The next morning my vehicle pressed its way through the sand-encrusted track that was the main street and there I saw Rachel, just as she had said – sitting with her friends. A smile broke across her dark complexion as she stood up and walked in the direction of my on-coming land cruiser.
As she neared I reached out through the open window as if to shake hands with her, and pressed a hundred dollar note into her open palm.
With that, I said, ‘Farewell’, then added, ‘Show me what you can do Rachel! See you in about six weeks.’
I left her standing bemused by the side of the road.
As I drove out of the village I peered at her reflection in the mirror, looking back to see if she was looking back to see if I was looking back at her! I was, and wondered what she must be thinking. There was no way I could leave her with shattered dreams and I knew enough about her to recognize that she would not waste what I had just given her. Even if she did squander the offering, it would be of little consequence: what was important was that she knew that somebody cared enough to raise her spirits when she was feeling low.
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