Tuesday Evening, September 11, 2001
Lahore, Pakistan
“Hello,” I said as I answered the phone.
It was unusual to get a phone call late in the evening. My butt had been comfortably planted on the couch with the T. V. remote in one hand and a glass of Manuel’s freshly squeezed orange juice in the other.
“Hi Derwin,” said our Middle School Principal. “I just wanted to let you know that school is still on for tomorrow.”
“What’s going on?” I asked.
I had no idea why school wouldn’t be open.
“You haven’t been watching the news? There is a major terrorist attack in New York right now. This will have huge implications for Pakistan and the region. We’ll be sure to keep you and Dana informed. See you tomorrow at school. We’ll meet after school for updates from the U. S. embassy.”
The Middle School Principal hung up and I flipped to CNN News. Smoke rose from one of the towers. People were fleeing the scene. Pandemonium. Chaos. Shock. Mourning. Anger.
Of course, it was all of those emotions but I was still unclear how that would affect life in Lahore.
I poured myself another cup of orange juice and sat down to watch the events in New York for the next two hours.
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