*A warning: a character is shot and killed*

Here I am in the most exciting place in the world: New York City!! Can you believe it? I can. Dad and I were staying at the plaza where two of Eloise movies took place and where Stacey went for her fourth birthday. It was so huge that I could not believe my eyes!

"Wow, this plaza is huge and beautiful, isn't it, Dad?" I asked.

"It sure is, honey," said Dad.

We arrived here this afternoon at the same time when Jessi was going to help Mal with her siblings. You should've seen the traffic on the way here! Workers were doing the road, two ambulances at two car crashes in 20 minutes, and we thought we could never get here. It was a good thing we left for around eleven and it was after we had lunch in Stamford on the way here.

We checked in and went to our assigned room. The room was pretty; like a suite: a kitchen, two bedrooms, a couch, a TV with VCR, and a bathroom. That was awesome.

I could never stop loving visiting New York City. Honest! There are millions thing to do here and I want to live here one day. That would be really fun because I'd see Broadway when I want to and I'd go to many stores I'd want to & the best of all, go on tours whenever I want to as well.

"What should we do once we settled in?" I asked.

"We can just go places, go on bus tours, and maybe a Broadway show. In fact, I got tickets to see The Little Mermaid," said Dad holding the tickets.

"That's a Broadway show now?" I asked as he nodded. "Wow. I never knew that."

I love that movie as a little girl and I still watch it with the clients all the time.

"When is that playing?" I asked.

"Tonight at seven," replied Dad.

"Awesome!" I exclaimed.

"We can eat at Bubba Gump after six and go see The Little Mermaid from there," said Dad.

"Sounds like a perfect plan to me," I smiled.

It's fun to be with Dad. It's odd that ever since he loosen up, I grew closer to him. Between you and me, I don't miss him being strict at all thank god- I left that in the past and moved on with my better life.

At ten of six, we left the plaza for Bubba Gump like we planned. It's sort of like a movie of Forest Gump. It's so cool and what I like about that restaurant is they show you that whole movie. I had a hamburger with Sprite and Dad ordered a cheeseburger with Dr. Pepper. You know what Dad usually does: bring a calculator to any restaurant to check to see up a waiter adds the check correctly, which can be embarrassing. He stopped doing that not long ago thank goodness since he knows waiters or waitresses don't make a math mistake because they're the ones who uses calculators.

After dinner, it was only six-thirty, so we decided to leave there for the Broadway and luckily, we made it just in time- at six-forty-five because there was traffic full of taxis. We got those good seats based on our tickets thank goodness. I almost had to catch my breath.

"Boy, no matter we go, there's traffic everywhere," I said.

"I agree," said Dad.

"At least we left early just in case," I admitted.

"That's true, honey," said Dad.

-----

It was a great show and I loved it! I was tired by the time we went back to the plaza. You're never too old to love Broadway shows from your favorite Disney movies.

"It was a fun night," I smiled.

"You bet it was," agreed Dad.

"Thanks for the best night," I said.

"No problem," said Dad.

This is the night I would never forget for the rest of my life.

"I can't wait to move here as an adult, I'd have a fun time here," I said. "There are so many things to do here."

"I agree," said Dad.

"It's also a good thing because I'd go to any Broadway shows, shopping, and bus tours anytime I want to," I said.

"You bet," smiled Dad.

"I'll probably wait until I finish college first, otherwise imagine being stuck in traffic trying to get to college in time for your classes," I said.

"Smart thinking," said Dad.

---

The next day, I was awake at nine while Dad was still in bed in the other bedroom. We won't be leaving until four this afternoon and we'll be having dinner at McDonald's on the way back home. Why? We decided to do more stuff here like going to Macy's, which is the biggest store here in the whole United States, have lunch at a nearby Chinese Restaurant, and more. I just lay in bed just thinking this was the best father-daughter trip ever so far.

At nine-thirty, I got up and got dressed. When I came out, I noticed Dad wasn't up yet since I could tell by the door is closed. That's unusual because he never sleeps late. Then he told me he's got a flu, so our plans are delayed for now. No wonder he was sleeping late.

"Would you be okay to explore the city on your own?" asked Dad.

On my own? I don't know if I'd feel comfortable doing it myself because what if I get lost?

"I'll just stay in the plaza," I replied.

"Okay," said Dad. "When I get better, I'll meet you down there, honey."

"Okay, Dad," I said.

"Do you got money if you might have lunch on your own here?" asked Dad.

"I should have enough," I said as I went to get my purse.

I counted my money and have thirty bucks, so I'll have enough.

"I have enough money, I have about thirty bucks," I told him.

"Okay," said Dad.

"Want me to come back up before noon to see how you feel before I get lunch on my own?" I asked.

"If you want to," said Dad. "Can you do me a favor before you come back? Can you go to the gift shop and get me Ginger Ale?"

"No problem," I replied.

"Thank you," said Dad.

"Or do you want me to get you that now?" I asked.

"It doesn't matter to me. It's up to you," said Dad.

"Okay," I said.

I went down to get Ginger Ale and got it. It was a dollar and after I paid it, I came back up and gave it to him.

"Thank you, sweetie," said Dad who was coughing.

"Not a problem," I smiled. "Like I said, I'll come back up before noon to see how you feel before we have lunch."

"Okay," said Dad.

That was when I went back down. I decided to go back the gift shop and look around in there. I found a magnet with a statue of liberty on it, so I got that. I even got a pen with statue of liberty on top of it. They were both $3.95. The subtotal was about $7.95, so I gave the clerk eight bucks and five cents was my change.

When I went out, everyone was running around. Why? Then I noticed a gunman was in the plaza. So, I went back in the gift shop to be safe. I told the clerk to be careful because of the gunman.

"Thank you for the warning," smiled the clerk. "I should call the police."

"That's a good idea. I didn't know why everyone was running around for until I noticed why," I said.

That was when he came after the clerk called the police.

"Make one wrong move and I'll shoot," warned the gunman.

I was frightened. How can I escape from here? Good thing I warned the clerk before he came in. If I could walk away without the gunman looking, I could, but I don't dare to try. Then I had an idea. He's in the other direction, so I tried to tip-toe to get out of here without him looking and shoot me. I don't want that. I managed to leave there. The clerk must if thought I did the right move. Then I made a beeline to head back to the room without him spotting me. My heart was racing fast by the time I got back. Good I made it. That was a close one. I locked that door in case he tried to break in.

I heard people screaming outside and when I went to the window, that gunman was chasing after them with the gun. That was when police arrived and they managed to catch as they arrested him. Good, that'll teach him a lesson not to shoot anyone for no reason. I watched them putting him in the police car. Boy, was that scary! Luckily, no one was shot. I could feel my legs shaking.

I noticed Dad was sleeping on the couch. I don't know can he sleep through any noises. Nothing seemed to bother him too much. I was shaking so hard that I started to feel nauseous. Then I noticed the ambulance was about to park at the plaza. Maybe someone did got shot before that person tried to escape. Good thing that wasn't me. I thought I was going to faint. I still could feel my heart beating.

I was still there when Dad woke up before eleven-thirty.

"You're back early," said Dad. "Are you alright, sweetie? You look scared."

"You should've seen what happen while I was down there," I said. "Just as I was leaving the gift shop, everyone was running. I didn't know why until I noticed the gunman. I went back to the gift shop to be safe and warned the clerk who called the police. I managed to escape there by tip-toeing while he wasn't looking because if you make one wrong move, you'd get shot. The clerk must if thought how smart I was to escape. That's how I came back early."

"That is scary," said Dad.

"I know. Luckily, I rushed back in here without him looking," I continued. "I could feel my heart beating fast and my legs were shaking. The police just arrested that gunman. Someone must if got shot because the ambulance was here. Thank god that wasn't me."

"I bet," said Dad.

"You look better," I said after deciding to change the subject.

"Just a little," said Dad.

"Are you better enough to have lunch?" I asked.

"Yes, thank goodness. Let's go to the Chinese Restaurant and go other places like we planned," said Dad.

"Good idea," I agreed.

Good I need to get out of here in case the gunman comes back if he runs away from the police. When we came down to leave, the clerk spotted me and thanked me again to warn him.

"She was brave enough to escape before the gunman spotted her," the clerk told Dad.

"She told me all about it," said Dad.

"Did someone got shot?" I asked.

"Only one person before the police arrived. It was an adult that lives in an apartment around here," said the clerk. "It was an African-American woman."

"That's one of my friends' grandmother!" I exclaimed softly.

I hope Ginnie is okay. Then I spotted her husband, Jeffrey, who returned visiting her as I went to him.

"Hello, Mary Anne, how are you?" asked Jeffrey.

"Hi, I was just told Ginnie was shot when that gunman was in," I said. "How she is?"

"She was pronounced dead at the hospital," replied Jeffrey.

"What?" I asked. "I liked her. Kayla and Kaylee are going to be so upset."

"I know," agreed Jeffrey.

"And I'm sorry about her," I added.

"Thank you, dear," said Jeffrey.

"I'm so glad he got arrested," I said.

"Tell me about it," said Jeffrey.

I couldn't believe Ginnie is dead. I loved her. She was like a second grandmother to me and Jeffrey was like a second grandfather to me as well.

"Want me to tell the girls when I go home later this afternoon?" I asked.

"Thank you, Mary Anne," said Jeffrey.

This is going to be hard to break the news to the Willis family, especially Mrs. Willis. My tears were rolling down and hugged him.

"I'm going to miss her," I said.

"Same here," said Jeffrey.

That was when I felt Dad's hand on my shoulder.

"Why don't you come to lunch with us?" asked Dad.

"That'll be great, thank you for the offer, Richard," said Jeffrey.

----

Later, after we went everywhere else, Dad and I went back to the plaza, get our suitcases, checked out, and left for home at four like we planned.

"I can't believe Ginnie was shot and killed," I said. "I liked her a lot."

"I know, sweetheart," said Dad. "I'm sure you'll feel better by the time we get to McDonald's."

"Okay," I said trying to cheer up a bit.

I did got a bit better when we stopped at McDonald's for dinner an hour later. When we got home, I unpacked my suitcase.

"Hi," said Dawn.

"Hi, Dawn," I greeted. "You can come in, I'm just unpacking."

"Okay," said Dawn as she sat on my bed. "Are you okay? Your eyes are puffy."

"It's a long story. Kayla and Kaylee's grandmother just died," I started.

"What happen?" asked Dawn as I told her all about it. "Boy, you must be so scared."

"I sure was," I replied. "The ambulance was there. I didn't find out about Ginnie until I spotted Jeffrey who had just got back from the hospital. I got so upset when he told me. I loved her; she was like my second grandmother."

"That's too bad," said Dawn.

"I know," I said putting my suitcase under my bed. "I should go tell the girls and the family. They're going to be very upset."

I came down telling Dad I was going next door.

"Okay," said Dad.

When I got there, Kayla and Kaylee were on the porch.

"Hi, Mary Anne," said the girls.

"Hi," I said.

"How was your trip to New York City?" asked Kayla at the same time as Kaylee asked, "Did you do anything exciting?"

We laughed.

"I'll tell you the fun stuff first before I tell you all something," I said.

"Okay," said Kayla.

"When we got there yesterday, we went on bus tours, had dinner at Bubba Gump, and went to see The Little Mermaid," I told them.

"Wow," said the girls.

"I know. Now, I should tell you and your family something very important and it's not good news," I said.

The girls looked at each other.

"Is everything okay? Mom and Dad are out and our siblings are at their friends' houses, so we decided to stay home to see you," said Kayla.

"First of all, when I got up this morning, Dad had a flu and asked me if I'd be okay to be on my own for awhile after getting him Ginger Ale from the gift shop," I began. "Second, I was back in there and got myself two gifts: a pen and a magnet with statue of liberty on them."

"Wow," said the girls.

"Then when I was about to leave there, everyone was running around. That was when I noticed the gunman there, so I had to go back to the gift shop to be safe and sound. I told the clerk and he called 911 just before the gunman came in. He was like, 'Make one wrong move and I'll shoot'. That was when I got so scared. I had to think of something to escape without him seeing me," I continued. "So, while he was in the other direction, I left there quietly."

"Good thinking," commented Kayla.

"Tell me about it, so I had to make a beeline up to the room before he can see me. When I got back to the room, my heart was racing fast and my legs were shaking like a leaf. I went to the window and noticed the police came by as they arrested him," I kept on.

"Good," said Kaylee.

"I agree," I said. "Just after they left, the ambulance arrived and figured someone must if got shot. I told Dad about everything. He was better enough to go out for lunch, which is good so I can leave in case the gunman comes back. And who do I see when Dad & I were leaving? Your grandfather."

"Uh-oh, did something happen?" asked Kayla.

"Apparently, your grandmother got shot," I replied.

"What?" asked Kayla and Kaylee.

"Is she okay?" asked Kaylee.

"This is going to be hard, but your grandfather told me she was pronounced dead at the hospital," I replied. "I got very upset when I found out."

The girls were silent after that.

"This is going to be hard to tell Mom, huh, Kaylee?" asked Kayla.

"I know," agreed Kaylee.

"I offered him to tell you girls when I got home and thanked me for that," I said.

"I'm glad you told us," said Kayla who looked like she was going to cry any minute.

I stayed with them for awhile. That was Mr. and Mrs. Willis returned.

"Hi, Mary Anne," said Mrs. Willis.

"Hi, I saw your father today," I said.

"What was new with him?" asked Mrs. Willis.

"I should tell you the bad news in private while I was in New York City," I replied.

"Okay," said Mrs. Willis.

"I'll go inside to see the girls," said Mr. Willis.

"They're upset right now," I said.

"Did something bad happen? I can stay out to hear this," said Mr. Willis.

I told them about what happened and added, "I offered your father to tell you and your family."

"I should go call him," said Mrs. Willis. "Thank you for telling us."

"I got so upset as well since I loved your mother too much," I said.

"We'll tell the other kids tomorrow, they're sleeping over at their friends' houses," said Mrs. Willis.