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A Test For The Sweetest Teeth

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By KLINT LOWRY, The Suncoast News

Published: February 16, 2008

HOLIDAY - The Centennial Park Branch Library held a children's valentine-making party recently with library officials supplying the paper, glitter, glue, scissors and decorative baubles.

And to get everyone in a festive Valentine's Day frame of mind, they added one more element: a six-course candy-themed game.

Between the drawing, cutting and pasting, the children played "Mystery Chocolate," a deliciously simple game designed to test the taste buds. Every few minutes, small samples of popular candy bars were handed out.

Not only had the wrappers been removed, but the candy bars were melted beyond recognition.

"It's going to be one big glop," said library assistant Cindy Benson, who ran the event.

Each child was given a piece of paper, and as they got each round of chocolate, they wrote down what candy they thought it was. Benson said she put some thought into picking candy bars that wouldn't give themselves away too easily.

"That's why I don't have Twix," Benson said. "That cookie" would have been a dead giveaway.

The energy in the room picked up noticeably as the first anonymous chocolate samples came out from the kitchen.

As the children wrote down their guesses, some covertly compared their thoughts. Anyone who shouted out an opinion was quickly shushed.

As each ensuing round of chocolate was introduced, any hint of formality went by the wayside.

In some corners, valentines were being cranked out at a blinding pace.

In other areas, production stopped altogether, although throughout the room there was a consistent rise in the decibel level.

By the fourth round of chocolate sampling, the party was going full throttle. While everyone was playing the game with enthusiasm, no one was being particularly competitive.

There was an unspoken understanding that everyone was winning this game.

After the sixth and final sample had been served, Benson revealed the secret identities of the chocolate glops. As each candy bar name was read off - Almond Joy, Snickers, 3 Musketeers, Kit Kat, Reese's - their was a collective "Yes!" response, even from those who'd guessed wrong.

When the final entry was revealed - Hershey's - it was as though Benson had said, "The Eagle has landed."

Win or lose, every child left was awarded a prize - a candy bar, with those who got all six right getting first dibs on the spoils.

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