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The Last Crumb Cake
Chapter 11 : Visionary

Chapter 11 : Visionary

In Math class, Zach's writing down the people he would like to market to on his phone that he hides underneath the desk.The teacher drones on and on about a subject that he never cared for. Making money is what his mind is on now. Not trigonometry, calculus, proofs or any of the stuff that these teachers are teaching. Zach scowls at Gregory eating a lemon-flavored crumb cake. When his crumb cake drops everyone will forget about Brendan and the competition. Even Gregory is going to become a believer. He'll sneak his product into class. The teachers will support and eat his product in the morning and the afternoon. He writes under two columns the name of friends and enemies. He'll market it to greedy Gregory, the boring math teacher and class, the entire homeroom and the convenience stores. Hopefully, the convenience stores offers him a discount especially Drew's. He's being going there since he was a baby. At least that's what his parents told him. Zach remembers when he was five years old that they use to buy his favorite potato chips and a red cherry soda. He couldn't get enough of the tangy potato chips and the ultra sweet soda.

Drew always told jokes and gave him extra candy. Until he became older. It might have been when he turned 10 or maybe 11. Drew didn't want Zach to be accustomed to receiving extra items. Because he knew as a boy grows older that he's suppose to find a way to pay for what he wants. And he didn't want to have animosity towards Zach because he knew that he came from a good, hardworking family. Drew even stopped giving extra candy to Zach's sisters who were a decade older than him. He was scared of the ire that Zach's father might have towards him. He trusted Drew. In the back of Drew's mind, he knew that the father would eventually question why is a store owner still giving free stuff to my girls. And wonder if something else was going on for him to continue this practice. Then there would be the conversation or probably not. Drew didn't want to take any chances. Keep up a good rapport and wean them away from the extras.

Since Zach was the youngest, most of the family called him 'spoiled' because the parents seemed to splurge on him. He was the only son. And the last one in the nest. His father was on the road most of the times and he wanted what was best for his child. Zach's mother would make the call or the text and Zach's father would make sure to provide the item or whatever the next time he was home or give her specific instructions and tools to complete the task. He knew that she wouldn't blow or waste the money. She was frugal and always put her kids ahead of her need and wants. Sometimes, he would have to beg her to spend money on herself. She would still complain and spend the money on the household. Except for one time, when her husband declared, that "he was taking all the food back to the store if she didn't at least use 10% to buy her some clothes. Because he makes a lot of money as a truck driver.

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She went and bought a pair of high heels and sheer stockings. Zach's mother was tempted to buy a blouse, but, once again she put the household in front of her wants. And both her daughters were in college and they needed money for books and tuition. Zach's father made sure that everyone and everything was taking care of. Zach's crumb cake venture isn't going to receive his Dad's support, so he has to be persistent and creative when it comes to securing funds. He has to see what the competition is doing and how their product taste. And tonight he has to put his nerves aside and try his hand at making crumb cake. Maybe his sisters can help him sell. They're on a large campus. He's tripping. They're on a mid-sized campus. They both didn't want to get swallowed up on a large one. They both wanted that one-on-one teacher and student interaction.

If he sells at his school, and his sisters sell at their school and what if his father decides to jump in the business and sells on the road? He could possibly net more money than him. And retire him from the road. For now, his father loves it. But, it's something that he can"t do in his 60's or 80's. And if he could perform, who would hire him and will he have the same strength at 80 that he has at 29? Not necessarily. It doesn't make a difference if he worked out 7 days a week. At that age, he might just want to relax and not do so much manual labor. Could he possibly buy a trucking company for Pop? If the crumb cakes sell exceptionally well. What if he buys out 'Brendan's Crumb Cake' and the rest of his competitors. Then he'll be the only dude on the block. And he wouldn't have to continue schooling. And take boring classes. Zach can enroll in business courses. What classes? He doesn't know. But, anything that can keep him on top of his game.

When the company is booming, he pictures himself sailing on yachts. Eating expensive fish with other ex- high school students who decided to go into business. And he would hire friends, enemies, teachers and those who didn't believe in him. They would have menial positions. Have a couple of people sweeping crumbs off the floor. A position where someone would count the number of crumbs on the crumb cake, A person to ensure that the crumb cake breaks properly. That the break doesn't shatter the cake into pieces. And he would have a Milk Dipper Specialist. Someone who dips the crumb cake inside several glasses of assorted milk. To make sure that whatever milk the customer has, that the crumb cakes quality and taste would still be intact.