CHAPTER FIFTEEN – SPORADIC REQUEST

Riona is inside of her office with a middle age couple, Mr. and Mrs. Daniel who had come to solicit with

Riona to consider their child, Trevor as a beneficiary in the ongoing project of Rennet Aid. They are low

income earners and would be very happy if Trevor would benefit in the exchange students program.

It has been a long time since Riona was informed that Mr. and Mrs. Daniel have requested to have a

meeting with her. But because of Riona’s busy schedule, she and has been unable to honour their

request immediately and had shifted the appointment with them to this day.

“You are welcome Mr. and Mrs. Daniel. Sorry I have to fix this meeting for today as I have received

your request a long time ago but believe me, I have been indisposed” Riona said.

“We are very aware of that Riona and we are most obliged to have you honour our request even when

you do not have to see us” Mr. Daniel replied.

“I am glad you understand Mr. Daniel” Riona said.

“What can I offer you?” Riona offered.

“We are fine, no need to bother” Mr. Daniel replied.

Okay, I went through your letter and it says that it has to do with the current project of Rennet Aid. So

what is it about if I may ask” Riona asked.

“Please Riona, it is about our son, Trevor. He has never ceased to talk about the ongoing project. He

so much wish to be part of your exchange students and we would be honoured if his wish comes to

pass” Mrs. Daniel said.

“We know we should not have come over to your office to discuss this with you since there are

protocols that we should observe. But we have to do this because of how much Trevor believes that he

would get this” Mr. Daniel added.

“And since he believes so much in himself, why come here? You should have let his belief work for

him” Riona questioned.

“Maybe our belief is not as strong as his and we are sorry for that. But you see, we have three kids, two

boys and a girl. Trevor who is our Second son, is the brightest among them. And the fact that we

cannot provide for all his needs makes us feel bad. We really hope that he gets this opportunity with

the other kids” Mrs. Daniel replied.

“And what is his name again, I mean your son?” Riona asked.

“Trevor, he is Trevor Daniel” Mr. Daniel responded.

“And how old is Trevor” Riona asked.

“He is twelve years old” Mrs. Daniel replied.

“Mr. and Mrs. Daniel, I do appreciate the fact that you would go the extra length for your son, Trevor

Daniel. And I promise that if he qualifies for this opportunity, that I would make sure that he gets it”

Riona said.

“Thank you so much Riona, we are certain that he would qualify” Mrs. Daniel said.

“Thank you for this Riona, we are most grateful” Mr. Daniel added.

Mr. and Mrs. Daniel are very happy to get the assurance from Riona. Even though she has not

expressly promised to have Trevor in her program, the fact that she has said that she would ensure

that he benefits from her program once he is qualified was enough assurance to them as they are very

sure that Trevor would meet the necessary qualifications. And also, knowing Riona’s personality, they

believed that she might go out of her way to help them.

“So have you made a formal application yet?” Riona asked.

“Yes we have. We did that the very day that we heard about the program” Mrs. Daniel responded.

Over the years, Riona has had the privilege of meeting folks from the average homes like Mr. and Mrs.

Daniel on regular basis and so she understands exactly how they feel. Mr. and Mrs. Daniel are parents

that desperately need to give their child what he craves for but are unfairly held back by financial

constraints.

She loves that eagerness and willingness to go the extra length just so their child would get what he

wants.

“Very well Mrs. Daniel. I would ensure to take my time and look into Trevor’s application” Riona

guaranteed.

“We would be honoured if you do. Thank you so much” Mr. Daniel said.

“Thank you so much Riona, you are a darling” Mrs. Daniel added.

Riona blushed as she heard all the praises from Mr. and Mrs. Daniel and she replied “You are

welcome”.

“We beg to take our leave now. We are most grateful for the hospitality” Mr. Daniel said.

“You are most welcome Mr. and Mrs. Daniel” Riona replied.

Mr. and Mrs. Daniel got up and walk out of the office.

After they had left, Riona picks up the intercom and calls her secretary.

“Hello Mary. Please ask Cindy to come into my office immediately” Riona said into the receiver.

“Yes ma” Mary replied from her end.

Riona continued with laptop until Cindy arrived.

“Hey Rio, are you done with the Daniels already?” Cindy asked.

“Yes Cindy, just finished with them” Riona replied.

“And what was it that they want to see you personally about?” Cindy asked.

“It is about one of their children, Trevor Daniel. They said their applied for him in the ongoing program

and they would like that I look into his application” Riona replied.

“But they are not the only ones that applied, it would be on merit and they should know that” Cindy

said.

“Of course it would still be on merit. But please bring the file to my table tomorrow. I would like to look

into it” Riona said.

“But it would change nothing if he is not qualified” Cindy said.

“Yes it would have changed nothing if his parents had not come here to plead for it. That goes to show

how much they need it and I believe that is still one of the criteria. I mean inability to afford it” Riona

said.

Hearing what Riona had said, Cindy went to seat down on the chair. She really wants to understand

what Riona is getting at.

“And what does that change. Or do you plan on replacing him with someone else that qualifies for it?”

Cindy asked.

“Far from that, Cindy. I am already sure that that Trevor Daniels would get this” Riona replied.

“Okay. That would be great. I am just so happy for them” Cindy said.

“So don’t forget to avail me with his file tomorrow” Riona said.

“I will do that gladly” Cindy said.

“So we would be going to the orphanages right away” Riona said.

“How many are we visiting?” Riona asked.

“Three of them for today” Cindy responded.

“And what about all the stuff that we are to take with us for them, are those ready too?” Riona asked.

“Yes there are and there are right outside” Cindy replied.

“I think I am very much ready for that. Let’s begin already” Riona said.

“The kids and everyone would be so glad to have you around after such a long time” Cindy said.

“But they’ve got you. So it is not as if they miss so much in my absence” Riona smiled.

“I know Rio, but it can never be the same as when it was you” Cindy said.

“I would not say so you know” Riona said.

They both got up and walk out of the office.

…………………………………………..

Riona and Cindy visited the orphanage homes one after the other. Riona has three other of her workers

with her on the visit to help out with carrying the goodies that they have brought for the kids which

includes different toys, food supplies, educational materials and also some learning gadgets.

Just as Cindy had predicted, at each of the homes that they got to, the kids were extremely excited to

have her with them. She talked to them and also played with them. She took time to listen to their

stories and complaint and also answer their numerous and never ending questions.

To Riona, these orphanage homes were her second home and bringing joy to their faces has been her

ultimate goal. In the kids, she sees a bright future and hope and she is glad that she is doing the little

that she could to make their lives more colorful.

Before Riona could leave, the kids made her promise to come to visit them more often and she had

gladly done that. Within her, she hoped that she would be able to keep to her promise.

Riona had also promised some of them that she would take them on a vacation in the near future. She

had to make the promise even when she knew that she would not be chanced for that as she was

counting on Cindy to take care of it and appoint someone else to go on the vacation in her stead.

Leaving the kids was the most difficult part of Riona’s visit. She would have loved to spend the whole

day with each and every one of them and she promised herself that she would definitely make this visit

more regular.

“I noticed you are so interested in Trevor Daniel” Cindy said as they entered the car.

“I think I am” Riona replied. Belonging to .

“And what if he does not get this?” Cindy asked.

“That would be a difficult choice, Cindy, it will be difficult” Riona murmured.