THE DAILY VERDICT — THURSDAY’S TRUTH
Thursday, 22 October 2026
Day 295 of 365 · Week 43
✍️ Riaan M. Odendaal
A name comes up before the meeting has finished discussing the job.
“Ask her. She’ll get it done.”
There is relief around the table.
She organised the previous event. She knows the suppliers. She still has the list.
Somebody will send her the minutes.
I have sat at tables where this happens. I have suggested the name.
The work gets done, which makes the arrangement difficult to question. The invitations go out. The figures balance. Somebody remembers the extension lead.
At the next meeting, we thank her.
Then we reach the next item.
After a while, her competence becomes part of the planning. We leave a little less time because she has managed with less before. We give her incomplete information because she usually finds what is missing.
When another person fails to deliver, we hesitate to ask them again.
When she delivers, we add something.
Eventually, she says she cannot do it this time.
There is a pause.
“Is everything all right?”
We mean it kindly. We may even telephone afterwards.
At the next meeting, her name comes up again.
“She said she couldn’t.”
Another pause.
The chairman looks down the table.
