Yellow, blue, red, green, purple, and all the colours anyone could ever imagine. They were all there, and I couldn’t ask for more! The excitement to try even one was very much visible on my face. I was sure no matter how old I’d get, I’d always love eating these sweet candy bites!

Just by opening the door, and entering the shop, the sweet and delicious smell of the candy could be smelled flowing through the air.

My candy store would be made out of real candy. It would be the real life Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory. Don't believe me come and see for yourself next month. And all celebrities are always welcome. Plus everthing is free!

Wrapped in bright candy colors wrapped in serious browns Bins of delight

Trail my hungry fingers Over heavy laden shelves My arms cradling yet to be savored treats

Like bursting with jelly beans, red licorice rolls, candied orange peels and ginger shards dipped in bittersweet chocolate

The smell of books warm earth and stories Old and new Tantalize

Battered with yellow highlights and spidery notes Library refugees with faded red tattoos and empty pockets Stamped dates my pulse quickens

Wedged tight a business card pirouettes to the floor Its job done

Keys?

Check.

Handbag?

Check.

A satisfied smile forms as I step out of my apartment, headphones in. The breeze from the cars passing by blows on my bare skin. I can hear the birds chirping in the background of my music.

Goosebumps trails my jaw to my heart when pink walls appears from the corner of the side walk. Twisting the doorknob, the ringing bell indicates my presence which is greeted by a familiar man.

"Lily" he adresses in a manner tone yet amusement in hidden behind his lips.

"Alexander" I match his tone and this time, his mouth turns upwards letting himself expose the beautiful smile he has.

I pass by him and turn around the store, eyeing the different variations of candies that are set on colourful designs.

"Ah Ha" I exclaim when the astounding round table comes in view. My fingers pushes it slightly making it play a whimsical sound as my eyes scan the sugars.

Alexander lets out a laughing breath that tickles my neck from behind. "Are you ever going to explore the other settings?"

I remove the paper from a strawberry lollipop, suck on it and take it out making a pop sound. "Nope"

He smiles like a proud man and shakes his head lightly. "Of course"

I return the smile with my eyes squinting tight as happiness takes over me. I already know what i’m here for but staying here a couple of more minutes is totally fine by me.

As my friend goes to serve customers at the cashier, I decide to take after all the offer and discover the whole shop. Looking down at my feet, I frown but can’t help but giggle.

"Hey! Your floor is all made of candy" I call out to Alexander.

He makes his way towards me with a pout on his face.

"What?" I ask.

"You come here everyday yet you’ve never noticed this?"

My eyes widen and I clear my throat, trying to find an excuse. "Um- no, you see i’m only focused on the round table"

The smell of fresh air mixed with sea flows through my nostrils as I focus on the steps coming near me.

"I find that completely bullshit"

I place my hands on both of my hips and tilts my head. "And why is that?"

"You come here everyday for 2 years now yet never take interest in anything else than that table that’s the nearest me" He says in a low tone, the fabric of his shirt scratching mine.

I gulp, unable to move or to say something.

"I’m starting to think there’s another reason why you love this store so much"

Fuck.

You eat with your eyes before you eat with your mouth and stomach.

As I walked into the shop I was engulfed by the shine of the thousands of hues in the wooden boxes, shelves and even barrels. It was like walking into a child’s dream.

A warm, sugary scent mixed with the wooden fragrance caressed my nostrils and I took a deep breath as I closed my eyes and savoured the moment. A child’s dream, there was no other way to put. Dreams of jellies and puffs covered with snowy icing sugar, hard sweets that slowly dissolve onto your tongue like a candy bath, smooth chocolates of all shapes you can imagine - umbrellas, clowns, ribbons, bears, even Santas - melting onto your fingertips that you lick like lollipops. And, of course, lollipops of thousands of swirling colours. Soft caramels that stick to your teeth and make you push your finger into your mouth to take them off. Like an innocent child will do because nobody will judge.

My favourites are the soft chocolates-coated toffees. What a festive sensation. There is something fine and glamorous about a toffee. A mellow sensation as if you are trying something forbidden to everybody else.

I took another look around. The smell of wood and candy combined. Yes, this was a long lost childhood's dream.

For years, whenever my parents drove by Hero’s Chocolate Shoppe, I asked if we could stop but they refused. My father offered lame excuses with promises to one day take me but that day never seemed to come. The more he resisted, the greater my desire grew. He couldn’t keep us apart forever.

Living in the rural outskirts of town, I was unable to ride my bicycle to the store. It was located in a neighboring city about twenty five miles away. Without access to public transportation, all I could do was live vicariously through the stories of others. Everyone knew of the place and had a different reason for liking it. A strange smile appeared on each person’s lips as they reminisced with ecstatic bliss of their visits.

“It’s just chocolate. How good can it be?” I once asked a friend.

“It’s not just chocolate,” his father interjected. “They do something special there. It’s one of those places you’ve got to experience first hand to understand.”

Whenever my sister’s boyfriend talked about going there, his voice filled with enthusiasm. He made it sound like the store was magical, a place where every chocolate lover’s fantasy came true. Dreams of confectionary goodness danced around in my head. I often wished my feet reached the pedals so I could drive my parents car and see what everyone boasted about. Being only twelve years old, the idea was just another unfulfilled fantasy.

“Someday,” I thought. “Someday.”

The years ticked by and the store continued to flourish. It was written about in the newspaper and even made the local news in a fluff piece. In one of the articles I learned that the building had been used for a brothel in the late 1800’s.

Each year on Valentine’s Day, and many times in between, my father visited the store but never invited me. At least he brought home candied treats for everyone to share. Each of us had our favorites. My sister preferred the nutted variety while my mother sucked on hard candies. When the chocolates erupted a gooey discharge into my mouth, it brought about a rapturous feeling of content.

A few weeks before my seventeenth birthday, my father held out his car keys and jingled them, asking if I wanted to practice for my upcoming driving test. With permission to drive anywhere desired, I took advantage of the offer and snatched the keys from his hand. After motoring along the quiet country roads for months, it was time to venture into the city for the first time. There was only one place I really wanted to go.

Located in Philadelphia, Hero’s was on the first floor of the Landmark Hotel, a building which was registered with the historical society. It was the oldest building in town. Visible from the street, the red neon lights that hung inside the windows advertised the candy store was open for business.

I pulled into the parking lot without giving it a second thought but hesitated before thrusting into the first available space. The spot appeared too small. I wasn’t well practiced with parking and tensed up, which effected my performance. Feeling the weight of my father’s judgment bearing down on me didn’t help. He sensed my nervousness.

“Take your time,” he reassured. “Practice makes perfect.”

I realized my initial approach had been wrong and moved forward and back several times. It turned out to be a perfect fit. A loud sigh of exuberant satisfaction escaped my mouth as I started to get out of the car. My father, on the other hand, made no attempt to move, other than to retrieve his wallet.

“Not coming?” I asked.

“You don’t need me to hold your hand,” he replied, pressing a crisp hundred dollar bill into my palm. “Besides, you’re always gonna remember your first time. Enjoy it.”

“Can I get you anything?”

He rejected the offer but suggested tasting a sample first before deciding what to buy.

“They let you try a little bit of everything,” he added. “Everything.”

Walking into the store, the seductive fragrance of chocolate wafted through the air. It was intoxicating. Four different display cases were staggered throughout the store, each with a different theme of edibles. The ladies of the evening work shift had just arrived. With skirts that hung well above their knees and shirt collars well below their shoulders, each demanded as much attention as the chocolate, if not more. It was no surprise that the store was filled with male customers.

I plucked a number from the ticket dispenser and waited for my turn to arrive.

Looking around, I tried not to gawk and drool at the eye candy, though found it impossible to focus on anything else. The anticipation had been building for years. The last thing I wanted was for my virginal voyeurism to peak prematurely. It would shaft me out of the euphoric experience described by others.

Standing near the corner of one of the display cases, a girl called out my number. Lost in a daydream, I didn’t hear her until she shouted it a second time. When she introduced herself as Samantha, I found it difficult to make eye contact and stared at the countertop while we spoke.

Slowly placing a phallic shaped piece of candy between her lips, she asked, “First time?”

“Is it that obvious?” I replied.

“Don’t worry, sugar. It’s my first time, too. I won’t bite, at least not right away.”

“I’ve been looking forward to coming here for years.”

She walked around the counter to where I stood. Taking my hand, she escorted me throughout the place, pointing out the various delights.

“Have you ever seen fudge being made?” she asked. “It gets slapped around pretty hard, if you’re into that sort of thing.”

I tried to offer a witty response but stuttered and stumbled over my words. The only part of the sentence that was coherent was the word “whipped”. Samantha lowered her gaze as she covered her mouth and responded with a nervous giggle.

With a tightened grasp of my hand, she whispered, “This really is your first time. Maybe I should show you the private rooms in the back, where all the magic happens?”

Hand in hand, we walked into the kitchen. Several confectionary chefs scurried about trying to keep up with the demand of the customers. As we crossed the room, Samantha scooped up several chocolate covered cherry cordials and handed one to me.

“Is this the happy ending?” I asked, popping one into my mouth.

“Of course not,” she said, pointing to an adjoining private room. “You still have to put on protection.”

She handed me a latex rubber glove at the same time I bit into the candy. I hoped it wasn’t the only cherry to be popped that afternoon.

Walls filled with pink cotton candy and chocolate The floor made with crunchy chocolate Some bits of peppermint chocolate Some bits of orange chocolate Or even some dark chocolate Will be so nice to eat a large variety of chocolate Unfortunately as an adult is not good for me or my teeth!

All the candy in the world Every flavor Free

Secret, paper taped, covered windows, hiding the sweet, longing sugar dreams, that children hold, inside. Closed for the Cold winter season, as the folks, of the small town, plan the grand opening. Lists were created, and items were ordered, For the special, sweet day. Buildings, were scrubbed, as past dusty, memories, were put away.

This year, the new owner, of the choc oh shop, decided to surprise, the town of others. He had met me, months before, So, yes I am involved, in the sweet success of an idea. The inside of the shop, contained a large chocolate, log cabin. The logs were sprinkled with jimmies. Well it looked very solid to me. Looking inside, there was a set, of dark smooth Chocolate wheels, that were moving, on its own track. The train was held together with pieces, of dark licorice, holding Like rope.

As the train, slowly, moved, around, the cars ,held small, delicate, pieces of taste, for the others, to enjoy. Smiles of Glee, happiness, and the look of wanting more, was written on their faces. Silent messages, were exchanged between, The eater, and the sweet. Eyes, closed with delight as the train, moved, carrying all kind, of surprises. Making frequently, Needed stops, for the hands, of the small ones.

As soon, as the candies, emptied, they were immediately, refilled, with a blink, of an eye. Patiently, waiting, for that first, Taste, of mouth watering, dreams, of sweet. Chairs and small decorated couches, were given to those first timers, that Couldn’t handle the volume of sweets. You must know, there is always one.

For the older adults, that didn’t ride that train, the sweets were delivered to the room, that is made out of homemade, Chocolate, mint drops, with swirls of orange, draped like spider webs, of long ago. There was also, comfort of seats, For them to relax on. Gentle falls, of water of color, flowed a sweet mist, in the air.

After the youngsters, left to go home, to their ‘Mr. Bubble Bath’. Is when the real fun started. An chocolate art class, Was offered, and you got to eat your project. Melted chocolate, was flung, and hardened, on edible, flavored paper.

The store also, hung the sweets, from the colorful ceiling, and it was lowered down, upon purchase. Dropped into a Goodbye, box.

A list of absolutely, every thing, in the store is stored in a chip, that was put in you, after you took your first bite, of Our chocolate. You are given updates, on the changes that occur.

Sp you see, we are quite busy, here. I’m going on my 25th year in a row. The funny thing about all this sweet, yummy, Gooey, idea of love,,,,,,,, I don’t even like chocolate……….

You never realize what it would take to get you to spend $10.99 a pound for candy until you find that perfect candy shop. Not one filled with pre-packaged treats but several clear containers that are meant to display the colorful contents inside. If they do it right they are sorted by flavor and then again by color.

When you realize that you can grab Pineapple Gummy Bears, Watermelon Jolly Ranchers, Banana Runts, Blueberry Sour Straws and Lemon Starburst by the scoop, you can’t believe you’ve spent your entire life picking through little bags to find them. In this place the work is done and you can fill bags with just your favorites.

You can even decide which color M&M’s go with your event. Grab chocolate coins wrapped in blue foils, or purple foils. Pink gum-balls, red gum-balls, yellow gum-balls, whatever your heart desires.

At the front of the store is a display of fine chocolate that look like tiny pieces of art. So pretty you can’t imagine eating them but with descriptions that read like poems you can’t help but try.

Now that I’ve found that this service exists, every time I find myself sorting through bags at Halloween wondering if there’s a better way. I remember that when I don’t want to sort and just want to get to what I want -I don’t need to sort them ‘The Candy Man can!’