The last time I saw my father was in Grand Central Station. I was going from my grandmother’s in the Adirondacks to a cottage on the Cape that my mother had rented, and I wrote my father that I would be in New York between trains for an hour and half and asked if we could have lunch together. His secretary wrote to say that he would meet me at the information booth at noon, and at twelve o’clock sharp I saw him coming through the crowd. He was a stranger to me… As he approached , I felt more and more unwell. My feelings towards him were ambiguous. I didn’t know if I felt happy or sad because I had not seen him for three years. Three long years during which he had never phoned or written any letters and I could see he was not so self confident because I didn’t know if he loved me after the three longs years. He took my shoulder to reassure me, he asked me if I wanted to go to one of the best Chinese restaurants of Fifth Avenue so that we could chat quietly. The beauty of the building stroke me: it was big and massive , there were silver forks, knives… the waiters were wearing suits. At the end of the meal my father suggested I should sleep in his flat so that he would introduce me to this new wife Katy. I called my mother to ask permission to spend the night in Dad’s flat. The next day, we spent the afternoon discovering New York, we went to Central Park , we visited the Statue of liberty and the World Trade Center , that day my father spoke about his new job and his office in the Twin Towers , he spoke about Katy ( my mother-in-law ) and he told us about the last three years because he had found a new job very important for him. Katy had blond hair and green eyes. I felt angry and jealous when I thought about Katy or I thought I just felt some distrust for her. She had taken the place of my mother in the heart of my father. I supposed she would be nice with me , when we arrived in their flat she had cooked a nice meal for me and my father. She had prepared a nice table with a pink and violet tablecloth and crystal glasses… During the dinner Katy asked me questions ( my age , my hobbies , my studies… ). I guess my father felt happy with Katy and this was the most important to me. We went to bed at midnight , we had spoken a lot. Katy had prepared a nice bedroom with sheets that smelt as new and clean ones , the pillows were soft… I felt at home. Katy had done many efforts to obtain my trust or my friendship. I spent a very nice night and I slept as a baby. I had no problems, because I knew that my father was happy with Katy and he accepted to see me. When I got-up it was seven o’clock the sun was shining. I went to the kitchen to have my breakfast. My father and Katy were drinking their coffee. They were ready.

They told me that this day was the open day in the Twin Towers, where they worked. I could come with them. I hurried to get dressed. The journey was very long. We ran everywhere. When we arrived between the Twin Towers it was nine o’clock and I was exhausted. But I was impressed because the Twin Towers were very high. It was incredible for me. I thought my father was proud of that. We entered and here I felt proud me too, because my father worked there every day. We began to take the elevator and I was impressed because it could lift fifty or more people. My father worked with Katy on the fifth storey. We left the elevator when an enormous “ BANG” rang out all over the building. Some people began to panic, other cried or ran. But my father wanted to know. When a colleague arrived, my father asked him about the noise and he answered that a plane had struck a Tower and it was very important, there were some dead people. But the man didn’t stay a long moment with us. My father decided to search his other colleagues on the other storeys. I was very afraid for him. I implored him to come with Katy and me. It was very dangerous. But he had decided. He firmly told me to follow Katy and to leave the building quickly. I was crying. He took me in his arms and he made the promise he would join me outdoors, and he kissed Katy who was also in tears. Katy took me by the hand, we both left. Outdoors there were already ten trucks with firemen, heaps of people were leaving the building, some wounded. When I put a foot outside I crashed. But what worried me more than was to have to leave my father in this building on fire. I was taken by first-aid workers but I thought of my father. I thought that if ever he did not return it would be my fault. I panicked more and more because I heard women cry, children too. At a certain moment I decided to find my father. I pushed the first-aid worker, and I ran but Katy caught up me in time, took me in her arms and said to me simply he had made a promise to me, he would keep it. I broke down in tears in her arms but she was courageous. I had the feeling that Katy knew me more that myself . I stayed a moment in her arms until I heard somebody laughing ! She laughs in a similar situation, it was strange for me. I noticed that she looked in the direction of the exit of Twin Towers. I looked in this direction in my turn. I saw my father who was leaving the building with somebody on his back. He was immediately surrounded by the firemen. Without reflecting I ran as much as I could.

He was smiling but exhausted; he took me in his arms. I kissed his on the cheeks without stopping. It was the most beautiful day. Katy joined us : it was moving that even my father was crying I considered my father as a super hero. This two days brought us closer, they replaced the three past years. Since this day I have regularly seen my father and my mother-in-law : I went on holiday in their company. And my father and my mother don’t hate any more