After reading my friend Eriks recollections of that day, I recalled my own. I was a teenaged boy then, sitting in class and suddenly the teacher got a message brought another teacher interrupting the lesson and whispering a hasty message. I could see out in the hall and other teachers and staff were all going to the other classes in a rush. Ours, looking sick and tense, told us to stop and put away our books, there was to be an important announcement. Then she turned away and ran into the hall, hiding her face. A moment later she returned but wouldnt look at us. And then the announcement began, I dont remember who was speaking ... only those words: the President has been shot.... It was suddenly unbearably hot and the air felt like it was pressing down as if I was underwater from its weight on my skin. Somehow, instructions were given and we all left school, boarding our big yellow buses. It was absolutely silent except for some of the girls were crying softly now. When the bus got to our stop, I leapt off and started running home as fast as my long legs could carry me, I think I made the 4 block distance in about half a minute. I could see my Dad was working on something in the utility shed by the carport. I started yelling:DAD! DAD! Did you hear? The President has been shot !!! DAD !!! He grabbed me by both shoulders as I ran up to him and started shaking me. Then he said in a tone Id never before or after heard him use: ENOUGH ! NOUGH ! BE QUIET NOW ! Go into the House and BE QUIET !!! We watched the TV newscast later, my parents, my kid brother and me, sitting together silently on the livingroom couch. We watched it, but none of us ever talked about that day again.
Posted on: Fri, 22 Nov 2013 15:14:55 +0000
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