Let the bread bake.

It came as a shock to everyone when Abel was also sacked alongside other employees. He was among the oldest staff and the most loyal. He tried unsuccessfully to plead with the management to reconsider their decision. If not for anything but for The sake of his wife and kids since he was the lone breadwinner in The family.

Funny enough, before the sack, Abel thought that he was indispensable and a valuable asset to the company. Now he knew better and he thought how stupid he was.

Things had been very rough for abel months ever since he lost his job. He had been searching for another factory job ever since but anywhere he goes,he was always told that there was no vacancy even though he had a very impressive record of experience.

Thank God for professor Solomon, Abel's step brother who had been assisting him and his family since the time he lost his job. The professor placed his stepbrother and his family on a monthly allowance and every last weekend , Abel will visit the professor's house to receive the stipend.

One day, Abel's first daughter fell seriously ill, and she was rushed to the hospital. Abel called and informed the professor about this. The professor came to the hospital after he closed from office to see the child. Fortunately, she was already recovering and the Doctor said she would be discharged the following day. After having s a light conversation with Abel and his wife, the professor paid the medical expenses and bid told them goodbye.

The following week, Abel came to see the professor. In one of his hands, was a polythene bag containing a big loaf of bread which he presented to the professor. No doubt, he was very grateful to the professor for the role he played when his daughter was ill and as a poor man, this was all what he could afford as a token of appreciation. The professor recieved the gift with smile albeit nonchalantly.

The following morning, as early as 7:00am, the professor drove to Abel's house. Abel was very surprised to see the prof. at his house at this time and by the way the professor have never been to his little house before.

To Abel's surprise, the professor wanted to know where he bought the bread hr gave him the previous day. The professor admitted that he had never eaten a bread so delicious before in his entire life and would want to know where he bought that particular bread so that he can be getting more of it on a daily basis. Abel laughed and revealed to the professor that he baked the bread himself specially for him.

The professor was very shock to here this. " I never knew you could bake so well" he said. Abel told him that he learnt how to bake a long time ago when he was very young. Since he was the last child of his mother, he was always with her in the kitchen. There, he learnt the secret of baking since his mom was also a good chef. The professor looked at his stepbrother Abel for a long time, then left the house without saying anything else.

The month ended, and as usual,Abel visited the professor to get his stipend. He was totally thrown aback when the professor suddenly became very hostile towards him.

"I am sorry Abel, but I am not giving you any more money again. As a matter of fact, I am sick and tired o f your constant bother. I am not the reason you lost your job, now get out my house!". The professor said.

" Since you know how to make such delicious bread, why don't you open up a bakery, and believe me, in no time you would be making a lot of money from it".

Abel looked at his stepbrother with wide eyes and mouth agape. He thought he had suddenly been possessed by a demon.

"What are you saying bro?! I don't have any money to start up a bread business,I don't even have a space to serve as a bakery. As you already know, I live in a one room apartment with my family of four.

The professor leaned forward and looked directly into Abel's eyes and said. " Convert that your one room apartment to a bakery".

Now Abel was quite sure that the professor was really out of his mind.

"Do you realize what you are saying sir?" Where will my family stay if I convert my little room to a bakery ? .

" I don't care about where your family would live, you can throw them into the bush for all I care. Now get out of my house and I don't want to see you again until you have made up your mind"! The professor barked at him.

Abel couldn't sleep that night, he told his wife what transpired between him and the professor and she became very upset. "How could such a good man suddenly become very wicked overnight?"she cried.

After a week of hard thinking, Abel decided to do what the professor told him to do. By the way, apart from the professor , there was no body in the whole world who could help. His wife had to sent their children to stay with an elder sister.

The professor smiled knowingly when Abel and his wife told him that they had agreed to convert a little room to a bakery. Abel and his wife were shocked when the professor produced a cheque of five hundred thousand naira ( A thousand dollars ). "That should be enough capital for the your business", he said.

For three months, Abel and his wife got really busy. After his wife finished making the bread, Abel would balance the loaves at the back of his old motorcycle and travel round the neighborhood in his district where he would supply grocery stores and various tea shops with bread.

Some customers would even call him for fresh supplies in less than twenty four hours after the first supply. No doubt people loved the bread he made, which was not only more tastier but was also cheaper than others from bigger bakeries . Abel amd his wife were pleasantly surprised at how things were turning around for good, they were making much more profits from their little bakery than they had expected.

Abel and his wife visited the professor one day and told him how their little business was growing fast. The professor was excited to hear this and again he gave Abel one of his old vehicle which he would utilise in conveying a larger quantity of his products to his customers so as to boost sales and reduce stress.

Within six months , Abel made a lot of money from his sales . He was able to expand his business by renting an old warehouse which he now used for production. He also was able to employ three laborers as his business continued to grow.

Today, Abel had already established himself as one of the leading bread manufacturer in his state. He already has three bakeries and two houses. Abel and his wife would be forever grateful to the professor for his ingenuity by challenging them to take the bull by the horns even though they had thought it impossible.

This short story is actually a figment of my imagination and not real. I pray you enjoyed reading it . ☺

CONCLUSION

If we don't leave our comfort zone,chances are that we shall never grow and improve. Never be afraid to take risk or try new things. You might surprise yourself and become the best within a short while.

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To all my sponsors, upvoters,readers and commenters, Thank y'all so much for the continued love and support.

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