja heading the same way. She jogged to catch up with them, an idea suddenly in her head.

            “Ocean! Aja!” she called.

            Ocean turned towards Charlie, with Aja turning just after Ocean.

            “Hi. Sorry. This might seem like an unusual request, but would you do me the honour of coming to the Wonka factory next week? We’re asking people to meet with the executive team to talk about product ideas.” The idea popped into her head, thinking of Helena, who had such wonderful visions of confectionery to expand the Wonka brand. Perhaps others also had wonderful visions of confectionery. It didn’t hurt to ask.

            Aja looked to Ocean, who signed to Aja what Charlie had said. They both turned and looked a little perplexed, unsure of this stranger asking such things of them, unsure of how to respond.

            “I’m sorry, I don’t know sign language,” she said apologetically, “But, I’m Charlie Bucket, the CEO of the Wonka factory. How about I grab your numbers and someone from Wonka will be in touch?” Charlie looked between Ocean and Aja, patiently waiting for Ocean to sign to Aja and for Aja to sign back.

            “Sure,” said Ocean.

            In the car park, Charlie saw Edward waiting for a bus. “Edward!” she called. “I went on the rollercoaster ten times! You’re right – it is cool!”

            Edward smiled. Charlie proposed the same proposition to Edward that she proposed to Ocean and Aja. He was much more animated and much less perplexed than Ocean and Aja, showing a level of excitement that Charlie found infectious.

Charlie (the original)

            Mr Wonka stopped pacing in a very sudden motion and Charlie (the original) almost ran into the back of him. He spun on his heels and wildly walked to the Large Machine with Many Buttons and pressed several of the many, many buttons. He then pulled the lever. The machine began its whirring, whizzing, wonderful sounds. The conveyor belt moved. Atop it was Mr Wonka’s latest creation: a long strap of liquorice that, when eaten, gave the eater the feeling of being on a roller coaster. A little thrill and a little terror.

Charlie Jnr

            “Do you take Victoria Markham to be your wedded wife?”

            “I do,” said Charlie Jnr.

            “Do you take Charlie Bucket Jnr to be your wedded husband?”

            “I do,” said Victoria.

Chapter Text

Chapter 6

Charlie III

            Edward, Ocean, Aja, and Helena sat around the board room table on the top floor of the Wonka office. Scattered on the table was every Wonka creation currently created. Charlie had valued Helena’s input so much that she invited her along with the three people she had met on the Ravine Roller Coaster Ride, all four of whom Charlie had met whilst beginning the journey following her great grandfather’s adventurous pathway.

            “We are happy to hear all your thoughts about changes to existing products or new ones that we could make,” said Charlie.

Charlie Jnr

            Two years after they had married, Victoria anxiously announced that they would soon be a family of three. Charlie Jnr was proud as punch and took Victoria into his arms and they twirled and twirled around their living room floor as if they were dancing together in the grandest ballroom, with chandeliers hanging from the ceiling above and the finest parquetry flooring below. In his mind, Victoria had transformed from the plain blue dress she was wearing to the most magnificent turquoise ball gown, and he had transformed into the most exquisitely tailored tuxedo and top hat.

Charlie (the original)

Several years after moving into the Wonka mansion, Grandpa Joe, Grandma Josephine, Grandpa George and Grandma Georgina never really did much venture from the comfort of their beds, even though there were twenty-one rooms in the Wonka mansion. Having spent many, many years sharing beds in small spaces, the space around them in the twenty-one-room mansion was too much. So most often, when Charlie went in to check on the foursome, he found them there, all tucked into one bed, just as he had always seen them. Sometimes, they were bickering about the politics of the world and which world leaders were making the right decisions and which world leaders were making the wrong decisions, and which world leaders were making no decisions when even a right or wrong one would have been preferrable. Sometimes, they were laughing and sharing stories of their past. Because they had spent most of their most recent years all in the same bed together, there weren’t a lot of new, or even very interesting, stories to tell, so the story of Charlie and his glorious Golden Ticket was on high repetition.

“Do you remember when Charlie ate that first Wonka bar? We thought, for sure, he was going to find the Golden Ticket!” said Grandpa Joe.

“And do you remember when that horrid young urchin Augustus Gloop found a ticket?” said Grandma Josephine.

“And do you remember when that snotty little brat Veruca Salt found a ticket?” said Grandpa George.

“And do you remember when that boy… the one who…,” said Grandma Georgina, who over the years had struggled with her memory.

“That Mike TV boy?” helped Grandpa George, who always seemed to know who Grandma Georgina was referring to.

“Yes. That awful boy. Remember when he found a ticket?” said Grandma Georgina.

They all nodded wisely remembering all of the nasty children and then shook their heads in disgust at the memory of the unpleasant children.

On any day that Charlie went to visit Grandpa Joe, Grandma Josephine, Grandpa George and Grandma Georgina, he invariable interrupted the story at a similar point in the retell, with variable degrees of head nodding (at being able to remember the children at all) and variable degrees of head shaking (at remembering their awfulness).

Charlie Jnr

            On the day the next Bucket child was to be born, Charlie Jnr was a bundle of nerves. Victoria, by contrast, was as cool as a cucumber, which was probably best as nobody likes warm cucumbers. Warm cucumbers were all squishy and squelchy.

            When Victoria’s contractions were getting closer and closer and her was pain increasing and increasing, Charlie Jnr helped her into his car and drove her to the hospital.

            Before long, with a lot of pushing and huffing and pushing and huffing, a little Bucket was born. Charlie Bucket the third. Charlie III.

Charlie III

            The round table meeting with Ocean, Aja, Edward, and Helena had ended up being a little awkward as no one spoke up with new or different ideas. No one much spoke at all. Charlie told Ocean, Aja, and Edward about the hot air balloon ride that she and Helena had been on and how it inspired an expansion of Wonka’s Hot Orange Fudge and Cool Bright Blue Cotton Candy concept with a range. Charlie described the new flavours, which held the same properties of the originals developed by Mr Wonka and Charlie (the original), either increase or decrease feelings, depending on what the chewer of the confectionary was wanting and thinking at the time. Honeybee Excited (to increase or decrease excitement), Panicky Purple Popping Candy (to increase or decrease nervousness), Blueberry Blues (to increase or decrease sadness), Green with Envy (which was actually a pleasant lime flavour and increased and decreased jealousy), and Banana Boredom (to increase or decrease boredom). Charlie spoke with enthusiasm, however, when she got the end of her little explanation of the exciting enhancements to the Wonka line, her guests looked perplexed, unsure of what she wanted from them. She thought about giving them all some Honeybee Excited, but she wasn’t sure if that was what was needed.

            “How about we all leave this place and go and get something to eat?’
Charlie suggested. “Indian food, anyone?” she said, an idea brewing in her mind. They all went to the local Indian restaurant they found just around the corner from the Wonka offices. Despite having worked in the Wonka offices for many, many years, Charlie had never been to the local Indian restaurant just around the corner.

            They each ordered a range of delicious meals. Charlie kicked off the conversation with Ocean, Aja, Edward, and Helena by asking about their Indian restaurant experiences. They all shared their loving or loathing of dishes such as butter chicken, chole bhature, and paneer tikka.

            Helena was quiet throughout the conversation about Indian food and ordered only plain rice when the waitstaff came to ask. Edward appeared to be the most talkative but in a chilled manner. He was studying finance in the hope of being able working at the top of the tallest building, with a corner office looking out over the city. Charlie tried to picture Edward, who was wearing a bright blue shirt with pinstriped orange and green pants, in a suit and tie in an office with others in suits and ties. Maybe he was what was needed in those offices. A kaleidoscope of colour. The colour of your clothes did not determine your skill level at doing your job. Mr Wonka was testament to that. Almost always in a top hat and fancy suits in the whole rainbow of colours whilst making candy and chocolate.

            Ocean and Aja, holding hands where possible, signed conversations between them but also signed all the many questions Edward and Charlie asked either of them. Ocean and Aja both worked in community care. Ocean worked supporting the elderly and Aja supported people with disability. They had met at a training course for their industry and had been inseparable since. Ocean hoped to open her own aged care facility in a few years, putting all of the best practice care she had seen into a loving environment for all, not just those who could afford it, but anyone who wanted to live in her care home.

            As food was passed around the table, everyone sharing parts of all of the dishes (except Helena, who was still eating her plain rice), there was much laughter. Edward was a thrill-seeker and regaled everyone with what seemed like enormously tall tales of climbing mountains and skydiving and hand gliding and spear fishing and base jumping and scuba diving. He told them all about a time when he was deep under water and a huge hammer head shark approached him. He told them all about a time when he was halfway up a mountain when a curious yak approached him. He told them all about a time he was gliding in the sky when an elegant eagle approached him. There were many gasps. There were many laughs.

            Helena looked at Edward incredulously with all of his tales. She was a ball of nerves just going in a hot air balloon. “Are you not scared?” she asked him.

            “Nah, it’s all cool. I never get scared. It’s all too exciting to be scared.”

            “B-but what if you get hurt or… die?”

Charlie (the original)

            Charlie (the original) was on his way to see Grandpa Joe, Grandma Josephine, Grandpa George and Grandma Georgina. He has stopped past the factory on his way to bring them each one of their favourite Wonka treats.

            For Grandpa Joe, it was the fudge that was so soft that his poor old teeth could cope with chewing the fudge. Some liked hard fudge, some liked soft fudge. The Wonka factory made fudge for those who liked hard fudge and fudge for those who liked soft fudge and every texture in between. In all, twenty-three different textures of Wonka fudge were available. Wonka Fudge #1 was the hardest. Wonka Fudge #23 was the softest. Grandpa Joe definitely liked Wonka Fudge #23

            For Grandma Josephine, it was the classic Wonka chocolate bar. Purple was her favourite colour, and she loved the classic Wonka bar as this was where Charlie found his Golden Ticket. She had tried a range of other flavours of chocolate, with Charlie even offering to make her a custom flavour of her own choosing, but she always insisted on the classic Wonka chocolate bar.

            For Grandpa George, he liked another one of the originals, the chewing gum that tasted like a three-course meal, called the Wonka Three-Course-Meal Gum. Mr Wonka had modified the recipe slightly to make the gum less sticky as Grandpa George’s dentures kept coming out when he was just past the entrée. Mr Wonka had also varied the combination after Grandpa George complained that he always knew that after the prawn cocktail entrée was the goat’s cheese and pancetta linguine and after the goat’s cheese and pancetta linguine was the apple pie. Grandpa George now had a bowl of Wonka Three-Course-Meal Gums next to his bed, with all of the flavour combination so he never knew what meal he would get next. He wanted a surprise each time he popped a gum into his mouth.

            For Grandma Georgina, she loved liquorice straps, the thin ones that looked a lot like the wool she used in her knitting. She often had a liquorice strap lying on the bed next to the wool. On more than one occasion, recipients of her long, long scarves were treated to a tasty addition of liquorice, knitted right in there.

            Charlie had a basket full of Wonka Fudge #23, classic Wonka chocolate bars, Wonka Three-Course-Meal Gum (assorted varieties), and liquorice straps in all the colours Wonka made, which was 101. Mr Wonka somehow preferred ending all of his product lines on odd numbers. As Charlie got closer to the bedroom door of Grandpa Joe, Grandma Josephine, Grandpa George and Grandma Georgina, he stopped suddenly. He heard nothing. And for Charlie to hear nothing from a room of four sometimes cantankerous and sometimes cheerful folk, it was unusual. He knocked on the door gently. Nothing. He opened the door gently. Nothing. He called out to his grandparents gently. Nothing.

            Then he saw them all. Grandpa Joe holding hands with Grandma Josephine. Grandpa George holding hands with Grandma Georgina. All looking peaceful. All dead.

Charlie III

            Hearing Helena lament about dying reminded Charlie III about her great grandparents. Grandpa Joe, Grandma Josephine, Grandpa George and Grandma Georgina all died together in the beds they spent decades together in. Doing nothing. The most exciting part of any of their lives was when Charlie (the original) won the Golden Ticket and Mr Wonka gave him the factory. They were all old when they died. As was Mr Wonka when he died. But Mr Wonka had many, many adventures. Grandpa Joe, Grandma Josephine, Grandpa George and Grandma Georgina had only one adventure, lived vicariously through Charlie (the original).

            “Maybe we should all go on adventure,” blurted Charlie III.

            All four of them turned to Charlie.

            “I’m up for it,” said Edward.

            “What kind of adventure?” signed Aja.

            “All of us together,” asked Ocean.

            “What kind of adventure?” said Helena.

            “Let’s go to India!” said Charlie, visualising the third picture on the wall of her office, with Charlie (the original) and Mr Wonka standing in front of the Taj Mahal with the ever-present smiles radiating from their faces.

Charlie (the original)

            Four coffins side-by-side. A small number of sombre guests in attendance. Grandpa Joe, Grandma Josephine, Grandpa George and Grandma Georgina did not go out much. Grandpa Joe, Grandma Josephine, Grandpa George and Grandma Georgina did not have a social network. Grandpa Joe, Grandma Josephine, Grandpa George and Grandma Georgina has themselves. And when they no longer wanted to go on, they left, together.

            A young Father Bastien spoke softly about the quirky quartet. He told short tales of times gone by. He told simple snippets of a love between them all. There was little fanfare in farewelling the four.

            Following the service, Mr Wonka, who could never really see the point of spending all day, every day, all night, every night in bed, decided that it was time for their next adventure. The very next day, they were off.

Charlie III

It had taken much convincing for Helena to join the others, but eventually she had agreed on attending the adventure with Aja, Ocean, Edward and Charlie III. For two weeks they explored as much of India as they could fit in. First, the five headed to Tsomoriri Lake to camp under the stars, trekking through the Ladakh region, seeing Tibetan sheep and yaks wandering as they hiked, and watching both beautiful sun rises and soothing sun sets over the bluest lake any of them had ever seen. Charlie had organised an energetic expert to take them on the long journey to this memorable location. She was mesmerised by the blue, blue, blue of the lake. They stayed in simple white tents, sitting in similar but larger tents for dining.

In Delhi, they took in the amazing sites of Laxmi Narayan Temple and Humayun’s Tomb. They were all enchanted by the rich tapestry of colours, textures and smells as they wandered the streets. From Delhi they went south to Fatehpur Sikri to see the Buland Darwaza, the highest gateway in the world, then to Agra to see the famous Taj Mahal. They arrived to see the sun rise, bursting radiant yellow behind the structure to make the whole place illuminate with softs hues of pink and yellow. All five of them posed for what would be the next photo on the wall in Charlie’s office, sitting on a bench seat with the majestic Taj Mahal behind them, smiles radiating from their faces.

Charlie (the original)

            After their incredible India adventure, Mr Wonka and Charlie (the original) sat to pose for a photo on a bench seat with the majestic Taj Mahal behind them.