Destiny

Going with the Flow

The next day your father wakes up early. Well you always woke up late after your mother passing away. Father came to check up on you in your room but your room is completely empty. He panics. You weren't in your right state of mind for the past few days soi obviously worst thoughts started passing his mind. He dashed out of his room and looked for you in whole house, which didn't really took much time as your house is pretty small. You were nowhere to be find. He was soo afraid, his heart beating fast. At the same moment he hears the door creek open. He turned his head only to see you. With a huge stack of wood in your hand and on your back in the wooden basket/container.

He face adorned with instant relief. He hugs you instantly and says "Oh dear do you know how frightened I was! Where did you go!?" "Into the woods. I wanted to cook breakfast but we were out of wood so I thought I can collect some." You say as a matter of fact. Your father is very surprised. Pleasantly surprised though. Because he didn't expect you to be behaving like your normal self this fast. He seems to be genuinely happy. You weakly smile at him and say "Please go freshen up father. I'll prepare breakfast in the meanwhile." "Okayy~" he says happily.

To be honest whatever he said yesterday made sense to you. *I can't be mourning forever you thought. I need to stop being a mess and stop bothering everyone around me* you thought to yourself. Though that doesn't mean the pain of your mother passing away had lessened. But you knew change is the only constant and going forward is the only option you have.

You prepare some tea and breakfast and have a peaceful breakfast with your father and send him off to his work. You later go to your own job. The noble family you worked for had been really nice with you. And you only had a half day job over there. You were pretty happy about it being a half day job before your mother dying because you loved having the rest of the day to yourself but now, you just wanted to keep working whole day to keep your mind off all the thoughts that keep haunting you. Yet again lost your thought you run into a old women who had some baguettes in her hand. "I-I'm soo soryy madam. I wasn't paying attention" you say quite scared hoping she wouldn't make you pay for the soiled bread. You hastily pick up the baquettes. She also kneels down to pick them up and says "Ohh dear. Don't fret. It's okay ... Accidents like this happens all the time" she says with a sweet voice almost chuckling at the end. "I should've payed attention. I'm really sorry madam" you say as you help her up after picking up those baguettes. She smiles sweetly and says " Look at you all worried for nothing! I own this bakery dear" she says pointing to a small cute little bakery with beautiful cakes and pastries on display on the right side of the road. There were many shops in a line along the whole road and the bakery was one of them. "So these *i.e the breads* must be for sale, right madam!?" You say worried. "This will cause you some loss! I'm soo sorry madam. I feel guilty now. Is there anything I can do to help you? I'm free for the rest of my day and I can help you with any work" you say apologetically. "Don't worry dear. It's okay! I just have to bake these baguettes again. You can head home now." "But madam I insist." You say. "Oh you stubborn little kid! Okay then. Follow me" she says. You trail behind her and enter the bakery. The bakery looks quite old and rustic, but beautiful nonetheless. And the aroma!!! You never smelt something soo delicious.

"My name is Mary. And make yourself comfortable dear! I'll be right back" she says as she disappeares into a room. She brings a tray filled with cake and says "Arrange these cakes on that display shelf dear. In the meanwhile I'll bake some baguettes". Yes madam you say as you take the tray and get to your work. She goes into a attached room with seems where she does the baking. You arrange those cakes beautifully. You can't help but wanting to eat one of those because you had never eaten any cake! But you controlled yourself. You were done with your work faster than you thought so you decided to sweep the floor while you wait for her to come outside. The place was a bit dusty. You sweeped and cleaned the whole bakery and while you were cleaning she came outside. She looked surprised and said
"Dear you didn't have to do all this!" "I was done with arranging the cakes so I thought I can clean up a bit. That's the least I can do" you say with a apologetic smile. She smiles and says "Thank-you for your help. I've been finding it quite difficult to clean up this place as you know, I'm old" she chuckles. And the. She sighs and says, "My husband and I opened this bakery in our youth. This place was squeaky clean back then!" She says with a reminiscing smile "He dies 2 years ago. My kids moved to the inner walls in search of jobs and I guess they forgot about their mom." She says her smile fading away. "Ah! I must be boring you!" She says. You felt very bad for the lady. She was very old to be running this place by herself. "Come here dear, I'll give you some tea and cake! Choose whichever cake you want" she says. "You don't have to do this for me madam!" You say flustered. "Oh come on! I insist" she says and you give in. She pours you some tea as you to sit on a chair. She asks you which flavour you want and you say she can give you her favourite flavour. She brings a slice of of cake and you hesitantly take your first bite but immediately feel like you are in heaven. "This is soooo tasty!" You say as you stuff your face with the cake! "Oh dear. Slow down or you might choke yourself" she says giggling happily! Let me bring you another slice. You you have stuffed yourself with two slice of cake.

You feel pity for the old lady and you say "Madam If you don't mind I'd like to help you. Till afternoon I work as a house maid and after that I have free time. So after my work I can help you out with chores at the store." She looks at you and says "I was about to suggest the same thing honey. But you don't have to work for free. Be my assistant! I'll pay you!" "But madam how can I accept money-" she cuts you off saying "This is the only bakery in Shiganshina. I have decent business and this place is quite busy most of the time. I can pay you well honey. And I've been looking for a honest and kind assistant for me but I never thought I'd find an ideal candidate in such a young little girl!" She says smiling. You are happy as well because you will be able to provide more for your family and ease the burden of your father! So you accept the job. "Thankyou Madam" you say. "Don't call me madam honey. My grandkids would be about your age. I don't have the fortune of being with them. How about you call me Grandma!?" You feel very surprised. You have never seen your grandparents.... Your parents said they died way before you were born. So you felt overwhelmed. A tear slipped your eye. "Did I say something wrong honey" she asks worried "No madam-- I mean grandma" you say as you smile at her with teary eyes.

You were quite happy about you new job. It wasn't very hard. You'd have to arrange the display, clean the store and give some deliveries. She'd even teach you her baking techniques and recipies when you were free. She paid you well and she'd even give you a bag of bread each and and a slice of cake on each Sunday as a bonus because she your family was quite struggling. You were very happy. On one end you lost your mother but on the other end you found a elderly figure in your life who cares a lot about you too.