I was so saddened by what happened that I had to write this. I am Catholic and French and this hit me pretty hard.
The two old men, one ninety three, the other eighty seven, sat side by side on the couch, watching the TV and watching the scene unfold. One was crying heart brokenly. Finally, he couldn't watch anymore and buried his face in his hands. The other old man wrapped an arm around his friend's shoulders and gave a gentle squeeze.
"It'll be alright, Louis. Look at all the firemen", Newkirk said gently. "They'll get the fire put out. They'll save it".
Lebeau looked up at Newkirk with tears still streaming down his face. "The cathedral has been a part of my life since I was a boy".
Newkirk was desperate. What could he do? How could he help his friend through such a painful ordeal? Suddenly, he remembered his children and his grandchildren watching a show called Mr. Rogers and he remembered something that Mr. Rogers had said one day. "Louis, look for the 'elpers. There's dozens of people there 'elping to put out that fire. They'll save it some 'ow".
"But it will never be the same", Lebeau choked out.
"Neither are you, neither am I'', Newkirk said, giving his friend another hug. "It won't be the same but it will be".
The two old men watched far into the night, one comforting the other.
The next day, they both awoke, still on the couch, still side by side and the word came. The spire had toppled and most of the roof was gone but the Notre Dame Cathedral still stood.