Dunkin Donuts has a deal going on which has inspired me to get out there and do something creative. If you contribute to the Special Olympics by buying a special mug, then every day after 2:00 PM you can get a free hot or iced refill of coffee for just $0.99 or $1.07 with Tax. This deal extends through the end of February and since purchasing the filled mug was the same cost as a normal cup of coffee I decided that I would try to take advantage of this deal.

After purchasing the mug this morning, I realized I have been wanting to flex my creative muscles and a brilliant idea came to me. I would be fueled by Dunkin Donuts and try to do something creative through the end of February, each day powered by that $0.99 refill.

That’s where you come in reader. I find I often have a brunt of ideas floating around in my head and find it hard to focus on or even pick one to use at any given time. Which is why I’ve decided that through 2/28/2014, for the cost of a cup of coffee, I am offering myself up for commissions of written work. That means that if you give me the required one hundred and seven cents required to purchase a cup of coffee I will write something based on a topic of your choosing (up the length of one page of a word document minimum). You’ll be helping me get my coffee and hopefully I’ll be delivering you with something fun and enjoyable to read. Since that may not be the case I am also allowing you to pick exactly what it is that I will be drinking. I won’t do artificial sweeteners or decaffeinated coffe, but as long as it is on Dunkin Donuts’ menu and eligible for the deal then I will imbibe it.

I consider it selling out to myself and I think that it could result in some fun overall. If you’re interested please get in touch with me and we can work it out.

To start I was given the cost of a cup of coffee by Goody DeMichele and decided to get her drink of choice everyday a Hot Almond Coffee Black. The inclusion of Almond got me thinking about candy and how almonds are considered a candy due in part to their inclusion in so many different candy items, and that in turn inspired this fictional story about the realm of Snacktasia and the origins of chocolate. I hope you enjoy and I’ll see you tomorrow for more coffee fueled commission fun.

The Origins of Chocolate

                In the years after the fruit and nut wars had ended, a peace fell over the land unlike any that had ever been seen before in Snacktasia. After a solid decade of fighting over which was the more and delicious treat in existence, both sides agreed that sometimes one wanted a treat which played upon the savory parts of the palate and others when a sweeter treat was in demand. As the two warring factions came to a mutual agreement that there was room for both of them in the highly competitive world of snacking, the realm of Snacktasia embarked upon a new age of enlightenment and advancement unlike any that had been seen before. As often happens during such times of advancement the people fell into a state of blissful ignorance.

                One of the many facets of the golden age of Snacktasia was a renewed sense of exploration and adventure. Now that they had completed the arduous task of rebuilding their homeland, the sights were set on the great mysteries which existed across the great grape oceans which surrounded their land. With a portion of the wealth they had been able to amass the people of Snacktasia decided they would build a ship with which to cross the great juicy divide.  Throwing caution to the wind they embarked on this quest to further explore their realm.

                For two months the intrepid crew braved the harsh elements of the sucrose scented sea and as their supplies continued to diminish so did their resolve at successfully completing their voyage. A group of sailors aboard the mighty vessel took stock of the situation and realized that if they continued on this path they would be out of rations within two weeks and most likely dead by months end. They pleaded with their captain to turn back before all hope of survival was lost, but their cries fell upon deaf ears and they continued their impassioned pleas they soon started to sound of mutiny and the captain decided that he would lock these detractors in the brig for their insolence.  Hearing this talk of imprisonment, those who had first approached the captain with a peaceful request decided that force would be the only way to make their captain see reason and their intentions turned truly mutinous.

                A large fight broke out on deck and soon everyone was involved in the skirmish, save the cabin boy who had been assigned to the crow’s nest. Frightened of what was happening below him he looked out across the great purple endlessness and that was when he saw it.

                “LAND HO!” he cried “LAND HO! OFF THE PORT BOW!”  

                The combatants below stopped at the cabin boys cries of land in the distance and as the fighting came to a halt the captain remove his spyglass to confirm the boy’s cried. Sure enough there of the port of the boat he too saw land.  Renewed by the find the thought of mutiny had ceased, and all began working together to make landfall.

Upon docking the crew disembarked into a dark brown wasteland. It was deserted without any trace of civilization. Still after 6 straight fortnights of nothing but ocean, it was a pleasant sight to the crew, and they began to leap and cry out with excitement. One even got down on his knees and kissed the ground, happy to be back on dry land, and that dear reader is where our story takes a rather strange turn.

Placing his lips upon the hard brown terra, he found it greeted with a sweet intoxicating flavor, as he continued to taste the sweetness of the earth, a sensational aroma filled his nostrils and made his thoughts drift to a heavenly utopia. He stood and told his crew mates that they too should taste the bounty all around them, and soon all the men save the captain had taken similar trips on the wings of such ecstasy and strived to taste more and more of the deliciousness all around them. Seeing the joy that his men were experiencing the captain grabbed a handful of the brown earth and took a taste for himself.  He now understood the sheer joy that the flavors of this new land had brought to his crew and decided that they would take as much from the land as they could back to Snacktasia.

Upon loading the vessel with enough of the delicious brown substance that this new country was made of, the captain turned to his sexton to see if he could plot a way home. Sure enough in the sky he recognized the constellation “Chochalia” and based upon its location in the heavens was able to find the best route back to Snacktasia. Since the route was based upon the location of “Chochalia” in the night sky the men started to call the new land Chocaway, and the deliciousness they had harvested from their shores “chocolate.”

Upon their arrival home the crew was regarded as heroes, and the chocolate which they had brought with them. Soon a trade route had been established so that they could always have a ready supply of chocolate available to them. The new delicacy was a hit amongst the entire population of Snacktasia, and their golden age began to be a whole lot sweeter. Unfortunately the people of the land failed to recognize the danger which lurked on the horizon.