And I Stayed There All Day | Teen Ink

And I Stayed There All Day

April 27, 2011
By njloverqoj SILVER, Boca Raton, Florida
njloverqoj SILVER, Boca Raton, Florida
6 articles 0 photos 1 comment

Favorite Quote:
"Then in spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart."- Anne Frank


The smell of coffee was hitting my nose even though my door was closed and on the top floor. I rubbed my eyes and thought of the kiss Daddy made when he thought I was asleep, for some reason I wanted to hold on to that memory. It was sweet and tender, the kind that makes you want to smile. I took a look at my clock, 8:36 AM. Lucky for me, preschool doesn't start for an hour. I started to try to go to sleep but I stayed awake and decided to just get dressed for preschool. I picked out a pink shirt with a peace sign. Now what to wear for my bottoms? I kept looking at my stuff until I put on pink tights and a jean skirt. Good thing Mommy keeps most of my clothes on the bottom of the closet. Yes, I may be 4 years old but at least I know how to pick clothes. Still having trouble doing my hair though but Mommy helps me. I looked good and then went downstairs. "Mommy! I'm up!" I went into the kitchen and stayed silent. Something was wrong, really wrong. Mommy was at the couch and saw tears in her eyes. "Mommy, what's the matter?" I said. She just pointed toward the TV. I looked at saw the image of a building burning, it looked like a movie. But then I saw the words CNN and looked at the time. 8:46 AM. I looked at the kitchen clock, it was the same. My mom then said "Honey, have I told you what that building is?" I shook my head no. She then shuddered and said "That's the World Trade Center. Daddy works there, in the tower that's burning. On the top." I stood there shocked. What if he was hurt? "Do you know if he's OK?" I then asked. I stood there waiting for an answer. She then shook her head no. "I've decided that you don't have to go to preschool today, honey." She had never done that before, even when I had begged her to do so. The doorbell rang and all of Mommy and Daddy's friends rushed into the living room and started talking rapidly. They didn't even bother to say hi to me. There were continuous whispers with weird words like "hijacked" and "terrorist", I didn't know what they meant. I then sat on the couch and while eating breakfast watched the building burn. Mommy kept her hold on me very tightly and we just sat while everyone was talking to us. I had long then finished my cereal when I saw the most terrible thing in my life. One of the buildings started to collapse and everyone started covering their mouths and screamed. I only saw dust and clouds. The clock was screaming 9:58 AM. The South Tower had just fallen. I felt thankful it wasn't the one Daddy was in. Everyone kept freaking out and crying, they looked so scared and helpless that I had a tear falling from my eye. I looked at the tower he was in. It seemed perfectly fine. But all hope was lost. The clouds and dust started to appear and the building got smaller. I was shocked, the North Tower was falling, the TV said 10:28 AM. I then screamed. "Mommy! The other building!" Everyone looked at me and then the TV. They started to freak out again and Mommy started to cry. I started crying alot and ran under the table, my safe place. But it wasn't safe there now. And I stayed there all day. Daddy's now lost and gone forever.


The author's comments:
In memory of all who died on September 11, 2001. May all of the 2,977 victims rest in peace.

RIP John (one of my friend's father) who on that fateful day was killed on the top floor in the North Tower.

The story comes from my friend's point of view even though I don't know how she found out.

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This article has 1 comment.


.Izzy. BRONZE said...
on May. 12 2011 at 6:49 pm
.Izzy. BRONZE, Broadview Heights, Ohio
1 article 0 photos 388 comments
This story means a lot to me because my uncle had a ticket to get on one of the planes. I do think this story has good potential, but I think the sentences could have flowed a bit better. Also, I think a little more detail would have been nice to make the story a little longer. Maybe a little background or description of the character's fear.