9/11 Lest We Forget

September 11, 2001. 2,974 innocent civilians massacred.

Below is a short story I wrote about the morning of the news that the World Trade Centers had been hit by aeroplanes - The World was a different place after that morning.

We Dashed Inside
Andrew Moore, age 15, secondary home school, Strowan Learning Centre

"Shall we get up early and go rabbit hunting Josh?"
"Hmm..."
"C'mon, please"
"Oh, all right" Joshua set the alarm clock to 5 a.m in the morning, September the eleventh. Little did we know, that when we woke, the world would be a different place; people would shudder, when an aeroplane flew over head, would be afraid to travel by air.

To set the scene, I will wind the clock back one day. The next day was Lydia's birthday. As usual we would celebrate September 11 or so we thought. Lydia couldn't wait. The rest of us frantically scurried around, cleaning, tidying, and in general, making the place somewhat more acceptable for the anticipated party, on the morrow. Simon and I would not be present, however, as we were going to stay at our friends house, out in the country, and his sisters were coming in, to Lydia's birthday party. I saw Mum manufacturing a massive chocolate cake, which she was drowning in purple icing, and smothering with all kinds of mouth-watering lollies, etc.
"Phew". At last the place was presentable. I dashed upstairs and packed. Next morning, after the customary rite of bestowing gifts upon our sister, we dined on Hubbard's muesli, and all the extra's you get on someone's birthday. I staggered down the hall, as I heard our friends coming: I'd eaten well. The girls got out and speedily disappeared into Lydia's room. Simon and I heaved our bags into the boot. We were off.

At last we arrived at the farm. We mucked around all day till teatime and to cut a long story short, we went to bed. Josh's room was in a sleep out, so we went out there. We read for a while, then turned off the lights and pretty much chatted the night away. Some one was talking. It didn't sound like anyone I knew.
"Ahhh".
It was the radio, Josh had programmed the alarm clock to turn the radio on at five a.m. I was sleepy and my zest to go rabbit shooting was lacking it's former zeal. I tried to get back to sleep but Joshua was muttering, groaning, and I, only half-pie listening. I heard someone going on about a catastrophe of some sort but thought "there's always some new disaster". All I was interested in, was bed. I dozed off a bit. (Yawn). Josh was still paying attention to what the reporter was saying.
"What is it Josh?"
"Shhh!"
I got myself up onto one elbow and then began to realise the awful dimensions of this atrocious disaster. "Whaa-?", "Man!", and "Far out" was all that was said for the next five minutes, then I found myself pulling on my jeans and following Joshua into the house across the gravel driveway. I tried to hop from one clump of weeds to the next, because in my bare feet, the sharp stones stung me, and brought me to full consciousness. We dashed inside...

Well, it's the seventh anniversary of that terrible event. And it's also my sister Lydia's birthday once again. Happy Birthday Lydie!