Remembering September 11, 2001

AN EXCERPT FROM “THE REJOICING HEN” by Catherine Kanen

[SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 – Tuesday, 10:45 am]

Peter

            The morning had passed in such a blur, Derek and I hardly moved from our family room couch. Except for tending to 15-month-old Faith, we’d stayed glued to the TV.  Watching as the horror played out in New Amsterdam.

            The image of a plane striking the second Tower played again, and Derek cried out,“Oh my God, Peter—what about Tom?” The thought of our friend sitting in his office on the ninetieth floor came so suddenly, it blew away the images of planes and Towers scrolling endlessly on the TV.

            “I’ll call Lila,” I grabbed my cell phone from the coffee table.  But I got a recording and dropped it again.  “There’s no service,” I said.  “Just a recording saying the circuits are overloaded.”

            “Maybe the landline is still working,” Derek said.  He got up and hurried into the kitchen where the phone hung on the wall. After a moment, he shook his head, staring down at the phone receiver in his hand.  “There’s no answer and their voicemail is full.”

            I joined him in the kitchen.  As Derek looked up, tears began streaking down his face.  “Oh, Peter…Oh, God, no.”

            I hugged him close and took the phone.  “Let’s call ‘Laine.  Maybe she’s heard something.” I hit the speakerphone button and dialed the Prindle’s house number.

‘Laine answered after only one ring, her voice nearly hysterical.  “Peter, Derek, oh my God, I nearly sent him to his death!” she cried.  “But Mabel couldn’t find her sneaker,” ‘Laine sobbed across the phone line.  “She had to wear the green ones, and she couldn’t find one, the left one, and we were late to pick up Tom and so we got to the station and he’d missed his train and had to take a later one and then the second train got detoured and he’s stranded in Hoboken.”

‘Laine’s voice cut off and we heard her take a deep breath.  “He’s fine; he’s OK; Lila and Terri are on the way to get him right now.  He’s alive, guys.  He wasn’t there.  He’s alive,” ‘Laine’s voice broke. “He’s alive because Mabel couldn’t find her sneaker.”