story10416.xml
Title
story10416.xml
Source
born-digital
Media Type
story
Date Entered
2004-02-04
911DA Story: Story
September 10th was a day just like all the others. A boring day at school followed by an equally boring day at work. I got home at 5, ate dinner, and got online to type away. My friends from all over the country couldn?t afford the long distance phone bill it would take to call each other and neither could I. Hence the wonderful world of AOL Instant Messenger.
Me: Hey Matt, how are things up in the great city New York?
Matt: Just great. My moms last day for work is tomorrow and we are about to go out and celebrate. Sorry, but I have to go. I?ll talk to you tomorrow.
That was probably the shortest conversation I had ever had with him in the three years I?d known him. No one else was on so I signed off and went to bed.
The next day I went off to school and had Health class with Mr. Ruark as usual. We all were watching Channel #1 when one of the other teachers came in and told Mr. Ruark to change the channel to CNN. Just as he changed the channel they had a replay of the first plane crashing into the World Trade Center. ?Oh my God,? I thought, ?Matt?s mom is in one of those buildings.? The rest of the day was just watching CNN and waiting for school to dismiss early.
When I got home, my phone was ringing. I ran to pick it up before the answering machine kicked on. I got there just in time.
?Hello?? I asked dumbly wondering who would call at a time like this.
?Becky?? I heard Matt?s voice and knew something was wrong.
?What?s wrong honey??
?Mom was in one of the buildings when the planes hit them. . . She didn?t make it out. I don?t know what I?m going to do.?
?Oh Matt. I am so sorry. I know you will be okay. You can make it through. I have faith in you.?
?I know. I have to stay strong for my brother. I just wanted to let you know what was happening. I don?t want to tie up the phone lines for too long. I?ll talk to you in a week or so.?
?Okay. I?m here if you need me.?
I couldn?t believe it. I never thought someone I knew, even indirectly, would be hurt or killed in the building collapse.
It was devestating over the next month to hear the change in Matt. He had to grow up and become a parent for his 8 year old brother. He was only 17. It was still too soon for him to have to settle down, but he never once complained because he didn?t want his brother to think he was a burden. 9-11 had such a major impact on so many lives and made me realize that live could be very short and we have to appreciate every moment we have.
Me: Hey Matt, how are things up in the great city New York?
Matt: Just great. My moms last day for work is tomorrow and we are about to go out and celebrate. Sorry, but I have to go. I?ll talk to you tomorrow.
That was probably the shortest conversation I had ever had with him in the three years I?d known him. No one else was on so I signed off and went to bed.
The next day I went off to school and had Health class with Mr. Ruark as usual. We all were watching Channel #1 when one of the other teachers came in and told Mr. Ruark to change the channel to CNN. Just as he changed the channel they had a replay of the first plane crashing into the World Trade Center. ?Oh my God,? I thought, ?Matt?s mom is in one of those buildings.? The rest of the day was just watching CNN and waiting for school to dismiss early.
When I got home, my phone was ringing. I ran to pick it up before the answering machine kicked on. I got there just in time.
?Hello?? I asked dumbly wondering who would call at a time like this.
?Becky?? I heard Matt?s voice and knew something was wrong.
?What?s wrong honey??
?Mom was in one of the buildings when the planes hit them. . . She didn?t make it out. I don?t know what I?m going to do.?
?Oh Matt. I am so sorry. I know you will be okay. You can make it through. I have faith in you.?
?I know. I have to stay strong for my brother. I just wanted to let you know what was happening. I don?t want to tie up the phone lines for too long. I?ll talk to you in a week or so.?
?Okay. I?m here if you need me.?
I couldn?t believe it. I never thought someone I knew, even indirectly, would be hurt or killed in the building collapse.
It was devestating over the next month to hear the change in Matt. He had to grow up and become a parent for his 8 year old brother. He was only 17. It was still too soon for him to have to settle down, but he never once complained because he didn?t want his brother to think he was a burden. 9-11 had such a major impact on so many lives and made me realize that live could be very short and we have to appreciate every moment we have.
Collection
Citation
“story10416.xml,” September 11 Digital Archive, accessed January 9, 2025, https://911digitalarchive.org/items/show/5593.