But her mommy tried to tell her, that she probably should stay home. Why
the kids might not understand, if she went to school alone.

But she was not afraid; she knew just what to say. What to tell her
classmates of why he wasn't there today.

But still her mother worried, for her to face this day alone. And that
was why once again, she tried to keep her daughter home.

But the little girl went to school, eager to tell them all. About a dad
she never sees, a dad who never calls.

There were daddies along the wall in back, for everyone to meet.
Children squirming impatiently, anxious in their seats.

One by one the teacher called, a student from the class. To introduce
their daddy, as seconds slowly passed.

At last the teacher called her name, every child turned to stare. Each
of them was searching, for a man who wasn't there.

"Where's her daddy at?" she heard a boy call out. "She probably doesn't
have one," another student dared to shout.

And from somewhere near the back, she heard a daddy say, "Looks like
another deadbeat dad, too busy to waste his day."

The words did not offend her, as she smiled up at her Mom. And looked
back at her teacher, who told her to go on.

And with hands behind her back, slowly she began to speak. And out from
the mouth of a child, came words incredibly unique.

"My Daddy couldn't be here, because he lives so far away. But I know he
wishes he could be, since this is such a special day.

And though you cannot meet him, I wanted you to know. All about my
daddy, and how much he loves me so.

He loved to tell me stories, he taught me to ride my bike. He surprised
me with pink roses, and taught me to fly a kite.

We used to share fudge sundaes, and ice cream in a cone. And though you
cannot see him, I'm not standing here alone.

'Cause my daddy's always with me, even though we are apart I know
because he told me, he'll forever be in my heart"

With that, her little hand reached up, and lay across her chest. Feeling
her own heartbeat, beneath her favorite dress.

And from somewhere in the crowd of dads, her mother stood in tears.
Proudly watching her daughter, who was wise beyond her years.

For she stood up for the love of a man not in her life. Doing what was
best for her, doing what was right.

And when she dropped her hand back down, staring straight into the
crowd. She finished with a voice so soft, but its message clear and loud.

"I love my daddy very much, he's my shining star. And if he could, he'd
be here, but heaven's just too far.

You see he was a fireman and died just this past year When airplanes hit
the towers and taught Americans to fear.

But sometimes when I close my eyes, it's like he never went away." And
then she closed her eyes, and saw him there that day.

And to her mother's amazement, she witnessed with surprise. A room full
of daddies and children, all starting to close their eyes.

Who knows what they saw before them, who knows what they felt inside.

Perhaps for merely a second, they saw him at her side.

"I know you're with me Daddy," to the silence she called out. And what
happened next made believers, of those once filled with doubt.

Not one in that room could explain it, for each of their eyes had been
closed. But there on the desk beside her, was a fragrant long-stemmed
pink rose.