Afternoon Delight

My three-year-old is sitting on the floor, taking in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I just recently introduced my kids to the classic tale. My oldest is reading it at school. He possesses the copy of the book I had as a kid. On Friday nights, we enjoy Pizza and a Movie Night. Two weeks in a row, we watched Charlie followed by Willie.

Now, I've had a love/hate relationship with this story for the longest time. My childhood was filled with multiple viewings of the Gene Wilder version. He is my favorite Wonka, after all. But now, I can barely watch that film. As an adult, I've developed a "fear" of the Oompa Loompas.

Don't ask me why. I know it's crazy. But I swear, those white-pantsed, red-faced, green-haired goblins grow fangs and eat children when grown-ups aren't watching. They are evil little creatures!

The ones in the newer version, all played by the same actor, don't seem to bother me as much. But there's still something about them that creep me out.

I've gone through the book to try to regain the endearing love that the rest of the world carries for these poor little things. But alas, their disturbing little ditty pits itself in my head and causes me to shiver. I just can't find anything redeeming about them.

So I endure Johnny Depp's Willy Wonka as a compromise with my kids who love to chant along with the Oompa Loompas about the tragic upraising of the bratty children who visit the factory. Thankfully, they are sensitive to their crazy mama. But I think it's mostly because I've taught them that in order to make the movies truly enjoyable, one must partake of a handful of chocolate.

A few Hershey's Kisses are a lot cheaper than therapy.