An encounter forty years ago

An encounter forty years ago

In the college lunch room in Manila ,
he sat eating after class.
An American woman in her thirties
carrying her tray walked toward
his table.  - she spoke-
may I join you?

She gushed in the strange accent of an American who is now used
to speaking Tagalog.  She had been a nun in a nursing order when
the big earthquake happened.  Walking by a big collapsing
apartment building,  she rushed to help and kept helping
day and night rescuing and nursing survivors.
It was her duty.
To express thanks officials offered tuition to any school, in any
course she wanted.  She had always wanted to be a doctor.
She presented the offer to her community, they voted.  
They said she should not accept.
It was her duty.
It was her duty. She agreed.  But God had placed her where
she could do her duty. She did what she should without
thought of reward. God had moved the officials to make an offer.
She did her duty. She accepted the offer.  She left the order.

In the lunch room in Manila, he sat.
The brief encounter was less than an hour.
He doesn't remember her name.
She did her duty.