“Are you hungry. Andy? Breakfast?” Brent was off the phone now. Brent stood behind the couch that faced the TV.
Oh my Gosh. Good God! yelled the TV.
Tyler looked at the TV. The camera zoomed in on a speck falling from one of the smoking building.
Oh, Dear God. People. People are, the woman speaking on the TV stuttered then said, People are jumping from the building. People are flinging themselves from the broken wreckage. This is–this is unprecedented. This is—
Tyler heard a cough. He turned and looked up into Brent’s face. The man wasn’t crying. No, this time the look on his face was much worse. it was stretched and thin and pale. He looked like Tyler had felt that time he’d gotten real sick and thrown up all over the desk at school. Dad was shaking his head.
“Let’s mute it,” said Dad. “I can’t listen to this.”
“What about the news? What about Alison. What–what—”
“We won’t know what’s happened, we can’t know,” said Dad. “We, we should play a game, maybe.”
“A game?” asked Brent, like he’d never known the word, like he’d never played a game in his life.
Now it look as though another explosion has hit the second building, said the TV.
They all looked at it.
It looks as though something has fallen off the second building. We have Dan Rutherford there, on the ground. Dan, can you tell us what you’re seeing?
On the TV smoke was billowing up. shot into the air slightly, but mostly it spread out, swallowing up other buildings in its path.
Yes, Dianne. I’m four blocks away from the World Trade Towers, and Tower Two has just collapsed, said a man’s voice.
The woman’s voice. It collapsed? The whole building?
Yes. It fell in on itself. It looked much like a demolishing of an old building. It looked like a demolition.
Yes, thank you, Dan, said the woman. It looks as though Tower Two has collapsed. These are just incredible images, incredible.
Dad crossed in front of Tyler and sat down on the couch. Brent did the same. Tyler looked at them. Brent with his wide shoulders and cropped hair, dad in his long coat with short, scratchy hair on his cheeks and chin. Both men looked drawn and pale and at a loss for what to do.
“Look at us,” said Dad.
“I know,” Brent responded.
“Tyler, come here,” said Dad. Tyler went and Dad wrapped his arms around him and help him close. “Everything will be alright,” he said into Tyler’s ear.
“We’ve come a long way,” said Brent.
“Sorry it takes something like this,” said Dad.
“Me too,” said Brent.
Tyler wasn’t sure what they were talking about. The news report continued to roll. No new information. No new footage. All anybody knew was that The United States of America were under attack.
“I don’t blame her, you know,” said Dad.
“No.”
“I don’t,” he said.
“Ok. Maybe you’ll get to tell her.”
“I’m telling you,” said Dad.
“You’ll get to tell her,” said Brent.
“I don’t—”
“You’ll get to tell her,” Brent repeated. There was a finality to his voice.
Dad nodded. Tyler looked at him. His father’s eyes were far and away. In a time and place Tyler didn’t know or remember.
Margaret put down her purse on the kitchen table, then thought better of it and picked it up. What if someone broke and took it? She brought it into Gordon’s office with her and set it on his desk. She booted up the computer and sat back in the leather desk chair. Outside a car door slammed. A dog barked. Maybe they should get a dog. Ava would love it and it could keep people like Danny away. Margaret jumped as the computer made out a loud beep! The internal fan started to whir. She heard a lawnmower start up. The house creaked. It was an uncomfortable sound and she held her breath for a moment. It creaked again. Margaret leapt to her feet, clutching her handbag. She walked to the office door and peered out into the living room.
Next is to my own bravery. This may seem conceited, but for the last year or so I’ve been continuously dating in a semi-serious manner a handful of women (not at the same time, just in progression). For anyone who knows the dating scene then you know it sucks. But I’ve continued to put myself out there and be open with people. I’ve continued to make myself vulnerable and that takes a lot of guts–because it gives others a lot of power–but through feeling and hurt, I haven’t been broken, but just made more aware how special true feelings are. So, this is to all the feelings I’ve had in the last year, good and bad–they are both precious.
Winter Station 