Raul went into his office, sat down, opened his books and thought of his granddaughter.
"How did I become so rich,"
he remarked, "when we were supposed to be a people that would fade away into nothing?
But we didn't fade away.
Mozambique is here, its people are here, and they love what it has become. How could a man become so rich that was just supposed to fade away and disappear?"
He picked up the plaque on his desk that one of his children had made in school, and which he loved beyond all his other possessions.
In beautiful inlaid letters it said "I tell you this above all other things.
That you should, in all ways, love one another."
Raul kissed the plaque, put it back on his desk, and went back to work.
A few minutes later his son came in, escorting a young woman.
"This young lady answered your advertisement, father, for a secretary.
Someone to help you keep track of your affairs."
Raul stared at her and shook his head.
"Far too young," he remarked,
"far, far too young!"
"Please, sir?"
the girl pleaded.
"I really need the work.
My family needs the money.
I'll do a good job and I won't be a problem in any way.
I promise!
Please, sir?"
Raul shook his head.
"Find her a desk!"
he finally managed.
"Put her over there, and give her my appointment book.
Have her go through it for the last few years and see who I always visited and have been neglecting lately.
If you do a good job with that, we'll see!"
"Thank you!"
the girl cried, curtseying, "Thank you!"
Raul's son grinned at him.
"Don't even think it!" his father remarked.
"Don't even consider it!"
The girl looked at them, bewildered, as both men grinned, and Raul's son departed.
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