When Rebecca Asked Her Father for Money for the First Time, He Was Very Surprised—But He Was Even More Astonished by the Reason His Daughter Needed the Money

Charlotte grew up in a wealthy household. Her father bought her anything she ever wished for. However, he hardly spent any time with his daughter. He ran his own business and was always working. On the rare occasions he came home, it was only to see his various lady friends. There were rumours he kept company with a woman only a few years older than Charlotte herself.

Charlotte enrolled at a university in London to study education, despite her fathers wish that she become a dentist. She stood her ground, insisting on following her own path.

As she grew older, she refused to accept her fathers money, choosing instead to live on her scholarship. During the summer, she worked at a childrens camp, even though her father offered to send her off on a lavish holiday to Spain or Greece. She turned him down, simply because working with children made her happy.

One evening, a coach arrived, bringing children from a local orphanage. All the kids hurried to claim their bunks in the rambling old cottage except for the last, a pale, frail girl with sharp, old-soul eyes, nothing childish in them. By bedtime, murmurs began: an odd smell was filling the house.

Charlotte followed the complaints and soon discovered the truth. The girl was hiding pork chops, secreted under her pillow after supper. The meat had spoiled.

The girl met Charlottes eyes with guilty sadness, then murmured,

Theyre for my brother.

And where is your brother? Charlotte asked.

Hes at another orphanage, whispered the girl.

Hearing this, Charlotte instantly rang her father, asking for money.

At last, my daughter has reached out for my help, he thought, relieved. I was beginning to worry she was upset with me.

What do you need all that money for, darling? Planning to buy yourself a car at last? he teased down the line.

No, Dad. I want to buy as much food as I can for the children at the orphanage.

Youve a kind heart, Charlotte, her father replied, and with an affectionate smile hidden in his voice, he agreed.