Thank goodness, I always bring my Blackberry. I could at least keep up with all my RSS feeds while waiting for Papa. He had not changed at all. My father always wants a dramatic entrance.

So… let me see what FashionWindows is saying today. ‘Cell Phone Cases As Important as Cell Phone Itself in Making a Fashion Statement,’ well you’ve got that right. You cannot go around just putting your mobile phone in your purse or in your pocket.

Dooney & Bourke cell phone case

So, what does FashionWindows recommend? Something from Chloe Dao, Crocs and Dooney & Bourke, that are all presumably being shown at the CTIA Wireless 2008 exhibition and convention that is currently going on in Las Vegas.

“Madeleine,” a deep-voiced middle-aged man that could give George Clooney a run for his money called my name as if it was a caress. My father never had a nickname for me. He calls me by my full name.

“I’m glad you called,” he said, after we exchanged the expected hug and father-daughter kiss. “How are you doing?” he continued while taking a seat in front of me and motioning the waiter to bring him his usual. This was my father’s favorite restaurant in New York and we were sitting in his table.

“I’ve decided to move here to New York,” I blurted without any preamble and ignoring his question. There was no way about it. Small talk would not make it easier.

“And what about Cambridge?” my father said without even a flicker in his eyes. His demeanor had not changed. He continued drinking his coffee. Someone who is observing us would just see a father and daughter having brunch on a Sunday morning, though today was a Thursday.

My father is always calm and seldom shows his emotions in public. But, I guess that what makes him a top lawyer in both sides of the Atlantic, representing the biggest names in the entertainment industry very discreetly.

“I’m done with Cambridge,” I declared. This time that statement merited a slight raise of one of his eyebrows, an action that had always reminded me of Mr. Spock from the original Star Trek series. “I’m an A.B.D., All but dissertation. And, I’m taking a leave of absence. I’m turning 18 next month Papa and I just realized I haven’t lived at all. All I have ever done was study.”

That statement elicited more than just a raise of his eyebrow. This time, I have his full attention. He just not just listening to me, he was hearing what I was saying!

“I want to be normal for a change, Papa. I figured I can take a leave of absence for two years, i.e., I can be back at MIT when I turn 20 and still finish my dissertation before I am 25.”

“Why New York? Why not go back to Paris. Your mother will be delighted to have you back home.”

I shook my head. “Then it will defeat the purpose of my wanting to experience life on my own. If I go back to Paris, Mama will just take me to her social circle, parade me in front of her friends as if I was a freak because I started post graduate studies at 15.”

“It’s not that bad, Madeleine. Your mother loves you; you know that. She does not think you are a freak. And for parading you in front of her friends as you put it, let’s just say that she is so proud of you.”

He was going to say more, but his phone rang. He had to take it. I nodded. I did not mind. I was getting hungry, too, so I started attacking my steak.

[IMADGE MEKKER]