The Lunch Box

“Don’t forget your lunch box!” 
my mother shouted from the 
living room.
“I won’t, mum” I responded.
I went into the kitchen, carried 
the lunch box, strapped it at 
the back of my bicycle and 
rode off.
My name is Michael; I am a 
14-year-old carpentry 
apprentice in a workshop in 
town. I have been an apprentice 
in the workshop for about a year. 
I was training under 
Mr. Obadiah, one of the 
best carpenters in town. 
He took time to personally 
teach us the intricacies of carpentry every day and 
once in a while, he brought 
in other carpenters to teach 
us other methods and styles 
to woodwork. 
Over the past year, he had 
brought in about a dozen of 
other experienced carpenters.
We were 10 apprentices in 
the workshop, I have 5 more 
years to go and my dad had promised to set me up as 
soon as I’m done. 
We were all looking forward 
to the opening of my 
carpentry business: 
“MIKE & ASSOCIATES WOODWORK LIMITED”.
On this fateful day as I 
rode my bicycle towards 
the workshop, I noticed 
the town seemed a bit 
empty. Traffic is much 
lighter, pedestrians on 
the street seem fewer 
than usual. 
What is going on? 
In that moment, I saw 
a crowd ahead of me, 
trooping towards the 
large expanse of grass 
at the outskirt of the town. 
Where are these folks going, 
I wondered? 
Curiosity got the better of 
me and I followed. 
I thought of the workshop. 
I had never been late before 
what would I tell my boss? 
Should I lie to him that I 
was ill? Or should I just 
forget what it is that is 
drawing people out of town 
and go to work? 
But I was a 14-year-old boy, 
the age of curiosity! 
I decided to forgo work- or 
at least be late a few minutes 
to know what is going on! 
I will send a text message 
to my boss and tell him 
something he should believe.
I’m sure I must find 
something interesting 
where everybody is going 
to post on social media, I thought…
As I pondered these things 
in my mind, I looked ahead 
and saw Him.
He was standing on an 
elevated rock, the people 
sat down on the grass, 
listening to Him with 
rapt attention. 
He looked very familiar- 
I was sure I had seen this 
face before. 
Just then, I heard my name: “Mike!” 
I turned and saw one of 
my co-apprentices, Joab. 
Wow! You’re here too! 
You are not going to work? 
What is going on?
“Work? Boss sent out a 
message there’s no work 
today, didn’t you get it?”
“Message?” I checked my 
phone. There it is!
Do you know that guy?” 
Joab asked.
“He looks very familiar, 
I know I’ve seen him before, 
just not sure where…”
“He taught us last month! 
Our boss invited him to 
the workshop to teach us 
how to make tables!”
“I remember! That carpenter!
 I think his company is called “YESHUA DIVINE LIMITED” 
or so. 
What’s he doing here? 
What’s he teaching now? Carpentry?”
We got as close as possible 
and sat down.
He wasn’t teaching carpentry: 
He was teaching about the Kingdom of Heaven and He 
taught with authority and 
power. Surely, this man is 
more than just a carpenter! 
We were glued to the spot 
for several hours, soaking 
in all He said.  
I was not bothered about 
anything else again. 
Nothing else seemed to 
matter…
And just then, I saw one
 of His assistants walking 
towards me. he asked me 
what I was carrying. 
“My lunch, I replied. 
“Come with me, please”, 
he said. 
And he ushered me to the 
front to meet the Teacher. 
I stood there nervously, 
clutching my food. 
“Hello, son. 
How are you doing? 
Please I need a favor from 
you: can you give me that 
box? See, we have thousands 
of people here who haven’t 
eaten all day. 
Can you be kind enough to 
give them your food?” 
I did not understand Him. 
5 loaves? 2 fishes? 
For this crowd? How? 
I did not know what to say. 
I just handed over the box 
to Him.
The Teacher took the box 
and prayed.
And opened it.
And broke the bread and 
gave His assistants.
He broke the fish and 
gave them too.
And to my amazement, 
as He broke the food, 
they kept multiplying!
And that was how 
thousands of people were 
fed that day.
I enjoyed my moment of 
fame, with my pictures 
splashed all over social 
media: The Boy Whose 
Lunch the Master Used 
to Feed the Multitude….

- Haruna Daniels