story8637.xml

story8637.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-11-09

September 11th, 2001... I know other people were in more disasterous places. I was at school. My sophomore year in high school. I woke up that morning with a bad feeling. I just knew something bad was going to happen that day. But by the time I'd actually gotten to school I'd forgotten all about it. I'd just left my second period class and was headed to third. It was about 10:46. As I passed the door, one of my classmates was talking to my teacher, Mr. Canty. "Did you hear about the WTC and the Pentagon?" I heard him ask. I kept walking thinking it was a joke or riddle. I sat down in my seat and pulled out my phsical science book. As I was putting my bookbag on the floor beside my chair, a girl walked behind me saying "yeah! A plane crashed steaight into it! It was on the news...." I couldn't help but wonder what was going on. My best friend, Jennifer, walked in and sat down beside me. "Have you heard anything about the WTC in New York or the Pentagon?" I asked. She shook her head and said "no". Nothing else was mmentioned in third period.
I walked into fourth period at about 12:57, three minutes before the late bell rang. I was later than usual because I'd stopped so many people on the way to ask if they knew anything about New York or Washington D.C. No one could answer me. As I walked toward my American government teacher, Mr. Wright, I knew he would have the answer. I said "hey" to him like I always do and he said "Hey, Kristin" like he always does. Then I asked, "have you heard about the WTC or the Pentagon? I keep hearing people talking about it but I don't know what's happened!" He didn't say anything. He frowned, hung his head, and pointed to his TV. It was on CNN and an anchorwoman was talking. I turned back to Mr. Wright with an arched eyebrow and he said "keep watching". About a minute later the shot went to New York City. The World Trade Center. Both towers were engulfed in smoke and flames. Suddenly, one of them began to fall (the South Tower). I could hardly process all of that confusion at once. But it just got worse as the second tower fell (the North Tower). I couldn't believe what was happening. It was almost like a scene from a movie. I hadn't even put my bookbag down yet and was still standing in the same spot when my friends Theresa, Brandon, and Jennifer walked in. They hardly even paid attention to the TV. We had a free day in fourth and the whole time I watched the news in amazement. Over and over the towers fell. Over and over the sound erupted in my ears. Over and over people ran through the streets. But I still didn't understand. Who did this and why? Are we going into war? Is it going to turn into World War 3? I was still trying to figure things out on the bus. My bus driver, Mrs. Murphy, was giving a little speech about what was going on. That we'd been attacked and we needed to start loving each other. She was crying her eyes out. Unfortunately, while she was talking, many people were giggling ang making fun of her. I mustt've yelled "shut up!!!!" about four times before it finally got quiet. I stayed confused until I got home. Both my parents were there when usually they get home after me. When I walked through the front door I realized the rather large TV in my living room was turned on to CNN just as at school. The volume was up louder too. And I was closer to this TV. Once again the towers were in flames and I noticed the time at the bottom of the screen: 9:33 am. It had all been happening during my second period class and I didn't know a thing about it. Then, after a quick time lapse, the South Tower began falling again. I could see every piece of the tower bend and break as it fell and was terrified to see it. I finally saw the Pentagon also. One whole section, gone. More lives destroyed. I couldn't watch anymore. I ran to my room and didn't come out the rest of the night.
For the past year I've been making my own tributes to the trageties of 9/11. Including a seven verse poem that I wrote last year and read this year three times in two different churches. I've found myself thinking more about my friends and family and less about smaller things. I still talk about it with my friends and it earned me the nickname "Lil' Patriot" which I am actually very proud of. Only about one of my friends cares about the tragedy and that's my best friend (Jennifer in third period). My other friends get tired of me talking about it. But I will always talk about and remember Tuesday September 11th, 2001. The day all of America came together. The day we found glory at a horrific cost. The day we were finally able to stand united.