When Mart held open the Chocolate Lab door for Anna at the Hershey Story Museum, she caught the scent of chocolate, laced with tantalizing hints of vanilla and nuts.

Charlotte and Austin were already discussing whether they preferred dark or milk chocolate, and when Mart asked her, Anna said, “Dark, hands down.” Mart agreed, then showed his tickets to the attendant for the unique workshop advertised as “Hershey’s sweetest hands-on activity.”

The place was already filling up with not only parents and their children but couples of all ages. Anna was eager to learn about the ingredients combined in the making of chocolate, as well as a few Hershey secrets. Following interactive demonstrations by expert chocolate makers, she and the others would get to pour the freshly melted chocolate and have the chance to decorate it.

“Ever seen anything like this?” Mart asked her as they waited for the workshop lab to begin.

“Never! Where’d you hear about it?”

“Folks on the tours have mentioned it, but I’ve never been myself, so I checked it out online. It looked like fun, so here we are.” He winked at her.

Anna’s face warmed. “Maybe the information center should put this on their list of things to do and see,” she said. “Even though most of the tourists we work with come to see the simpler side of life.”

“True, but who doesn’t love the taste of chocolate?”

Charlotte glanced their way and nodded her head, apparently having overheard. “This is the sweetest place on earth, right?”

Anna smiled, glad to be a part of such a great group of young people.

———

Before Anna and the others left the Chocolate Lab to see the interactive museum exhibits, Anna breathed in deeply the amazing chocolate scent one last time. The rest of the place was interesting, as well, especially the rags-to-riches story of Milton Hershey and the chocolate and town that bore his name.

Charlotte and Austin lagged behind, which was fine with Anna, since it felt like she and Mart were more on their own.

After a stop at the chocolate café, where they all enjoyed a late lunch, the group headed through the enormous parking lot to the van. Charlotte and Austin shared a Hershey’s chocolate and almond bar as they walked, talking quietly and laughing occasionally, which gave Anna a chance to interact with several others in their group. But it was Mart who kept catching her eye.

Anna found Sadie in the kitchen preparing a beef roast to use for sandwiches tomorrow, since she wouldn’t be doing any cooking for the main meal on the Lord’s Day. “Sounds like a wunnerbaar-gut recipe,” Anna said.

“Jah, it really is.” Sadie rubbed the sides of the meat with a mix of brown sugar and seasonings. “Did ya have fun?” She glanced at Anna.

“Oh yes, there was lots to do.” Anna began to describe all she’d experienced. “Have you ever been there?”