You'll Be In My Heart, part 9, "You'll Be In My Heart"
Even though it was unwanted, the day came. The day when everything was final, the day when all stores in Chicago were silent from 1 to 3 pm, all restaurants were closed and no one was working. The day everyone wanted to forget.
Church bells rang as the people started filling the church. The big church was suddenly so small. It seemed like whole Chicago had shown up. Hundreds of people wanted to show Doug and Carol their support, and to say goodbye to the two girls that they'd never know but also had gotten to know through media since the day they were reported missing.
Many were already crying when they made their way into the church, which was almost full of unknown people. Just by looking at the two, small white caskets in front of them made them cry even more. Both caskets were surrounded by tons of flowers and little teddy bears, and on the top of the one to the left there was a picture of Kate and on the one to the left there was a picture of Tess. The girls were smiling and laughing on the pictures, and it was unbelievable that they'd never do that again.
When there ceremony began all the seats were full and every little space was taken. In the first pew sat Doug and Carol holding hands, Mark, Ella, Elizabeth, Sarah and Helen. Behind them was Abby, Luka, Kerry, Connie, Lydia, Carter, and so on and so on it went, row after row.
"We are gathered here today to say goodbye and to celebrate the memory of two young girls. Two small children, who barely had gotten a little taste of life, were taken away from us in a so sudden and heartbreaking way", the priest began. "I ask myself every day why people do these terrible things to each other, and every time I understand that I've got no answer, and never will. In God's eyes everybody is his children, and they are all brothers and sisters, but how can that be if they are able to hurt and kill each other? There are a lot of questions I want the answer of but never will, but when I think about it I know, deep in my heart, that there's questions without answers. Unfortunately crimes like this happen too often and the victims this time were Kate and Tess Hathaway Ross.
We'll now hear from Mark Greene".
Mark rose and walked slowly toward the two child caskets. He knew he wouldn't be able to speak without problems; he was already fighting against the tears. On his way up his legs felt like jelly and suddenly he almost felt like spaghetti, first totally stiff and suddenly so soft.
"Hello, everyone. I can't believe I am standing here today, in this church, looking at two white and small caskets. Two weeks ago I never thought I was attending a funeral today, and here I am. In Tess and Kate's funeral, 80 years too early.
I remember Thanksgiving 9 ½ years ago, when I was about to eat the best meal of the year, the phoned rang. Carol was in labour. I rushed to the hospital but I the first baby was already delivered when I arrived. It was a little girl. Tess. After a couple of hours the next baby was born. The second girl. Kate. I don't think I've seen Carol more happy". Mark could feel he'd trouble speaking. His voice was about to brake. "As the years have gone by I have become very attached to Kate and Tess, not to mention my daughter, Ella. She has, as a lot of other children, lost two of her beloved friends. Tess and Kate were Ella's ideal. She loved to be with them and play, and even though she's 1 ½ years younger than them, Kate and Tess still played with her. They didn't forget her when friends from their class came over or something, they treated her like everyone else and that shows a little of how great girls they were". He turned towards the two caskets. "We miss you and you'll always be in our hearts".
On his way down he finally let the tears come. When he sat down at the bench Doug thanked him. "Thank you, Mark. That was beautiful".
"Daddy, I want to read my poem", Ella said.
Mark looked at his daughter. She and Rachel meant the world to him. "Are you sure, honey?"
Ella nodded. "Yes, I'm sure".
Mark followed Ella up to the priest:
"I have written a poem to Kate and Tess. They are in heaven now but I don't want them to be there. I want them to come home again because I miss them and I miss playing with them".
*******************************************************
Everything is so stupid.
I thought you just had got lost.
Is it fun to be angels?
Are you still kids or do you grow up like I am?
It's so difficult to understand everything.
Everything is so stupid.
*******************************************************
When Ella was finished Mark took her back to the others. Everyone in the whole church was crying; Ella's poem was so honest, and the love from a little girl to her friends was so deep and moving. Even though the priest was used to burry people in any age, he cried too, and it was a while before he began to speak again. "The girls' father has said he wants to say a few words.
Doug kissed Carol before he rose and got up to the priest.
"First of all want Carol and I to thank everyone who have come here today to say goodbye to Kate and Tess with us. We're very touched by your kindness and support the last two weeks. Losing a child is the worst thing parents ever can imagine. No one can describe the sorrow and loss you feel when you've lost a child. We haven't just lost one child; we've lost two children. Both of our children. We'll never get to see our girls again, we'll never hear them laugh or cry or fight ever again. Just by thinking about it makes me want to die too".
"Becoming a father was the best thing that happened to me. These 9 ½ years have been the best years of my life and I thought it only would be better and better, but those years will never come. Someone took our girls away from us. There is an explanation for what they did but not an excuse.
As the days have gone by the police has caught two men, and slowly parts of the truth have been told. It's bad enough that someone raped and killed our little girls but one even more terrible thing was revealed a couple of days ago. After they'd killed Kate, Tess tried to run away before they took her too. That means that Tess must have watched them kill her twin sister. I can't imagine what they were thinking when this happened; This was what Mummy and Daddy was afraid of? I don't know, and I never will get to know what they were thinking. I just hope they knew how much we loved them, and how much we miss them"
Doug wiped away a few tears before he continued. "Tess and Kate's favourite movie was Tarzan. They just loved that movie and they could watch it over and over again without getting tired of it. Phil Collins' song "You'll be in my heart" was their favourite song and they loved to sing it in their karaoke player. Carol and I want to play the song here today, in the memory of our girls. As Mark said: They will always be in our hearts.
*****************************************
Come stop your crying
It will be all right
Just take my hand
Hold it tight
I will protect you
From all around you
I will be here
Don't you cry
For one so small,
You seem so strong
My arms will hold you,
Keep you safe and warm
This bond between us
Can't be broken
I will be here
Don't you cry
'Cause you'll be in my heart
Yes, you'll be in my heart
From this day on
Now and forever more
You'll be in my heart
No matter what they say
You'll be here in my heart, always
Why can't they understand
The way we feel
They just don't trust
What they can't explain
I know we're different but,
Deep inside us
We're not that different at all
And you'll be in my heart
Yes, you'll be in my heart
From this day on
Now and forever more
Don't you listen to them
'Cause what do they know
We need each other
To have, to hold
They'll see in time
I know
When destiny calls you
You must be strong
I may not be with you
But you've got to hold on
They'll see in time
I know
We'll show them together
'Cause you'll be in my heart
Yes, you'll be in my heart
From this day on
Now and forever more
Oh, you'll be in my heart
No matter what they say
You'll be here in my heart, always
Always
***********************************************
In memory of
"Kate" and "Tess"
Author's note: I just want to say that this story was worst story I've ever written. It's not like I don't like it but while I wrote this story everything became more real to me. What happened to Kate and Tess actually happened to two girls in Norway. This case was a great shock on everyone in the country, but compared to USA, and a lot of other countries, Norway is a tiny country. I don't know how USA would react if two girls at the ages of 8 and 10 suddenly were raped and killed after they'd been swimming at a family place but in Norway this was one of our worst tragedies. Therefore two cities were silent when the girls were buried, and I decided to "close down" Chicago during the funeral in this story. I hope no one feels offended by my story because it's true but it you are, please tell me and I'll remove it.
Kate
Even though it was unwanted, the day came. The day when everything was final, the day when all stores in Chicago were silent from 1 to 3 pm, all restaurants were closed and no one was working. The day everyone wanted to forget.
Church bells rang as the people started filling the church. The big church was suddenly so small. It seemed like whole Chicago had shown up. Hundreds of people wanted to show Doug and Carol their support, and to say goodbye to the two girls that they'd never know but also had gotten to know through media since the day they were reported missing.
Many were already crying when they made their way into the church, which was almost full of unknown people. Just by looking at the two, small white caskets in front of them made them cry even more. Both caskets were surrounded by tons of flowers and little teddy bears, and on the top of the one to the left there was a picture of Kate and on the one to the left there was a picture of Tess. The girls were smiling and laughing on the pictures, and it was unbelievable that they'd never do that again.
When there ceremony began all the seats were full and every little space was taken. In the first pew sat Doug and Carol holding hands, Mark, Ella, Elizabeth, Sarah and Helen. Behind them was Abby, Luka, Kerry, Connie, Lydia, Carter, and so on and so on it went, row after row.
"We are gathered here today to say goodbye and to celebrate the memory of two young girls. Two small children, who barely had gotten a little taste of life, were taken away from us in a so sudden and heartbreaking way", the priest began. "I ask myself every day why people do these terrible things to each other, and every time I understand that I've got no answer, and never will. In God's eyes everybody is his children, and they are all brothers and sisters, but how can that be if they are able to hurt and kill each other? There are a lot of questions I want the answer of but never will, but when I think about it I know, deep in my heart, that there's questions without answers. Unfortunately crimes like this happen too often and the victims this time were Kate and Tess Hathaway Ross.
We'll now hear from Mark Greene".
Mark rose and walked slowly toward the two child caskets. He knew he wouldn't be able to speak without problems; he was already fighting against the tears. On his way up his legs felt like jelly and suddenly he almost felt like spaghetti, first totally stiff and suddenly so soft.
"Hello, everyone. I can't believe I am standing here today, in this church, looking at two white and small caskets. Two weeks ago I never thought I was attending a funeral today, and here I am. In Tess and Kate's funeral, 80 years too early.
I remember Thanksgiving 9 ½ years ago, when I was about to eat the best meal of the year, the phoned rang. Carol was in labour. I rushed to the hospital but I the first baby was already delivered when I arrived. It was a little girl. Tess. After a couple of hours the next baby was born. The second girl. Kate. I don't think I've seen Carol more happy". Mark could feel he'd trouble speaking. His voice was about to brake. "As the years have gone by I have become very attached to Kate and Tess, not to mention my daughter, Ella. She has, as a lot of other children, lost two of her beloved friends. Tess and Kate were Ella's ideal. She loved to be with them and play, and even though she's 1 ½ years younger than them, Kate and Tess still played with her. They didn't forget her when friends from their class came over or something, they treated her like everyone else and that shows a little of how great girls they were". He turned towards the two caskets. "We miss you and you'll always be in our hearts".
On his way down he finally let the tears come. When he sat down at the bench Doug thanked him. "Thank you, Mark. That was beautiful".
"Daddy, I want to read my poem", Ella said.
Mark looked at his daughter. She and Rachel meant the world to him. "Are you sure, honey?"
Ella nodded. "Yes, I'm sure".
Mark followed Ella up to the priest:
"I have written a poem to Kate and Tess. They are in heaven now but I don't want them to be there. I want them to come home again because I miss them and I miss playing with them".
*******************************************************
Everything is so stupid.
I thought you just had got lost.
Is it fun to be angels?
Are you still kids or do you grow up like I am?
It's so difficult to understand everything.
Everything is so stupid.
*******************************************************
When Ella was finished Mark took her back to the others. Everyone in the whole church was crying; Ella's poem was so honest, and the love from a little girl to her friends was so deep and moving. Even though the priest was used to burry people in any age, he cried too, and it was a while before he began to speak again. "The girls' father has said he wants to say a few words.
Doug kissed Carol before he rose and got up to the priest.
"First of all want Carol and I to thank everyone who have come here today to say goodbye to Kate and Tess with us. We're very touched by your kindness and support the last two weeks. Losing a child is the worst thing parents ever can imagine. No one can describe the sorrow and loss you feel when you've lost a child. We haven't just lost one child; we've lost two children. Both of our children. We'll never get to see our girls again, we'll never hear them laugh or cry or fight ever again. Just by thinking about it makes me want to die too".
"Becoming a father was the best thing that happened to me. These 9 ½ years have been the best years of my life and I thought it only would be better and better, but those years will never come. Someone took our girls away from us. There is an explanation for what they did but not an excuse.
As the days have gone by the police has caught two men, and slowly parts of the truth have been told. It's bad enough that someone raped and killed our little girls but one even more terrible thing was revealed a couple of days ago. After they'd killed Kate, Tess tried to run away before they took her too. That means that Tess must have watched them kill her twin sister. I can't imagine what they were thinking when this happened; This was what Mummy and Daddy was afraid of? I don't know, and I never will get to know what they were thinking. I just hope they knew how much we loved them, and how much we miss them"
Doug wiped away a few tears before he continued. "Tess and Kate's favourite movie was Tarzan. They just loved that movie and they could watch it over and over again without getting tired of it. Phil Collins' song "You'll be in my heart" was their favourite song and they loved to sing it in their karaoke player. Carol and I want to play the song here today, in the memory of our girls. As Mark said: They will always be in our hearts.
*****************************************
Come stop your crying
It will be all right
Just take my hand
Hold it tight
I will protect you
From all around you
I will be here
Don't you cry
For one so small,
You seem so strong
My arms will hold you,
Keep you safe and warm
This bond between us
Can't be broken
I will be here
Don't you cry
'Cause you'll be in my heart
Yes, you'll be in my heart
From this day on
Now and forever more
You'll be in my heart
No matter what they say
You'll be here in my heart, always
Why can't they understand
The way we feel
They just don't trust
What they can't explain
I know we're different but,
Deep inside us
We're not that different at all
And you'll be in my heart
Yes, you'll be in my heart
From this day on
Now and forever more
Don't you listen to them
'Cause what do they know
We need each other
To have, to hold
They'll see in time
I know
When destiny calls you
You must be strong
I may not be with you
But you've got to hold on
They'll see in time
I know
We'll show them together
'Cause you'll be in my heart
Yes, you'll be in my heart
From this day on
Now and forever more
Oh, you'll be in my heart
No matter what they say
You'll be here in my heart, always
Always
***********************************************
In memory of
"Kate" and "Tess"
Author's note: I just want to say that this story was worst story I've ever written. It's not like I don't like it but while I wrote this story everything became more real to me. What happened to Kate and Tess actually happened to two girls in Norway. This case was a great shock on everyone in the country, but compared to USA, and a lot of other countries, Norway is a tiny country. I don't know how USA would react if two girls at the ages of 8 and 10 suddenly were raped and killed after they'd been swimming at a family place but in Norway this was one of our worst tragedies. Therefore two cities were silent when the girls were buried, and I decided to "close down" Chicago during the funeral in this story. I hope no one feels offended by my story because it's true but it you are, please tell me and I'll remove it.
Kate