Was round at my parents’ house doing gardening work, took me best part of the day. Finished, went to the offy to get some booze coz I’d earned it. Came back and sat in the front room where it was cooler, popped a can and put some music on…
The door opened and Mum came in. I knew something was wrong because she was looking right through me. “Come in here, you need to see this. It’s historic…,” she said and wandered off. Puzzled, I followed her into the living room. The TV was on. Mum and Dad were watching a disaster film. I was even more puzzled.
“What film’s this? Why’s it historic?” I said. “It’s not a film,” Dad said in a monotone. “It’s real. Terrorists have flown a passenger jet into the World Trade Centre.”
Even though I knew he was telling the truth I still stood there, uncomprehending. At which point the footage switched from a burning tower to a shot of an 'object' falling through the air. “That’s a person,” I said. Mum said, “They’re jumping...” I asked why they were jumping. “Because they’re burning to death…” It was like I was 5 again and they had to explain everything patiently.
I never moved from in front of the TV for the rest of the day and all through the night. It's still utterly numbing after 20 years.
