The Help Force

Greetings, Helpers. This is the first part of a story I recently wrote, based on Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, rewritten so it makes sense to us HF people. The story ended up being too long, so it’s been split up into parts. The rest will be released when it gets released because I have no self-discipline. It’s all been written, though, so sit back, relax, grab a snack (unless you’re a staff member), and enjoy!

Note: This is also the first of a series of Halloween stories that will be released from now until Halloween. You may notice that this story isn’t technically about Halloween. To that, I say oiwnmeriu

Once upon a time, there was a boy named Choco who lived with his grandfather, Desireus. The two lived in abject poverty, and they were barely scraping by. Desireus had a job at the car repair shop, where he worked long hours with very little pay. Choco walked to school each day, and each evening he walked back home, without a coat or shoes that fit. Things weren’t good for the pair, and over the years, things managed to get steadily worse. 

Everyday, as Choco walked home from school, he would pass by a great big factory. Its gates, colored with rust, were always shut tight. Each day, Choco would ask Desireus what sort of place the factory had been. “That old shitshow?” his grandfather would reply. “It was a hell on earth. We made chocolate bar after chocolate bar and never got any benefits. The owner munched curry all day long and paid us in ‘sapphires.’ I’d rather us both be homeless than ever enter that place again.”

In spite of his grandfather’s traumatic memories, Choco would pause each day on his walk home and gaze in awe at the factory. Sometimes, if there were no clouds in the sky, he would see a whiff of smoke escape from one of its big chimneys. But then the wind would come and he would trod back home. 

One fateful day, as Choco and Desireus were watching the television, a man hopped onto the screen. He was short, chaotic, and all around very licey. “Hello children!” he exclaimed. “It is I, the marvelous Elp, keeper of the chocolate and hoarder of the sapphires. I’m here to make a very special announcement. Starting right now, my chocolate factory is coming back to life! We will be actively hiring new workers–”

Desireus had fallen to the floor in a cold sweat, mumbling something about mines and vending machines.

–”selling chocolate bars,” Elp continued. “Five golden tickets will be hidden in five chocolate bars. If you find a ticket, you are invited to a special, all-inclusive, magical, whimsical tour of my factory, led by the one and only, Elp! Hurry, kids! Bankrupt your parents, go buy that chocolate!”

Choco turned to his grandfather. “Grandpa,” he said, “do we have the money for just one chocolate bar?”

Desireus turned to look at his grandson. “My darling grandson, we’re on food stamps and I have to sell my blood to make rent. What the hell do you think?”

The very next day, Choco sat in front of the television and learned that four of the five tickets had already been found. The first one was found by Javi in Jamaica, who won it in a gambling bet. The second one was found by a cat in Mexico, who kept trying to tell people he’s not a cat, his name is Mantiuxx, that’s just his profile picture. The third was in Australia by a boy named Jo, who had trouble reading the ticket until he turned it upside down. Finally, the fourth ticket was found by a very nervous girl in America. 

Choco began to despair that he would find a ticket. It’s no use, he said to himself as he walked back home from school. I’m too poor to be the protagonist of any stories. 

Just then, the wind kicked up, and a dollar bill hit Choco directly in the face. Deciding not to tempt fate, he hurried into the nearest shop. “Get me an Elp chocolate bar, stat!”

The shop owner handed Choco his candy. Giddy with excitement, Choco tore open the candy and removed the chocolate. There it was!–no, there it wasn’t. There was no golden ticket in the candy bar. 

Disappointed, Choco trudged home, nibbling at his chocolate. It had to last him for the rest of his life, anyway. As he made his way home, he caught a glimpse of something glittering in the gutter. He bent down to pick it up, and there it was! The fifth golden ticket! Finally, he was having some luck. He would get to meet Elp, and–

“Thanks for finding my ticket,” said a voice behind him. The person snatched the ticket out of Choco’s hand and pocketed it. It was Scorp, who had found the ticket in India, in a special curry version of the candy. 

Miserable, Choco went home and slumped onto the old, ratty couch. “What’s the matter, Choco?” asked Desireus. 

“There are no more golden tickets,” replied Choco sadly. “I’m all out of luck.”

Desireus pressed his fingers together, thinking hard. He had few rational thoughts throughout his life, and this was not one of them. “I’ll tell you what we’ll do,” he said, lowering his voice to a whisper. “Tomorrow, when Elp opens his factory for the tour, we’re going to break in and steal as much candy as we can. I’ll show him who’s getting sent to the mines.”

TO BE CONTINUED

Filed under: Help Force CP, Original Stories, Web Series Tagged: | Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Halloween 2022, Halloween Story, Halloween Week, Original Story, Snowy needs help