Tuesday, January 27, 2015

"Chocolate Honey" in KISSES

Milton S. Hershey sings "Chocolate Honey" in KISSES, the original musical, based on the life of Milton S. Hershey. 

VERSE:           
Be my chocolate honey,
And make all my days sunny.
Like a summer afternoon,
When the canary calls,
My heart falls in love with you.
Everything about you is true.

REFRAIN:       
With a cherry on top.
Sweet love doesn’t stop.

VERSE:           
Be my chocolate honey,
You smile when life’s not funny.
Like a comical relief,
So I’m not lost at sea.
I’m a ship that’s bound for shore.
How could I pretend I need more?

REFRAIN:       
With a cherry on top.
Sweet love doesn’t stop.

BRIDGE:        
My future would be bleak,
Without your pleasant flavor.
I long to kiss your cheek.
Each second with you I savor.

VERSE:           
Be my chocolate honey,
I love you more than money.
Like a never-ending joy,
That you can’t count in cash.
Oh, gold and silver don’t last.
How we fell in love so fast!

REFRAIN:       
With a cherry on top.
Sweet love doesn’t stop.

TAG:               
Be my chocolate honey.
Be my chocolate honey.
Be my chocolate honey.

Copyright 2018 Jennifer Waters

Saturday, January 3, 2015

The Man Upstairs: The Story of Coral Graf and Pennies from a Tin Can

Once there was a girl named Coral Graf who lived in the Upper East Side of New York City. She lived with her father and mother in a red brick, high-rise apartment with many neighbors. Her father owned a local deli with Jewish delicacies that all the neighbors loved. 

At least three days a week, her mother was a telephone operator at the Empire State Building. Ever since Coral was a baby, The Man Upstairs dropped pennies through the heating vent. “We don’t want your money!” Coral’s father yelled at The Man Upstairs through the ceiling. Her father banged on the ceiling with the broom handle to emphasize his request. 

When The Man Upstairs continued to drop pennies, Mrs. Graf set out a tin can, to collect them. “Well, if The Man Upstairs insists on giving us money, then we have to give it away,” Mrs. Graf said. Mr. and Mrs. Graf, with Coral at their side, gave the money to every hungry person on the block. 

One day, when the tin can of pennies overflowed, The Man Upstairs stopped dropping the coins. Mr. and Mrs. Graf were tired of giving the money away and thought they would keep it for themselves.

“It’s so much effort to give the money away,” Mr. Graf said, eating a corned beef sandwich and sauerkraut. 

“Coral, I thought maybe The Man Upstairs wanted us to keep a little of it,” Mrs. Graf said, enjoying a bagel and lox. 

“Mom, you know we have to share the pennies!” Coral said to her mother, counting the remaining money in the tin can. 

Nine-year-old Coral walked through the Upper East Side giving every last penny to needy strangers. Later, when Coral placed the tin can under her apartment vent, more pennies came out faster than ever before. The Man Upstairs only dropped pennies when someone from the Graf family gave the coins away. 

From that day on, Coral was in charge of the pennies that fell in the tin can from The Man Upstairs. 

“I promise to never hoard the pennies for myself,” Coral said, talking to him through the heating vent. “I’ll do as much good with every penny as I possibly can. Thank you for trusting me with your money.”

Over time, Coral had enough pennies from The Man Upstairs to change the entire world. The more pennies he gave her; the more she gave away. She might have even been a millionaire. All because The Man Upstairs knew she would keep her promise. 

 

Copyright 2015 Jennifer Waters


Dedicated to my grandmother, Augusta Renner Graf Waters.