Willy excitedly got out from the boat, held the door open, and everyone went inside the Inventing Room.

Meanwhile, I felt a slight soreness in my legs from sitting for an extended period on the boat. They weren't aching too much, but I needed to take it slowly.

"Miss Mitchell, let's walk at our own pace. My legs are a bit sore after that boat ride," I groaned.

She responded, "Just hold my hand. I believe we're not finished with the tour yet." I nodded and followed the others, hand in hand with Miss Mitchell.

As I entered the Inventing Room, I noticed Willy casting a glance of pity in my direction. I managed a weak smile in response before taking in the incredible sights around me.

The room was a flurry of activity, filled with lots of devices and machinery, all working together to produce something completely new. I'd never seen such a diverse range of inventions before, making the experience much more memorable.

Steam hissed from the machines, and various contraptions clinked and whirred with purpose. Notably, there was even a collection of new foods available for testing!

We all came to a stop to marvel at the inventions, and Willy addressed us with enthusiasm in a loud voice.

"Now, this is the most important room in the entire factory. Now, everyone, enjoy yourselves, but just don't touch anything. Okay? Go on. Go on, scoot!" He gestured to everyone to go ahead, leaving me and Miss Mitchell alone again.

Miss Mitchell asked, "Do you think you can stand a bit further?"

I nodded in agreement, even though my legs still ached. Willy, who had observed my discomfort, approached us.

"Come over here for a moment. I'll show you something," he said, motioning us toward a nearby machine. We exchanged glances and followed him. Willy pressed a button, and the machine made noises until a small piece of candy emerged. I inquired, "What's that?"

Willy explained, "Well, I haven't thought of a name yet since it's brand-new, but it gives people energy to last for a day and helps avoid soreness."

I followed up with another question, "Is this the only candy that gives energy?"

Willy replied, "Well, it depends on what you really think about candy. Don't worry, I tested this on my Oompa-Loompa food testers, and they turned out fine. You can trust me." He smiled reassuringly.

Taking a small bite of the colorful candy, I chewed on it for a moment, and suddenly, I felt the soreness in my legs vanish in a wink of an eye!

"It works! Thank you, Willy!" I beamed with gratitude.

"You're welcome. Now, finish that candy if you want to keep up with the others," Willy said, briefly glancing at Miss Mitchell, a faint blush coloring his cheeks. She simply smiled, and we continued to walk back to the group.

Meanwhile, Mike and Violet hurried over to a nearby machine with circular windows, from which a liquid was burbling and medium-sized circle-shaped candies were in the water.

"Hey, Mr. Wonka, what's this?" Violet called out.

"Oh! Let me show you!" Willy approached the machine and an Oompa-Loompa handed him one of the circle-shaped candies. "Thank you!" he acknowledged before turning to answer Violet's question.

"These are Everlasting Gobstoppers. They're for children who receive very little allowance money. You can suck on one all year, and it'll never get any smaller. Isn't that neat?" Willy explained.

"It's like gum," Violet remarked, drawing a comparison.

"No," Willy countered. "Gum is for chewing. If you tried chewing one of these Gobstoppers, you'd break all your little teeth off. But they sure do taste terrific."

We continued to follow Willy as he led us to another machine, which was making various noises and more contraptions.

"And this is Hair Toffee!" He plucked a piece from the machine and walked a few meters away. "You suck down one of these little boogers, and in exactly half an hour, a brand-new crop of hair will grow out over the top of your head. And a mustache. And a beard."

"Who wants a beard?" Mike questioned in a nonchalant tone.

Willy responded, "Well, beatniks, for one. Folk singers and motorbike riders. You know, all those hip, jazzy, super-cool, neat, keen, and groovy cats. It's in the fridge, daddy-o. Are you hep to the jive? Can you dig what I'm laying down? I knew you could. Slide me some skin, soul brother!"

He extended his hand, attempting a low five, but Mike just stared. Willy then offered it to me, and I followed suit.

"Unfortunately, the mixture isn't right yet. Because an Oompa-Loompa tried some yesterday, and, well, he..." His voice trailed off as an Oompa-Loompa approached, entirely covered in hair.

Willy asked loudly, "How are you today?" The Oompa-Loompa responded with two thumbs up.

"You look great...?" Willy said, his voice sounding somewhat strained. I guess Hair Toffee makes it look…hair-rible. (Get it?)

🍫🍫🍫

We continued to follow Willy until we reached a machine. He walked up to a lever with a red circle.

"Watch this," he announced, pulling the lever down. Our attention was drawn to the machine as it started making a variety of sounds, from blaring alarms to bubbling liquids.

After a while, a long metal contraption extended, and out came a lengthy stick of gum. As a bell chimed, the machine came to a stop. Violet took the gum and examined it.

"You mean that's it?" Mike scoffed.

Willy asked, emphasizing a word, "Do you even know what it is?"

Violet responded, "It's gum."

Willy explained with a soft chuckle, "Yeah. It's a stick of the most amazing and sensational gum in the whole universe. You know why? Know why?" He paused for a moment. "Because this gum is a full three-course dinner all by itself!"

"Why would anyone want that?" Mr. Salt questioned, expressing uncertainty about the gum.

Willy paused for a moment and took out the flashcards. He flipped through them until he found the one he was looking for.

"It will be the end of all kitchens and all cooking. Just a little strip of Wonka's magic chewing gum, and that is all you will..." He switched to the next card. "...ever need at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This piece of gum happens to be tomato soup, roast beef, and blueberry pie."

Miss Mitchell expressed her enthusiasm, saying, "It sounds great."

Veruca, on the other hand, remained unimpressed, stating, "It sounds weird."

Violet, with her trademark confidence, declared, "It sounds like my kind of gum." She even pulled out her three-month-old gum and discreetly tucked it behind her hair.

"Good luck getting rid of that through a haircut!" I thought with a smirk.

"I'd rather you didn't. There are still one or two things that are-" Willy spoke until getting interrupted for what, the fourth time? Geez, these kids are helpless.

"I'm the world-record holder in chewing gum. I'm not afraid of anything!" Violet boasted proudly and started to chew on the gum.

Her mother said, "How is it, honey?"

"It's amazing!" Violet exclaimed, "Tomato soup. I can feel it running down my throat!"

Willy told her, "Yeah. Spit it out."

Miss Mitchell tried to help. "Young lady, I think you'd better-"

Violet interrupted once more, "It's changing. Roast beef, with baked potato. Crispy skin and butter."

Her mother chimed in, "Keep chewing, kiddo. My little girl's gonna be the first person in the world to have a chewing-gum meal." Veruca gave Violet her side-eye, seemingly unimpressed by the situation.

"Yeah. I'm just a little concerned about the-" Willy got cut off for the fifth time.

"Blueberry pie and ice cream!" Violet said happily.

"…That part." He pointed to her with a nervous face.

"What's happening to her nose?" Veruca inquired, directing her attention to Violet. We all turned to look, and I noticed that Violet's nose was gradually changing color.

"It's turning blue," Mr. Salt confirmed as the color shifted to bluish-purple.

"Your whole nose has gone purple," Mrs. Beauregarde observed, her expression filled with concern.

Violet touched her nose and asked, "What do you mean?"

All of a sudden, her mother started to panic, exclaiming, "Violet, you're turning violet!" Violet looked at Willy with fear in her eyes.

"What's happening?!" Mrs. Beauregarde frantically asked.

"Well, I told you I hadn't quite got it right. Because it goes a little funny when it gets to the dessert. It's the blueberry pie that does it," he explained while he moved behind the machine. Ironically, Violet kept chewing that gum.

"I'm terribly sorry," he ducked down by the machine.

Now, Violet's hands, hair and skin were turning blue. "Mother? What's happening to me?" she fearfully asked. The mother, along with the rest of us, backed away.

The clothes changed color as she began to grow bigger and bigger. Her body started to shape like a circle.

"She's swelling up!" Miss Mitchell gasped.

"Like a blueberry," I said.

It kept on going until her head almost reached the ceiling. Violet now looks and feels like a blueberry.

🍫🍫🍫

As Mrs. Beauregarde was full of shock, Willy scared her by explaining, "I've tried it on, like, 20 Oompa-Loompas, and each one ended up as a blueberry. It's just weird!"

"But I can't have a blueberry as a daughter! How is she supposed to compete?!" she demanded. I rolled my eyes at her dramatic response.

Veruca, with a sly grin, offered a somewhat comical solution, "You could put her in a county fair."  I almost stifled my laugh when I heard the suggestion. However, Mrs. Beauregarde's glare wiped the smile off Veruca's face, turning it into a frown.

The next thing I knew, the machines started to make a rhythm. The Oompa-Loompas were singing and dancing to a song again. A few of them walked to the inflated Violet and joined the others in song.

Yeah, yeah!

Yeah!

Listen close, and listen hard.
To the tale of Violet Beauregarde.
This gentle girl
She sees no wrong.

In chewing, chewing, chewing, chewing.
Chewing, chewing all day long.

Chewing, chewing all day long.
Chewing, chewing all day long.
Chewing, chewing all day long.
Chewing, chewing all day long.

Yeah.

Three Oompa-Loompas descended upon Violet and began rolling her away. Even though her mouth was sealed tightly, I could still hear her muffled screams as they rolled her along.

She goes on chewing till, at last.
Her chewing muscles grow so vast.
And from her face
Her giant chin.
Sticks out just like a violin.

Chewing, chewing all day long.
Chewing, chewing all day long.
Chewing, chewing all day long.

Another number of Oompa-Loompas climbed on each other and formed a pyramid. Throughout all of this, Willy just danced along to the song.

For years and years, she chews away.
Her jaws get stronger every day.
And with one great, tremendous chew.
They bite the poor girl's tongue in two.

And that is why we try so hard.
To save Miss Violet Beauregarde.

Chewing, chewing all day long.
Chewing, chewing all day long.
Chewing, chewing, chewing, chewing.
Chewing, chewing all day long.

As the Oompa-Loompas rolled Violet away, we watched in silent anticipation, wondering what would happen next. The catchy song began to fade, and the Oompa-Loompas resumed their usual tasks.

"Mr. Wonka!" Violet's voice rang through the door. Willy kept dancing but stopped when Mrs. Beauregarde approached him with frustration.

His expression changed as he talked to an Oompa-Loompa again. "I want you to roll Miss Beauregarde into the boat and take her along to the Juicing Room at once, okay?" The Oompa-Loompa responded as they crossed their arms on their chest.

Mrs. Beauregarde was visibly perplexed, asking, "Juicing Room? What are they going to do to her there?"

Willy explained with a mischievous grin, "They're going to squeeze her! Like a little pimple. We've got to squeeze all that juice out of her immediately."

The mother went straight to Violet, helping the other Oompa-Loompas push her. Willy then regrouped us, saying, "Come on. Let's boogie!"

Willy led the others but backed away to face me and Miss Mitchell. Pointing to my pocket, he mentioned, "Check your pocket! There's a surprise in there."

I reached into my left pocket and found an Everlasting Gobstopper. I was about to express my thanks, but he signaled for me to keep it hidden from the others.

Nodding in acknowledgment, I withdrew my hand from my pocket, and we followed the group.