Valentine's Day Mix-Up
Ren English Readers · Level A2
“Hot chocolate is perfect in winter,” said Momo.
Today was so cold. Hana’s breath made clouds in the air. There was a lot of snow on the street. Momo and Hana stopped in front of a supermarket and stomped up and down. Their feet felt like ice. Hana pointed at the heart decorations. Many boxes had heart ribbons on them.
“I forgot. Tomorrow is Ren’s first Valentine's Day in Japan, Momo. Can you come to my house? We should make some chocolate for the boys,” said Hana.
“Good idea. This is my first time making chocolate for Valentine’s Day. Is it difficult?” asked Momo.
“No, it’s really easy,” said Hana.
“I thought Valentine’s Day was romantic,” said Momo. “What will Sora and Ren think?”
“We’ll give them Friend Chocolate,” said Hana. “It’s easy to make.”
“Then let’s make some extra chocolate for ourselves,” said Momo. She licked her lips.
“How much money do you have?” asked Hana.
Momo took out her wallet. “I have one thousand yen. How about you?”
“I have three thousand yen.” Hana touched her bag. “That will be enough. Let’s go to the supermarket.”
They went inside. Hana bought some chocolate bars, some milk and some sprinkles. “Do you have butter at home?” asked Momo.
“Yes, I do. I like cornflakes in my chocolate too. We should get some,” said Hana. “Do you think Ren will like cornflakes?”
“Can we try some?” said Momo.
“No, we can’t do that.” Hana shook her head.
They went to the hundred-yen store and bought some molds to make shapes. Momo found a cute bag to hold the chocolate.
“I want to draw some pictures on my chocolate,” said Hana. “Do they have any chocolate pens here?”
“They are over here.” Momo pointed to a pack.
“Are they any good?” Hana took the pack and checked the back.
“We could buy two and see.” Momo licked her lips.
“No, we can’t do that.” Hana put the pens in her basket. “We have to make it first, and everything has to be perfect.”
Momo frowned. “But I’m hungry.”
“Sorry, I don’t have any money left. Let’s go home. Mom might have a snack for us,” said Hana.
“Great,” said Momo.
Outside the supermarket, Hana and Momo met Ren and Sora.
“What are you doing today?” asked Ren. “Sora and I are going to see a movie. Do you want to come?”
Hana shook her head. “Sorry. Momo and I are busy today. Maybe next time.”
“Really? What are you doing?” asked Ren.
“It’s a secret.” Momo smiled.
Ren scratched his head.
“See you tomorrow, Ren.” Hana pulled Momo away.
“What are you doing? You were going to tell them everything.” Hana was very angry.
“I didn’t want to tell Ren the secret,” said Momo. “This is his first Valentine’s Day.”
“Yes, but now he’ll think everything is strange,” said Hana.
“Don’t worry about it. Let’s go make some chocolate,” said Momo.
Hana crossed her arms. She didn’t say anything.
“I’m home, Mom,” Hana said.
“Welcome back, dear. Hello, Momo,” said Hana’s mother.
“Hello, Mrs. Tanaka,” said Momo.
“What are you two girls doing here?” asked Mrs. Tanaka.
“We’re going to make some Valentine’s chocolate for the boys. Can we use the kitchen?” asked Hana.
“Sure, no problem. I’m going to go shopping for dinner. There are some goza soro — sweet mochi — in the fridge. Help yourself. Don’t forget to clean up when you’re finished,” said Mrs. Tanaka.
“Okay, Mom,” said Hana.
Mrs. Tanaka left the house.
“Can I try the chocolate now?” asked Momo.
“Just wait,” said Hana. She rolled her eyes.
They washed their hands and went into the kitchen. Hana gave a bowl to Momo. “You break the milk chocolate bar into small pieces. I’ll break this dark chocolate bar.”
Hana broke the dark chocolate into a bowl. She added some butter and milk.
Momo broke the milk chocolate into small pieces. She glanced at Hana and ate a small piece.
“When you're done, put it in the microwave for thirty seconds,” said Hana.
“Okay.” Momo swallowed the chocolate.
“Did you eat some chocolate?” asked Hana.
“No!” Momo turned red. She went to the microwave and pushed the start button.
The microwave binged.
“Stir it until the chocolate is smooth,” said Hana. She gave Momo a spatula.
Momo stirred the chocolate. She quickly glanced at Hana. She was crushing cornflakes. My chance, Momo thought, and stuck her finger into the chocolate.
“I saw that,” said Hana.
Momo took her finger out of her mouth.
“Don’t stick your finger into the chocolate. It isn’t clean,” said Hana. “This is Ren’s first Valentine’s here. I want it to be perfect.”
“I washed my hands first,” said Momo.
Hana crossed her arms. “Momo!”
“Okay, sorry. I won’t do it again,” said Momo.
Hana smiled. “I know you like chocolate. Just wait. When we finish, you can lick the spatula.”
“Promise?” asked Momo.
“I promise,” said Hana.
Hana put the molds on the counter. Momo poured the chocolate into them. There were six heart-shaped molds and six bear face-shaped molds.
“There’s too much chocolate left. We need some more molds,” said Hana. “I have some in my closet. I’ll go get them.”
After Hana left, Momo looked at Hana’s bowl. She went to the cabinet, opened a drawer, and took out a small spoon. “Maybe just a taste.”
She put the spoon into Hana’s melted chocolate and licked it off. “Yummy.”
“What’s ‘yummy’?” asked Hana. She had a big heart-shaped mold with two spaces in her hand.
Momo dropped the spoon into the sink.
“Did you eat some more chocolate?” asked Hana.
Momo looked down. “Yes, but I used a spoon this time.”
“That doesn’t matter! Stop eating the chocolate!” Hana said.
“I’ll try. It’s so delicious,” said Momo.
“Let’s finish with the chocolate.” Hana put the crushed cornflakes into the bottom of the mold. Then she poured the dark chocolate on top.
“Why are you doing that?” asked Momo.
“I want to write a message to Ren and Sora. I’ll use the chocolate pens after the chocolate gets hard,” said Hana.
“Can I use them?” asked Momo.
“Just don’t eat them,” said Hana.
Momo puffed out her cheeks. “I won’t do that.”
“It’ll take about ten minutes to harden. Do you want a goza soro?” asked Hana.
“Yes, please. Can I lick the spatula now?” asked Momo.
Hana laughed and gave Momo the spatula. “Here. Enjoy it.”
Momo licked the chocolate. “This is the best part.”
The microwave binged.
“Come to the table. Your goza is warm,” Hana said.
Momo picked up the round dumpling. She broke it in half. “The anko is too hot to eat,” she said, blowing.
“Sorry,” said Hana. “I don’t like cold sweet bean paste.”
“Can I get a drink?” asked Momo.
“Sure. Let me get some ocha,” said Hana.
Momo glanced at the chocolate. “Just one bite.” She took one. “It’s much better than the store chocolate.”
She took a bite of the goza soro. “I wonder how chocolate tastes with the goza.” She took another chocolate.
Momo smiled. “So yummy. I should stop, but it’s so good.”
She reached for another chocolate.
“What are you doing?” yelled Hana. “That chocolate is for Ren and Sora, not just you!”
Momo looked at the molds. The chocolate was gone. She looked down at the table. “I’m sorry. It was so delicious, I just kept eating.”
Hana looked angrily at Momo.
Momo couldn’t look at Hana. She looked down at the floor.
“There is chocolate all over your face,” said Hana angrily.
“I’ll fix it,” said Momo.
“How? We don’t have enough chocolate for two people, and it’s too late,” said Hana. “The supermarket is closed.”
“There is a small supermarket near my house. It’s open late,” said Momo. “I’ll go get some chocolate and be right back.”
Momo grabbed her coat.
“It’s late and dark,” said Hana. “Will you be okay?”
“Yes. This is my fault. I’ll fix it,” said Momo. There were tears in her eyes.
“Be careful,” said Hana. “I’ll clean up the chocolate here. Come back quickly.”
Momo looked surprised. “I can come back here?”
“Of course,” said Hana. “We promised to make the chocolate together.”
Momo hugged Hana and ran out of the house.
Hana cleaned up the bowls in the kitchen. After that, she took the chocolate pens. “It’s too small for all the words. What should I do?” She wrote ‘Happy V Day, Ren’. Then, she did the same thing to Sora’s chocolate.
“Where is Momo? She’s late.” Hana looked out the window. “It’s getting very dark and cold. Maybe I was too angry?”
She looked back at her chocolate. “This was more fun with Momo here.” First, she took the pen and drew around the outside of the big heart-shaped chocolate in green. It wasn’t straight. Then, she took a knife and cut it off slowly, but still left a green mark. Hana put a little extra chocolate on it to smooth it out. Next, she drew the big heart again. Finally, she stood back. “Darn! It’s not perfect, but it’s almost there.”
She looked at the clock. “Maybe I was too mean.”
Hana took a pot from the cupboard. “I can fix that.” She put some milk and cocoa powder into it. Then she stirred the pot. The milk bubbled. “Momo will be cold when she gets back.”
The doorbell rang. “Finally!” Hana ran to the door and yanked it open. “You’re late. I was getting worried.” She crossed her arms.
Momo stepped inside. “Sorry. I had to go to two stores. Valentine’s Day is tomorrow, and my supermarket was sold out of chocolate. I found some, though.” She held up a bag with two white chocolate bars. “I couldn’t find milk chocolate.”
“I see. Come inside. It’s cold,” Hana said.
Momo washed her hands. “The warm water feels good.” She sat at the table. “My goza soro is cold.”
“Here, drink this.” Hana put a cup of hot chocolate in front of Momo.
“For me?” Momo was surprised. She wrapped her hands around the cup. “This is perfect.”
“Yes. I’m sorry I yelled at you.” Hana sipped her own hot chocolate next to Momo.
“It was my fault,” said Momo. “I promise this time, I won’t eat the chocolate.”
“Really?” asked Hana.
Momo stuck out her pinky finger. “I pinky promise.”
Hana wrapped her own pinky around Momo’s. “If you break it, you’ll eat a thousand needles.”
Momo giggled. “Maybe chocolate needles.”
Hana laughed. “Finish your hot chocolate. We have to start all over.”
“Break this chocolate into the bowl. I’ll do this one,” Hana said.
Momo broke the chocolate. This time she didn’t take a bite.
“Maybe you can do it this time,” said Hana.
“Trust me!” said Momo.
They melted the chocolate, mixed it with the spatula, and poured it into the molds. When they cooled, Hana put the chocolates in the refrigerator.
Hana offered the spatula to Momo.
Momo raised her hands. “No. I promised I wouldn’t eat any chocolate, and I won’t.”
“It’s okay, Momo. This is the spatula. We’re done making the chocolate. You can lick this off.”
“Really?” Momo asked.
Hana nodded. “You kept your promise. I’m proud of you. This is your prize.”
“Thank you. It was really difficult. The melted chocolate smelled so good.” Momo licked off the spatula. “I didn’t eat any this time.”
“That’s right,” said Hana. “You got some chocolate on your nose.” Hana wiped it off and licked her finger.
“Hey, don’t do that. It’s not clean,” said Momo.
“Everything doesn’t have to be perfect all the time.” Hana giggled.
Momo joined her.
*
The next day, Hana and Momo gave some chocolates to Sora and Ren. The chocolates were wrapped in a clear plastic bag with hearts on it and tied with a ribbon.
“What’s this?” asked Ren.
“Happy Valentine’s Day, Ren,” Hana said. “We made this for you yesterday.” She gave him the bag with two hands.
“Why are there three different colours?” asked Sora. “What’s with this green mark on mine?”
“I made a mistake the first time. So, we used white chocolate, milk and dark,” said Hana. Her face turned red.
Sora nodded.
“No, I mean, why are you giving me chocolate?” asked Ren. “Back home, we sometimes give chocolate today. Usually, we just give a card.” He scratched his head.
“Why?” asked Sora.
“Giving chocolate is romantic. You only give your girlfriend chocolate.” Ren gave a small smile.
“Well, in Japan, the girls make chocolate to give to their special friends. This is called tomo-chocolate. It means friendship chocolate,” said Hana. “I even have some for Momo.” She gave Momo a bag filled with some chocolates.
Momo was surprised. “Really? I thought…” She clapped her hands.
Sora grinned. “You ate all the chocolate, didn’t you? Did Hana get angry?”
“How did you know?” Momo put her hands on her hips.
“You always eat everything,” said Sora.
Momo puffed out her cheeks.
Ren smiled. “Thank you for the chocolate, Momo. I love it. Don’t worry about Sora. He is just teasing you.”
Momo sighed. “It’s true. I ate all the chocolate.”
“After the movie, I saw you at the store,” said Ren. “I waved, but you ignored me.”
“Sorry, I was in a hurry,” said Momo. Her face turned redder.
“Don’t worry. Everybody makes mistakes,” said Hana. “You fixed it.”
“I did,” Momo said. She smiled.
“Do you make mistakes, Hana?” Sora asked. He pointed to the green mark.
“All the time,” Hana said.
“Thank goodness. I like it when Hana makes mistakes. It doesn’t happen very often.” He laughed.
She stuck her tongue out at Sora.
“I have something for you, too,” said Ren. He pulled out two boxes of chocolate-covered mushroom-shaped cookies from his bag.
“What’s this?” asked Hana.
“When Sora told me about Valentine’s Day, I bought these for you,” said Ren.
Momo looked at Hana. “Thank you, Ren, but you’re supposed to give us chocolate on White Day,” said Momo.
“What’s White Day?” asked Ren.
“It’s next month,” said Sora. “Men have to give the women who gave them chocolate a return gift. Usually it’s more expensive.” He crossed his arms.
“Huh? We don’t have White Day back home,” Ren said.
“Really?” said Hana. “What happens if someone gives you homemade chocolate?”
“That never happens either,” said Ren.
“Well, Japan is better for that, then,” Momo said.
Ren smiled. “Well, can you share this with me? I can’t wait until next month to give it to you.”
Hana looked at Momo. Momo nodded. “Sure, and I promise not to eat it all.”
The other three looked at her.
“Maybe half.” Momo stuck out her tongue. The other three laughed.