Chocolate

There are a few wispy memories i have as a child before an event blotted most of my earlier memories out. One of these i will do my best to translate into words here.

When i was very young there was a cupboard in the kitchen which i had no business going in. When it was bedtime i noticed my mum or dad (this is when they were still together) would regularly take a flatish rectangular box out of it and lay it on the table, way above my line of sight so i didn't know what the contents was. I was intrigued by this for a long time and took to opening the cupboard when no one was looking and staring at this mysterious box. It had a green velvet covered case with strips of brown leather running down the sides and i would peak at it through the door then hurry away when i heard someone coming. One day i opened the box just enough to see inside two rows of shiny discs, one white one brown. My mouth watered at the sight of what i thought were chocolates and this was met by anger at my parents sneakily eating sweets after i'd gone to bed. Whats more my older sister was sometimes sat at the table when they got the box out while i was being sent to bed. I felt terribly left out. For a long time i snuck into the cupboard and opened the box just enough to glimpse the chocolates, milk and white, and think about taking one, but they were meticulously laid out and it wouldn't go unnoticed if one was taken, so i never risked it. Every time i opened the box and looked in i could smell chocolate and taste the sweetness in the air. I waited for months to see if i'd ever be offered one before i went to bed but it never happened, and then my parents split and the box dissapeared, with my dad i thought. I didn't see the box of chocolates for a long time.

When i was quite a bit older i was visiting my dad at his place and he asked if i'd like to learn how to play backgammon. I said yes so he came back with a box and laid it on the table. It was the green velvet box with leather strips and brown and white discs inside. To this day, everytime i play backgammon, i can smell and taste chocolate.