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The Chocolate Wars
The Chocolate Wars began with the 3 big chocolate chip cookies I got from the bakery that I worked at. (Below is a picture of the actual size of them) I brought them on my visit to Mike, Jack and Carol's house, last October. One for each to enjoy. Well, Mike's brother, Mark was there, and during the first night of my stay, as we slept, Mark had eaten one of the cookies. (Carol had eaten hers earlier.) The next day, Mike and Jack found out that Mark had eaten one of the cookies, so with sadness, they had to divide the last cookie in half. Yes, poor Mike and Jack only got short changed on the chocolate chip cookie treats.
On my recent visit to Mike, Jack and Carol's home, I brought them 4 big chocolate chip cookies! So if Mark was there, there would be still be one cookie for everyone to fully enjoy. Mark wasn't there this time, so we ended up with an extra cookie. But still, the next morning, only two were left. The Chocolate Wars had begun again. I think Jack packed his into his lunch bag. Carol admitted that she had eaten her cookie earlier, but still, when Mike went into the fridge to eat his, there was only one left, not two. Had Mark snuck into the house as we slept and eaten one? Did Carol eat another one? Had Jack packed two into his lunch bag by mistake? 'Tis a mystery, as I still don't know how the fourth cookie went missing. About the missing cookie? Forget about the missing cookie for now, as another of the Chocolate Wars' battlefield was about to be established.
During my week long visit, Lali had forwarded us a 2007 survey. Mike decided to go ahead and put in his answers. I never do surveys, but since Mike did his, I followed in suit. When Jack came home from work, he did his as well. The next morning, I read Jack's lively, truthful and insightful answers. In two of his answers, he mentioned that he loved chocolate. Here are his two chocolate answers...
13. Favorite food? Chocolate.
21. Cherries or Blueberry? Chocolate (not much into fruit).
The next day, after Carol and I had taken Halley to the dog beach (for a swim and her favorite fun, stick fetching) I stopped at a mini market. While there, I walked pass the candy aisle. Jack's chocolate answers had stuck in my mind, so I decided to buy Mike, Jack and Carol a chocolate surprise. I spent several minutes deciding on what chocolate treat would be best. There were so many selections to choose from, but when my eyes spotted the King Sized Hershey's Milk Chocolate bars, I knew I couldn't go wrong. Yes, good old fashioned plain milk chocolate would be my simple chocolate gift for my hosts. I had no idea that I was going to create another Chocolate War though...
Before dinner, I presented Mike, Jack and Carol with my surprise. I reached into my plastic bag, and gave them each their own king sized chocolate bar. Their eyes lit up as they smiled and thanked me. Mike and Jack were especially thrilled. They each set their chocolate bar down next to them, within reach. To them, their chocolate bar was like a nicely wrapped gift and they wanted to keep it looking pretty as long as possible. They reminded me of Charlie Bucket, after learning that there was one golden ticket left. He was hesitant to open his chocolate bar, but with urging from his grandpa Joe, he unwrapped it very slowly.
After dinner, Carol was the first to unwrap her chocolate bar. Carol is so sweet, as she offered me the first square. I accepted it, even though I'm not much of a chocolate lover. But it was good. A few minutes later, she offered me another square. I ate it too. I declined further offers though, as I wanted her to enjoy her chocolate bar without having to share it with me.
When I retired for the night, I noticed that Mike and Jack still had their chocolate bars intact. It was like they were waiting for that special moment when they could finally open up their treasure. (Like waiting for Christmas morning to come at last.)
The next day, before Mike took his nap, he set before him on the living room floor, his chocolate bar atop a napkin. Just like Charlie, he unwrapped it slowly and gingerly broke off one square and savored it with happiness. He did the same with each square, slowly letting each piece linger between placing it in his mouth and letting the chocolate melt in his mouth. Mike was one happy guy. I took Halley for a long walk and I returned, Mike was already asleep, with a smile on his face.
On the last day of my visit, the final Chocolate War took place. Mike asked Jack when he was going to eat his chocolate bar. Jack told him that he would eat it when he darn well decided to. Jack asked him where Mike's chocolate bar was. Mike admitted that he had already eaten it. Then Jack asked Mike why he was so concerned as to when he was going to eat his chocolate bar. Mike just said he was curious, that's all. Jack, being perceptive, knew that Mike was only asking because he wanted Jack to give him part of his chocolate bar. Jack confronted him of the real reason Mike was asking when he was going to eat his chocolate bar. Jack told Mike that he couldn't have any of his chocolate. Mike then asked if he could have just one square. Jack told him "No". But Mike continued pleading for just one square. Jack told Mike that it wasn't his fault that Mike had already eaten his chocolate bar. Mike kept asking Jack to open up his chocolate bar and for just one little square. Jack kept telling him "No". I even saw Mike give him the saddest puppy dog eyes, while he continued his plea for just one little nibble of Jack's chocolate bar. Yet Jack stayed firm with his affirmative "No, you had your chocolate bar all to yourself, and you are NOT getting ANY of mine!". Poor Mike. Poor Jack. And poor Sunny, as now I wished I had not given them any chocolate bars to begin with. Or better yet, I should of brought them every Hershey's Chocolate bar the mini market had in stock.
I never did find out how the Chocolate War ended, as I returned home before the final outcome. Did Jack ever eat his chocolate bar? If so, did he share some of it with Mike? Did Jack pack it in his lunch bag? Did Carol finally end the standoff by hiding it from them? Did Mike's brother, Mark, sneak in and eat Jack's chocolate bar?
Footnote: I still have the red foil, star shaped chocolate treat, that Carol placed on my pillow when I arrived. She had also placed a large Milk Bone dog biscuit beside it for Halley (and the box it came from). But I saved my treat. It rests on my night stand. I haven't eaten it yet, because it reminds me of my latest visit with Mike, Jack and Carol. Only time will tell, when I get a sweet tooth attack. And when I do, I will unwrap it very slowly, and savor each bite, as I let it melt in my mouth. It will be delicious, I am certain of this, as it was given to me with the warmth of friendship.
~The Candy Man can 'cause he mixes it with love and makes the world taste good~
Now that I know what Mike, Jack and Carol love to eat.
Sunny Wonka will come bearing sweet chocolate treats.
I shall bring them Kisses, cakes, cookies and 'Smores.
So that there will never be any more Chocolate Wars.
Oh, I just remembered, I brought them 2 slices of a Zebra Cake too.
How did they divide that? 'Tis another mystery to this day.
Candyman Lyrics
(Words and Music by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley)
Who can take a sunrise, sprinkle it with dew
Cover it with chocolate and a miracle or two
The Candy Man, oh the Candy Man can
The Candy Man can 'cause he mixes it with love
and makes the world taste good
Who can take a rainbow, wrap it in the sky
Soak it in the sun and make a groovy lemon pie
The Candy Man, the Candy Man can
The Candy Man can 'cause he mixes it with love
and makes the world taste good
The Candy Man makes everything he bakes satisfying and delicious
Now you talk about your childhood wishes, you can even eat the dishes
Oh, who can take tomorrow, dip it in a dream
Separate the sorrow and collect up all the cream
The Candy Man, oh the Candy Man can
The Candy Man can 'cause he mixes it with love
and makes the world taste good
The Candy Man makes everything he bakes satisfying and delicious
Talk about your childhood wishes, you can even eat the dishes
Who can take a sunrise, sprinkle it with dew
Cover it with chocolate and a miracle or two
The Candy Man, oh the Candy Man can
The Candy Man can 'cause he mixes it with love
and makes the world taste good