Cover Page

Title Page

The Chocolate Garden: A Magical Tale

To our children and the promise of what you all will be. May you always remember the magical, the sacred, and the playful as you journey through this beautiful life. We love you.

And to my divine entourage, who makes all things happen.

Molly and Kevin moved into a new house one day. The sun was shining and the house was pretty with its yellow door. But there was a big, scary dog next door that barked and growled at them.

Molly and Kevin had a big backyard and loved to play, but every time they went outside, the big, scary dog barked and barked at them. Molly and Kevin grew very afraid.

For a while Molly and Kevin played inside even when the sun was shining and they really wanted to be outside making sandcastles in their sandbox or swinging high on their swings.

Mommy asked them one day, “Why are you two not playing outside anymore?” Molly hugged Mommy’s leg and said, “That big, scary dog always barks and growls at us.” Kevin shook his head to let Mommy know he was afraid too.

Mommy came outside to play with Molly and Kevin, but the big, scary dog barked and growled so loud they ran inside and read their books.

The next day Mommy brought home a surprise. In the backyard were a whole bunch of pretty plants on their patio. The big, scary dog started barking at them, but Mommy knelt beside them and told Molly and Kevin that they were going to plant a chocolate garden.

Molly and Kevin had never heard of a chocolate garden, but they loved chocolate. They ate chocolate bars, and drank chocolate milk, and poured chocolate sauce on their ice cream.

Molly asked Mommy if the plants were made of chocolate and Mommy laughed and said, “No, sweetheart, but they have chocolate fairies that live in them who make the chocolate.” Molly and Kevin loved this idea.

Mommy showed them a plant with leaves the color of chocolate and said the chocolate fairies make the chocolate while Molly and Kevin are sleeping.

Mommy told Molly and Kevin that every morning, they would discover a piece of chocolate under their pillows from the chocolate fairies. Molly and Kevin clapped their hands in excitement, already tasting the sweet chocolate melting in their mouths.

Mommy hugged Molly and Kevin close to her and pointed to the big, scary dog barking at them and said, “The chocolate fairies sprinkle magical chocolate dust all over the yard every day and night so no one can find the chocolate. Not even that big, scary dog.”

Molly and Kevin were happy now. The big, scary dog might bark and growl, but he couldn’t jump the fence and chase them like they’d feared. The chocolate fairies would protect them.