Time and Love Exchange

A Favour

It was the beginning of another day with Lynney having to seek help from the next-door neighbour, kind old Mrs Stanley, to watch over Specky for at least a few hours in the early morning before her mom would arrive at her apartment from her hometown. It was inevitable that it took Lynney a bit of time to explain how she got to have Specky in the first place so it was a good thing that she got up at least an hour earlier that day in order to not be late for work...

After their somewhat long conversation, Lynney had to reluctantly bid dear little Specky goodbye for the day and head out to take the bus to yet another place on the way before her company office. It was none other than Destiny's Corner Cafe from where she had promised her colleague, Reeny, to buy her some beloved signature cheese tarts...As she finally got on the bus, another half-hour ride gave her enough of time to reflect on recent events and then reignite a subtle desire to rethink her rash decision made on the day before. The previous night right before falling asleep had already got her pondering again and again...For the sake of Specky's health, perhaps she should not take things for granted and maintain that overly negative impression of someone she has never known before...

She slipped out her cellphone from her bag pocket and began scrolling down the list of newly-added contacts...It was a rather short list so SLO clinic came up in less than two seconds...Lynney turned thoughtful and merely stared at the number for at least a full minute...

The phone resounded with a loud ring all of a sudden, startling Lynney that she almost dropped the device...

"Oh, really...Sweet Little Ones(SLO) clinic calling?" A surprised Lynney debated within herself on whether to answer it. The ringing did not stop, just like the other time...

"Hello?" She finally decided.

"Oh hi, Miss Dawson? It's Cyndi from SLO again...How are you doing today?"

"Oh, doing great...Thanks, how are you?" Lynney tried her best to sound friendly and collected this time.

"Nice to hear that! I'm good as well...Now, the reason I am calling is regarding Specky again..." Lynney listened very attentively, only to be told that Cyndi had talked to that "snobbish" Dr Lane shortly after their phone conversation the afternoon before, which arose some social anxiety and tension in the regretful girl.

"So Dr Lane came to the decision to waive your X-ray charges for Specky, which has never happened in our clinic before...Would you like to accept this offer and bring Specky in?"

Lynney nearly dropped her phone again, wondering if she could believe such a news...

"Hello...Are you still there, Miss Dawson?"

It took the driver's brake for a stop to alert half-dazed Lynney back to reality...She has to question Cyndi at least three times to make sure that the offer was indeed true...Cyndi was fortunately patient enough to reassure her. Lynney could not be more happy to agree to a needed X-ray for Specky. She has no reason to refuse the blood work either, even though she could go broke at any time soon and be fired by her mom.

When it was time to get off at her intended stop, Lynney felt a warmth of gladness filling her small heart and she could bring with herself much satisfaction as she walked over to Destiny's cafeteria.

Pushing the heavy glass door open, Lynney was greeted with the sight of a much quieter and relaxed environment than two days ago...The chalkboard which used to be near the doors was not up and less than three staff members were inside. Lynney has always hated the crowd so the place felt incredibly welcoming and suiting for her, at least...There was apparently no other customer around at a little past 8 o'clock in the morning. Lynney checked to see if her wristwatch and the cafe's wall clock showed the same time. They were...

"I'm so sorry, but we will be serving cheese tarts only in half an hour's time. Would you mind waiting for a bit, Miss?"

Lynney felt like groaning within herself, yet it was no like every single day when a distant colleague would look up to her for a favour. No wonder, she knew that she ought to wake up early for this very day. As much as she wished the situation could be better and the wait should at least be shorter, she decided not to let go of this chance to be extra nice to a newfound friend...Lynney agreed to wait while she prayed hard that the next bus would not be delayed on its timely schedule in order to get to her workplace...She crossed her fingers hard, hoping for the best...