Ten-year-old Leo loved baking more than anything else in the whole wide world.
He lived with his father Arthur in a massive white mansion with beautiful gardens.
Arthur worked long hours as a successful Chief Executive Officer running a large business.
Even though Arthur was very rich, he always made time for his young son.
Leo wanted to make something truly special for the big family reunion dinner.
He spent three whole hours in the large kitchen picking fresh blackberries from the yard.
He carefully mixed the flour, sugar, eggs, and sweet berries into a round silver pan.
The smell of warm berries filled the massive house as the oven baked the cake.
Leo felt so proud as he placed a golden slice on a crisp white plate.
He wore his favorite neat maroon polo shirt for the special outdoor party on the patio.
The sun was shining brightly over the stone patio outside the high white mansion walls.
Long tables were covered in white linen tablecloths and fancy silver dishes for guests.
Many rich family members walked around the patio wearing dark suits and silk dresses.
Leo held the porcelain plate tightly in his small hands as he walked outside smiling.
He wanted to show his grandmother Evelyn the cake he had made with his own hands.
Evelyn was the head of the rich family and loved strict rules above everything else.
She never liked Arthur raising Leo with soft words and endless warm encouragement.
Evelyn believed young children should be quiet and stay out of adult sight at all times.
She stood near the top step wearing an elegant dark royal blue silk outfit with silver jewelry.
Next to her stood Victoria, wearing a sparkling emerald green gown that reached the floor.
Leo walked up the stone steps with a huge smile on his young face.
Leo: Grandma, look what I baked for you and everyone today!
Evelyn: Take that messy food away from my silk dress this instant!
Leo: But Grandma, I picked the berries myself in our garden!
Evelyn looked down at the young boy with cold eyes and complete disgust.
She did not want a child disturbing her conversation with important high-society guests.
Without saying another word, Evelyn lifted her dark shoe and kicked the heavy white plate hard.
The plate flew out of Leo's small hands and smashed loudly onto the hard stone floor.
Blackberry cake and broken pieces of white china scattered across the clean patio stones.
A few purple berry stains splattered right onto the front of Leo's clean maroon shirt.
Leo gasped loudly and stepped back as the sharp noise echoed across the quiet garden.
His little heart dropped into his stomach as he stared down at his ruined creation.
Nobody moving around the patio said a word to help the crying child.