A
 GIFT
OF LOVE

By Dr. Claus

 Dedicated to: Joseph and Karen and Kathy and Christopher

 
 

Illustrated by Christopher Vassallo

 

My Daddy woke me up this morning with a hug and kiss.
He gently whispered in my ear. "Time to get up my miss."
He had my bedroom lamp shining so I could see the way.
The first day of my second grade, what an exciting day.
 
 
 
 

I found my shirt and found my pants; I found my sneakers too.
I looked for socks but just found one; I know I needed two.
My Daddy came to the rescue when I started to cry.
He found my other missing sock and wiped all my tears dry.
 
 
 
 

"Let's begin with a good breakfast." He said holding my hand.
I tickled him, my Daddy laughed and his laughter was grand.
We walked into the kitchen where Mommy had made pancakes.
I poured syrup all over them creating little lakes.
 
 
 
 

I looked at the seat next to me and there was Daddy's hat.
I never saw a hat so big it could have hid my cat.
My Daddy is a fireman and he is strong and brave.
There is not anybody that my father cannot save.
 
 
 
 

I put his helmet on my head; it said F.D.N.Y
A hat as big as Daddy's I always wanted to try.
His fire coat was resting over on another chair.
His boots were always together and that made them a pair.
 
 
 
 

My Daddy then noticed me wearing his firemen's hat.
He said. "You’re one of New York's Bravest!" right from where he sat.
He reached and picked me up and I was sitting on his lap.
He said, " I'll stop and pick you up a New York Yankees cap!"
 
 
 
 

Mommy peeked over the newspaper, and she put it down.
She started laughing and she said, " I love you little clown."
Daddy began to laugh because he couldn't see my head.
He took his helmet off my head and my face was beet red.
 
 
 
 

I snuggled in his barreled chest as he drank his coffee.
He nodded yes when I asked him if he could play with me.
My mother told my father of a meeting that she had.
" It will be in the World Trade Center," she said to my dad.
 
 
 
 

I asked her what that was, she said, " A house of steel and stone"
“Which has a matching tower and they stand boldly alone.
The highest buildings anywhere, no others like it found.
Rising one hundred and ten stories high above the ground."
 
 
 
 

I closed my eyes dreaming of towers floating on a cloud.
I heard ten thousand angels blowing trumpets very loud.
My mom startled me when she said, " I think we missed the bus!"
" We'll have to leave here right away, time does not wait for us."
 
 
 
 

Daddy gave me his fire pin to use for show and tell.
I went to put it in my pocket but somehow it fell.
Daddy scooped it up off the ground saying it was okay.
He said, " You are the best and greatest; no time to delay."
 
 
 
 

I grabbed a big red apple because I needed a snack.
I made sure everything was safe inside of my backpack.
Mommy and Daddy kissed good-bye and we went to the car.
Mommy and I walked down the stairs and it seemed very far.
 
 
 
 

Mommy helped me into the car and buckled up the seat.
I was wearing my brand new sneakers and my feet felt neat.
It was a short drive to the school and to the parking lot.
As I left I kissed my mother, the air outside was hot.
 
 
 
 

I waved farewell as mommy left; children were all around.
I saw them jumping, playing, laughing on the school playground.
The first bell rang; I started walking into my classroom.
The noise of street jackhammers muffled the sound of a boom.
 
 
 
 

The teacher had us all standing and pledging to the flag.
Afterwards I could not find the red apple in my bag.
Our teacher started teaching when the second school bell rang.
And in the middle of that ring I thought I heard a bang.
 
 
 
 

Our teacher gave an assignment and said it will be done.
The day was September 11, 2001.
I struggled with my pencil as I copied down the date.
Someone walked into our classroom and they were very late.
 
 
 
 

The teacher said the school was closing early for today.
And all the school buses were ready to take us away.
We filed out of the classroom and we walked down the hall.
I could not help but notice all the writing on the wall.
 
 
 
 

The school bus dropped me off; my mommy was waiting for me.
Her eyes were red and puffy and I asked about Daddy.
She gently took my little hand and asked about my day.
Well, being the first day of school I had a lot to say.
 
 
 
 

I talked and talked until we walked through the living-room door.
I was surprised to see people, over twenty or more.
A birthday surprise for Daddy I was willing to bet.
They seem to be standing around the television set.
 
 
 
 

Mommy took me to her bedroom, where we were all alone.
Outside the bedroom I could hear a ringing telephone.
I saw my mommy shaking and said, " Mommy are you cold?"
She wrapped her loving arms around me; this is what she told.
 
 
 
 

"Your daddy is a hero!"  Mommy said wiping a tear.
"He risked his life to save people by overcoming fear."
"Four hijacked planes; it sounds insane; exploded on impact."
"Hurting innocent people in a terrorist attack."
 
 
 
 

"I'm the first saved by your father when he gave me a call."
"He told me what had happened and to evacuate all."
"He calmly said his company would arrive very soon."
I looked at mommy's bedroom clock; the time was only noon.
 
 
 
 

" A very bad nightmare!" she said, "People ran like scared cats."
"I was about to leave the building when I saw black hats."
"Your father found me in a moment and gave me this gift."
"A love that last a thousand lifetimes, an eternal lift."
 
 
 
 

“He bravely ran into a building burning from the top.”
“He did not hesitate a second; no he did not stop.”
“He stood his ground, always faithful, that man known as your pop.”
“He saved a lot of lives today and not one did he drop.”
 
 
 
 

Now mom had water in her eyes and I looked at her hand.
She struggled for the kind of words to help me understand.
Father had given us this moment, sitting on her lap.
A gift of love, from my daddy, a New York Yankees cap.