The first part of my first chapter of my ZuNoWriMo story! Enjoy, and remember that the chapter is not done yet!
Quote:
History
History repeats itself for those who do not learn it the first time.
The world has encountered this many a time. In the American Revolutionary War, the colonists fought using guerrilla warfare while the British were trying to be professional and the colonists won. In the Vietnam War, the Americans were trying to be professional while the Vietnamese were sniping at them from varied distances and wore them down. In both cases, the professionals withdrew from the field. In World War I, the Americans helped the British by sneaking weapons on passenger ships and cruise lines. The Lusitania was attacked by a German sub and the United States entered the war. In World War II, the Americans did the same thing with the Allied Powers and Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, causing them to enter another world war. Back in 1778, if a British soldier killed a father, then his three American sons would be against a British soldier. Now, in Iraq, if an American soldier kills a man, their three sons are against an American soldier. The Americans should have learned their history much better if they were to avoid this.
Of course, arrogance is the air that causes these things to happen. Another example would be the invasion of Iraq and then staying to “better” the nation, like the British did to the colonists after the French and Indian War, in 1763. Thirteen years later, a war started to break the tie with Britain. Some people might say that this situation is different, but it isn’t. Britain was arrogant in 1763. America was arrogant in 2001 until the large event caused an uproar and eventually lead them to this current day.
A boy awakened to these words. His eyes opened and closed a bit before his vision was focused. A face with light skin, green eyes, and a thick, black mustache looked straight at him. The boy jumped out of his seat, fearing the scowl the man had just held. His chair fell with a loud thud and everyone commenced laughing. The teacher placed himself upright, holding a golf club, or rather a piece of one.
“Robert!” he shouted, “What did I just say?”
“The Mississippi River was a horror!” the boy shouted.
“You weren’t listening, were you?” the teacher asked, “That’s a rhetorical question! Don’t answer it.”
Robert was a sixteen year old boy with blond hair, light skin, and brown eyes, but he was stuck in a class for the History of the United States of America. It was, according to the journal he kept, his most hated class. The teacher would always speak like his country made mistakes, but he knew that America was perfect. No matter what the teacher said, he always thought that America was the best. It was September 10, 2001 and the boy’s thoughts made the teacher do whatever he did to Robert twice as hard. Whenever he spoke about how the country made a mistake, he would repeat it in front of Robert. A paragraph on their knowledge of American History had sealed Robert’s fate and that led him to this very place. On top of everything, it was his sixth day of class. The teacher sighed and allowed Robert to sit down.
“Mr. Miller,” he called out, “How can you say America made mistakes?”
The teacher swung around, the golf club dangerously moved with him and now pointed at Robert. The student had obviously pricked a nerve and was about to get it.
“I’m glad you asked,” he happily said with his genuine smile, “But before I answer, please wake Miss Katherine up.”
Next to Robert was a young lady, three months younger than he. She was still fifteen, but became sixteen tomorrow. She had long, red, flowing hair that surrounded her face. When the boy gently nudged her cheek, she rose like, to Robert anyway, an angel. The hair let the artificial light of the classroom hit her face, showing her tan skin and blue eyes. She looked around and then saw Robert and smiled. However, the finger that nudged her awake pointed away from him to the right. She followed it and saw the scowl Mr. Miller sported. She jerked her head up.
“I’m sorry!” she shouted, “I didn’t get enough sleep!”
“You know what I say about excuses!” the teacher exclaimed, “It’s like the hole in the center of someone’s buttocks. Everyone has one and they all stink. Please don’t nod off in my class.”
She nodded and looked attentively at the blank blackboard. The teacher looked at the class again, remembering the question Robert had posed to him. He positioned himself above his grey, metal trash can and then sat on it. He swung the broken club around with his left, stopped it with his right, and then grabbed it like the metal handle bar on a roller coaster ride. Miller leaned forward, looked around again, and opened his mouth to speak. Out came the sounds of Liberty Bell, and the students began to leave. Defeated, he stood up and asked the two sleepers to stay behind. When everyone left and the second bell sounded, he began something different.
“I do not tolerate sleeping in my classroom,” he stated, “Do you understand?”
“Yes.” The two said.
“I will not hesitate to repeat the trash incident,” he continued, “Do you understand?”
“Yes.” They replied monotonously.
“You’re not listening,” he abruptly stated, “Right?”
“Yes.” They replied.
After a second, they realized what they had just told him, jerked back up, and became attentive. Mr. Miller looked at them again with anger.
“Do not sleep in my class. That is all.” He stated, allowing them to leave.
Robert retrieved his thing from the empty desk to his left and then watched Katherine rise. Her hair fell to her stomach and shined from the light, It always made him happy to see her glow in this light that he hated. Robert smiled as they left the class, holding hands.
The doors of the silent school opened to the sky of the screaming city. New York had always been loud, especially when they were so close to the Twin Towers. While the Statue of Liberty guided immigrants to the light and the Empire State Building lifted its head proudly, the Twin Towers supported more than the world. They supported each other. They stood at about equal height and did not literally lean on each other, but stood with equal pride. It was also called the World Trade Center because of the worldly trade that was conducted there. The sun gleamed at the two with red as it sank into the ground.
Robert led Katherine through the streets of the city into the dark, rushing subways and then went towards the more silent Uptown Manhattan, generally around 200th Street, also named Dyckman Street. The business street was not very well known, but peddlers from all over, except the continent of Asia (Canal Street dominated that), came to sell their items. The two went down the street to 196th Street. It was an unknown little alley instead of an actual street, but it gave the people living there pride. She lived in the red bricked building. It looked brand new. The doorway was painted black and the halls were swept and mopped, letting the light bounce off of the green tiles. The numbers of the building, 610, were white and gleamed. Across the street was where Robert lived. It was a rundown yellow bricked building. The doorway was black, but the paint was fading and the door was open. Inside, the red tiles were being mopped, but he knew they would never gleam. The second number of his building was missing, but the item that held it up left a mark, showing everyone it was 609.
Robert gave Katherine a kiss and went off into his rundown place of a home. They were to meet in an hour at the entrance of the local middle school that was resented by the residents. It was a nice red building and the symbols on the doorway read “Intermediate School 218”. A green gate was there, but it was never closed. Rust was on most of the green, so anyone could prick it open.
The sun had set and the two met outside, ready to go to the only fancy place in the local neighborhood their parents let them go; the Panda Chinese Restaurant. It was located on Nagle Avenue across the street from the Elementary School Public School 152. This fast-food restaurant was the place that was considered the ideal romantic dinner and the romantic walk was the incline up from Nagle to 196th Street, which was usually locked past ten o’clock.
The city did not allow the fancy dresses since everything was dirty. The concrete that made the sidewalks had chewed gum and bottle caps within them. Therefore, Katherine wore a nice black t-shirt with the New York Empire State Building on it. She also wore black jeans and red sneakers. Her hair was left straight, but brushed. Robert wore a blue jacket with a white polo underneath and blue jeans with black sneakers. They looked at each other, nodded, and proceeded down to the fancy restaurant hand in hand.
Everyone on the street of 196th and some people on Nagle Avenue between Sherman and Broadway knew that Katherine and Robert were together, or at least most knew. There was always, as Katherine had said to Robert one night, a group of boys always following her, but would stop at 196th street. She had the suspicion of stalking placed on them, but she wanted to make sure of it before the accusation could be thoroughly placed. Tonight was an exception since she walked with Robert. No respectable group would follow the two of them because of the number of adults who knew about their “stalking”.
Of course, Robert had problems communicating with the Chinese woman who took their orders. He had to repeat things a few times because he spoke too fast and, eventually, she understood what he said. Katherine was sitting on the seat facing the window while Robert sat with his back at the window. She was a tad nervous not because of the fact there were stalkers, but because of the fact there were none tonight. She knew that if anything happened to her, then her parents would rain it all on Robert’s head until the day he died. Robert noticed her jumpiness immediately.
“What’s wrong Kate?” he asked.
“N-n-nothing.” She stuttered.
“General Tso’s!” the Chinese order taker shouted, making Kate jump out of her seat.
As Robert retrieved his spicy chicken, he responded, “That was not nothing. Now, what’s wrong?”
Katherine looked around nervously, then looked back at him with eyes of fear.
“I’ve had this-this… feeling of sorts,” Kate confessed, “You know, like something bad is supposed to happen and soon.”
“Everyone’s had one of those,” Robert explained with a smile and holding her hand, “It’s nothing. No-“
“Get your hands off of her!” a deep voice shouted.
Robert turned around to see a group of boys around eighteen years of age wearing ripped t-shirts and leather jackets. With black jeans and boots, they seemed menacing. The leader was a man who was heavily built with black gloves that were cut so that his fingers would show. He wore his red bandanna backwards and wore a scowl with a dark intent. His flunkies were just some people who were identical in build to each other and had no bandanna, but a military haircut. The people in the fast food restaurant began to whisper to each other.
“Who are you?” Robert innocently asked.
“How have you not heard of us?!” the leader exclaimed in anger, “We are the Gang of 196th. We have warred with those from 202nd Street and have defeated them thoroughly. We have claimed this girl as our property!”
At “this”, he grabbed Kate and lifted her up, his hand around her elbow instead of the traditional wrist-grabber that most gangs stereotypically used. She screamed from the pain that felt like her elbow would give up and let the forearm go. Robert was motioning to stand up, but the leader pulled out a pistol. The others were wielding knives. At this, the boy sat back down.
“Only we leaders are able to wield guns,” the dark one said, “Now, Kate. Let’s go do it.”
Robert had had enough of this. He stood back up, which resulted in a bullet passing by his head. The leader laughed, but stopped when he saw that it did not faze the boy at all. He had an angry look, which gave the leader an angrier look.
“You wanna have a go?” the leader asked, “Get ‘em boys.”
The flunkies nodded with smiles as they closed in with their knives. Robert had only a plastic knife while their knives were those that were to be used to cut tomatoes, carrots, and, accidentally, fingers. One of them charged at Robert, who, in response, ducked, stuck the plastic knife into the gangster’s stomach. He dropped his metal knife on the ground and Robert proceeded into throwing him back. Another two charged in against him. Robert jumped onto his seat, then his table, and then on their heads. As soon as they began to give into the weight, he jumped off and kicked the boy in the middle. The leader was amazed at this boy’s skill.
“What are you waiting for?!” the man screamed, “Kill him!”
The other five flunkies shook themselves awake and prepared to attack. Robert went down, swept his leg under a gangster, and took his knife. Another tried to stab him there, but Robert rolled out of the way and kicked his knife so it landed on the counter in front of the Chinese woman, handle up. Next, Robert kicked the knife-less one down onto the ground. Then, he parried the two knife wielders and eventually kicked one down and tossed the other out the store.
It was him against the leader of the gang and right now, the leader wasn’t very happy. He still held his gun out at Robert, but it still did nothing. Therefore, he tried a new tactic and pointed it at Kate’s head. He smiled like a psychotic man.
“Come any closer and she dies!” the leader exclaimed.
Robert froze and stuck himself to the ground. He knew that this man, if Robert could even call him that without disgracing humanity, would actually kill her. As he debated what he could do, a flunky got up and prepared a lethal stab, but Robert saw it coming. He ducked, kicked the guy’s knife towards the leader, and then made him trip. The knife went buy so fast that the leader didn’t notice the cut it made on his forearm until he saw it. When he did, Kate immediately fell to the ground and scurried away. Robert took the opportunity to run towards him as the evil one shot at Robert, his aim wrong due to his nervousness. Unfortunately, for the leader, Robert got to him and finally knocked down his pistol and then punched him out. Another flunky took the pistol and tried to fire, but there were no longer any bullets within it. So, he cowered in the corner while the police officers came in. After looking over the place in awe, they arrested the criminals and peace somewhat returned to the restaurant. Kate was nursing her elbow with napkins that the manager gave her. Robert was thanked for the rescue and given his meal again, free of charge. Kate, after finishing the small wrap on her elbow, looked at her hero and boyfriend.
“Where did you learn to fight like that?” she asked, still in slight awe from the display.
“Long story.” Robert answered, looking around, anticipating more gangsters to show up.
“Umm…” Kate muttered, “Would you like to go back?”
“Only if you want to,” he answered, still looking around, “I don’t really mean to do this, but I want to make sure that gang doesn’t come back. They usually have large numbers.”
Kate nodded, indicating her want to leave, so Robert got the chicken for take-out and led Kate through the street into the park, where the darkness of the night covered the beauty of the usually colorful leaves. It was silent, at least a little more silent than the restaurant was. The two were now in the middle of the street, ready to part. Kate knew it was safe to leave at her apartment building, especially when everyone knew about what had just taken place. The two looked at each other and said their goodbyes. Kate quickly ran up the stairs to her apartment while Robert looked around and then proceeded into his run-down place of a home.
Pearl Harbor. It was what brought America into World War Two. The Japanese bombed our troops there to keep America out of the war. Ironic? September 11. It was what created the War on Terror that America jumped into, or rather created. This was done to show the power Al Qaeda and the Taliban had and to make the Americans surrender. Coincidence? These countries, at the time, were stubborn. America proved to be the most stubborn of them all.
“All right class!” Mr. Miller exclaimed, “It’s time to enter the World Trade Center!”
A loud cheer went through the class. This was the most anticipated trip of the month. Every US History class took a day off to visit the economic center of the world, the World Trade Center. After a quick explanation, they were split up and given permission to go through the Twin Towers, but they were to meet back at the steps of the WTC at eleven o’clock. Mr. Miller, in previous years, never talked about the trade that went on for long. He barely spoke of it! So, this year, the students were allowed to just go up the towers that overlooked the city and gave it the ability to prosper.
Robert and Kate were, by no lucky means, in the same group along with a few other kids in their class. They were all boys, since the class had more boys than girls. One was Matthew, the rebel of the class. He usually enjoyed watching Robert sleep through a class or two of history. He always picked on Robert for having Kate as a girlfriend, although no one knows why. Matthew walked up to them, huddled them together, and said his plan.
“We’re going to the top floor and pretend we’re holding the place hostage.” He whispered.
“We can’t do that!” another boy, Zack, shouted.
“Why not, O wise one?” Matt asked back with a sarcastic tongue.
“There are guards with guns!” Zack informed him, “They can shoot us!”
“What other plans do you have then?” Kevin inquired.
These two had a weird relationship. They were friends for the last few years. Zack would always say something sensible and Kevin would punch him into a corner, mentally speaking. Robert found it odd that the two were on such odd ends and yet they remained friends.
“How about we go to the top floor and watch them?” Robert asked.
“Fine,” Matthew surrendered, “We can think of a plan in the elevator anyway.”
It was decided at eight o’ clock AM they would meet at the top floor any way they wanted, although they all wanted the elevator. Therefore, at 7:55, the group was crammed into an elevator headed for the top floor. Lyndon, another boy from the group, impatiently tapped his foot as the watch he wore read 8:15. So many stops were made and they were all very annoyed at this. Finally, at 8:20, they had made it to the top floor of the South Tower of the Twin Towers. The sun was rising towards its peak and they had one of the best views in the entire city. Matthew tried to plan a prank, but he failed miserably when Mr. Miller came from behind and pulled his ear while in the midst of planning it. The officials there were typing away like this would be their last day. Cubicles reflected some originality, but not a lot. It ranged from a bright blazer to many family pictures.
It was eight thirty and the two lovers were looking at the North Tower where some of their classmates were told to go. Either way, those two knew that they’d be gazing at the opposite tower. Kate looked around a bit and Robert could sense she was in a little fear again.
“Are you still worried about yesterday?” Robert asked, pushing her hair out of her fearful eyes.
“Kind of,” she said, “I think I saw someone follow me to school even though you were walking me. Also… I-I-I had a dream.”
“So did I,” he responded, “The dream one, I mean. It was more of a nightmare. There were four fires and there were sounds of people-“
“Screaming and splattering…” Kate finished.
“You didn’t have that dream, did you?” Robert asked, only to see her nod in fear, “That can’t be good.”
It was eight forty and Mr. Miller phoned the other faculty chaperone and told him to get the students down to the main lobby. The South Tower students were enjoying themselves at this top floor. Zack and Kevin had gone to playing poker on the floor. Matthew looked at what the workers were typing while the two lovers looked at the North Tower. The shadows of students had begun descending as the sun continued its rise. Kate sighed, looked around, then spotted something. A plane was flying through the airways of New York City. She knew this was normal, and yet, it sort of frightened her, for she had never been up this high before to see a plane in such detail while it flew. It was eight forty-three and Kate started screaming.
“What’s wrong?!” Robert asked.
“Th-th-th-th” she stuttered, pointing at the window.
Robert saw that the plane was flying, but it was headed towards the North Tower and, to him, it seemed to have no plans of stopping anytime soon. A split second stop and the two saw all the panic on the plane and knew that death would ensue. 8:45 AM. Crash! An explosion followed and the screams began.
“Mr. Miller!” Robert shouted, alerting the history teacher, “We’ve got a situation!”
“What’s wro- Oh my f-----g goodness,” He said as he saw the flames erupting from the middle side of the North Tower, “Everyone out! Now!”
“It was just get-“ Matthew started.
“Now Matthew!” Mr. Miller shouted.
All the students ran towards the elevator just as a supervisor entered. He wore a white button down shirt with black dress pants and brown shoes. His name tag read George Millon and he had eyes of, not fear, but anger.
“There is nothing wrong!” he said with a smile, “You can stay.”
10-01-2006, 07:02 PM
