Early Tuesday morning -
September 11.
Let the NYC job hunting begin.
Rain? No umbrella. Wet clothes for the interview.
Of course.
Off to Battery Park City apartments!
My lucky brother
and his attractive apartment.
Overlooking the Statue of Liberty
and
the World Trade Center.
Blinds open – sun shining bright.
What’s for breakfast?
Pick A Bagel! Only one block away
from
the World Trade Center.
About to leave.
ROAR!
BOOM!
What
was
that?
Breaking news on TV
No time
Need to get away!
Is that someone jumping
from
the World Trade Center?
Leave!
To the elevator!
Woman crying
Two others shocked.
Crowded.
Quick! To my brother’s office!
Woman on her cell.
“Joe! Joe! Call me!”
Was Joe
in
the World Trade Center?
A man jumping from the tower?
Black man calls out -
“Omigod! He jumped!
Peace my brother.”
I look down –
a pair of women’s shoes
left behind.
I listen to the President on the nearby TV.
Now the Pentagon!
The world was ending.
Wait!
Dad!
Business trip in Washington?
Is he ok?
Call Mom.
She has not heard from him.
Lobby fills with smoke.
“This is it.
This is the end of my life.”
Mouth full of grime tastes.
Black man
covered with gray ash
runs into our lobby.
Homeless.
Mom calls me back.
Dad is ok.
Is a man handing out flyers?
No.
Breathing masks.
Time to evacuate.
To Central Park!
Eyes stinging.
Lungs
tired of breathing
this toxic smoke.
No comments:
Post a Comment