Untitled: Part One

Elizabeth sat in her cramped kitchen, sipping a mug of tea that had long since grown cold. Elizabeth didn't care about the temperature of the tea, she only cared about how solid the mug felt in her hands. Hands that would no doubt be shaking if it wasn't for the mug to keep them steady.

The television was on in the living room. Elizabeth's husband was watching, but Elizabeth could not bare to join him. Just hearing about the two planes crashing into the World Trade Center was bad enough. She did not need a visual to add on to the horrendous narratives that drifted into her ears. She wanted to call into her husband to turn off the television, to pretend this was not happening but she could not find her voice. Besides, as horrified as she was, she also found she was completely transfixed.

Walter joined his wife in the kitchen and automatically Elizabeth rose to prepare a pot of coffee for her husband. While she had the water running she filled up the tea kettle. The cold tea was beginning to make her feel ill. 

"Should we call the kids?" Walter asked. 

Elizabeth thought it was a good idea, but right before she picked up the portable phone from the charger, it rang. Both she and Walter jumped a little. Most days they would have shared a laugh but today was too grim for that. Elizabeth answered.

"Hi Mom," it was her son, Walter Jr. "Is Dad around? I have to talk to the two of you."

Elizabeth covered the phone and whispered to her husband to go pick up the extension in his room. Once they were both on the line Junior broke the news. His army unit was about to be deployed. Elizabeth was glad that she was sitting down as she suddenly felt faint. She knew, from the moment the second plane had hit the tower that this was a distinct possibility but now it was real. All she wanted to do was cry and beg Junior to come home but instead she took a few deep breaths and found herself turning into a good Army mom an blocking out the hysterics. 

An hour later the phone rings again. This time it was Heather, their daughter. "It's time!" She sang out when Elizabeth answered the phone. At first Elizabeth was confused, and a little angry at her daughter's greeting. The world is seemingly ending, at least her world was ending and Heather didn't seem the least big troubled. Then Elizabeth realized what her daughter meant. She was about to head over to the hospital to deliver her first child.

Elizabeth double checked with her daughter on which hospital she was heading to, then Elizabeth hurried to tell Walter and to get ready.