The Chocolate Bar
By Linda C Butler
Told by Charles Vance (1909-1989)
The Second World War was over in Europe in May 1945 but rationing in Canada continued as there were still food shortages.
In the fall of 1945 I was in Thicket Portage and purchased supplies for the trapline. I knew the storekeeper well. He had obtained a few chocolate bars and saved one for me. I was thrilled to purchase a chocolate bar as they were not available during the war years. We planned to be in the bush all winter and I knew that this chocolate bar would make a wonderful present for Naomi (Jane). I carefully tucked it out of sight, and when we returned to the cabin I put it into an empty four-pound jam pail and sealed the lid. I hid the pail on the top shelf of our warehouse where I stored my traps. Naomi never went in there and I expected that it would be safe until Christmas time.
One warm fall day I went to work on the trapline while Naomi stayed home and decided to surprise me by cleaning the warehouse.
I returned home that night and she said: “Charlie, I was so surprised when I cleaned on the top shelf because I found a sealed jam tin. I was curious as to what was inside so I pried the lid off and guess what; there was a chocolate bar inside.”
“I was hiding your Christmas present.”
At this point, there was no point in waiting for Christmas, so we ate the chocolate bar that night.
© Linda C Butler 2013
Vance Turner Connect 
ill bet that was the best chocolate bar she ever ate!