United We Stand Read Online Free

president—
my
president—was speaking out for all of us, speaking about something that had happened to me.
    “Today, our nation saw evil, the very worst of human nature. And we responded with the best of America—with the daring of our rescue workers, with the caring for strangers and neighbors who came to give blood and help in any way they could
.”
    I knew what my father had done, what we’d
both
done. And I thought about all the policemen and firefighters … Oh my God, I’d forgotten about James’s father. He’d been one of the firemen going up while we’d been going down. I didn’t know what had happened to him. I had to call James. What sort of a friend was I—what sort of
best
friend—to have forgotten about him? No, calling him on the phone wasn’t enough. I had to go over to his house. Immediately, right now. I started to speak but stopped myself. I couldn’t interrupt the president.
    “This is a day when all Americans from every walk of life unite in our resolve for justice and peace. America has stood down enemies before, and we will do so this time. None of us
will ever forget this day. Yet, we go forward to defend freedom and all that is good and just in our world
.
    “Thank you. Good night and God bless America
.”
    The president’s image faded and it was back to the news anchors. My father muted the sound again.
    “The president spoke for all of us,” my father said. “Strange, this is one of the darkest events in our history, but I know we’re going to rise above it. I have no doubts.”
    “I just can’t stop thinking about the people who aren’t going to rise above it,” I said. “The three thousand people who died.”
    “And their families,” my mother added.
    “I need to go and see James and his family,” I said.
    “I already called, and we might go to see them tonight,” my mother said.
    “No, I need to see James before that … Wait, you were talking to them?” I asked.
    “I called and spoke to James’s mother this morning.”
    “And have they heard anything?” I asked, although I was almost afraid to get the answer.
    She shook her head. “They’re still waiting. Sometimes the waiting is the hardest part.”
    “I have to go over there right now.”
    “You need to come into the kitchen, sit down, and eat breakfast. Both of you.”
    “I’m not hungry,” I said.
    “And I’d better continue to try to make arrangements for—”
    “No,” my mother said forcefully, cutting my fatheroff. “Both of you have been through a lot, physically and mentally, and you need to eat. Right after breakfast you can get back on the phone, John, and I’ll take Will over to see the Bennetts.”
    “I can walk over,” I said.
    “I know you can, but I want to go as well.”
    “I’m okay, you don’t have to be right there with me.”
    “I’m not going for you. I’m going for James’s mother. I think I know what she’s going through as much as anybody else can. Now, breakfast first.”

CHAPTER
TWO
    My mother shoveled another pile of scrambled eggs onto our plates—my third helping, Dad’s second. I did want to get over to James’s house, but I was still hungry. It was like the food was filling a gigantic empty pit in my stomach. That really shouldn’t have been a surprise. Before we’d left for my father’s office yesterday I’d been too rushed to eat much breakfast, and then, with everything that happened, there was no chance to eat—not that I was thinking about food then. Somehow the strange combination of danger and adrenaline I’d been dining on had suppressed not only my appetite but even the thought that I neededto eat. It was as if my stomach had closed down the same time my brain and muscles kicked into gear. Finally, at the mobile hospital where they were stitching me up, I ate a muffin—one stale muffin. Then, when I did get home, instead of eating I just fell into bed and passed out, exhausted, spent, numb.
    Funny, though I was eating now but I