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how-to-survive-a-factory-tour · 5 years

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How to Survive a Factory Tour - Chapter 1

A Sanders Sides / Charlie and the Chocolate Factory FanFiction

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”Hey, what can I get you?”

”The usual, Virge. To go.”

”Oh, hey Remy.”

I turn and grab a plastic cup from one of the many stacks.

”You okay?” the guy on the other side of the counter asks, looking over his sunglasses at me. I just sigh as I turn back around. Remy Sleep can’t tell if the dark marks under my eyes are eyeshadow or tired bags.

”I’m not okay (I promise),” I reply.

Remy rolls his eyes, pushing his sunglasses onto his forehead. “Virge, I want a serious answer. I haven’t been able to check on how you’re doing as much since you dropped out.”

”You know I had to. I’ve told you before.”

”I know. You had to get a job, so you can pay for Thomas’ university fees.”

Thomas is my twin brother. Our family is in a rough position. We live in a run-down shack with only our mother, our father having passed on when Thomas and I were five. The only income we have to support us is the small amount our mom earns from her job as a dishwasher at a restaurant, which is not nearly enough. As our eighteenth birthdays had drawn near, I had realised there was no hope of us both being able to go to college with the money we had. If we did, we’d never eat again, and there’s not much you can do with an education when you’re dead. So, instead of completing my final year of high school, I decided to drop out and get a job. That way, Thomas will be able to go to university, get a good paying job and be able to live the life he deserves.

I don’t care if I lose the chance for a future. As long as Thomas is happy, I am too.

”Anyway, did ya hear the news?” Remy asks, changing the subject.

”What news?” I question.

”You don’t know?” Remy gasps. “It was everywhere! All over the internet and TV!”

I raise an eyebrow at the guy on the other side of the counter.

”Oh, right, you don’t have a TV... or a phone... or laptop. Anyway! You’ll never believe this, but Wonka is opening his factory again!”

”No fucking way!”

”Yes way! Look.” Remy pulls out his phone and holds it in front of me. I read it over.

Willy Wonka is the most famous chocolatier in the entire world, and his factory is situated in our town. He has created things that had previously seemed impossible: ice cream that never melts, sweets that allow you to spit in seven different colours, gum that never loses its flavour and so much more. About seven years ago, he hosted a competition in which he sent out five golden tickets hidden under the wrappers five chocolate bars. Five kids won them and got to go on a tour around his factory. Afterwards, four of them left, all in... interesting states. I remember, one was really thin and covered in melted chocolate, one was blue from head to toe, one was covered in trash and the last was paper thin and twelve feet tall. The fifth kid was never seen again.

Rumours spread about what happened to them. Many thought the four kids were insane because of the stories they told. Pipes, chocolate rivers, defective gum, giant blueberries, squirrels, garbage chute, televisions, cameras... I won’t bore you with the details when there’s a book based all around the stories they told. Just go read that. It’s called ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’, I think.

But, anyway, back to now.

According to the article Remy’s showing me, Wonka’s sent out five more tickets. This time, however, he’s specified the winners have to be seventeen to twenty one years old.

”You know what this means?” Remy grins. “The age restriction mans there’s a higher chance of us winning tickets!”

”A higher chance of you winning a ticket, don’t you mean,” I correct him. “I can’t waste anything.”

”Seriously? Not even a dollar for chocolate?” Remy raises an eyebrow. “Here.” He pulls five dollars from his wallet and places it in the tip jar. “For a few Wonka bars. Treat yourself for once.”

”Thanks,” I nod as I hand Remy his drink. “That’ll be four dollars.”

He hands over the money, which I place in the register.

“Good luck,’ he wishes me, pulling his sunglasses back down over his eyes. He gives me a wave before turning and leaving.

I let out a sigh as I glance at the tip jar. Maybe I can spare at least one dollar for candy...

”Ma! Pa! Emile! Did ya hear?!”

I run through the house, newspaper in hand. I speed into the living room, where my Ma’s ironing and my Pa’s playing Mario Kart against Emile.

Emile’s my younger brother by eight years. Once I asked why my parents why the age gap was so big, and they said that it took them a long time to decide that they wanted another child. According to my gran, however, Emile wasn’t planned. It doesn’t mean they love him any less, though. My family and life’s pretty much as great as I’d ever want it to be.

I’ve lived in Ireland my whole life. I really like it here, but I’ve always wanted to travel. I don’t want to go yet, however. Gran’s been having problems with her memory; Alzheimer’s, my parents say. I don’t want to go away for a long time and come back to find Gran’s completely forgotten about me. I guess I’m going to wait until... Well, you know.

My parents and Emile all look up as I enter the room, grinning ear to ear.

”Willy Wonka is opening his factory again!” I announce as I hold the newspaper above my head, showing the headline off.

”Really?” Emile gasps, pausing his game and leaping to his feet. He runs towards me, jumping up and trying to grab the newspaper. “Come on, Patton, let me see!”

I hand Emile the paper, and he reads it over, face lighting up with excitement. “It is! It’s true! Aw, but it’s only opening to people between seventeen and twenty one...” Emile’s ten years old. “Oh, wait, you’re eighteen, Patton!” Before I can say a word, he grabs my arm, trying to pull me from the room. I laugh at his eagerness before turning to my parents.

“Be back by dinner,” Ma says, folding one of my blue polo shirts.

“Okay. Bye!” I let Emile pull me to the front door. I grab my wallet and pull on my coat before the two of us step outside. Emile starts running down the pavement ahead of me.

”Be wide on the road!” I call after him, running up to him and taking his hand. “Ma and Pa will kill me if you get hurt.”

”Sorry, I’m just excited!” Emile grins. “You’re gonna go to Willy Wonka’s factory!”

”Emile, it’s really unlikely I’ll actually get a ticket,” I reply. “It’s, like, super super, near impossible.”

”Well, with the age range, it’s even more likely!” Emile points out. ‘”And you deserve it for being the best brother ever!”

I pull Emile into a hug. He’s lying. I’m not the best brother ever, he is. I wish he could go to the factory, he’d love it.

I’m going to try to win a ticket, not just for my own enjoyment, but so I can share the stories with Emile and so he can experience it, even if not in person.

Well, this is a new low. Usually they at least leave a note at least.

I chuck my schoolbag onto one of the chairs at the kitchen table. I check one more time to see there isn’t a note anywhere. No, there definitely isn’t. Great.

I open the fridge and grab a jar of Crofters Wild Blueberry Jam. I retrieve a spoon from the cutlery drawer and sit down at the table. I pull my book from backpack and start reading. It’s relaxing for a bit... until the front door slams open.

There’s the sound of footsteps running and into the room come my parents and my brother, Robert, all of them carrying two shopping bags each.

‘Salutations,’ I greet. Not that they notice me at all...

My parents neglect me. There’s no other way to phrase it. Mum and Dad are sports fanatics. Football, Rugby, Cricket, they’re invested in it all. And with Robert being captain of almost all the sports teams at his university, they love him and praise him like he’s a God. However, I myself am more academically inclined. For example, I am currently taking physics, chemistry, computer science and mathematics at college. This basically resulted in my parents not caring about me at all. It doesn’t matter I got all A*s and A**s at GCSE, it doesn’t matter my prospects are Oxford or Cambridge, it doesn’t matter I have an IQ of 200. No, because I can’t play sports, but Robert can, so he’s automatically better than me.

Multiple times, my parents have forgotten I even existed. Once, them and Robert went on a four-week holiday to Australia and left me behind. If I didn’t know how to effectively look after myself, I’d have died.

I was seven at the time.

They all take seats at the table and unload the shopping bags, placing the purchased items onto the table. They’re Wonka bars. They didn’t buy anything else. I raise an eyebrow.

”May I inquire why you bought so much chocolate?” I ask as Robert and my parents start unwrapping the bars.

None of them respond, they just continue what they were doing. I sigh, getting to my feet and leaving the room. I head upstairs and go into my bedroom, sitting at my desk and opening my laptop. I google Wonka’s name, and the first article that comes up immediately makes me slightly intrigued.

It says Wonka’s opening his factory again. Just like the last time, he’s hidden five golden tickets under the wrappers of five Wonka bars, and those who win them get a guided tour and a lifetime supply of sweets and chocolate. The only difference is, this time, it’s for seventeen to twenty-one year olds.

To be completely honest, I don’t really care much about it. Yes, I’m slightly intrigued, but not enough that I’ll waste money on buying a bunch like the rest of my family. Even with the new age requirements, the odds of winning are pretty much infinitesimal. There’s really no reason to try.

I go back downstairs and take a seat on the sofa, reopening my book.

“It’s got to be here somewhere!” I overhear my brother growl as he furiously tears the wrappers off chocolate bars.

“No, it doesn’t,” I respond, not even looking up. “There are over seven point five billion people looking for these tickets, and even more Wonka bars than that being sold a day. You can’t expect to win on blind luck on your first try.”

I hear footsteps coming up behind me and a shadow looms over me and my book. I close it before turning around and making eye contact with Robert.

“Listen here, you little smartass,” he growls. “I will win a ticket, because I am winner, unlike you.”

He gestures to the trophy cabinet in the corner of the room, where he has a bunch of sports trophies. I resist the urge to remind him of the box of academic awards I have in my room.

“You may as well not bother trying,” Robert continues. “Smarts aren’t going to help you get a ticket. You’re not even that smart anyway.”

How fucking dare he.

I wasn’t going to take part in the contest, but I sure as hell will now.

“Okay then. You go ahead and tell yourself that,” I reply, standing. “Meanwhile, I am going to go to my room and use maths, science, geography and research to find the exact location of the tickets.”

Before Robert can reply, I turn and leave the room. I have a ticket to find.

“Yo te quiero enseñar Un fantástico mundo Ven Princesa y deja a tu corazón soñar!”

I use my hairbrush as a microphone as I continue performing to the handsome man in the mirror. Oh wait, that’s me!

I can hear your judgement. Shut up, I’m beautiful.

As I make sure my hair is perfectly styled, ready for Valerie’s party later, I suddenly hear a yell from downstairs.

“Roman!” Pa calls.

“Yeah?!” I call back.

“There’s some news I think you might want to hear!”

Intrigued, I leave the bathroom and head downstairs. What is it? New Disney movie announced? Surprise Steven Universe episode drop? Gravity Falls is coming back?! TICKETS TO SEE HAMILTON?!

I head into the living room, where my Dad and Pa are sat on the sofas, Dad reading a book, Pa holding the TV remote. The TV’s showing...the news? Why would I be interested in the news? I’m not really the most topical or political person.

Nevertheless, I take a seat next to Pa.

“So, what’s this thing you wanted to show me?” I ask, checking the time. I promised I’d help Val set up, so I’ve got to get to her place early. This hopefully won’t take long.

Pa presses play on the remote. As I watch the report, I leap off the sofa, punching the air.

“¡SI! ¡SI!”I say, slipping back into Spanish, despite Dad saying that we were going to stick with using English until exams, so I’m as prepared as I can be for my English-speaking exam. Don’t see why, though, I’m already fluent.

But the news! The news! It’s amazing! Wonka’s opening his factory yet again! I tried so hard to get a ticket seven years ago. When the tour was announced, eleven-year-old me was quaking! But now it’s my chance! I can finally go and see the what lies inside that mysterious building. I bet it’s full of wonders beyond my imagination...

“I gotta go!” I call to my parents as I run from the room. I pull on my jacket and run from the house. I’ve gotta step into a candy store and buy some Wonka bars before I head to Val’s.

Yep, that was a Heathers reference.

“Honey, what you waiting for? Welcome to my candy store You just gotta prove you’re not a loser anymore And step into my candy store!”

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#sanders sides #thomas sanders #virgil sanders #sanders sides virgil #remy sanders #sleep sanders #patton sanders #sanders sides patton #emile picani #dr emile picani #roman sanders #sanders sides roman #valerie torres #sanders sides au #au #charlie and the chocolate factory au #willy wonka #crossover

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