First Plane Over St. Louis

         This story is the follow-up for:

ID: 1379581   (Rated: E) The Way it Should Be  Written 10-11-2001:A family waits to hear from a loved one in NY on business: A 9-11 story by justme

         Please read it first. 

         Two weeks had passed since the terrible events of 9-11 shook the nation and the world.  Flags waved proudly in the late September breeze, many still at half mast in respect for the thousands of lives lost.

         The skies had been silent since the attacks; all air traffic was grounded.  Travelers were stranded and rental car companies couldn’t keep up with the demand.  Here in St. Louis, private citizens lined up at the air port to help marooned airline patrons find a way home.  They offered food, transportation, even accommodations until other arrangements could be made.

         The quiet skies were interrupted only by birds; the geese formed large Vs as they flew from one nearby pond to another.  Flocks of birds beginning their southward migration swooped and sailed unimpeded by the normal air traffic.

         Lonely clouds floated in the blue September skies and the breeze was perfect for kite flying as Nathaniel, Fallon, and Heather got dressed, had breakfast, and prepared for their lessons.  The news was still filled with replays of the 9-11 events and discussions of what had happened, how it happened, and the horrible aftermath. 

          Mommy kept a tiny television in the corner of the kitchen where the children couldn’t see it so she could read the streaming updates running across the bottom of the screen.  She muted the volume to keep them from hearing the details over and over.  It was traumatic enough the first time, she thought, why should they hear about it all day long?

         As the morning progressed, a red banner at the top of the screen caught Mommy’s attention.  “Air Traffic Reinstated Nationwide,” it read. 

         “I’ll be right back,” she said to the children.  She plugged in her headphones and tuned in to the local news.

         The broadcaster had interrupted regular programming for a special bulletin:  “After two weeks of seeing nothing but birds in the sky, we want to let our viewers know that air traffic has been reinstated.  The first plane leaving Lambert Field will be taking off in twenty minutes.  It will take off in an easterly direction, fly over Hazelwood and Florissant where it will bank in a north-western direction and resume course due west over St. Charles County heading toward Phoenix, Arizona.  Other flights will follow as the day goes on.  Stay tuned for live coverage as the first plane takes off this morning.”

         Mommy took a deep breath and blew it out.  Will the children be afraid? she wondered, tears coming to her eyes.  An idea formed in her mind and she glanced at the clock.

         “Is everyone ready for a break?” she asked.  The children nodded and she continued, “The newscaster just announced that airplanes were going to start flying again this morning.”

         “When?” Nathaniel asked, bouncing out of his chair with excitement.

         The girls were a little more cautious.  “Will they be okay?” Heather asked.

         “Will they fly over our house?” Fallon wondered.

         Mommy smiled reassuringly.  “Everything will be just fine.  The first plane will be taking off in about fifteen minutes.  They’re going to show it on the news.”

         Nathaniel ran to turn on the television in the family room.  “Let’s watch it,” he suggested.

         The girls followed their brother and joined him on the sofa.  “They said it will fly over Florissant, where Nanny and Papa live; then it will head west and fly over St. Charles County.”

         “That’s where we are,” Fallon said.

         “Will we be able to see it go over?” Nathaniel asked.

         Not wanting to give him false hope, Mommy replied, “We’ll have to wait and see.”

         The news broadcast showed a close up of the airplane, an interview with the confident pilot and a few nervous passengers.  They showed the workings of the air traffic control tower, the radar screens, and a view of the airfield.  Nathaniel was enthralled by it all.

         The broadcaster counted down to take off like he was watching the space shuttle.  “3… 2… 1…” he said as the plane gathered speed and headed down the runway.  “We have liftoff.”

         The cameras followed the aircraft as it took to the sky.  Passengers and airport personnel cheered until the plane was out of sight.

         “We expect the plane will follow a path that takes it over Old Town St. Charles proper, then out toward the O’Fallon, Cottleville, and Weldon Spring areas and on toward Kansas City.”

         “Let’s go watch!” the children chorused.  Mommy stopped for the binoculars as the children ran out the front door and around to the backyard.

         “It should be coming from that direction,” Mommy said, pointing across the neighbor’s house to the northeast.  “Listen and see who hears it first.”

         The children’s eyes glistened with excitement and renewed hope as they scanned the skies.  I hope this helps them put the terror of the last couple weeks behind them, at least for a moment, Mommy thought, watching them.

         A faint hum began and the children stood completely still, listening.  “I hear it coming,” Nathaniel whispered.

         As the hum grew louder the four turned toward the sound.  “I see it!” Fallon shouted.  “I see it!  I see it!”  She jumped up and down pointing at a tiny shiny dot in the distance.

         Mommy offered her the binoculars.  “See if you can find it,” she suggested.

         Fallon trained the binoculars on the tiny dot.  “I see it!” she cried again, passing the binoculars to her sister.

         Nathaniel took his turn as the tiny dot grew larger.  “It’s coming right at us!” he exclaimed, pointing and dancing around the yard.

         “It should go right over our house,” Mommy said.  “We’re right between Cottleville and Weldon Spring.”  An instant later the loud hum grew to a rumble and the tiny dot took on the shape of an airplane.  “There it is!” she cried. 

         The children shouted and cheered as the plane flew overhead, racing to the front yard, watching and waving until the plane was out of sight.  All that remained were two white streamers streaking across the blue September sky accompanied by the fading hum as the plane went on its way toward Phoenix. 

         “We saw it, Mommy,” they said breathlessly.  “The first plane over St. Louis, and we saw it.”

         As the day passed, the children ran to the window every time they heard a noise.  Once it was a delivery truck, another time it was just the neighbor’s noisy pickup.  Several more planes passed that day, but none was exciting as that first one; the first plane over St. Louis.

***

         Many planes have passed since then, and many things have happened.  There have been smiles, joys, tears, and sorrows.  The pictures of the way it should be still hang on the refrigerator as a reminder even though Heather is now married, Fallon is engaged, and Nathaniel is ready to start shaving. 

         Just the other day Heather came to visit.  As we sipped ice tea on the porch in the September breeze we watched a plane fly over.  “Do you remember,” she began.

         I nodded before she ever got the words out.  “I remember,” I reassured her, patting her hand.  “I will always remember.”  Heather reached out and wiped a tear from my cheek as I had so often done to her when she was younger.  “I will always remember.”

***
         As the anniversary of the 9-11 tragedy approaches, I hope you will take a moment to pause and remember, too.  Remember all who were lost, all that has changed, and all that was learned.  As a dear friend of mine often says, “We’re all in this together.”

I will always remember.

ID: 1379581   (Rated: E) The Way it Should Be  Written 10-11-2001:A family waits to hear from a loved one in NY on business: A 9-11 story by justme