Underneath the Eiffel Tower

2025 Write Now Winner - Grades 3 & 4

I was rushing to get to the tennis match because I overslept and was still feeling jet lagged from my flight from Oregon. Running through the big crowds of Paris, I was trying to get a taxi. I told myself that if I moved to Paris I had better get a car. Finally, I got a taxi but I had to share it with a nice lady whose name was Audrey. Luckily, my stop was first. I got into the stadium entrance and it wasn’t too busy because the match was starting in about 10 minutes.

I looked at my ticket while I was speeding through the stadium and it said section B seat 4. I tucked the ticket into in my pocket and repeated the seat numbers in my head. I must have gotten lost in my thoughts because I bumped into someone then saw popcorn flying. I looked up, and saw a girl close to my age with blonde hair and brown eyes. The girl had on a red baseball cap with a dark blue logo on it. I apologized, and offered her my popcorn but she refused. “Wait here,” I said to her. I came back with new popcorn. “You didn't have to do that!” she said. “By the way, my name is Evelyn.” I handed her the popcorn and said “My name is James. The match is starting so I better get to my seat.” She agreed and we said our goodbyes.

I finally got to my seat, and looked to see who I was sitting by. Sitting in the seat next to me I saw the same red baseball cap, it was Evelyn. She still had the popcorn I bought her. “This is a coincidence.” I said. Evelyn told me she was from San Diego, California and she was visiting Paris and planned to see the Eiffel Tower at 8:00pm the following day. I told her that I was in Paris for a job interview.  I was hoping to get a job as a utility worker at the stadium during its upcoming renovation. I asked her why she was visiting Paris and Evelyn said, “When I was a kid, my father and I dreamt of going to Paris together but as soon as I knew it, he was gone. That’s why I’m here visiting Paris.” As soon as we knew it, the match was over. Evelyn left the match first and I quickly noticed she left her baseball cap.  I tried to catch up to her but she was lost in the crowds.

The next day I was getting ready for my job interview when I realized that I would never see Evelyn again. I went outside and got a taxi. I asked the taxi driver to bring me to the Eiffel Tower, remembering that Evelyn had said she was going to be there at 8:00pm. We drove through the beautiful city and I hoped it was not too late as the taxi came upon the Eiffel Tower.  When I got to the Eiffel Tower it was a couple minutes past 8:00pm but I was relived because right there was Evelyn. She was wearing a blue dress with white flowers on it. I went up to her and gave her the red baseball hat she had left at the game. She thanked me and said it was her favorite hat because her dad had given it to her right before he died and she was so glad I found it.

We went and sat down on a bench and talked. I offered to buy her dinner and she agreed. For dinner we had Coq au vin and steak frites and for dessert we shared Crème Brulee. After dinner, we went to sit underneath the Eiffel Tower and I said, “I’m supposed to be in Paris for my job interview but I’d rather be here with you.” We kissed and spent the rest of our time in Paris together. I ended up getting the job at the stadium as a utility worker and an apartment close to the Eiffel Tower. Evelyn and I kept in touch and one day Evelyn told me that she was moving to Paris.  

A couple months later I took Evelyn on a date. It was at a tennis match in the same stadium where we had met and where I now work. Evelyn was wearing her red and blue baseball cap. In the middle of the match I proposed and the rest is history!