I had a loaf of bread. The loaf had 16 slices. Not one slice more. Not one slice less.

It wasn’t much. But it was my bread. Alas I have it no more. For it was taken from me, not all at once; but little by little.

I was glad I had my bread. It would be good for food, for nutrition, for sustenance.

Then one day, a man approached and said, give me four slices. I said, “But it’s my bread.”

To which he replied, “You have more than enough. When you give me four, you’ll still have twelve. Besides, if you don’t give it me, I will tell everyone far and wide that you are stingy. You will not share your loaf of bread though you have more than you need.

An hour later, the man returned and said to me, “Give me four slices.”

I enquired, “What happened to the four I gave to you but a while ago”

He replied, “What difference does it make. I have none and you have twelve. Just give me four or I will surely spread it far and wide that you do not believe in sharing.”

An hour later… well by now, you see the pattern. The man took all my bread. However, you know what? I found he squandered it all. He ate not one slice. He needed it not. He just wanted it because it was mine not his.

Now, sadly I have no bread.

One day, I had freedom and a man came by and said, “Give me but one little slice of your freedom. You have more than you need. You will not miss it. Besides, you inherited it. It was given to you by your ancestors. You worked not for it. Why should you have it.