Sweet Love

When Jemma came home from preschool one day there was something special sitting on the table: a vase of red roses, but more importantly a carton of fresh strawberries and some chocolate.

“Oh, Mommy, are we doing that today?”

“Yes, sweetie, after dinner. For a special treat.”

“I love you, Mommy!” Jemma threw her arms around her mother, who took her outside to play.

Meanwhile, on the table, a romantic affair took place. The ripest strawberry, passionate, heart-shaped, spunky, and sweet . . . the smooth bar of dark chocolate, charismatic and generous . . . it was a match made in heaven. Instantly in love, Strawberry and Chocolate danced across the tabletop to the drumbeat of their hearts.

The sunlight faded, and destiny took its course. Jemma and Mommy returned, and Mommy put a silver pot on the stove. She grabbed Chocolate, now lying motionless on the table, dropped him in the pot, and turned on the flame to boil him alive! Strawberry watched helplessly, screaming inside, heart melting as her lover melted in that pot. When Mommy speared Strawberry with a sharp toothpick, the pain was a mere echo of the grief stabbing Strawberry’s juicy heart.

Mommy dipped Strawberry down into the simmering pot, down to meet her true love once more. Strawberry was embraced by Chocolate’s tender sweetness, enveloped in his love like a gift in wrapping paper.

Jemma’s big smile, her arms around Mommy, was a memory to cherish for a lifetime. And Strawberry had married Chocolate by a flaming pot, committed to him for as long as they both should live.

“Would you like to eat it now, Jemma?” Mommy asked politely. Jemma’s delighted grin spoke for her.