Chapter Nine

"The Bombing Memorial?" Suri said, making a face as the Doctor and Rose went up a hill towards it. "Why would you want to see that?"

"Because we've never seen it before," the Doctor said to him. "We just got here this morning."

"You homeless?" Suri asked.

"In a manner of speaking," the Doctor said. "We're travelers."

"You got a place to sleep?" Suri asked.

"Not really," the Doctor said.

"Oh, you can come and sleep in the parking garage by the bus station. That's where I sleep. I'm homeless too."

"Why am I not surprised?" Rose muttered under her breath.

When they reached the top of the hill, they saw the memorial across the street. Suri followed them while they walked across the street. There was a concrete wall that took up a whole block. On the street they were on was a chainlink fence with mementos on it. The Doctor held Rose's hand while they followed the fence down a hill towards the entrance to the memorial. On the fence were trinkets, plush animals, dolls and photos of some of the victims. They paused by a wreath that had a photo of one of the victims inside it. Rose stared at the young woman sadly and shook her head.

"So tragic," she said to the Doctor.

"Yeah, it was," Suri said loudly as he stood behind her. "There was a huge explosion and everything shook and glass broke all over the city.'

The Doctor bit his lip when he saw the annoyed look on Rose's face. She glanced at the Doctor and they walked on with Suri following them. They reached the entrance, a large slate wall that had a door sized opening in it. The black slate had an inscription above the door. Rose stepped back with the Doctor and read it.

We come here to remember those who were killed, those who survived and those changed forever. May all who leave here know the impact of violence. May this memorial offer comfort, strength, peace, hope and serenity.

"That's beautiful," Rose said.

"Yeah, it is," Suri said.

The Doctor patted Rose's shoulder when the annoyed look returned to her face. She buried her annoyance by taking a photo of the inscription and then she and the Doctor went throught the doorway. They went up a rampa and came out by a long rectangular reflecting pool. On the other side of the pool was another gateway with 9:01 etched on it. They turned to look at their gate and saw 9:03 on it.

"What's with the clock times?" Rose asked the Doctor.

The Doctor was about to answer when Suri cut in.

"Those represent the before and after times of the bombing. The bomb went off at 9:02 a.m." he said loudly.

"What he said," the Doctor said, pointing to Suri.

"Ahahahaha, you're funny."

The Doctor grunted when Suri slapped his shoulder hard. Rose sighed angrily and turned with the Doctor towards the chairs that were arranged on the right side of the reflecting pool. the chairs are made of steel with perspex bases that had the names of each of the dead etched on them. Rose's heart ached when she noticed the children's chairs were child sized. She and the Doctor stepped over a chain barrier when they saw others doing the same thing and walked on the grass while they went to look at the chairs up close. The Doctor glanced back and saw to his relief that Suri had stayed on the walkway but was still watching them. Rose glanced back with the Doctor and muttered, "Good, stay there," while they walked.

"I have an idea," the Doctor said softly. "Let's go into the museum, the lady at the library said you have to pay to get in and..."

"He might not have the money?" Rose said.

"Great minds think alike," the Doctor said.

"If we go in, he might leave us alone?" Rose muttered to him.

"Worth a shot, don't you think?"

"Out of my way, Time Boy?" Rose said, pretending to shove him out of the way.

The Doctor chuckled and they headed back for the chain barrier. To Rose's annoyance, Suri walked so he'd be in front of them when they got over the barrier.

"Um, we're going to go into the museum," the Doctor said.

"Why?" Suri said.

"Because we're tourists and we want to. The lady at the library said you have to pay to get in though, wanna come?"

"I...uh...don't have any money. But you could pay my way in."

"Sorry, we only have enough for ourselves, have to get some more money later," Rose said.

"I'll wait out here for you then. Don't forget about First Church."

The Doctor and Rose gave him a polite nod and walked away.

"Where is the museum?" Rose said softly to the Doctor.

"Dunno but I'm glad he can't come in with us," the Doctor said. "Now we can have some peace while we look."

"Exactly."

They found a park ranger and asked where the museum was at. The ranger pointed to a building on the other side of the monument. The Doctor and Rose thanked him and hurried to it before Suri changed his mind.