Mr. Anderson showed him how to mix flour, knead the dough, and bake it perfectly. At first, Leo struggled. His hands hurt from kneading, and his bread came out too hard or too soft. One day, after ruining another batch of bread, Leo sat down, feeling defeated. He said to himself, maybe I'm not good enough for ths. Maybe I should give up. But then, he remembered his father's words: Dreams are not free. He realized that every mistake was teaching him something new. Giving up was not an option. The next day, Leo went back to the bakery with even more determination. He practiced every single step carefully. Slowly, his bread started improving. After two weeks, Mr. Anderson handed him a loaf and said, This is perfect, Leo. You're ready. Leo was overjoyed. He rented a small oven and began baking bread at home. His family was amazed by his hard work. Sophie, his little sister, helped him pack the bread and his mother made tea for him while he worked late into the night. Soon, Leo wasn't just selling bread, he started making cookies and pastries too. People in the town loved his products. They said, Leo's bread tastes better than anything we've had before! But success wasn't easy. One day, a new bakery opened in the town, run by a young man named Eric. Eric had a big, fancy shop with colorful signs and decorations. People were curious and started buying from him instead. Leo noticed his sales dropping. He felt scared. What if he lost everything he worked so hard for? But instead of panicking, Leo decided to improve. He listened to his customers and asked, What do you like about Eric's bakery? What can I do better? Some said, Eric's shop looks clean and pretty. Others said, his cakes have beautifil designs. Leo realized he needed to grow not just as a baker, but as a businessman. Using his savings, Leo painted his cart, added bright decoration, and started offering free samples of his new pastries. He even learned how to decorate cakes by watching videos in the library. Slowly, customers returned to him. One evening, an elderly woman came to Leo and said, I've seen many young men give up when times get hard, but you didn't. That's why we trust you. Her words filled Leo with pride. Months passed, and Leo's business grew. He saved enough money to rent a small shop. It wasn't as big as Eric's, but it was warn and welcoming. He named it Leo's Fresh Bakes. Every morning, he woke up before sunrise, baked fresh bread, and opened his stop with a smile. His parents and sister helped him. Sophie, now 11, loved talking to customers, and Claire managed the accounts. But Leo knew this wasn't the end of his journey. He wanted to reach more people, make his family proud, and prove to himself that anything is posible with hard work. Leo's bakery, Leo's Fresh Bakes, was becoming the heart of the town. People loved his fresh bread, cakes and pastries. Business was growing, and his family was proud of him. But life wasn't done testing Leo. One stormy night, as Leo was closing his shop, he noticed smoke coming from the bakery. He rushed inside and saw that a small fire had started near the oven. He quickly grabbed water and managed to stop the flames, but much of his equipment was damanged. The next morning, when the townspeople heard about the fire, they came to check on him. Some said, on no, what will Leo do now? Others whispered, maybe this is the end for him. Leo felt heartbroken but not defeated. He stood outside his bakery and said, this is just a challenge. I've faced struggles before, and I will face this too. I won't give up. 9.54