Such a beautiful day, Kate thought. A perfect day. Blue sky, yellow sun, no clouds.
Kate listened to the CD she had put in her car.
And I will always love you.
I will always love you.
I will always love you.
I will always love you.
I will always love you.
I, I will always love you.
You, darling, I love you.
Ooh, I'll always, I'll always love you.
I can't get that Whitney Houston song out of my head, Kate thought. She switched to radio, as she drove west toward Lexington. It was the first day of a new job.
"We'll return in a moment to find out what's going on in New York." It was WBZ news. Kate switched stations.
A new job. I wonder what today will bring. A new beginning. The interview went well enough. Not exactly what I want, but something to cover expenses for the kids this year.
Kate was beginning a new job as a part-time secretary in a small law office, something to do while her two kids were in middle school. She pulled into the parking lot and found a spot. The lot was packed. A red brick building, small but modern in an ordinary strip mall. Plain but something to entertain myself with during lunch, Kate thought.
Kate took the elevator to the second floor, then exited the elevator, walked down the hall and opened the glass door.
The engraving on the door read: Richard M. Bernstein, JD. Real Estate Law.
Roman font. More attractive than sans-serif, not as pretentious as Calligraphy.
"Kate, glad to see you. Have some coffee, and help yourself to whatever you want in the kitchen. My wife made some muffins. I'll be with you in a minute to go over your duties. Want to check my email."
Kate was in the kitchen, eyeing the goodies. Nantucket juice, good. Gourmet coffee, real good. Homemade muffins. Sweet.
There was a screech of wheels, then a loud thud. Rich's chair hit the wall.
"Oh God! Uh, Kate. Come here a minute."
Rich's tone had turned. There was dread in his voice.
"What."
"Look at this."
Fear in his eyes, dread in his voice. A lump in Kate's throat.
"What."
"The World Trade Center has been bombed."
"What? That's impossible."
"Take a look."
On Rich's computer screen was a news report that an airplane had crashed into the North Tower. He turned on the TV in his office. Rich and Kate saw smoke and flames coming from the North Tower.
Kate and Rich looked at each other with deep meaning in their eyes, as much meaning as two near strangers can have without falling in love.
"Oh God."
"I have to call the school."
Kate tried calling, repeatedly.
"Rich, the lines are jammed, and I can't get through. I'll have to try later. I'm going to dust."
"Dust. Yeah, dust. We'll get back to work another day."
Kate felt as if she'd been sucker punched. Nothing meant anything anymore. The streets that usually were packed with SUVs, minivans, Japanese imported sedans, a few sports cars, and motorcycles, now were suddenly quiet. Nobody was out on the street. It was as if it were 5 a.m. on a Sunday morning and the world was still asleep. Nobody is moving, Kate thought. People are staying where they are.
Kate tried phoning the school again. There was a recorded message on the school's main office voicemail.
All students were at an assembly this morning to discuss the bombing of the World Trade Center. After the assembly, all students were dismissed and parents were notified.
Drat. I didn't give the school this number, Kate thought.
"Rich, I have to go home. The kids were dismissed from school."
"Take as much time as you need, Kate. Take the week."
Kate drove like a lunatic along the highway toward Newton, her heart pounding, her nerves racing.
I hope I get home before the kids do.
Kate could hear that the TV was on before she even unlocked the door. She rushed in, and hugged her two kids.
"Oh, I am so sorry you are already here. I wanted to be home before you."
The kids said nothing. Their eyes were glued to the TV. They sat glassy-eyed, watching the news clips of the planes hitting the North Tower, then the South Tower.
Kate sat with Will and Tina. Minutes became hours.
The phone rang. Tina answered it.
"Mom. It's for you. Janelle's dad was on one of the planes."
The phone would not stop ringing. Call waiting kept flashing but Kate could not get to all of the phone calls.
Her friend, Marie, was in France visiting her mother, and had left a message on her voicemail.
Kate, my flight was postponed, indefinitely. I cannot return Thursday. Can you teach CCD for me on Friday? I'll call you when I come back. Don't know when that is.
"Kids, hold on a minute. I have to leave a voicemail for Marie. All flights have been cancelled. She won't be back for a few days. I will be teaching CCD in her place on Friday."
Kate left a message for Marie, then called the CCD office.
"Sister Mary Beatrice?"
"Yes. Is this Mrs. Sullivan?"
"Yes, Sister. Marie called from France to say her flight has been postponed indefinitely, and she asked me to cover for her Friday evening class."
"Certainly, Mrs. Sullivan, but don't tell the kids about the bombings."
"Don't you think they'll know by then?
"Yes, but don't talk about it. We don't want to unduly stress them. We promised their parents we wouldn't talk about it."
"Certainly, Sister."
Tina was pulling on Kate's slacks.
"Mom, Dad's on the phone."
"Jim, what is it?"
"Ellen's been crying all day."
"Your sister's been crying all day?"
"Yes, Roger was supposed to go to San Francisco today."
"Oh, God. At least he is safe."
"Yeah. He didn't go. His meeting was cancelled, but two others from his department were on Flight 93."
"Oh, God. Hold on, Jim. I've got another call."
"Kate."
"Jim, gotta go. The call's from my cousin in New York."
"I love you, Kate."
"I love you, too, Jim. When are you coming home tonight? I don't like you being in NYC."
"The only way out is by car. I'll rent one and try to make it home before midnight. There's just mayhem here. Mayhem and panic. There's no sense in anything."
"OK. See you when you get in, Jim. Drive carefully, hon."
Kate flashed the call-waiting button.
"Hello? Maurice?"
"Kate, it's the restaurant. It's gone."
"Gone?
"Gone. All of it."
"And?
"Everybody. Gone."
"What about Stein?"
"He was walking Bridget and Sol to school when the attack occurred. By the time he was in the area, the first plane had already hit. But his 200 employees, gone."
"Oh, God."
"Mom."
"Gotta run, Maurice. My kids need me. I'll call you later."
"Mom." Tina tugged on Kate's slacks again.
"Yes, sweetie."
"Hold me, Mom. Just hold me." Kate reached over, and lifted up Tina, then sat with her in her lap, brushing her hair, nestling next to her.
Kate sang softly to Tina.
"Bittersweet memories
that is all I'm taking with me.
So, goodbye. Please, don't cry."
"I love that Whitney Houston song, Mom. "
"I love it, too, hon."
The TV was on with no sound, but Kate and Tina sat together, leaning into each other, saying nothing.
Minutes ran to hours, hours to days.
After a few days at home, Kate went to back to work, Jim went to work, and the kids went to school.
Kate and her family drove downtown to a makeshift memorial built in City Hall Plaza, where the American Airlines office was located.
Kate, Jim, Will and Tina sat on a bench overlooking the harbor. No planes were in the air. Everything was quiet. Eerie. Few people were downtown. No birds sang.
"Jim, I saw in today's Boston Globe a list of all those who were on the planes. Remember Prof. Rees? My film prof who lived in Vermont? And Sheryl Canns? I had worked with her in Natick a few years ago.
"Oh, God. Both of them?"
"Not only those two, but Richard went to two memorial services this week - quite a few of the people on the planes were from the Natick and Framingham area."
That night, Kate, and her family went to the candlelight vigil a few blocks from their home. About 20 people gathered in front of a Handy Spa.
A tall woman brought candles for everyone. A young guy poured wine into plastic cups, and apple cider for Will and Tina. A few people knew each other, but mostly, the vigil was made up of people from different neighborhoods, people who were out looking for solace and comfort on that dark night.
Everything seemed unreal. The wine helped. Definitely. Everybody sang, "God Bless America."
***
Months later, Kate drove to New York on business. Standing in the walled off area of Ground Zero, it was as Kate could hear screams from where the towers had stood. She knew it was her imagination, but it seemed to Kate as if she could hear the screams.
Driving back to Boston from New York, Kate listened to the radio.
"If I should stay,
I would only be in your way.
So I'll go, but I know
I'll think of you ev'ry step of the way."
Tina called on Kate's cell. "Hurry back, Mom. I miss you."
"I'll be home after dinner, hon. I'm bringing Buffalo Wings for you."
"Goody, Buffalo Wings! Is that Whitney Houston song on again?"
"Yes, it is."
"Mom. You know when you were teaching CCD right after 9/11? About the fishes and the loaves?"
"The fish and the loaves, hon."
"Yeah. Fish and the loaves. Will and I knew exactly what you were talking about."
"Oh?"
"You were talking about 9/11. About how everybody helps. The Red Cross, the Fire Department. Everybody. It was the same as the Fish and the Loaves of Bread. Did you talk about the Fish and the Loaves on purpose?"
"No. That just happened to be the lesson for that week, hon."
"OK. Just wanted to know."
"I hope life treats you kind
And I hope you have all you've dreamed of.
And I wish to you, joy and happiness.
But above all this, I wish you love."
"Tina, tell Will and Daddy that I'll be home soon, hon. I'm in Rhode Island. Less than 60 miles to go. I think we'll make it. I love you. "
"Okay. I love you, too, Whitney mom."
***
Copyright © 2008 Kathryn Esplin-Oleski. All rights Reserved.
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Comments: 49
Laree, thanks...I feel it is boring, but the subject is so........very...wrenching...
Thanks so much....
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