>> >>>> > > > Her hair was up in a ponytail>>> >> >>>> > > > Her favorite dress tied with a bow. >>> >> >>>> > > > Today was Daddy’s Day at school, >>> >> >>>> > > > And she couldn’t wait to go. >>> >> >>>> > > >>>> >> >>>> > > > 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. >>> >> >>>> > > >>>> >> >>>> > > > 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….