"Wonka" by Mariah Picon

Chapter 3: Mrs. Scrubitt's Boardinghouse

Mrs. Scrubitt ushers Willy into the shop. A counter runs along one wall. Behind it, there were a lot of shelves filled with bundles of laundry. A dumb waiter leads to the Wash House below.

"Welcome to Scrubitt and Bleacher,Guest House and Laundry. You make yourselff at home, warm your cockles by the fire. Gin?" Mrs. Scrubitt asked.

"Oh, er..." Willy tried to speak.

"How about some toasted marshmallows?" Mrs. Scrubitt asked.

"I would love some." Willy answered.

"Noodle! Daphne!" Mrs. Scrubitt shouted, calling for the girls.

A sullen, cynical, skinny little twelve year old serving girl appears with a book, her name is Noodle. Daphne Blake appeared side by side with Noodle. Once Willy looked at Daphne, he was amazed like he was feeling love at first sight.

"Yes, Mrs Scrubitt?" Noodle and Daphne asked together.

"Noodle, put that book down and fetch our guest a glass of gin. Poor man's frozen half to death! And Daphne, go toasted some marshmallows to our new guest here." Mrs. Scrubitt said to give an order.

"Yes, Mrs. Scrubitt." Daphne said.

Both Noodle and Daphne leave the room.

"Who was that?" Willy asked.

"Oh, that's just Noodle. She's just an orphan, living here with..." Mrs. Scrubitt answered.

"No, I mean the young orange-haired woman." Willy said, interrupted.

"Oh, that was Daphne Blake. She's the daughter of my friend Elizabeth Blake, who is a famous fashion designer. Daphne's father, Nedley Blake, is a famous author. They were rich family. Bleacher and I have known the Blake family since Daphne was a little girl. Daphne has been living with us since her parents were out of town for a business trip from a few months ago, but they will be back soon. I have been treating Daphne like I loved her like a second mother to her. She's pretty like a princess." Mrs. Scrubitt explained.

"She's so beautiful." Willy said in a lovestruck tone.

"Looks like someone here is in love..." Bleacher said, mocking Willy about his feelings.

Bleacher hits Willy at the shoulder as he mocks him. Willy snapped out of his lovestruck feeling.

"Stop it. I haven't introduced myself to her yet. Anyway, thank you, Mrs Scrubitt. You and your husband have been most kind." Willy said.

"Husband?!" Mrs. Scrubitt asked.

Mrs. Scrubitt laughed in reaction like it was a joke.

"Oh, you'd love that, wouldn't you?" Mrs. Scrubitt asked Bleacher.

"No." Bleacher answered, lied.

"I'm holding out for someone farsuperior to that idle peasant. ABishop, maybe, or a Prince. Chin chin." Mrs. Scrubitt said.

Noodle returned with glasses of gin for Mrs Scrubitt and Willy. They both drink, and Willy gasps.

"That's extremely powerful stuff." Willy said.

"Maybe you would like some of the toasted marshmallows now." Mrs. Scrubitt said.

Daphne also returned with some toasted marshmallows on the sticks. She gave one to Mrs. Scrubitt, Bleacher, and Noodle. But when she was about to give some marshmallows to Willy, she stopped her tracks like she recognized him.

"Hey, I know you. You're the guy from the Galeries Gourmet earlier." Daphne said.

"Oh, yeah. I'm Willy Wonka." Willy said, handing out his hand.