Sugar Bowl Bakery

Reporters, bloggers, interviewers and the blinding light of cameras constantly flashing, flushing out my thoughts and concerns, and in an instant darkness. “So Andrew could you tell us how exactly you came to America and became a very successful business owner?” Asks the man who is interviewing me as my eyes adjust to the sudden change in light.
  “Well, I don’t really know where to start,” I say as their beating eyes anticipate my next words.
“Wherever you are comfortable Mr. Ly” They say.
“Ok then,” I say with a smile. “Here we go,"
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“3 times I’ve tried, 3 times I’ve failed. Saigon has fallen and yet I am unable to leave. I have given up everything to leave and now I have nothing left but my wits and my family. “Iam done with this we should just leave by ourselves,” said Mr. Ma.
“No we must not leave my family behind. We will go together or not at all," I replied. Mr. Ma was my trustworthy partner throughout this whole fight for freedom. Ma was a small man with black hair and almost never took off his hat. We have been trying to escape for 3 months now but each time has ended in failure and death. Death of my friends and other accomplices. I was a little hesitant to go again after what happened last time. It was terrible and yet Iremember it vividly, vividly, I thought again with despair. “My family and I recently built a boat that we sold to a migration organization," I suddenly remembered.
“That’s amazing Andrew, why haven’t you mentioned that yet?” Asked Ma
“ I didn’t remember until now,” I answered honestly. Without much education I picked up as many jobs that I could find. Building a boat with my family just so happened to be one of those. It didn’t pay very well but now it’s our saving grace.
After a week of preparation my family and I boarded a 45 ft long 13 ft wide and 23 ft tall boat with 143 other people. It was tight but that’s all we had. The days were terribly boring and suspenseful because I had heard stories about pirates stealing ships and killing those aboard. The nights were even worse for we had nothing but the darks sky and the stars to look at, I was scared, but I had to stay strong for my family.
“Everyone stay down and stay quiet” The captain said as the ship came to a stop. Isat up and my deepest fears came true, Pirates. A couple of hours had past and we had given up the rest of whatever else anyone had to offer, luckily no one was hurt.
Seven days and seven nights we lasted that way, crammed together in a boat meant for a small gathering, but finally we had made it to Malaysia. For 3 days we floated off the shore of a small town in Malaysia, constantly being denied entry by villagers and authorities. 3 times we had to try and on the third the boat nearly capsized. That’s when we saw it, the dead corpses of the previous people who tried to dock. It wasn’t until then when I thought of an idea.
“We have to destroy the boat and swim to shore," Isaid
“That’s a terrible idea," The captain said
“Well what do you think we should do, I mean if we dock there is a good chance we’ll just be sent back. So we must swim to shore then camp out in an uninhabited area," I offered. A half an hour later and everyone finally came up with a decision, we would go by my idea.
For 9 months my family and I along with the other 143 refugees from the boat had to survive in a refugee camp in Malaysia. For 9 months we had to cut down trees for shelter, hunt for food and had to live in makeshift tents with cardboard floors. Every day we hoped for help. Finally our prayers were answered when were assisted by the United States Catholic Charity. They helped us make our way to America. In 1979 my family and I reunited with my brothers. Nine of us stayed in a rundown 2 bedroom one bath apartment in the worst place in San Francisco, Tenderloin.
I worked in odd jobs until I finally got my chance to go to college. For three years I went to San Francisco city college until I made it to San Francisco State University to complete my final 2 years. Over the course of 3 years my family and I saved up $40,000 so that we could eventually buy a coffee shop where we made about $300 dollars every day. But after years of saving, the Sugar Bowl Bakery, our coffee shop, was expanded to multiple areas until we made it to be the most successful bakery in America in 2007. Now my family and I makes a total of $40 million annually in sales,"
“And that’s my story Matthew, that’s how I escaped from my terrible home and made to where I am today,"  I finished.
“Well Mr. Ly thank you for your assistance, we will make sure that you don’t get bombarded by cameras again once you leave," Said the interviewer.
“No problem, Matthew, thank you," I responded.