Grace D’Onofrio
Professor Conti
English 151
26 March 2012
The Day our Country Changed Forever “Who can tell me what eight times nine is?” Ms. B asked the room full of third graders. I was never one to participate in the classroom, so I just sat there in silence. My assigned seat was smack in the front, right next to the window. The only downside to having a window seat was being stuck in school for the entire day on really beautiful days like this one. The only thought going through my head was, “I can’t wait to go home and play outside!” My friend, Brianna, who sat right behind me, chuckled in my ear, “There’s chalk on Ms. B’s butt”. I giggled aloud by accident and received a stern look from my disapproving teacher. It was great day, especially because my mom had packed me an awesome lunch, a turkey and cheese sandwich with a juice box and a rice crispy treat, and I couldn’t wait to eat it. Out of nowhere, a voice crackled over the loud speaker, “Brittany Ciampi, Jamie Natale and Michael Hession – report to the principles office please. Your parents are here to pick you up.” Everyone started to murmur as Brittany, Jamie and Michael stood up. “That’s weird that three people got picked up this early in the day…” I said to myself. I turned to my friend Brianna and said, “Isn’t that weird?” She responded with a quick, “Yeah”. There was a terrible feeling in my stomach, I knew something was going on but I didn’t know what it was yet. Within ten minutes, many more parents arrived at the classroom door to pick up their kids. They all looked frantic, rushing to pick up their child. I kept asking different people in my class, “What’s going on? Why is everyone getting picked up?” I felt nervous and confused; my heart was beating out of my chest. Everything was happening so fast, but it seemed like slow motion. I wanted my mom or dad to come get me