"Sure" Charlie nodded. Mrs Mason flashed Charlie a small smile as he walked past her. 
                          
Mrs Mason and Rose sat at a table. "Mrs Mason, is everything okay?"
                          
"Dear, I'm afraid I have some bad news" Mrs Mason started with a sigh. She reached over and took Rose's hand in hers. "I've just got off the phone with the bank. I'm not going to be able to make this month's payments" Rose's jaw dropped in shock. "Nor have I been able to make the last few months payments. Business hasn't been what it used to be, and I'm going to have to close in two weeks"
                          
"Mrs Mason, why didn't you tell me?"
                          
"Because I didn't know how to break it to you. Rose, I truly love having you work for me, and I'm sorry that I'm going to have to let you go"
                          
Without even a second though, Rose reached into her pocket and pulled out some of the extra money she had been saving. "This is all I have but I'm sure you could--"
                          
"No, no, dear" Mrs Mason refused Rose's offer. "You use that money and buy a chocolate bar for Charlie. You get him one of those golden tickets. If anyone deserves to see that factory, it's that brother of yours. In fact, I have this for him" Mrs Mason grabbed a few things from her pocket. One was a Wonka bar and the other was some more money. "I know his birthday is coming up. This is my gift for him. And the money, my dear, is my gift to you. Some extra money to buy Charlie some extra bars. I know he wants to see that factory"
                          
Rose smiled at the older woman. It's a shame Mrs Mason was having such troubles, and Rose wish she would have told her sooner so that she could help. "Thank you, Mrs Mason. For everything"
                          
Mrs Mason smiled at the girl and pulled her into a hug. "It's my pleasure, my dear. And I know, deep down in my heart, that Charlie will find a golden ticket"
                          
******
                          
Rose continued working that day. There was still no customer in sight all day. Everyone had been out buying as much Wonka bars they could, hoping to get their hands on a golden ticket. Rose was humming a song as she did her daily task of sweeping the floor, but then her mood turned sour when she saw who came in.
                          
"Harry, what do you want?" Rose asked, annoyed at his presence.
                          
"I'm assuming you've heard about Wonka and the golden tickets" Harry asked, a smarmy smirk appearing on his face. Rose just nodded as she continued sweeping the floor. "Well, I just came to tell you that I'll buy you all the Wonka bars in the world until you find a ticket for your dear brother"
                          
Rose glared and spat at him. "I don't need your help finding that ticket! Charlie has luck on his side. He always has!"
                          
"But luck isn't going to bring your family out of poverty, now is it?" Harry said as he stalked towards Rose. "Luck isn't going to save your family, but I can, Rose" He grabbed her hand. "All you have to do is say you'll marry me"
                          
"I'm never going to marry you!" Rose barked, pulling her hand away.
                          
Harry growled in anger. Rose never saw it coming. The force of it pushed her down to the floor. Rose began to cry and touched her cheek. It stung from the force of Harry's hand. "Listen here, Rose!" He pointed a threatening finger at the girl. "I know this little cafe is closing soon, and you're going to be out of a job! You're going to be begging to be my wife! I'm the only hope you have at a better life and you know it!"
                          
Without another word, Harry left the cafe. Rose remained on the floor. She cried into her hands. Not only because Harry had struck her, but because maybe he had a point. Maybe the best thing she could do for her family, was to marry the man she loathed the most.
                          
******
                          
Rose had come home to everyone discussing Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory and the golden tickets. Charlie was talking to his grandparents about it, as Rose made her way Mrs Bucket who was mopping the floor. "Hello, darling. How was your day today?"
                          
"Oh..." Rose hesitated. How was she supposed to tell her family that she would be without a job shortly and that she had been struck in the face today? "It was quiet today"
                          
Mrs Bucket gave a nod, but then started leaning in when she saw something around her daughter's eye. "Rosalie, what's that?" Mrs Bucket cupped Rose's cheek and stroked the tender area with her thumb. "That's a bruise!" She hadn't shouted it loud enough for Charlie and the grandparents to hear. "Who did this?" 
                          
"It was Harry" Rose answered, hanging her head in shame.
                          
Mrs Bucket shook her head. "Is that boy ever going to stop? What doesn't he understand about no means no?" She took her daughter's hand in her own. "Sweetheart, no matter whatever that boy tells you, promise us you won't even consider marrying him" 
                          
"I promise, mum" Rose said quietly. Then she decided to change the topic. "I'm assuming Charlie has told you all about the golden tickets?"
                          
"Wouldn't it be something, to open a bar of candy and find a golden ticket inside?" Grandpa Joe said.
                          
"I know, but I only get one bar a year for my birthday" Charlie said. "Maybe two if I'm lucky" He said that last part to Rose, knowing she always tried to buy him an extra one.
                          
"Well it's your birthday next week, Charlie" Mrs Bucket said, trying to give her son some hope.
                          
"You have as much chance as anybody does" Grandma Josephine nodded.
                          
"Balderdash!" Grandpa George exclaimed. "The kids who are going to find the golden tickets are the ones who can afford to buy candy bars every day. Our Charlie gets only one a year. He doesn't have a chance"
                          
Rose rolled her eyes at Grandpa George. She loved the man, but it seemed he always had to pick out the negative of every situation. She walked over to Charlie and crouched down so that she was eye level with him. "Everyone has a chance, Charlie. Even you" Rose promised him before wrapping her arms around him in a hug.
                          
Grandpa George had just one more thing to add. "Mark my words, the kid who finds the first ticket will be fat, fat, fat"