Candy gram? Letter from House of Commons asks Marion woman to send candy
Staff writer
It's no mystery to Marion resident Earlene Hague why she received a letter from a member of the British Parliament.
However, she finds it unusual that the letter requests an additional supply of candy — specifically peanut brittle.
"And I don't even claim to be a candy maker," Earlene said with a laugh. "I was just making a care package for my grandson."
During the Christmas season Earlene sent a box of goodies to her grandson, Sean Mann, a research assistant for Don Foster, a Member of Parliament for Bath, England, in her Majesty's Parliament. Foster also is the Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media, and Sport.
"Sean said that if he ate all that candy he'd have a sugar fit. So he took it to work and put it in the break room," Earlene recalled.
The goodies included peanut brittle, fudge, divinity, caramel corn, and party mix.
Sean noticed the candy disappearing fast and took some peanut brittle to his desk, Earlene said. He left for a time, but upon returning found it was missing.
It didn't take long to discover that the missing candy had been consumed by his boss, the Member of Parliament.
"He asked Sean to set up a letter for him thanking me," Earlene said. "I was surprised to get it."
In the letter, Foster congratulates Earlene on "producing some of the finest confectionaries" he has ever "had the pleasure of tasting."
Foster's letter regrets that the candy "did not last very long," but requests an additional supply.
"I appreciate that my influence in central Kansas is quite limited," the letter states, "but I would be indebted to you if you could supply me with more of your candy, especially your delicious peanut brittle."
Being a devoted grandmother, Earlene said she would be honoring the request made by her grandson's boss. Unfortunately, mailing those goodies is not cheap. Earlene said it cost $34 to send the first package.
"But if it'll help Sean I'll sure do it," Earlene said.
She noted that Foster is seeking re-election, which could be a good thing for Sean.
Sean is the son of former Marion resident Roxie (Hague) Mann, a 1969 Marion High School graduate.
Earlene said she hadn't made peanut brittle since before her husband's death.
"I make my peanut brittle in a cast iron skillet. It was always so heavy to lift that it would take two of us — one to pour it out and the other to smooth it," she recalled.
This time, however, she made the gooey treat without help.
"Some of it was so thick," Earlene said, noting she was surprised by the raves it received.
As for the letter from Sean's boss, a prominent figure in Britain, Earlene said it was a "thrill."
However, she's even more impressed with her grandson and the job he's doing.
"Grandkids these days just have so many opportunities," she said. "I just hope everything works out for him."
