Rebecca has grown up in a wealthy family. Her father has always bought her anything she wanted. Yet, he has rarely spent time with his daughter. He has his own business and works long hours. Even when he comes home, its usually just to spend time with his girlfriends. Its been rumoured that one of them is a few years older than Rebecca herself.
Rebecca goes on to study at a university for education, even though her father wishes for her to become a dentist. Still, she stands her ground and chooses her own path.
As the years pass, Rebecca chooses not to take money from her father and manages on her student grant. Over the summer holiday, she takes up an internship at a childrens summer camp, even though her father offers her a holiday abroad. She turns him down, because she simply loves working with children.
One evening, a bus arrives at camp carrying children from a local care home. The children hurry off to their rooms, but the last off the bus is a little girl. She is thin, looking exhausted, and her eyes bear none of the usual childhood gleam. As the evening goes on, the other children begin to complain that the dormitory smells odd.
It turns out one girl has caused this. Rebecca goes in to investigate and finds that the child has been hiding pork chops under her pillow since dinner. They have started to go off.
The little girl looks at Rebecca, guilt written across her face, and finally speaks:
Theyre for my brother.
And where is your brother? Rebecca asks gently.
Hes at another care home.
Upon hearing this, Rebecca calls her father straight away and asks him for some money.
At last, my daughter is asking for my help and I was sure she never would, her father thinks to himself.
How much do you need, love? Are you after a new car? he asks.
No, Dad. I want to buy as much food as possible for the children at the care home.
Her father smiles and replies, You really do have a wonderful heart, Rebecca.Rebeccas father pauses, his voice softer than she has ever heard it. Ill transfer whatever you need. Andmaybe you and I could deliver it together?
Rebecca is stunned. She nods, even though he cant see her, blinking away sudden tears.
The following weekend, Rebecca and her father walk into the care home, arms laden with bagsfresh fruit, cartons of milk, showers of bread rolls, and yes, pork chops. The children cluster eagerly, eyes wide, laughter bubbling up. For the first time, Rebecca sees her father kneel beside the little girl and gently hand her a bag with a folded note atop: For you and your brotherFrom Rebecca.
Later, as dusk settles, Rebecca sits on the swing set watching the children play, her father beside her. He looks at her not with pride in her accomplishments, but with something truer: admiration.
I never realized what I was missing, he admits, thinking I could give you the world by just writing a check.
Rebecca links her arm with his and smiles, heart finally full. In giving a little girl hope, and inviting her father into a world beyond wealth, shes found the simple, quiet happiness shes always longed fora happiness that, this time, she shares.
