Title: NineOneOne
Author: EV
Email: EVLYN827@cs.com
Rating: PG-13
Category: J/H
Disclaimer: The characters are made up and are the property of the WB. The events depicted are real...unfortunatley.
Summary: The Rawley students watch as the events of Sept 11 unfold before their eyes.
Thanks:To the associated Press for posting the timeline of Sept 11.
Author's note: Let me apologize in advance to all the native New Yorkers for the improbability of the directions used. I have a road atlas, mapquest and the Internet to guide me...but that's it. Bear with me and use a little imagination. :) Thank you Mae for lending a much needed helping hand!!!
***********************************************************************Part I
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2001
7:59am -- American Flight 11 with 92 people leaves Boston's Logan Airport for Los Angeles.
Jacqueline Pratt opened her eyes and reached her hand out from under the warmth and comfort of her blankets to turn off the buzzing alarm clock. She yawned as she stretched and rubbed her eyes preparing for the routine of another day at Rawley Academy.
8:01a.m. -- United Flight 93 with 45 people leaves Newark Airport for San Francisco.
"Scout!" Will called out again.
"Mmmmm" came the sleepy reply.
"If you're not going to get up...could you at least turn off the alarm?" Will shook his head and listened as the blaring sounds of Metallica spewed forth from the small radio alarm clock. Scout had hit the snooze alarm no less than four times already.
"I'm up...I'm up." Scout mumbled from beneath the pillow.
Will had woken on his own as the sun streamed in through the window of the dorm room he shared with Scout Calhoun. This being their second year, their sophomore year, and Will had finally begun to feel "at home". Today, however, something felt different. He hadn't rested well the night before. With sleep eluding him, he rose early and decided to write, further preparing himself for Finn's class.
8:10am -- American Flight 77 with 64 people leaves Washington's Dulles Airport for Los Angeles.
"Hamilton!" his mother called out from the bottom of the stairs. "Hamilton, honey are you awake?"
"Yeah." Hamilton replied as he robotically headed for the upstairs shower.
"Munchie, I'm leaving now. I have an early class. You have a nice day, okay?" She said speaking in the direction of the closed bathroom door.
"Yup" Only half hearing, but assuming his mother was saying the same thing she's said every morning. Have a good day, don't forget to have breakfast, remember your homework...some things never change he thought to himself. His mother was so predictable but in someway, he liked that.
"Don't forget to eat something." She roared again.
"Yup." Hamilton smiled and turned on the water in the shower.
8:14am -- United Flight 175 with 65 people leaves Boston for Los Angeles
Jake stood under the steady stream of hot water as it ran over her head and face. She relaxed for a moment, basking in the knowledge of no longer having to rush. No longer having to wake at 5am to secretly shower so as not to get caught.
The merging of the prestigious Rawley Academy for Boys with its sister school Rawley Girls the previous summer had been an unexpected success. The female enrollment had doubled and Dean Fleming had happily taken the credit for an idea his son had presented at least a year earlier. Jacqueline Pratt had been the first girl to officially register in the coed academy. The school had come highly recommended to her by her cousin Jake. All classes on campus had been mixed and only the dorms remained divided with the girls occupying the top two floor and the boys being housed in the bottom.
***********************************************************************
"Sleep well, roomie?" Scout asked Will watching as he flipped another page.
Will looked up from beneath his bangs choosing not to answer what he believed should be the obvious. The dark circles that had formed under his eyes his proof.
"Man, you look awful." Scout said.
"Thanks." Will said smiling. " I needed that."
"I mean...um...you look.." Scout exhaled and tried to remove the all to familiar foot from his mouth.
"I just couldn't sleep last night. I don't know why." Will packed his books into his backpack and readied himself for the school day ahead. "Are you coming down for breakfast?"
"You ever seen me miss a meal?"
"See you down there." Will left the room, shutting the door behind him.
***********************************************************************
Jacqueline pulled the plain gray skirt over her shapely legs and tucked in the bottom of the stiff collared white shirt. Uniforms, she thought to herself. The summer sessions were far less formal than the official school semesters. She was happy to have left her baggy jeans and sweat shirts back home in New York. She liked the feeling of unity a dress code brought to the school, the sense of togetherness, of belonging. She slipped the thin navy tie around her neck and struggled as she always did to get the knot right. She knew she'd have to enlist Scout's help at breakfast. Jacqueline turned sideways and checked her reflection in the mirror. She ran her hands down over her chest and was pleased with her long, lean look She hadn't quite adjusted to her renewed femininity...It had only been two weeks. She grabbed for the navy blazer that sat on the back of her chair and headed out the door and toward the dining hall.
Breakfast tray in hand she scanned the crowded room until she finally saw Will Krudski sitting alone at a table. She joined him.
"Morning" she said as she set her tray down.
"Hey Jake...uh Jacqueline" He corrected himself. She smiled. Will closed the paperback he was reading and turned his attention to both his breakfast and his dining partner.
"Where's Scout?" She asked pulling at the knot in her tie.
"He's coming...eventually." Will checked his watch, 8:45am, "of course if he doesn't hurry up he'll be late for Finn's class."
"Scout would be more likely to miss Finn's class than to miss breakfast." Jacqueline put the carton of orange juice to her lips and drank. They both chuckled.
"So, how's it feel to be a Rawley girl...Jacqueline?"
"So far, so good."
"Still no roommate?" Will took a few spoonfuls of cereal and then pushed the bowl away. Maybe he was coming down with something he thought.
Jacqueline shook her head. "No, and strangely enough I'd like one. It's kind of lonely up there on the third floor."
"I've got one you can have." Will said as he smiled.
"I'll think about it." She said as she picked at her corn muffin.
"What about Hamilton?"
Jake's eyes widened. "What?"
"No, no...I didn't mean as a roommate, I meant have you seen him this morning?"
8:48am -- American Flight 11 crashes into the North tower of World Trade Center.
"Damn it." Jake said "I forgot my notes for second period. I've gotta run back upstairs. I'll see you in class Will."
"See you when I see you."
Jacqueline stood and attempted to pick up her tray. "I've got it." Will said taking it from her.
"Thanks. Tell Ham I'll see him later, okay?
"Sure."
"Kiss him good morning for me?" She smiled, turning away and she ran toward the stairwell that lead to her room.
"Not gonna happen" He yelled back after her.
Munching on an apple he'd brought from his own house Hamilton walked toward the table just in time to see Jake scurry away.
Something I said...or something I was about to say?" He smiled taking the seat that Jake had left vacant.
"She forgot something...her notes. She said she'll see you in class."
"No morning kiss?"
"Guess not."
"Ah... So what's up Krudski?"
"Nothing."
"You look tired?"
"So I've been told. Come on.." Will said standing and lifting both trays "We'd better get going. Looks like Scout's gonna be late again."
9:06am -- United Flight 175 crashes into the South tower of World Trade Center.
Scout descended the stair well like he'd been shot through a cannon. He ran the last few steps toward the dining hall and met Hamilton and Will coming out.
"You're late." Will said.
"Did you hear it?" Scout said, out of breath.
"Hear what?"
"New York."
"New York?" Hamilton questioned.
"Huge plane crash" Scout panted.
"Calhoun...breathe." Hamilton said placing a hand on the boy's shoulder. "A plane crashed where in New York?"
Scout inhaled and then exhaled, caught his breath and continued. "The World Trade Center."
"You're kidding?" Will's eyes opened in disbelief. "Man..."
Three more students passed them in the hallway headed for the Common room. "And then a second plane right after it. That's what the radio said."
The three looked at each other, class temporarily forgotten, and also headed to the Common room.
9:17am -- Federal Aviation Administration shuts down all New York City-area airports.
A large handful of Rawley students had already taken seats, huddled on the floor of the Common Room in front of the large screen television.
"Oh my God." Scout whispered, his eyes glued to the set. Flanked on both sides, Will on his right and Hamilton on his left, the three sat mesmerized by the sights unfolding in front of them. The majestic twin towers of New York's World Trade Center flashed onto the screen repeatedly showing the second plane as it sliced through the corner of the building like a warm knife through butter.
9:21am -- All bridges and tunnels into Manhattan closed.
"Jesus..." Will said lowering his head, not wanting to see it again, but lifting it seconds later to watch the slow motion repeat.
Jake descended the stairs and waltzed through the eerily quiet dining hall. "Wow, everybody but me must have a first period this morning." She could here the voices from the other room and not knowing exactly why...she followed them.
***********************************************************************
"Jesus..." Will repeated again, not having anything more profound to say. "How does something like this happen.
"This is no accident." Alan, a Junior, said. "One plane, maybe...but two?"
The room fell silent, each pondering the circumstances and processing it the best way they could. They watched again as the billowing clouds of smoke ascended, needlessly darkening the New York City sky.
"Hey." Jake said. "What's going on?" Hamilton extended an arm and invited her towards him. Jake sat on the arm of couch and Ham put an arm around her waist. She bowed her head down and openly kissed the top of his head. Something she'd never believed she be able to do a year ago. "Morning..."
"Two planes from Boston crashed into the World Trade Center's Twin Towers." Scout burst out.
All eyes on him. Will elbowed him in the ribs. "Very tactful,"
"That's New York!" Jake said loudly, jumping to her feet. "When?"
"Just now...like a half hour ago." Hamilton stood up as well. He moved behind her and put both hands around her waist attempting to comfort her without blocking either's view of the set. "Jake..." He said in a low tone, "It's gonna be okay."
"How is that gonna be okay?" Jake ran from the room.
9:31am -- In Sarasota, Fla., President Bush calls the crashes an "apparent terrorist attack on our country."
"Terrorism...are they kidding? Terrorists, here in the United States. That only happens in other countries. That doesn't happen here." Michael, a recent transfer from a Midwestern prep school said. "No way..."
Finn stood behind the couch watching both the television and the eyes of his students, the young men and women he taught each day, he watched them as the impact and the seriousness of the situation began to become a reality. He stood, his own hand cupping his chin, eyes forward, his index finger gently stroking his upper lip. He didn't know what to say to them...so he said nothing.
9:43am-- American Flight 77 crashes into Pentagon.
"Shit! The Pentagon too." Hamilton questioned loudly. "Another plane hit the Pentagon." He repeated for emphasis. "I can't believe this."
"Washington..." Scout said quietly. "I hope my Dad's okay." He turned in his seat shifting a hip toward Will and extracting his cell phone from his pocket. He dialed quickly and waited to for his father, the Senator, to pick up on the other end.
"Thank God Jake's mother is in Los Angeles." Hamilton said or Jake would really be freaking out.
"She is freaking out StudMuffin." Will said sarcastically. "She lives in Manhattan...she probably knows people who work in those towers. She probably knows people who are dead now."
The word DEAD impacted everyone within earshot. The room suddenly fell silent again and all eyes turned back toward the TV, except Hamilton's...who was on his way to the third floor.
***********************************************************************
9:48am. -- U.S. Capitol and White House's West Wing evacuated.
"I feel like I'm watching a movie but, this is really happening...isn't it?"
9:49am -- FAA bars all aircraft takeoffs across United States.
Jake had taken the stairs two at a time hoping the seconds she saved would somehow make a difference. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest, unsure if it was the sudden burst of exercise or pure adrenaline. She slammed the door to her room open and went to the top of her desk in search of her cell phone, the only direct connection she felt she had to her mother. She looked across the top of her dresser hoping she would see her phone lying there. She approached the dresser and picked up a small picture frame, in her mind hoping this tiny memento would have suddenly become large enough to conceal her cell phone. She opened the top drawer...her underwear drawer, where she never kept her phone, and rummaged through the contents hoping that the phone would miraculously appear.
"Jake..." Hamilton knocked once on the open door and walked through. "are you okay?" He knew it was a stupid question as soon as he heard the words exit his lips, and had Will been there, he would have told him so. "Jake?" he repeated.
"I have to call my mother." Jake said in a calm monotone voice. Years of watching her mother both on stage and off had taught her at least to "act" calm when she was truly panicking. "I can't find my phone." She said to Hamilton looking up from under her wispy bangs. Her voice suddenly faint. "Help me."
Hamilton sweepingly glanced around the room and spied the cell lying on her bed. "There" he pointed.
9:55am -- South tower of World Trade Center collapses.
Jake dove onto the phone scooping it up into her hand like a treasure. She sat on the edge of her bed. Hamilton could see her hands tremble as she flipped open the phone and extended the antenna with her teeth. Jake stared at the familiar numbered keypad on her phone. Her hands shook again and her sudden clumsiness caused the phone to drop from her hand. "Damn it!" she exploded as she bent to pick it up.
Hamilton dropped in next to her on her bed. He placed his arm around her and whispered. "I'm here." He withdrew the cell phone from her hand. "It's okay Jake...your Mom's still in LA, right?"
"No, she isn't." Jake's voice cracked. " She supposed to be. She should be. But..." Jake's voice shook with emotion. "She wasn't going to be able to come to Rawley for Parent's Weekend and I told her I was disappointed...that I wanted her to come, to be here for me!" A tear fell from her eye and slowly slid down her cheek "She E-mailed me on Sunday and told me that her understudy was taking on her role and that she was wrapping up the tour early since Parent's Weekend was more important.. She was leaving LA on Monday and she was going home to New York for a few days before she came here."
"What's the number?" Hamilton said fingers poised and ready to dial.
***********************************************************************10:10am -- United Flight 93 crashes in Pennsylvania field.
They watched in stunned silence as the building imploded. A massive array of steel and dust billowing from the cloud in it's decent. Things fell through the sky, a conglomerate of debris, wood, steel and...people.
"I can't believe this is happening." Scout said into the phone.
"Did you get through to your Dad?" Will asked.
"No, just his voicemail. I didn't leave a message...I don't know what to say."
"Try your Mom in Connecticut." He suggested.
Scout redialed the phone and waited listening to it ring on the other end. "Come on..." He said impatiently. "Come on..."
"Try again, maybe you dialed wrong." Alan suggested.
Scout looked through him, but hoping...he dialed again. "Mom? Hi, it's Scout. Yeah, we're watching here too. Umm...have you heard from Dad? Is he home or is...." Several seconds passed before he answered. "No, I haven't heard from him yet. I'll let you know. Okay...yeah. Me too. Bye" Scout pushed the "end" button and flipped the phone closed.
"Well?" All eyes were on him.
"My Dad was flying in to New Rawley...he was coming here to talk to me about something...Ummm, most of the planes are being brought down and all the airports are closed...so...I don't know where he is and neither does she."
Will put a friendly arm around Scout. "Let's try not to worry until we have something to worry about...okay?"
***********************************************************************
10:29am -- North tower of World Trade Center collapses
Jake and Hamilton rejoined the crowd in the Common Room, Jake's eyes slightly reddened.
"Holy shit...what did we miss?" Hamilton asked as he looked at the screen and viewed the debris as it rained down upon the streets of New York. His right arm, still protectively wrapped around Jake's shoulder. tightened slightly.
"Both towers collapsed. And there was another plane crash somewhere in Pennsylvania, they're not sure if that's connected yet or not." Will answered.
Finn turned and met the young mans eyes. "Maybe that's just a sad coincidence." He said, finally speaking.
"I've got to go." Jake said quietly to herself.
"Where? Forget about class. Classes are canceled for today." Hamilton reassured her.
"I've got to go to New York."
"What?"
"I need to go...I have to make sure my mother is okay. I'm leaving. I'm going to New York."
"Jake, be serious. You can't just leave." Hamilton said.
"I can Hamilton and I am."
They both looked back at the TV set watching the turmoil as it continued to unfold.
"Look, Jake, it's like a four or five hour drive to get there. You're upset. Let's just wait until we hear from your Mom. We'll here from her...I know we will."
"I'm upset because I don't know if she's okay. I'll be better once I get there, once I know that everything is all right."
"I feel like I want to do something too. I just don't know what?" Will said.
The gang settled in front of the set again. "Damn!" Hamilton said, his eyes widening at the constant replay of Tower two crumbling. The massive structure cascading in pieces to the ground.
11am -- New York mayor orders evacuation of lower Manhattan.
Scout pulled out his cell phone and dialed his father's numbers again. "Still voice mail at his office and no answer on his cell." He said to no one in particular.
Jake stopped her pacing and turned to look at him. "Scout, I'm sorry...I never even thought about your Dad."
"You've got a lot on your mind too. It's okay. I'm sure if he was on the ground right now...he'd have called. He must be.." Scout looked up, "..still in the air. They're grounding most flights, he might not be able to land here." Scout inhaled and slowly exhaled.
Jake walked toward him and threw her arms around his neck. She pulled him in for a comforting hug. "It'll be okay."
"So now what do we do?" Will asked. As each moment slipped past everyone waited for the announcement of the next Breaking Development. "I can't stand just sitting here waiting...waiting to find out what's gonna blow up next."
"What do think will be next?" Alan asked. They all turned to look at him glaringly. Each of them in some small way, was relieved that someone had the guts to say out loud what they had all been thinking too.
"Chicago?" David suggested.
"Boston?" Susan offered.
"What about some place touristy...like Disney World or the Grand Canyon?" Someone else spoke up.
"This is not a game show, it's not a video game." Finn said. "This is reality...this is a national tragedy. A terrorist attack of this magnitude could lead us right into World War III." Again the room fell silent. "This is not like Vietnam...people will NOT be protesting. Our country has been assaulted. People will want to fight back."
"What people?" David asked, knowing the answer.
"Young men and women like yourselves. brothers, sisters, cousins, people you know...and love.
"My cousin was in Operation Desert Storm." Alan added proudly. "I remember my mother hanging a yellow ribbon on the front door."
"I remember having bubble gum trading cards." Hamilton said. Jake shook her head.
"Oh yeah...you could trade an F-15 flyer for a Scud missile, I think I still have a Stormin' Norman somewhere." Scout said.
"Colin Powell was worth more than a Schwartzkoff any day" Hamilton debated.
Finn shook his head in dismay. "You're missing my point. This is your world now...and it's young people like you who'll have to fight for it...fight for the freedoms that you've all come to take for granted.
"But wars don't happen here Finn." David, one of the younger freshman said cautiously. "Right?"
***********************************************************************
Will, Scout, Hamilton, Jake and FInn shared a small table in the corner of the uncrowded dining hall. Jake dialed her cell phone again. She flipped it closed and set it on the table exhaling audibly.
"She'll call. All the lines are jammed, you can't get through to New York." Will said trying to sound reassuring.
"I'm going...this afternoon. I don't care what the news says...I need to be there."
"Jake...come on."
Jake stood up to clear her tray. "I'm going. I don't care if I have to walk...I'm going"
"You can't go alone." Scout said.
"I'll go with you." Hamilton offered.
"Yeah...you're parents would be really cool with that." Jake said sarcastically.
Hamilton stood up and took the tray from Jake's hand. "I love you...and I'm gonna be there for you. I'm going." He said matter-of-factly.
"I'll go too." Will said.
"I'll drive." Finn added. The all looked at him, dumbfounded at first. "Well, it's not like there'll be many students left in my third period class." Jake was the first one to smile.
"Scout, you need to stay here...for when your Dad arrives." Jake smiled at him reassuringly. Scout nodded.
"Well then, I'm gonna throw a few things together...and..." Jake started to walk away.
"Me too...I'm gonna go home and see my Mom first." Will said dumping his tray.
"Ditto." Hamilton said. He walked up behind Jake and kissed her on the cheek. "I meant what I said."
"I know." She hesitated. "Thank you."
***********************************************************************1:04m. -- From Barksdale Air Force base in Louisiana, Bush announces U.S. military on high alert worldwide.
"How can I not worry Will?" His mother ranted. "Have you seen the news?"
"Of course I've seen it Mom, that's all we've been doing this morning...sitting in front of the TV."
"Well, that's my money being well spent. You could watch TV at home for free." Brian Krudski said.
"I'm at Rawley on a scholarship...It's not your money that I'm..." Will stopped and then looked away realizing that there were so many more important things to do that argue with his Dad. "Finn's going too...it'll be fine. I'll call you, okay?"
"I'm sure all your high and mighty rich friends have cell phones...think they'll let the poor kid call home once and awhile."
Will walked toward the front door, bag in hand. His mother, Susan, right behind. "I just wanted to let you know where I was going and what I was doing. I don't want you to worry Mom, okay?"
"Don't worry? Yeah, sure honey." She chuckled.
"Mom...what if it was you?" He asked,
"What?
"What if it was you that was missing? They'd help me. I know they would. Because, contrary to what Dad thinks...they're good people and I want to be a good person too."
"God Will," She hugged her son. "You are a good person, you're the best person I know. Don't let him or anyone else tell you different."
"I love you Mom."
"I love you too, Will." Will started out the door and off the porch to the stairs. He stopped and turned looking back at his mother as she waved to him from the door. He hesitated for a second...opened his mouth...
"He knows..." She said.
***********************************************************************"No, Hamilton. I'm not even going to discuss it further. Munchie..." She stroked the hair off his forehead in a motherly fashion, "..I'm sorry. I feel awful about all this, Jacqueline must be frantic..but the answer is still no. You can't go to New York."
"Mom, you're being...a..." Hamilton stuttered.
"What? A mother. Your mother?"
Hamilton knew it was pointless. His father had been tied up at school for most of the morning. The tragedy had added countless phone calls to and from worried parents, to an already hectically planned schedule. In light of the days unforeseen events, meetings with board members and budget planning...just didn't seem to be all that important.
The Dean sat in front of the school intercom and prepared to make his unrehearsed speech. He cleared his throat and depressed the button, leaning down toward the microphone.
"May I have your attention please?" He hesitated and unintentionally took in a deep cleansing breath, "In times such as this we face the difficult decision as to whether or not to carry on as usual. For some, this simply will not be possible. And so, I urge members of Rawley Academy's faculty and student community to exercise flexibility in how they approach this most unusual day. The counseling department will remain open this evening for any student needing to access these services. Mrs. Burns is looking into transportation for any student that needs to return home...for any reason. In the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact your teachers, your student advisors or myself for any assistance. Thank you." He exhaled again...thought for a moment and then reopened the microphone. "and...God bless America." He pushed the microphone back against the edge of the desk and rubbed his face.
Hamilton returned to his room, he tossed a few more items into his half packed duffel, zipped it shut and tossed if from the second story window to the ground below. Exiting his bedroom he looked around at all the possessions he had acquired through the years, things that had been so important to him, things that had meant so much to him. Now, these material things seemed trivial. His family was important, his friends and Jake. Jake was important and she needed him now. She needed him and he needed to be there...for her and for himself.
***********************************************************************
2:51pm -- Navy dispatches missile destroyers to New York, Washington.
Will tossed his backpack into the back of Finn's 1974 Chevy pickup truck. "You think this thing will make it to New York?" He grinned as he patted his hand on the hood
.
"You want to walk?"
"By the looks of things...we might have to."
Hamilton hurried across the parking lot and threw in his bag from ten feet away. "He shoots...he scores."
"Your folks are okay with this?" Finn asked him.
"My Mom and I had a long talk about it." Not necessarily a lie, he thought.
"Let's get going." Jake said already anxious.
Finn got into the drivers seat and started the engine. Will seated himself in the passenger side and Jake and Hamilton made themselves comfortable facing each other, in the small back seats of the truck. As they headed for the driveway the passed Alan, David and a small group of students in the main quad lowering the American flag to half mast.
***********************************************************************3:07pm -- Bush arrives at U.S. Strategic Command at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska.
"Okay...a quick stop for gas and we're on our way." Finn said pulling into Bank's Gas and Tow.
Bella exited the station approached the truck suddenly aware of all the familiar faces.
"God, I've been thinking about you all day. I just got home from school, have you seen the news?"
"Hey Bella." Will answered first with a slight smile. "You'd have to live in a cave not to know about it."
"Jake, hey...is everything all right?" Bella peered inside the truck to the back.
"We're going to find out." Will opened the door and allowed Jake to step outside. Bella hugged her.
"Heard from your Mom?"
"Not yet."
"God Jake, you must be going crazy."
"A little. We're actually heading to New York now. We're just gonna take a drive in...find my Mom and know that she's okay." Jake sounded as though she were trying to convince herself as well as Bella.
"Look, you guys gas up...I'm going to the corner store for a minute. Be right back." Finn shut the driver side door and looked both ways before crossing the street.
"Where's Scout?" Bella asked noticing he wasn't part of the familiar group.
"He's at Rawley...he's...ummm...hoping to hear from his Dad." Jake said. The color drained slightly from Bella's face. Her mouth opened but she was soundless. Her eyes misted.
"I'll go over there as soon as Grace gets home from school"
"That's probably a good idea...thanks." Will said.
As Will finished topping off the tank, Finn returned. He carried two full cases of bottled water and a box of granola bars with him.
"Late night snack?" Hamilton chuckled.
"I mentioned to Mr. Genaski that I was driving to New York...he insisted that I take this and drop it off at one of the rescue stations." The group smiled. Finn extracted his wallet and looked at the meter on the gas pump.
"Forget it..." Bella said. "Just take care...and get there. Call me as soon as you hear anything."
"Let's roll" Finn said. Jake and Will hugged Bella and got back into the truck. Finn waved out of the window and finally...they were off.
**********************************************************************5:25pm -- Empty 47-story Seven World Trade Center collapses.
"Mom...what do you mean? No, you're right, I don't understand. Twenty years is a long time. Why didn't you tell me? I should come home? Well, maybe if I wasn't away at boarding schools all the time I would notice." Scout raised his voice to a loud whisper. Bella looked concerned as she sat next to him on the front steps of Rawley Academy. Scout stood up and then moved away seeking privacy for the remainder of the conversation with his mother. "I'm sure he would have liked to tell me in person...that's not the point. I want to know why. Hell yes, I'm angry. My whole world seems to be falling apart today. Aww Mom...don't cry. I'm sorry... Look, just calm down a little. Okay. Yes, I will. All right. I will. Bye." Scout ended the call and put his phone back into his pocket. "Man, how'd people ever live without these things?" He tried to joke. Bella looked up at him waiting for him to open up. He seated himself on the stone steps and studied his sneakers. Picking at the laces he spoke. "He was coming here...to see me. He wanted to tell me in person that they're splitting up." He was silent for a moment.
"Oh Scout, I'm sorry."
"Yeah, me too." Scout walked down the steps and out over the lawn now covered in crispy colored leaves. He walked faster as he approached the hill. Quickening his step he first broke out into a job which quickly turned into a full speed run. He ran. Running away...running to...running from..just running.
***********************************************************************
"I-84 to 15 through Connecticut. Trust me...it's the best way to go." Jake insisted.
"Maybe by motorcycle, but I've got get off this freeway soon." Finn said.
"Why?"
"I've gotta check the gas and fill the oil." He answered. "It's an old truck...relax, it won't take long."
"I could stand stopping for a minute anyway." Will said as he tossed his second empty soda can into the brown paper bag on the floor.
Jake looked over at Hamilton who had been unusually quiet for most of the trip. He responded by placing his hand on her knee and smiling. "Try your Mom again?"
Jake nodded and pulled the cell phone from the pocket of her sweatshirt. A moment later she folded it in half and replaced it. Shaking her head.
Finn pulled off at Exit 57. "There's gotta be a gas station around here." He said to know one in particular.
***********************************************************************
"Scout. Scout, talk to me. Come on." Bella knocked on the door again. "Scout, I'm not leaving until you open the door and I know your all right." She knocked again. The door swung open, seemingly on its own. "Scout?" Bella entered.
"I'm fine Bella, go home." Scout said from behind the door to his dorm room, not wanting to meet her eyes.
"Scout...talk to me. If not me, talk to someone."
"I'm okay."
Bella exhaled and turned on her heels in the doorway. "I'll be here...if you want me." She said. She took one step toward the threshold of the door when she heard him speak. "Twenty years." Bella stopped and listened. "Twenty years...I can't have a relationship that lasts more than twenty minutes and they've been married to each other for twenty years. I don't understand how they can just throw that all away."
"Scout...I'm sorry, really. Maybe when your father gets here he'll be able to help you understand things better. Maybe they haven't been happy together, you know?"
"Of course they're happy!" He shouted, not really meaning to.
"I'm sure they were happy. But things change sometimes." Bella entered the room and took a seat on the edge of Will's bed. "Maybe they didn't want you to worry."
"I'm worried now!"
"Scout...if it helps, you can be angry with me. But remember, it's not my fault...and it's not yours either. It's stuff between your parents...things that have nothing to do with you. And later on...even if they're not together, they'll still be your parents. They're still going to love you."
Scout looked at her suddenly remembering how much she had been hurt. How it had taken her time but she had dealt with her own mother not only abandoning her father...but her daughters as well. "Damn it Bella...What was I thinking. I'm sorry. I didn't mean..."
"It's okay. I was pretty young and I didn't have anybody to talk to, except my Dad. You're lucky...you have me." She smiled at him as he sat beside her on the bed.
"Thanks." They put there heads together and say quietly for a few more minutes.
***********************************************************************
7:00pm. -- Bush arrives at White House.
"This is SO not good." Jake said as she paced along side the darkened road.
"Let's not get excited kids." Finn said as he stared under the opened hood of his truck. He carefully unscrewed the cap of the oil receptacle and turned another bottle of oil upside down allowing it to drain into the void.
"Aren't you supposed to see if it needs oil with the stick thing?" Hamilton asked.
"You do that when your not sure if you need oil or not. I'm sure."
"So exactly what kind of mileage does this baby get?" Will smiled.
"Oh...on a good day, about 20 miles a quart."
"I wish Bella was here." Jake said. Hamilton walked toward her and put her arms around her.
Finn tossed the empty plastic container next to the others. He hoped the case of oil he'd purchased at the gas station would hold out until they reached New York. The stacked cases of water had grown from two to seven. The owner of the gas station in Hartford had offered them more supplies as soon as he'd heard about their journey. The waitresses at the diner in New Haven where they'd stopped for dinner had added a case of chips, two cases of juice and sealed packages of coffee and creamer.
"Hey...we get to stay up late tonight...and on a school night too." He chuckled as he put his arms around her and kissed he lightly on cheek. Jake smiled, appreciating his attempts at consoling her but she found it difficult to think about anything except her mother right now. "It's a beautiful night. Look at those stars" Jake rested her head against Hamilton's shoulder but said nothing. The sound of the engine turning over broke the mood.
"All right!" Jake said as she quickly headed back toward the truck.
The radio in the pickup provided a static ridden rehash of the days events. The tragedy and horror of the day was impossible to get away from. Even in silence...it plagued their thoughts.
"I still don't get it." Hamilton said. "Terrorism...I mean who'd want to bomb us? We're the good guys, right?"
"Yes, Hamilton, we are the good guys. But not everybody thinks so. There have been threats against this country before and there probably will be again. The World Trade Center...in um...'93 I think. The people who claimed responsibility for that tragedy said they were retaliating against the US support for the Israeli government."
"But the people in that building had nothing to do with any of that." Will stated.
"Terrorists don't think...they act. They have an agenda...a plan to carry out."
"But that's not fair."
"No, it isn't Remember Oklahoma City?
"Oh man...the building with the daycare center. I remember that." Jake said.
"Sure...the Wacko's from Waco." Hamilton chided.
"Exactly. The US was dying to pin that disaster onto some other country. What a surprise to find out it was done by one of our own"
"So what are you saying Finn, that we should look over our shoulder all the time? That anyone has the potential to be a terrorist?"
"No. what I'm saying is we should pull our loved ones as close as we can. It is the only way to survive when the world gets too real." Hamilton reached out for Jake's hand. He was unable to meet her eyes...he just gently squeezed. The silence was deafening until Finn turned the radio back on and popped a cassette into the tape player.
*********************************************************************** 8:30pm-- Bush addresses the nation and vows to "find those responsible and bring them to justice."
"Jesus, what a nightmare." Scout said as he listened to the finish of the President's address.
"Do you think we'll really go to war?" Bella asked as she sat beside Scout on the couch in the Common Room.
Watching the scenes of devastation unfold in startling Technicolor, the magnitude of the destruction awesome in its scale, Scout cast his mind about for something stable to hold onto. He reached out and found Bella's hand. The ringing from his back pocket startled them both.
"How'd we ever manage to live without those things?" Bella smiled.
"Hello? Hey...where are you?"
"Your Dad?" Bella whispered sounding hopeful. Scout shook his head and mouthed the word, Jake.
"No, I haven't heard from him yet. Nope, nothing new here." He lied. " Oh no, your kidding." He giggled. " I bet you do. Yeah well, call here the minute you find her. Okay. Yup I will too. Bye. That was Jake. They had a little truck trouble. They said they'd wished you were with them." Bella smiled.
"Yeah...well I'm glad I'm here." They rested back against the couch and were once again transported to the devastation of reality.
***********************************************************************
"...and baby there ain't no mountain high enough...ain't no valley low enough...ain't no river wide enough...to keep me from gettin' to you girl."
"Finn!" Will yelled to be heard above the puttering sound of the truck and the music. "Tell me you have something in that collection that was recorded after I was born." Finn reached over and turned the volume up. Will shook his head.
Finn ejected the cassette tape and launched the riders head first into AM Talk Radio. President Bush's speech was being repeated and even thought they had heard it once...they each tuned in to listen again. Finn flipped the station to FM and heard the first few recognizable strains of Turn The Page.
"Yeah, now that's more like it. Metallica rules." Will said. Finn shook his head and smiled not having the heart to tell him all about Bob Seger.
Jake rested her head against the cool glass of the window. On her motorcycle, alone, this trip would have taken her maybe four hours. In Finn's Chevy dinosaur they had passed five hours and were still counting. This journey however, was one that she was happy not to be venturing on alone. Jake refused to give in to the possibility of bad news. It was not unlike her mother to be unavailable, not to respond to voice or e-mail promptly. Still, her stomach turned in knots of concern. What would happen? What if her mother... No! She couldn't think about that now. "Where are we?" Jake asked, pulling herself forward to see out of the windshield.
"Take a look at that." Finn said pointing to the large green sign that overhung the turnpike. Having successfully made it through the Bronx, Jake knew she was that much closer to home.
Hamilton checked his watch. "Damn." He exhaled. "Jake, can I borrow your phone? I should probably check in at home." He said somewhat nervously. Jake handed him her cell phone and watched him with interest as he dialed. "Hi Mom..." He stuttered. There was a long pause as Hamilton listened. "Yeah, I know. I'm fine. Don't be mad...okay?" Another long pause. Hamilton lowered his voice to a whisper. "Is Dad really pissed?" Hamilton lowered his eyes to concentrate on his mothers voice. "Look, Mom...this is really important. I know. It's really important to Jacqueline...so it's really important to me." A pause. "Yeah, I know I've only known her a couple of weeks...but...well...," He ginned and looked up at Jake. "I feel like I've known her a lot longer. Mom, I'm okay, we're all okay. Finn's taking really good care of us." Hamilton laughed and covered the mouth piece to the phone. "She says that doesn't make her feel any better." He whispered in Jake's direction. "Mom, I'll call you again really soon. Okay. Me too. Okay, don't worry. Bye." Hamilton flipped the phone closed and handed it back to Jake. Jake met his eyes with her own. It was obvious from the sound of the call that Hamilton had defied his parents just to come along on this impromptu road trip...just to help her. Just to help her find her mother.
She smiled at him...a knowing smile. "Thank you " she mouthed to him silently.
"I love you." He mouthed back reaching out for her hand.
***********************************************************************
"This is not good." Finn said as he saw what looked like miles of red taillights in front of him.
"What?" Jake moved foward to see through the front windshield. The traffic seemed to backed up for miles. "It's the bridge traffic." She said confidently.
"Bridge traffic at 9:30 on a Tuesday night?" Finn questioned.
"Try taking the next exit. Head toward the Stadium. We don't want to cross over the George Washington bridge anyway. Maybe we can get on I-87 and then follow the East River.
Finn did as he was told only to find the traffic increasingly heavier. "Whoa! Yankee Stadium." Will said as he saw the sign in front of him. "That's so cool."
Jake chuckled. "If we have to we'll go through Queens and cross the Queensboro bridge into Manhattan that way."
"Gotcha." Finn said and he continued to drive aimlessly. Before Finn was able to exit I-87 the traffic slowed again. The blue and red flashing lights ahead were cause for concern. Finally the smaller line of traffic came to a halt. They sat for fifteen minutes without moving until finally they began to inch forward a little. Finn noticed the slow trail of steam as it ascended from under the hood of the pickup. "Damn." He said quietly.
As the truck puttered forward a group of officers stood blocking the exit. One waved a flashlight in a circular direction corralling drivers back onto the interstate. Finn rolled the window down. "Sorry, the exits are closed. You'll need to turn around."
Jake pushed Finn's seat forward, crushing him into the steering wheel, and leaned out the window. "How can we get into lower Manhattan?"
"You can't. We're only allowing residents through..." He said having glanced at Finn's out-of-state license plate and assuming this was another group of thrill seekers. "You can't get much closer than ten or fifteen miles in a vehicle."
Jake wrestled with the contents of her purse, extracting her wallet and pulling from it her New York drivers license. She held it out of the window. "My mother's in there...somewhere." She said.
The officer viewed the license. Looked down at Jake's face and then glanced briefly at the rest of the passengers. "Okay, young lady. Exit here..." He said pointing. The bridges and tunnels are closed. You'll need to get on the Henry Hudson Parkway and follow that for a while. You won't get much closer than Broadway or Central Park. You'll have to travel the rest of the way on foot." He handed Jake back her license, tipped his hat and said, "Good luck young lady." Jake's smiled weakened. She felt as though he was preparing her for the inevitable. She felt her stomach turn again.
"I've gotta stop soon Jake." Finn said. "I need to gas up and water down the truck."
"I know, I know...it's just the closer we get, the closer we'll be." In some bizarre way that made sense to all of them. Jake tried dialing her mother's cell phone again. She shook her head, frustrated and tossed the phone into her purse.
Finn turned up the radio and listened again to the news updates. Hamilton had nodded off, his neck in an uncomfortable looking position against the glass. Will yawned and rubbed his eyes. "Jake, I know it's hard to wait. I know your anxious, we all are. But I've gotta stop. I've gotta deal with the truck and you guys all need a little rest. It sounds like we have quite a hike in front of us tomorrow and we want to be..."
"I know, I know...you're right." Jake interrupted him. "Let's find someplace soon and tuck these boys in."
Finn smiled at first, temporarily forgetting that this was not the eleventh grade sight-seeing field trip to New York, this was a search that could change lives forever. His smile faded and he looked ahead through the windshield for a place to pull in for the night.
**********************************************************************
Finn rattled the key against the glass of the truck window and startled both the sleeping Will and the snoring Hamilton. Hamilton yawned and looked around. "Are we there yet?"
Finn shook his head. "We need to stop for the night. Hopefully we'll get into Manhattan tomorrow. You and Will are in number 17." Finn tossed the key through the now opened window.
"Where's Jake?" Hamilton asked.
"She's bringing in her things. She'll be two doors down, in number 21." Both Will and Hamilton looked at each other and then up at Finn. "I'll be in 19."
There was silence for a moment then Will opened the door and headed toward the back of the truck. "I can't believe all the stuff we've collected. Everywhere we stopped..."
"And there were A LOT of stops..." Hamilton snickered and looked at Finn.
"Funny. We could've taken YOUR truck Hamilton...oh that's right...you don't have one!"
"Ahem...what I was saying was that people have been so generous. They don't even know us...but they loaded this truck with all kinds of supplies and food and assumed that we would get it to the right people."
"People change in crisis, Will. People want to help in any way they can. Last month if we'd stopped by and asked people to make donations...they would have showed us the door. But, tragedy strikes and everyone wants to help...be a part of the process."
The three walked toward the front of the motel. Hamilton headed to the right of his assigned door. "I'm gonna check on Jake first." He said.
"Get some sleep." Finn said.
"Good night. " Hamilton called back without turning around. He knocked on the door marked 21. "Jake, it's me." Jake opened the door but said nothing. "Are you okay?"
"Fine." She answered.
"I just wanted to say good night."
"Good night Hamilton. Thanks for coming with me.." Her eyes filled slightly. Hamilton held out his arms and she fell into them. Her voice rattled slightly. "We're going to find her...tomorrow. Won't we?"
Hamilton froze in place. He didn't know what to say to her, how to answer her. "Get some sleep. We've got a long day ahead of us."
"Okay, " He bent forward barely brushing his lips against hers. She pulled apart from him and backed up. Hamilton gently pulled the door closed and waited a moment. He heard a small muffled sob coming from the other side. Fists clenched in frustration...he held his breath and then slowly and soundlessly he exhaled. He wanted to take her in his arms and reassure her that everything was going to be fine...that her mother was fine...but he knew he couldn't He knew there was nothing he could do right now to comfort her. Reluctantly he turned his back to the door and walked away.
***********************************************************************
Author: EV
Email: EVLYN827@cs.com
Rating: PG-13
Category: J/H
Disclaimer: The characters are made up and are the property of the WB. The events depicted are real...unfortunatley.
Summary: The Rawley students watch as the events of Sept 11 unfold before their eyes.
Thanks:To the associated Press for posting the timeline of Sept 11.
Author's note: Let me apologize in advance to all the native New Yorkers for the improbability of the directions used. I have a road atlas, mapquest and the Internet to guide me...but that's it. Bear with me and use a little imagination. :) Thank you Mae for lending a much needed helping hand!!!
***********************************************************************Part I
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2001
7:59am -- American Flight 11 with 92 people leaves Boston's Logan Airport for Los Angeles.
Jacqueline Pratt opened her eyes and reached her hand out from under the warmth and comfort of her blankets to turn off the buzzing alarm clock. She yawned as she stretched and rubbed her eyes preparing for the routine of another day at Rawley Academy.
8:01a.m. -- United Flight 93 with 45 people leaves Newark Airport for San Francisco.
"Scout!" Will called out again.
"Mmmmm" came the sleepy reply.
"If you're not going to get up...could you at least turn off the alarm?" Will shook his head and listened as the blaring sounds of Metallica spewed forth from the small radio alarm clock. Scout had hit the snooze alarm no less than four times already.
"I'm up...I'm up." Scout mumbled from beneath the pillow.
Will had woken on his own as the sun streamed in through the window of the dorm room he shared with Scout Calhoun. This being their second year, their sophomore year, and Will had finally begun to feel "at home". Today, however, something felt different. He hadn't rested well the night before. With sleep eluding him, he rose early and decided to write, further preparing himself for Finn's class.
8:10am -- American Flight 77 with 64 people leaves Washington's Dulles Airport for Los Angeles.
"Hamilton!" his mother called out from the bottom of the stairs. "Hamilton, honey are you awake?"
"Yeah." Hamilton replied as he robotically headed for the upstairs shower.
"Munchie, I'm leaving now. I have an early class. You have a nice day, okay?" She said speaking in the direction of the closed bathroom door.
"Yup" Only half hearing, but assuming his mother was saying the same thing she's said every morning. Have a good day, don't forget to have breakfast, remember your homework...some things never change he thought to himself. His mother was so predictable but in someway, he liked that.
"Don't forget to eat something." She roared again.
"Yup." Hamilton smiled and turned on the water in the shower.
8:14am -- United Flight 175 with 65 people leaves Boston for Los Angeles
Jake stood under the steady stream of hot water as it ran over her head and face. She relaxed for a moment, basking in the knowledge of no longer having to rush. No longer having to wake at 5am to secretly shower so as not to get caught.
The merging of the prestigious Rawley Academy for Boys with its sister school Rawley Girls the previous summer had been an unexpected success. The female enrollment had doubled and Dean Fleming had happily taken the credit for an idea his son had presented at least a year earlier. Jacqueline Pratt had been the first girl to officially register in the coed academy. The school had come highly recommended to her by her cousin Jake. All classes on campus had been mixed and only the dorms remained divided with the girls occupying the top two floor and the boys being housed in the bottom.
***********************************************************************
"Sleep well, roomie?" Scout asked Will watching as he flipped another page.
Will looked up from beneath his bangs choosing not to answer what he believed should be the obvious. The dark circles that had formed under his eyes his proof.
"Man, you look awful." Scout said.
"Thanks." Will said smiling. " I needed that."
"I mean...um...you look.." Scout exhaled and tried to remove the all to familiar foot from his mouth.
"I just couldn't sleep last night. I don't know why." Will packed his books into his backpack and readied himself for the school day ahead. "Are you coming down for breakfast?"
"You ever seen me miss a meal?"
"See you down there." Will left the room, shutting the door behind him.
***********************************************************************
Jacqueline pulled the plain gray skirt over her shapely legs and tucked in the bottom of the stiff collared white shirt. Uniforms, she thought to herself. The summer sessions were far less formal than the official school semesters. She was happy to have left her baggy jeans and sweat shirts back home in New York. She liked the feeling of unity a dress code brought to the school, the sense of togetherness, of belonging. She slipped the thin navy tie around her neck and struggled as she always did to get the knot right. She knew she'd have to enlist Scout's help at breakfast. Jacqueline turned sideways and checked her reflection in the mirror. She ran her hands down over her chest and was pleased with her long, lean look She hadn't quite adjusted to her renewed femininity...It had only been two weeks. She grabbed for the navy blazer that sat on the back of her chair and headed out the door and toward the dining hall.
Breakfast tray in hand she scanned the crowded room until she finally saw Will Krudski sitting alone at a table. She joined him.
"Morning" she said as she set her tray down.
"Hey Jake...uh Jacqueline" He corrected himself. She smiled. Will closed the paperback he was reading and turned his attention to both his breakfast and his dining partner.
"Where's Scout?" She asked pulling at the knot in her tie.
"He's coming...eventually." Will checked his watch, 8:45am, "of course if he doesn't hurry up he'll be late for Finn's class."
"Scout would be more likely to miss Finn's class than to miss breakfast." Jacqueline put the carton of orange juice to her lips and drank. They both chuckled.
"So, how's it feel to be a Rawley girl...Jacqueline?"
"So far, so good."
"Still no roommate?" Will took a few spoonfuls of cereal and then pushed the bowl away. Maybe he was coming down with something he thought.
Jacqueline shook her head. "No, and strangely enough I'd like one. It's kind of lonely up there on the third floor."
"I've got one you can have." Will said as he smiled.
"I'll think about it." She said as she picked at her corn muffin.
"What about Hamilton?"
Jake's eyes widened. "What?"
"No, no...I didn't mean as a roommate, I meant have you seen him this morning?"
8:48am -- American Flight 11 crashes into the North tower of World Trade Center.
"Damn it." Jake said "I forgot my notes for second period. I've gotta run back upstairs. I'll see you in class Will."
"See you when I see you."
Jacqueline stood and attempted to pick up her tray. "I've got it." Will said taking it from her.
"Thanks. Tell Ham I'll see him later, okay?
"Sure."
"Kiss him good morning for me?" She smiled, turning away and she ran toward the stairwell that lead to her room.
"Not gonna happen" He yelled back after her.
Munching on an apple he'd brought from his own house Hamilton walked toward the table just in time to see Jake scurry away.
Something I said...or something I was about to say?" He smiled taking the seat that Jake had left vacant.
"She forgot something...her notes. She said she'll see you in class."
"No morning kiss?"
"Guess not."
"Ah... So what's up Krudski?"
"Nothing."
"You look tired?"
"So I've been told. Come on.." Will said standing and lifting both trays "We'd better get going. Looks like Scout's gonna be late again."
9:06am -- United Flight 175 crashes into the South tower of World Trade Center.
Scout descended the stair well like he'd been shot through a cannon. He ran the last few steps toward the dining hall and met Hamilton and Will coming out.
"You're late." Will said.
"Did you hear it?" Scout said, out of breath.
"Hear what?"
"New York."
"New York?" Hamilton questioned.
"Huge plane crash" Scout panted.
"Calhoun...breathe." Hamilton said placing a hand on the boy's shoulder. "A plane crashed where in New York?"
Scout inhaled and then exhaled, caught his breath and continued. "The World Trade Center."
"You're kidding?" Will's eyes opened in disbelief. "Man..."
Three more students passed them in the hallway headed for the Common room. "And then a second plane right after it. That's what the radio said."
The three looked at each other, class temporarily forgotten, and also headed to the Common room.
9:17am -- Federal Aviation Administration shuts down all New York City-area airports.
A large handful of Rawley students had already taken seats, huddled on the floor of the Common Room in front of the large screen television.
"Oh my God." Scout whispered, his eyes glued to the set. Flanked on both sides, Will on his right and Hamilton on his left, the three sat mesmerized by the sights unfolding in front of them. The majestic twin towers of New York's World Trade Center flashed onto the screen repeatedly showing the second plane as it sliced through the corner of the building like a warm knife through butter.
9:21am -- All bridges and tunnels into Manhattan closed.
"Jesus..." Will said lowering his head, not wanting to see it again, but lifting it seconds later to watch the slow motion repeat.
Jake descended the stairs and waltzed through the eerily quiet dining hall. "Wow, everybody but me must have a first period this morning." She could here the voices from the other room and not knowing exactly why...she followed them.
***********************************************************************
"Jesus..." Will repeated again, not having anything more profound to say. "How does something like this happen.
"This is no accident." Alan, a Junior, said. "One plane, maybe...but two?"
The room fell silent, each pondering the circumstances and processing it the best way they could. They watched again as the billowing clouds of smoke ascended, needlessly darkening the New York City sky.
"Hey." Jake said. "What's going on?" Hamilton extended an arm and invited her towards him. Jake sat on the arm of couch and Ham put an arm around her waist. She bowed her head down and openly kissed the top of his head. Something she'd never believed she be able to do a year ago. "Morning..."
"Two planes from Boston crashed into the World Trade Center's Twin Towers." Scout burst out.
All eyes on him. Will elbowed him in the ribs. "Very tactful,"
"That's New York!" Jake said loudly, jumping to her feet. "When?"
"Just now...like a half hour ago." Hamilton stood up as well. He moved behind her and put both hands around her waist attempting to comfort her without blocking either's view of the set. "Jake..." He said in a low tone, "It's gonna be okay."
"How is that gonna be okay?" Jake ran from the room.
9:31am -- In Sarasota, Fla., President Bush calls the crashes an "apparent terrorist attack on our country."
"Terrorism...are they kidding? Terrorists, here in the United States. That only happens in other countries. That doesn't happen here." Michael, a recent transfer from a Midwestern prep school said. "No way..."
Finn stood behind the couch watching both the television and the eyes of his students, the young men and women he taught each day, he watched them as the impact and the seriousness of the situation began to become a reality. He stood, his own hand cupping his chin, eyes forward, his index finger gently stroking his upper lip. He didn't know what to say to them...so he said nothing.
9:43am-- American Flight 77 crashes into Pentagon.
"Shit! The Pentagon too." Hamilton questioned loudly. "Another plane hit the Pentagon." He repeated for emphasis. "I can't believe this."
"Washington..." Scout said quietly. "I hope my Dad's okay." He turned in his seat shifting a hip toward Will and extracting his cell phone from his pocket. He dialed quickly and waited to for his father, the Senator, to pick up on the other end.
"Thank God Jake's mother is in Los Angeles." Hamilton said or Jake would really be freaking out.
"She is freaking out StudMuffin." Will said sarcastically. "She lives in Manhattan...she probably knows people who work in those towers. She probably knows people who are dead now."
The word DEAD impacted everyone within earshot. The room suddenly fell silent again and all eyes turned back toward the TV, except Hamilton's...who was on his way to the third floor.
***********************************************************************
9:48am. -- U.S. Capitol and White House's West Wing evacuated.
"I feel like I'm watching a movie but, this is really happening...isn't it?"
9:49am -- FAA bars all aircraft takeoffs across United States.
Jake had taken the stairs two at a time hoping the seconds she saved would somehow make a difference. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest, unsure if it was the sudden burst of exercise or pure adrenaline. She slammed the door to her room open and went to the top of her desk in search of her cell phone, the only direct connection she felt she had to her mother. She looked across the top of her dresser hoping she would see her phone lying there. She approached the dresser and picked up a small picture frame, in her mind hoping this tiny memento would have suddenly become large enough to conceal her cell phone. She opened the top drawer...her underwear drawer, where she never kept her phone, and rummaged through the contents hoping that the phone would miraculously appear.
"Jake..." Hamilton knocked once on the open door and walked through. "are you okay?" He knew it was a stupid question as soon as he heard the words exit his lips, and had Will been there, he would have told him so. "Jake?" he repeated.
"I have to call my mother." Jake said in a calm monotone voice. Years of watching her mother both on stage and off had taught her at least to "act" calm when she was truly panicking. "I can't find my phone." She said to Hamilton looking up from under her wispy bangs. Her voice suddenly faint. "Help me."
Hamilton sweepingly glanced around the room and spied the cell lying on her bed. "There" he pointed.
9:55am -- South tower of World Trade Center collapses.
Jake dove onto the phone scooping it up into her hand like a treasure. She sat on the edge of her bed. Hamilton could see her hands tremble as she flipped open the phone and extended the antenna with her teeth. Jake stared at the familiar numbered keypad on her phone. Her hands shook again and her sudden clumsiness caused the phone to drop from her hand. "Damn it!" she exploded as she bent to pick it up.
Hamilton dropped in next to her on her bed. He placed his arm around her and whispered. "I'm here." He withdrew the cell phone from her hand. "It's okay Jake...your Mom's still in LA, right?"
"No, she isn't." Jake's voice cracked. " She supposed to be. She should be. But..." Jake's voice shook with emotion. "She wasn't going to be able to come to Rawley for Parent's Weekend and I told her I was disappointed...that I wanted her to come, to be here for me!" A tear fell from her eye and slowly slid down her cheek "She E-mailed me on Sunday and told me that her understudy was taking on her role and that she was wrapping up the tour early since Parent's Weekend was more important.. She was leaving LA on Monday and she was going home to New York for a few days before she came here."
"What's the number?" Hamilton said fingers poised and ready to dial.
***********************************************************************10:10am -- United Flight 93 crashes in Pennsylvania field.
They watched in stunned silence as the building imploded. A massive array of steel and dust billowing from the cloud in it's decent. Things fell through the sky, a conglomerate of debris, wood, steel and...people.
"I can't believe this is happening." Scout said into the phone.
"Did you get through to your Dad?" Will asked.
"No, just his voicemail. I didn't leave a message...I don't know what to say."
"Try your Mom in Connecticut." He suggested.
Scout redialed the phone and waited listening to it ring on the other end. "Come on..." He said impatiently. "Come on..."
"Try again, maybe you dialed wrong." Alan suggested.
Scout looked through him, but hoping...he dialed again. "Mom? Hi, it's Scout. Yeah, we're watching here too. Umm...have you heard from Dad? Is he home or is...." Several seconds passed before he answered. "No, I haven't heard from him yet. I'll let you know. Okay...yeah. Me too. Bye" Scout pushed the "end" button and flipped the phone closed.
"Well?" All eyes were on him.
"My Dad was flying in to New Rawley...he was coming here to talk to me about something...Ummm, most of the planes are being brought down and all the airports are closed...so...I don't know where he is and neither does she."
Will put a friendly arm around Scout. "Let's try not to worry until we have something to worry about...okay?"
***********************************************************************
10:29am -- North tower of World Trade Center collapses
Jake and Hamilton rejoined the crowd in the Common Room, Jake's eyes slightly reddened.
"Holy shit...what did we miss?" Hamilton asked as he looked at the screen and viewed the debris as it rained down upon the streets of New York. His right arm, still protectively wrapped around Jake's shoulder. tightened slightly.
"Both towers collapsed. And there was another plane crash somewhere in Pennsylvania, they're not sure if that's connected yet or not." Will answered.
Finn turned and met the young mans eyes. "Maybe that's just a sad coincidence." He said, finally speaking.
"I've got to go." Jake said quietly to herself.
"Where? Forget about class. Classes are canceled for today." Hamilton reassured her.
"I've got to go to New York."
"What?"
"I need to go...I have to make sure my mother is okay. I'm leaving. I'm going to New York."
"Jake, be serious. You can't just leave." Hamilton said.
"I can Hamilton and I am."
They both looked back at the TV set watching the turmoil as it continued to unfold.
"Look, Jake, it's like a four or five hour drive to get there. You're upset. Let's just wait until we hear from your Mom. We'll here from her...I know we will."
"I'm upset because I don't know if she's okay. I'll be better once I get there, once I know that everything is all right."
"I feel like I want to do something too. I just don't know what?" Will said.
The gang settled in front of the set again. "Damn!" Hamilton said, his eyes widening at the constant replay of Tower two crumbling. The massive structure cascading in pieces to the ground.
11am -- New York mayor orders evacuation of lower Manhattan.
Scout pulled out his cell phone and dialed his father's numbers again. "Still voice mail at his office and no answer on his cell." He said to no one in particular.
Jake stopped her pacing and turned to look at him. "Scout, I'm sorry...I never even thought about your Dad."
"You've got a lot on your mind too. It's okay. I'm sure if he was on the ground right now...he'd have called. He must be.." Scout looked up, "..still in the air. They're grounding most flights, he might not be able to land here." Scout inhaled and slowly exhaled.
Jake walked toward him and threw her arms around his neck. She pulled him in for a comforting hug. "It'll be okay."
"So now what do we do?" Will asked. As each moment slipped past everyone waited for the announcement of the next Breaking Development. "I can't stand just sitting here waiting...waiting to find out what's gonna blow up next."
"What do think will be next?" Alan asked. They all turned to look at him glaringly. Each of them in some small way, was relieved that someone had the guts to say out loud what they had all been thinking too.
"Chicago?" David suggested.
"Boston?" Susan offered.
"What about some place touristy...like Disney World or the Grand Canyon?" Someone else spoke up.
"This is not a game show, it's not a video game." Finn said. "This is reality...this is a national tragedy. A terrorist attack of this magnitude could lead us right into World War III." Again the room fell silent. "This is not like Vietnam...people will NOT be protesting. Our country has been assaulted. People will want to fight back."
"What people?" David asked, knowing the answer.
"Young men and women like yourselves. brothers, sisters, cousins, people you know...and love.
"My cousin was in Operation Desert Storm." Alan added proudly. "I remember my mother hanging a yellow ribbon on the front door."
"I remember having bubble gum trading cards." Hamilton said. Jake shook her head.
"Oh yeah...you could trade an F-15 flyer for a Scud missile, I think I still have a Stormin' Norman somewhere." Scout said.
"Colin Powell was worth more than a Schwartzkoff any day" Hamilton debated.
Finn shook his head in dismay. "You're missing my point. This is your world now...and it's young people like you who'll have to fight for it...fight for the freedoms that you've all come to take for granted.
"But wars don't happen here Finn." David, one of the younger freshman said cautiously. "Right?"
***********************************************************************
Will, Scout, Hamilton, Jake and FInn shared a small table in the corner of the uncrowded dining hall. Jake dialed her cell phone again. She flipped it closed and set it on the table exhaling audibly.
"She'll call. All the lines are jammed, you can't get through to New York." Will said trying to sound reassuring.
"I'm going...this afternoon. I don't care what the news says...I need to be there."
"Jake...come on."
Jake stood up to clear her tray. "I'm going. I don't care if I have to walk...I'm going"
"You can't go alone." Scout said.
"I'll go with you." Hamilton offered.
"Yeah...you're parents would be really cool with that." Jake said sarcastically.
Hamilton stood up and took the tray from Jake's hand. "I love you...and I'm gonna be there for you. I'm going." He said matter-of-factly.
"I'll go too." Will said.
"I'll drive." Finn added. The all looked at him, dumbfounded at first. "Well, it's not like there'll be many students left in my third period class." Jake was the first one to smile.
"Scout, you need to stay here...for when your Dad arrives." Jake smiled at him reassuringly. Scout nodded.
"Well then, I'm gonna throw a few things together...and..." Jake started to walk away.
"Me too...I'm gonna go home and see my Mom first." Will said dumping his tray.
"Ditto." Hamilton said. He walked up behind Jake and kissed her on the cheek. "I meant what I said."
"I know." She hesitated. "Thank you."
***********************************************************************1:04m. -- From Barksdale Air Force base in Louisiana, Bush announces U.S. military on high alert worldwide.
"How can I not worry Will?" His mother ranted. "Have you seen the news?"
"Of course I've seen it Mom, that's all we've been doing this morning...sitting in front of the TV."
"Well, that's my money being well spent. You could watch TV at home for free." Brian Krudski said.
"I'm at Rawley on a scholarship...It's not your money that I'm..." Will stopped and then looked away realizing that there were so many more important things to do that argue with his Dad. "Finn's going too...it'll be fine. I'll call you, okay?"
"I'm sure all your high and mighty rich friends have cell phones...think they'll let the poor kid call home once and awhile."
Will walked toward the front door, bag in hand. His mother, Susan, right behind. "I just wanted to let you know where I was going and what I was doing. I don't want you to worry Mom, okay?"
"Don't worry? Yeah, sure honey." She chuckled.
"Mom...what if it was you?" He asked,
"What?
"What if it was you that was missing? They'd help me. I know they would. Because, contrary to what Dad thinks...they're good people and I want to be a good person too."
"God Will," She hugged her son. "You are a good person, you're the best person I know. Don't let him or anyone else tell you different."
"I love you Mom."
"I love you too, Will." Will started out the door and off the porch to the stairs. He stopped and turned looking back at his mother as she waved to him from the door. He hesitated for a second...opened his mouth...
"He knows..." She said.
***********************************************************************"No, Hamilton. I'm not even going to discuss it further. Munchie..." She stroked the hair off his forehead in a motherly fashion, "..I'm sorry. I feel awful about all this, Jacqueline must be frantic..but the answer is still no. You can't go to New York."
"Mom, you're being...a..." Hamilton stuttered.
"What? A mother. Your mother?"
Hamilton knew it was pointless. His father had been tied up at school for most of the morning. The tragedy had added countless phone calls to and from worried parents, to an already hectically planned schedule. In light of the days unforeseen events, meetings with board members and budget planning...just didn't seem to be all that important.
The Dean sat in front of the school intercom and prepared to make his unrehearsed speech. He cleared his throat and depressed the button, leaning down toward the microphone.
"May I have your attention please?" He hesitated and unintentionally took in a deep cleansing breath, "In times such as this we face the difficult decision as to whether or not to carry on as usual. For some, this simply will not be possible. And so, I urge members of Rawley Academy's faculty and student community to exercise flexibility in how they approach this most unusual day. The counseling department will remain open this evening for any student needing to access these services. Mrs. Burns is looking into transportation for any student that needs to return home...for any reason. In the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact your teachers, your student advisors or myself for any assistance. Thank you." He exhaled again...thought for a moment and then reopened the microphone. "and...God bless America." He pushed the microphone back against the edge of the desk and rubbed his face.
Hamilton returned to his room, he tossed a few more items into his half packed duffel, zipped it shut and tossed if from the second story window to the ground below. Exiting his bedroom he looked around at all the possessions he had acquired through the years, things that had been so important to him, things that had meant so much to him. Now, these material things seemed trivial. His family was important, his friends and Jake. Jake was important and she needed him now. She needed him and he needed to be there...for her and for himself.
***********************************************************************
2:51pm -- Navy dispatches missile destroyers to New York, Washington.
Will tossed his backpack into the back of Finn's 1974 Chevy pickup truck. "You think this thing will make it to New York?" He grinned as he patted his hand on the hood
.
"You want to walk?"
"By the looks of things...we might have to."
Hamilton hurried across the parking lot and threw in his bag from ten feet away. "He shoots...he scores."
"Your folks are okay with this?" Finn asked him.
"My Mom and I had a long talk about it." Not necessarily a lie, he thought.
"Let's get going." Jake said already anxious.
Finn got into the drivers seat and started the engine. Will seated himself in the passenger side and Jake and Hamilton made themselves comfortable facing each other, in the small back seats of the truck. As they headed for the driveway the passed Alan, David and a small group of students in the main quad lowering the American flag to half mast.
***********************************************************************3:07pm -- Bush arrives at U.S. Strategic Command at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska.
"Okay...a quick stop for gas and we're on our way." Finn said pulling into Bank's Gas and Tow.
Bella exited the station approached the truck suddenly aware of all the familiar faces.
"God, I've been thinking about you all day. I just got home from school, have you seen the news?"
"Hey Bella." Will answered first with a slight smile. "You'd have to live in a cave not to know about it."
"Jake, hey...is everything all right?" Bella peered inside the truck to the back.
"We're going to find out." Will opened the door and allowed Jake to step outside. Bella hugged her.
"Heard from your Mom?"
"Not yet."
"God Jake, you must be going crazy."
"A little. We're actually heading to New York now. We're just gonna take a drive in...find my Mom and know that she's okay." Jake sounded as though she were trying to convince herself as well as Bella.
"Look, you guys gas up...I'm going to the corner store for a minute. Be right back." Finn shut the driver side door and looked both ways before crossing the street.
"Where's Scout?" Bella asked noticing he wasn't part of the familiar group.
"He's at Rawley...he's...ummm...hoping to hear from his Dad." Jake said. The color drained slightly from Bella's face. Her mouth opened but she was soundless. Her eyes misted.
"I'll go over there as soon as Grace gets home from school"
"That's probably a good idea...thanks." Will said.
As Will finished topping off the tank, Finn returned. He carried two full cases of bottled water and a box of granola bars with him.
"Late night snack?" Hamilton chuckled.
"I mentioned to Mr. Genaski that I was driving to New York...he insisted that I take this and drop it off at one of the rescue stations." The group smiled. Finn extracted his wallet and looked at the meter on the gas pump.
"Forget it..." Bella said. "Just take care...and get there. Call me as soon as you hear anything."
"Let's roll" Finn said. Jake and Will hugged Bella and got back into the truck. Finn waved out of the window and finally...they were off.
**********************************************************************5:25pm -- Empty 47-story Seven World Trade Center collapses.
"Mom...what do you mean? No, you're right, I don't understand. Twenty years is a long time. Why didn't you tell me? I should come home? Well, maybe if I wasn't away at boarding schools all the time I would notice." Scout raised his voice to a loud whisper. Bella looked concerned as she sat next to him on the front steps of Rawley Academy. Scout stood up and then moved away seeking privacy for the remainder of the conversation with his mother. "I'm sure he would have liked to tell me in person...that's not the point. I want to know why. Hell yes, I'm angry. My whole world seems to be falling apart today. Aww Mom...don't cry. I'm sorry... Look, just calm down a little. Okay. Yes, I will. All right. I will. Bye." Scout ended the call and put his phone back into his pocket. "Man, how'd people ever live without these things?" He tried to joke. Bella looked up at him waiting for him to open up. He seated himself on the stone steps and studied his sneakers. Picking at the laces he spoke. "He was coming here...to see me. He wanted to tell me in person that they're splitting up." He was silent for a moment.
"Oh Scout, I'm sorry."
"Yeah, me too." Scout walked down the steps and out over the lawn now covered in crispy colored leaves. He walked faster as he approached the hill. Quickening his step he first broke out into a job which quickly turned into a full speed run. He ran. Running away...running to...running from..just running.
***********************************************************************
"I-84 to 15 through Connecticut. Trust me...it's the best way to go." Jake insisted.
"Maybe by motorcycle, but I've got get off this freeway soon." Finn said.
"Why?"
"I've gotta check the gas and fill the oil." He answered. "It's an old truck...relax, it won't take long."
"I could stand stopping for a minute anyway." Will said as he tossed his second empty soda can into the brown paper bag on the floor.
Jake looked over at Hamilton who had been unusually quiet for most of the trip. He responded by placing his hand on her knee and smiling. "Try your Mom again?"
Jake nodded and pulled the cell phone from the pocket of her sweatshirt. A moment later she folded it in half and replaced it. Shaking her head.
Finn pulled off at Exit 57. "There's gotta be a gas station around here." He said to know one in particular.
***********************************************************************
"Scout. Scout, talk to me. Come on." Bella knocked on the door again. "Scout, I'm not leaving until you open the door and I know your all right." She knocked again. The door swung open, seemingly on its own. "Scout?" Bella entered.
"I'm fine Bella, go home." Scout said from behind the door to his dorm room, not wanting to meet her eyes.
"Scout...talk to me. If not me, talk to someone."
"I'm okay."
Bella exhaled and turned on her heels in the doorway. "I'll be here...if you want me." She said. She took one step toward the threshold of the door when she heard him speak. "Twenty years." Bella stopped and listened. "Twenty years...I can't have a relationship that lasts more than twenty minutes and they've been married to each other for twenty years. I don't understand how they can just throw that all away."
"Scout...I'm sorry, really. Maybe when your father gets here he'll be able to help you understand things better. Maybe they haven't been happy together, you know?"
"Of course they're happy!" He shouted, not really meaning to.
"I'm sure they were happy. But things change sometimes." Bella entered the room and took a seat on the edge of Will's bed. "Maybe they didn't want you to worry."
"I'm worried now!"
"Scout...if it helps, you can be angry with me. But remember, it's not my fault...and it's not yours either. It's stuff between your parents...things that have nothing to do with you. And later on...even if they're not together, they'll still be your parents. They're still going to love you."
Scout looked at her suddenly remembering how much she had been hurt. How it had taken her time but she had dealt with her own mother not only abandoning her father...but her daughters as well. "Damn it Bella...What was I thinking. I'm sorry. I didn't mean..."
"It's okay. I was pretty young and I didn't have anybody to talk to, except my Dad. You're lucky...you have me." She smiled at him as he sat beside her on the bed.
"Thanks." They put there heads together and say quietly for a few more minutes.
***********************************************************************
7:00pm. -- Bush arrives at White House.
"This is SO not good." Jake said as she paced along side the darkened road.
"Let's not get excited kids." Finn said as he stared under the opened hood of his truck. He carefully unscrewed the cap of the oil receptacle and turned another bottle of oil upside down allowing it to drain into the void.
"Aren't you supposed to see if it needs oil with the stick thing?" Hamilton asked.
"You do that when your not sure if you need oil or not. I'm sure."
"So exactly what kind of mileage does this baby get?" Will smiled.
"Oh...on a good day, about 20 miles a quart."
"I wish Bella was here." Jake said. Hamilton walked toward her and put her arms around her.
Finn tossed the empty plastic container next to the others. He hoped the case of oil he'd purchased at the gas station would hold out until they reached New York. The stacked cases of water had grown from two to seven. The owner of the gas station in Hartford had offered them more supplies as soon as he'd heard about their journey. The waitresses at the diner in New Haven where they'd stopped for dinner had added a case of chips, two cases of juice and sealed packages of coffee and creamer.
"Hey...we get to stay up late tonight...and on a school night too." He chuckled as he put his arms around her and kissed he lightly on cheek. Jake smiled, appreciating his attempts at consoling her but she found it difficult to think about anything except her mother right now. "It's a beautiful night. Look at those stars" Jake rested her head against Hamilton's shoulder but said nothing. The sound of the engine turning over broke the mood.
"All right!" Jake said as she quickly headed back toward the truck.
The radio in the pickup provided a static ridden rehash of the days events. The tragedy and horror of the day was impossible to get away from. Even in silence...it plagued their thoughts.
"I still don't get it." Hamilton said. "Terrorism...I mean who'd want to bomb us? We're the good guys, right?"
"Yes, Hamilton, we are the good guys. But not everybody thinks so. There have been threats against this country before and there probably will be again. The World Trade Center...in um...'93 I think. The people who claimed responsibility for that tragedy said they were retaliating against the US support for the Israeli government."
"But the people in that building had nothing to do with any of that." Will stated.
"Terrorists don't think...they act. They have an agenda...a plan to carry out."
"But that's not fair."
"No, it isn't Remember Oklahoma City?
"Oh man...the building with the daycare center. I remember that." Jake said.
"Sure...the Wacko's from Waco." Hamilton chided.
"Exactly. The US was dying to pin that disaster onto some other country. What a surprise to find out it was done by one of our own"
"So what are you saying Finn, that we should look over our shoulder all the time? That anyone has the potential to be a terrorist?"
"No. what I'm saying is we should pull our loved ones as close as we can. It is the only way to survive when the world gets too real." Hamilton reached out for Jake's hand. He was unable to meet her eyes...he just gently squeezed. The silence was deafening until Finn turned the radio back on and popped a cassette into the tape player.
*********************************************************************** 8:30pm-- Bush addresses the nation and vows to "find those responsible and bring them to justice."
"Jesus, what a nightmare." Scout said as he listened to the finish of the President's address.
"Do you think we'll really go to war?" Bella asked as she sat beside Scout on the couch in the Common Room.
Watching the scenes of devastation unfold in startling Technicolor, the magnitude of the destruction awesome in its scale, Scout cast his mind about for something stable to hold onto. He reached out and found Bella's hand. The ringing from his back pocket startled them both.
"How'd we ever manage to live without those things?" Bella smiled.
"Hello? Hey...where are you?"
"Your Dad?" Bella whispered sounding hopeful. Scout shook his head and mouthed the word, Jake.
"No, I haven't heard from him yet. Nope, nothing new here." He lied. " Oh no, your kidding." He giggled. " I bet you do. Yeah well, call here the minute you find her. Okay. Yup I will too. Bye. That was Jake. They had a little truck trouble. They said they'd wished you were with them." Bella smiled.
"Yeah...well I'm glad I'm here." They rested back against the couch and were once again transported to the devastation of reality.
***********************************************************************
"...and baby there ain't no mountain high enough...ain't no valley low enough...ain't no river wide enough...to keep me from gettin' to you girl."
"Finn!" Will yelled to be heard above the puttering sound of the truck and the music. "Tell me you have something in that collection that was recorded after I was born." Finn reached over and turned the volume up. Will shook his head.
Finn ejected the cassette tape and launched the riders head first into AM Talk Radio. President Bush's speech was being repeated and even thought they had heard it once...they each tuned in to listen again. Finn flipped the station to FM and heard the first few recognizable strains of Turn The Page.
"Yeah, now that's more like it. Metallica rules." Will said. Finn shook his head and smiled not having the heart to tell him all about Bob Seger.
Jake rested her head against the cool glass of the window. On her motorcycle, alone, this trip would have taken her maybe four hours. In Finn's Chevy dinosaur they had passed five hours and were still counting. This journey however, was one that she was happy not to be venturing on alone. Jake refused to give in to the possibility of bad news. It was not unlike her mother to be unavailable, not to respond to voice or e-mail promptly. Still, her stomach turned in knots of concern. What would happen? What if her mother... No! She couldn't think about that now. "Where are we?" Jake asked, pulling herself forward to see out of the windshield.
"Take a look at that." Finn said pointing to the large green sign that overhung the turnpike. Having successfully made it through the Bronx, Jake knew she was that much closer to home.
Hamilton checked his watch. "Damn." He exhaled. "Jake, can I borrow your phone? I should probably check in at home." He said somewhat nervously. Jake handed him her cell phone and watched him with interest as he dialed. "Hi Mom..." He stuttered. There was a long pause as Hamilton listened. "Yeah, I know. I'm fine. Don't be mad...okay?" Another long pause. Hamilton lowered his voice to a whisper. "Is Dad really pissed?" Hamilton lowered his eyes to concentrate on his mothers voice. "Look, Mom...this is really important. I know. It's really important to Jacqueline...so it's really important to me." A pause. "Yeah, I know I've only known her a couple of weeks...but...well...," He ginned and looked up at Jake. "I feel like I've known her a lot longer. Mom, I'm okay, we're all okay. Finn's taking really good care of us." Hamilton laughed and covered the mouth piece to the phone. "She says that doesn't make her feel any better." He whispered in Jake's direction. "Mom, I'll call you again really soon. Okay. Me too. Okay, don't worry. Bye." Hamilton flipped the phone closed and handed it back to Jake. Jake met his eyes with her own. It was obvious from the sound of the call that Hamilton had defied his parents just to come along on this impromptu road trip...just to help her. Just to help her find her mother.
She smiled at him...a knowing smile. "Thank you " she mouthed to him silently.
"I love you." He mouthed back reaching out for her hand.
***********************************************************************
"This is not good." Finn said as he saw what looked like miles of red taillights in front of him.
"What?" Jake moved foward to see through the front windshield. The traffic seemed to backed up for miles. "It's the bridge traffic." She said confidently.
"Bridge traffic at 9:30 on a Tuesday night?" Finn questioned.
"Try taking the next exit. Head toward the Stadium. We don't want to cross over the George Washington bridge anyway. Maybe we can get on I-87 and then follow the East River.
Finn did as he was told only to find the traffic increasingly heavier. "Whoa! Yankee Stadium." Will said as he saw the sign in front of him. "That's so cool."
Jake chuckled. "If we have to we'll go through Queens and cross the Queensboro bridge into Manhattan that way."
"Gotcha." Finn said and he continued to drive aimlessly. Before Finn was able to exit I-87 the traffic slowed again. The blue and red flashing lights ahead were cause for concern. Finally the smaller line of traffic came to a halt. They sat for fifteen minutes without moving until finally they began to inch forward a little. Finn noticed the slow trail of steam as it ascended from under the hood of the pickup. "Damn." He said quietly.
As the truck puttered forward a group of officers stood blocking the exit. One waved a flashlight in a circular direction corralling drivers back onto the interstate. Finn rolled the window down. "Sorry, the exits are closed. You'll need to turn around."
Jake pushed Finn's seat forward, crushing him into the steering wheel, and leaned out the window. "How can we get into lower Manhattan?"
"You can't. We're only allowing residents through..." He said having glanced at Finn's out-of-state license plate and assuming this was another group of thrill seekers. "You can't get much closer than ten or fifteen miles in a vehicle."
Jake wrestled with the contents of her purse, extracting her wallet and pulling from it her New York drivers license. She held it out of the window. "My mother's in there...somewhere." She said.
The officer viewed the license. Looked down at Jake's face and then glanced briefly at the rest of the passengers. "Okay, young lady. Exit here..." He said pointing. The bridges and tunnels are closed. You'll need to get on the Henry Hudson Parkway and follow that for a while. You won't get much closer than Broadway or Central Park. You'll have to travel the rest of the way on foot." He handed Jake back her license, tipped his hat and said, "Good luck young lady." Jake's smiled weakened. She felt as though he was preparing her for the inevitable. She felt her stomach turn again.
"I've gotta stop soon Jake." Finn said. "I need to gas up and water down the truck."
"I know, I know...it's just the closer we get, the closer we'll be." In some bizarre way that made sense to all of them. Jake tried dialing her mother's cell phone again. She shook her head, frustrated and tossed the phone into her purse.
Finn turned up the radio and listened again to the news updates. Hamilton had nodded off, his neck in an uncomfortable looking position against the glass. Will yawned and rubbed his eyes. "Jake, I know it's hard to wait. I know your anxious, we all are. But I've gotta stop. I've gotta deal with the truck and you guys all need a little rest. It sounds like we have quite a hike in front of us tomorrow and we want to be..."
"I know, I know...you're right." Jake interrupted him. "Let's find someplace soon and tuck these boys in."
Finn smiled at first, temporarily forgetting that this was not the eleventh grade sight-seeing field trip to New York, this was a search that could change lives forever. His smile faded and he looked ahead through the windshield for a place to pull in for the night.
**********************************************************************
Finn rattled the key against the glass of the truck window and startled both the sleeping Will and the snoring Hamilton. Hamilton yawned and looked around. "Are we there yet?"
Finn shook his head. "We need to stop for the night. Hopefully we'll get into Manhattan tomorrow. You and Will are in number 17." Finn tossed the key through the now opened window.
"Where's Jake?" Hamilton asked.
"She's bringing in her things. She'll be two doors down, in number 21." Both Will and Hamilton looked at each other and then up at Finn. "I'll be in 19."
There was silence for a moment then Will opened the door and headed toward the back of the truck. "I can't believe all the stuff we've collected. Everywhere we stopped..."
"And there were A LOT of stops..." Hamilton snickered and looked at Finn.
"Funny. We could've taken YOUR truck Hamilton...oh that's right...you don't have one!"
"Ahem...what I was saying was that people have been so generous. They don't even know us...but they loaded this truck with all kinds of supplies and food and assumed that we would get it to the right people."
"People change in crisis, Will. People want to help in any way they can. Last month if we'd stopped by and asked people to make donations...they would have showed us the door. But, tragedy strikes and everyone wants to help...be a part of the process."
The three walked toward the front of the motel. Hamilton headed to the right of his assigned door. "I'm gonna check on Jake first." He said.
"Get some sleep." Finn said.
"Good night. " Hamilton called back without turning around. He knocked on the door marked 21. "Jake, it's me." Jake opened the door but said nothing. "Are you okay?"
"Fine." She answered.
"I just wanted to say good night."
"Good night Hamilton. Thanks for coming with me.." Her eyes filled slightly. Hamilton held out his arms and she fell into them. Her voice rattled slightly. "We're going to find her...tomorrow. Won't we?"
Hamilton froze in place. He didn't know what to say to her, how to answer her. "Get some sleep. We've got a long day ahead of us."
"Okay, " He bent forward barely brushing his lips against hers. She pulled apart from him and backed up. Hamilton gently pulled the door closed and waited a moment. He heard a small muffled sob coming from the other side. Fists clenched in frustration...he held his breath and then slowly and soundlessly he exhaled. He wanted to take her in his arms and reassure her that everything was going to be fine...that her mother was fine...but he knew he couldn't He knew there was nothing he could do right now to comfort her. Reluctantly he turned his back to the door and walked away.
***********************************************************************