The Last Knight

Chapter 5

September 11, 2001

13 years old

Marcy

It started out like every other Tuesday since the beginning of eighth grade. Matt, my brother, and Sam, his best friend, dropped me off at school while on their way to classes at a local community college. There was no way to know the horrors that awaited the United States.

As I make my way through the crowded halls, Jenny walks up beside me telling me about the latest scoop with her ex-boyfriend, Ben.

“He called me over and over last night. My mom finally told him to stop calling the house. I don’t know why he would think I would answer after seeing him with Anna at the dance on Saturday.” Jenny sighs looking down at her books. She’s trying to come off as indifferent but I know how much it hurt her to see him kissing someone else.

“Listen, he knows he messed up by losing you and now he’s trying to get you back. Keep ignoring him. He will get the message eventually.” I give her a little bump with my shoulder.

“You’re right. I’m not interested in his excuses. I need to focus on school anyway. Especially this class.” She gestures as we enter Advanced English. We take our seats next to each other while taking out our notebooks. The rest of the class files in along with Mrs. Hammond. “Did Matt and Sam drop you off this morning?” she asks.

“Yep.” Is all I respond.

“Did he notice you dressed up for him? I know you. This isn’t your usual style.” Jenny smiles as she looks me over.

My cheeks heat as I ignore Jenny by opening The Great Gatsby to the chapter we are covering today in class.

“Marcy, he’ll notice you eventually. He would be a fool not to.” I look up at her. “Trust me. Eventually your age won’t be such a problem.” She smiles as I nod my head. Before I can comment, Mrs. Hammond instructs us to open our books and leads us in a discussion that lasts through class.

As we are waiting for the bell to dismiss us from class, an alert comes over the intercom for all teachers to turn on the TVs in their classrooms. Everyone looks around wondering what’s going on. When the TV comes to life, we see a plane crashing into one of the World Trade Centers in Lower Manhattan. Both have been hit at this point and dozens of alerts fly across the screen for people to stay in their homes and not travel to Manhattan. Fire and smoke are the background for the people of the city as they flee from surrounding buildings. The screen suddenly changes to President George Bush as he delivers a haunting speech that will go down in history. His speech is brief and the lingering line that leaves me speechless is “This was an apparent terrorist attack on our country.”

Everything seems to happen in slow motion after that. The news switches back to live footage of the Twin Towers. I stare in shock as fear builds up in my system. In a matter of minutes, students are getting called for dismissal. Mrs. Hammond stands there watching the screen with her hand covering her mouth. The students are in an uproar, some crying, some shooting out of their seats to get closer to the television, and some in shock.

The intercom sounds again, “Mrs. Hammond, Marcy Hillary for dismissal.” I jump from my seat gathering my things as I go. I look at Jenny who has tears in her eyes.

“I’ll call you later,” I say before I rush from the room and down the hall to the main office. Matthew and Samuel are there waiting for me as I approach. Sam takes my books and Matt leans down giving me a hug.

“Mom called and wanted me to come get you. She can’t leave her students but she wants to know that we’re safe at home.” I nod my head not knowing what to say. Just before we walk out of the school, the T.V. over our head shows a plane crashing into the Pentagon. The three of us stand there in shocked silence as we watch the building burning. Shrieks and cries come from the people in the mass pandemonium.

“Come on, let”s go!” Matt takes my hand as we rush through the doors. The only thing I remember about the ride home is Sam holding my hand from the front seat and telling me that I was safe and that everything was going to be okay.