Home Improvement
Chapter 14: The News Report
Mark awoke one morning to some screaming downstairs. He opened his eyes. What the hell was going on? He went downstairs. Jill was in a state of shock, and Tim was making few phone calls.
"MARK, RANDY!" Jill called.
"What's going on?" Mark asked groggily.
"They… someone… hijacked planes…" Jill said in tears.
"Quiet honey, Tool Time was going to do a location in New York," Tim said loudly.
Randy and Lauren came down. Randy looked at his watch, "Mom, it's eleven, we wanna stay in late," Randy complained.
"Something happened?" Mark asked.
"Tool Time's cancelled," Tim said, hanging the phone up. "Interstate Tool Time chief of New York died in the hijacking."
"School is cancelled for a week, Mark," Jill said from her hands.
"Why, I don't get it!" Mark said, starting to get annoyed not for the first time.
"There was a bombing in New York," Tim said.
"It was not a bombing," Jill corrected. "It was a devilish hijacking."
Mark turned to the TV, hoping it would tell him what happened. It did. It told him everything.
"International terrorists hijacked a plane earlier this morning," the reporter said. "The hijacked plane came as a complete surprise. Four planes hijacked and three of them made it to their targets."
"Yes, Steven," a female reporter replied. "Four hijacked planes were to hit four important infrastructures of the United States. The World Trade Center Business is now down. The two buildings collapsed after two planes hit. Another plane headed for the White House to kill the President himself, George W. Bush, surprised and outraged by the attacks. He will address the nation later this evening for news on the happenings of today."
"Yes, but thanks to the brave efforts of the people of that hijacked plane, the terrorists were forced to crash the plane some miles away from its destination, the White House, capital of our nation."
"This is Steven and Tanya of CNN, here to bring you the latest news."
"Looks like I'm not the only one who has problems," Mark grumbled.
Later that day, the President came on air to address the nation as Steven promised.
Bush went on speaking about the attacks. From the attacks to how brave their nation was to be standing against terrorism. Mark felt a war was coming, and he was too young to be involved.
'America and our friends and allies join with all those who want peace and security in the world, and we stand together to win the war against terrorism. Tonight, I ask for your prayers for all those who grieve, for the children whose worlds have been shattered, for all whose sense of safety and security has been threatened. And I pray they will be comforted by a power greater than any of us, spoken through the ages in Psalm 23: "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me." This is a day when all Americans from every walk of life unite in our resolve for justice and peace. America has stood down enemies before, and we will do so this time. None of us will ever forget this day. Yet, we go forward to defend freedom and all that is good and just in our world.
Thank You. Good night, and God bless America.'
"So, what'll happen?" Lauren asked in a hushed voice.
"Nothing," Tim shrugged.
Jill was in tears. "He said they'll… do everything they can to protect the c-country."
"They nearly killed our President," Tim said. "We could've been leaderless. We might've gone to the dogs, literally."
"Well, we'll be alright," Randy tried to assure everyone. "Nothing's going to happen to us or anyone else."
"Hopefully not," Tim said, shaking his head. "They did it once, they can do it again."
A/N: This chapter isn't exactly important. I just thought I'd throw in a bit of 9/11 in since the story is passing through that time anyway.