October 20, 1970

Dear Mr Keon

Ever since the kidnappings mother watches news all the time. And ever since the army was called she started to buy lots of extra food. She said it reminded her of when the Japanese came and they had to get lots of food and hide it. I could not sleep and got out of bed to watch the news with mother. There was a big funeral in a big church for the hostage Pierre Laporte who was strangled and stuffed in a car. His coffin was wrapped in a white and blue flag. The prime minister and premier of Quebec were there and lots of other people and police and soldiers. I do not know if you saw it on tv Mr Keon but everybody looked very sad. His family held hands. Pierre Laportes wife was all in black and looked very sad. My mother was also sad. She did not even send me back to bed. Instead she said it was very lucky Jean was not at home when his father was kidnapped and was out playing doge ball Doge ball is my favorite fis ed sport. His father was playing football with his nephew when the kidnappers came. The nephew would be Jeans cousin. I’ll bet Jean wishes he was home when the kidnappers came so he could have saved his father.

Mother held my arm very tight. She said she could not afford to lose me. That I was everything to her.

She made me promise to stay away from mail boxes and government buildings because the FLQ put bombs there. It was weird because mother never talked like that. I have to do everything to protect you she said. I did not know what she was talking about but it made me think that Jean also only has a mother left like me . If you dont count his sister. Do you have any brothers or sisters Mr Keon. How about a father? I bet he played with you all the time and teached you things and collected hockey cards.

This made me think about the last time I saw my father. He was not kidnapped. It was a long time ago but I remember it. I even remember the time he got me a etchasketch etch a sketch for Christmas. I was 4 years old. The last time I saw him he was fighting with mother. I used to just sleep thru them fighting but this was a big one and I pretended to sleep. She yelled at father and said he was a lier and could not ever trust him again. And that was the last time I seen or heard him. He left me a letter and said I will always be his son no matter what. Please do not tell any body this.

Your friend,

Johnny Wong