Chapter 35: The Ashford Foundation III

Chapter 35: Chapter 35: The Ashford Foundation III

Warm applause filled the hall as Anthony concluded his welcome.

He inclined his head once more before stepping away from the lectern.

Professor Aldridge returned to the stage, smiling as the applause gradually settled.

"Once again, our sincere thanks to Lord Ashford."

Anthony acknowledged the audience with a polite nod before stepping down from the stage. Several faculty members approached him almost immediately, exchanging quiet words as they made their way toward the front of the hall.

Professor Aldridge waited until the conversations softened once more.

"Now..."

"We come to the reason many of you have been waiting so patiently."

A ripple of laughter spread through the hall.

"The volunteer programmes."

With a gesture toward several display boards arranged around the room, he continued.

"The Ashford Foundation currently oversees six long-term volunteer programmes, each serving a different need within our partner communities."

"As I mentioned earlier, your volunteer work is built upon consistency. Rather than rotating between projects, each of you will choose one primary programme for the academic year."

He smiled warmly.

"By remaining with the same programme, you’ll have the opportunity to build genuine relationships—with your fellow volunteers, with your mentors, and most importantly, with the communities you serve."

One by one, the programme names appeared on the large display boards beside the stage.

Children’s Literacy & Tutoring.

Hospital Companion Programme.

Elderly Care Visits.

Environmental Restoration.

Museum & Cultural Education.

Finally—

Community Outreach & Development.

Professor Aldridge looked toward the last board.

"While every programme is equally important, Community Outreach serves as the Foundation’s coordinating division."

"It works closely with each of our partner organisations."

"Throughout the year, its volunteers help organise fundraising events, donation drives, educational campaigns, and community projects while coordinating with our schools, hospitals, libraries, and local councils."

"It is, in many ways, the bridge connecting every branch of the Foundation."

He paused before adding with a smile,

"Naturally..."

"It is also one of our busiest programmes."

Several returning volunteers chuckled knowingly.

"As places are limited, registration will be on a first-come, first-served basis."

"Returning volunteers are already assigned to their respective programmes."

"For our first-year volunteers..."

"The choice is yours."

Almost immediately, the hall came alive.

Students rose from their seats, conversations filling the room as they compared options and made their way toward the registration tables.

Claire turned to the others without hesitation.

"Community Outreach?"

Amelia was already standing.

"I was hoping you’d say that."

Eleanor smiled as she adjusted the strap of her bag.

"Then we’d better not waste time."

Vivienne rose with them.

She already knew this was the programme they had agreed upon the night before.

At first...

She had chosen it because she remembered how important the Foundation had been in the novel.

Now...

She realized another reason had quietly taken its place.

She wanted to spend the year with her friends.

"I think we’d better hurry," she said with a small laugh.

The four girls joined the growing stream of students heading toward the Community Outreach registration table.

Around them, students split in different directions.

Some headed eagerly toward Children’s Literacy.

Others wandered over to the Hospital Companion Programme after speaking with returning volunteers.

The entire hall buzzed with excitement.

As they neared the Community Outreach table, Vivienne noticed a familiar figure standing a short distance away.

Evelyn.

She was quietly reading the programme description displayed beside the registration desk.

After a thoughtful pause, Evelyn smiled faintly to herself before stepping into the same queue.

Vivienne watched her for only a moment.

Community Outreach...

So this is the one she chose.

The line moved steadily forward.

Near the front, several returning volunteers welcomed incoming students while answering questions about the programme.

One of them happened to look up.

Damian.

He had been discussing registration numbers with another senior volunteer when his eyes landed on the line.

For just a heartbeat...

He looked mildly surprised.

Then he smiled.

"...Morning again."

Vivienne couldn’t help smiling back.

"...Morning."

Damian’s gaze drifted briefly toward the sign hanging above the registration table before returning to her.

"So..."

"You chose Community Outreach."

Vivienne nodded.

"It seemed like the right choice."

"I’d say it was."

Claire’s eyes moved from Damian...

...to Vivienne...

...then to the large sign overhead.

A quiet laugh escaped her.

"...Well."

"What are the odds?"

Amelia grinned.

"Out of all the programmes too."

Eleanor considered it for a moment before offering, "Perhaps St. Albion is simply a smaller world than we imagined."

Damian chuckled.

"I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that."

The four girls laughed together.

The brief conversation ended as the line shuffled forward once more.

One by one, students reached the registration table, wrote down their names, and officially joined the programme.

The final name was written into the registration ledger.

The senior volunteer glanced over the list one last time before closing the register with a satisfied nod.

"That’s our final place."

A small wave of relieved laughter spread through the students nearest the table.

Claire let out a long breath.

"We made it."

"Barely," Amelia laughed.

"I told you we should walk faster," Eleanor said with quiet satisfaction.

Vivienne smiled.

"At least we’re all together."

"I think you’ll enjoy it."

The familiar voice came from beside them.

The four girls turned.

Damian had somehow wandered over again.

None of them had noticed him leave the registration table.

He stood beside them with the same relaxed smile he always seemed to wear.

Claire laughed.

"I suppose we’ll be seeing quite a lot of you this year."

Damian smiled easily.

"Looks that way."

Vivienne couldn’t help smiling as well.

Damian glanced at the registration list before looking back at them.

"There’s one thing Professor Aldridge didn’t mention."

The girls looked at him expectantly.

"The best part about Community Outreach..."

"...is that no two weeks ever look the same."

"You’ll make plans."

"They’ll change."

"You’ll organize an event."

"Someone will suddenly need help somewhere else."

"You’ll think you’re spending the afternoon in a meeting..."

"...and end up carrying donated books into a community centre instead."

Amelia laughed.

"That actually sounds fun."

"It usually is."

Damian shrugged.

"You never really know what the next project will be."

"I think that’s why most of us keep coming back."

Before he could continue, a familiar voice called from across the hall.

"Blackwood."

Damian looked over.

One of the senior volunteers raised a hand.

"There you are."

"The professor’s about to start upstairs."

Another senior smiled.

"We’re waiting on you."

Damian blinked before letting out a sheepish laugh.

"...Right."

"I’ll be there."

He turned back toward the four girls.

"Come on."

"This is where the real orientation begins."

The newly registered volunteers gradually gathered behind the returning students as they made their way toward the staircase.

The second floor felt noticeably quieter than the busy entrance hall below.

Framed photographs from past volunteer projects decorated the walls.

Children holding newly donated books.

Students planting trees.

Medical missions.

Community festivals.

Fundraising galas.

Decades of photographs quietly testified to the Foundation’s history.

They eventually arrived before a pair of large wooden doors.

Damian pushed one open.

Inside, the room was bright and welcoming.

One wall was covered with maps marked by coloured pins indicating partner communities across the region.

Another displayed calendars, project schedules, and photographs from recent events.

Several returning volunteers were already chatting comfortably while arranging chairs for the newcomers.

Unlike the grandeur of the main hall downstairs...

This room felt like a headquarters.

A place where ideas became action.

Claire looked around in amazement.

"So this is Community Outreach."

"It’ll grow on you," Damian said with a smile.

"I think it already has," Amelia admitted.

The freshmen began taking their seats while the returning volunteers finished their preparations.

Vivienne settled beside Claire near the middle of the room.

As she looked around the room, her gaze paused on a familiar face.

Evelyn.

For a brief moment, an old memory surfaced.

...Right.

Community Outreach.

This had been where Evelyn and Damian first became acquainted in the original novel.

Not through some dramatic encounter.

Simply by working side by side.

Project after project.

Meeting after meeting.

Vivienne smiled faintly to herself.

She glanced briefly toward Damian, who was helping arrange chairs with the other returning volunteers.

Then she looked back at Evelyn.

Well...

Whatever is meant to happen will happen.

The thought came and went just as quickly.

A faculty adviser stepped to the front of the room.

The quiet conversations gradually faded.

The orientation for Community Outreach...

Was about to begin.