The secret Twirl

‘Where are the Twirls?’

‘Ah here they are!’

I pick one up, then I look up to see there was a 2 for €2 special on Twirls.

‘Hmmm I had only been asked to get one, but I could save money with a second’

Smash cut to a few hours later where the Twirl had long been devoured and the Twirl eater announced they’d love another one.

I walked over to the cupboard and revealed the second Twirl I had bought in the sale, creating exuberant joy in the other person.

Now what happened there?

By withholding chocolate I created happiness?

By keeping the second bar secret and staggering the delivery times I amplified the return on joy?

What?

I can only speculate that the thought of the effort needed to walk all the way to the shop and back for another Twirl was pouring cold water all over the chocolate craving.

But finding out that there was no negative side to the trade off, that one was within arm’s reach of the desired sweet made it a joyful delight.

I also reckon that I would not have inspired the same levels of happiness if I had handed the two Twirls over in the beginning.

I think the receiver would have been pleasantly surprised but waiting for the second craving maximised the delight.

PS – An unfortunate by product of this secret keeping was I inadvertently created an expectation that I had a second Twirl hidden. Whoops! 😛