I was in 2nd grade. I was in the cafeteria. I was sitting at my regular seat and all of a sudden I looked up and saw my mom running down the stairs to my cafeteria. My sister, who was in kindergarten, was on the other side of the cafeteria and my mom scooped her up. I screamed “Mommy!” because I was so excited and knew we were leaving early. She was in panic mode. We are 5 hours from NYC.

The next thing I remember is walking across the street to the nearest church. My school admins wanted everyone in the church so they would be “safe”. My mom refused and I remember looking at a former teacher and she was crying. She kept saying “Kathleen in there, Kathleen is there!” Her daughter was in NYC on vacation.

The next thing I remember is being at my aunts house. My mom allowed us to be outside with my cousins. We were all there, all 26 of us. My oldest cousin, who could drive, pulled up in his car and said, I just saw the news, its live.

My aunts and mom rushed in the house and saw the first tower falling. One of my moms friends came over next and watched. The confusion erupted when the news castors were silent. My moms friend in shock and disbelief, with terror in her voice, “No, its another tower.” More panic erupted and we were all forced to be inside.

And that’s my story.