Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: Chapter 6
Chapter 6: The First Two Finders
"Mr. Bucket's" evening newspaper (O.M.G. I had forgotten how newspapers used to be delivered twice a day) announces that the first Golden Ticket has been found. The winner, of course, is Augustus Gloop. Augustus is a nine-year-old boy who is "enormously fat" and "looked as though he had been blown up with a powerful pump." His fat is further described in great detail and I'm a little uncomfortable.
Augustus's mother tells the papers how Augustus eats so many candy bars that it would be impossible for him to not find one. Eating is his hobby, it's all he cares about. Mom of Augustus thinks that's better than being a "hooligan." (which, btw, is a type of fish. Supposedly, one can burn them as candles, they are that fatty.) She carries on for a bit about kids these days and how Augustus is getting vitamins or whatever. Grandma Josephine finds her revolting. Quentin Blake's drawing is very happy. I don't remember if there is a creepy racist drawing of this scene in my original 1973 paperback. Grandma Georgina find the boy repulsive as well, although I find that kind of harsh. I mean, it's not his fault he's gluttonous and spoiled and boring.
We are then treated to a very long paragraph describing what I believe the film calls "wonka-mania" although I could have just made that up right now. "Gangsters" are robbing banks so they can buy candy. "In far-off Russia" (lol) "Charlotte Russe" made a forgery. (is the clothing store a reference?) Someone in England, a scientist named "Professor Foulbody" made a machine to tell you if the candy bar you have has a golden ticket - without unwrapping it. It had a mechanical arm and a gold detector. Apparently it removed the tooth of a dutchess, and was smashed.
And then.
Veruca Salt found the second ticket.
Veruca Salt's father, Mr. Salt. (CLEVER NAME) is a very rich man, you see. And so he bought all the Wonka candy he could find and had his factory workers unwrap them. It took THREE WHOLE DAYS before they found a Golden Ticket.
This does not seem like a very good way to run a business. Not even Donald Trump would do that. (It's because the Donald cares about money more than his children. Even Ivanka.)
Veruca apparently, kicked and screamed and threw temper tantrums until the ticket was purchased for her. The Grandmas decide that she is worse than the "fat boy," and that she needs a real good spanking. I think her problems come from her terrible parents. Who should probably have learned the word "no" at some point. And also, teach her how money works.
Grandpa Joe thinks the girl is spoiled and nothing good comes from spoiling a child.
Charlie's birthday is the next day. Spoiler alert: His family bought him a candy bar.
Earlier we talked about how some of us (most of us?) tried to make our candy last like Charlie. I did that too. Only by day 3? 4? I'd often forget about it. I do remember my mom yelling at me about ants. I sometimes wish I could get my childhood dislike of all foods back.
Back to the story: Charlie is hoping he gets a golden ticket. So is Grandpa Joe.
- 6
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