© wildverbs
The air was finally carrying a chill in the mornings, the first sign of Fall. Nick had always loved the Fall, even as a kid, but today possessed a bitterness along with the cold. He got up early, went through his morning routine, and then opened the hallway closet.
There, like every other morning, was the American flag. He never kept it out at night because there were too many vandals.
He gently ran his dark brown fingers along the fabric. Today, more than any other day, it meant something special. “I miss you Dad.”
Tears were running down his cheeks as he put the flag pole in its holder next to the front door on the outside of his cottage. Seventeen years ago today, his Dad, a New York City Police Officer, was among the first responders after the World Trade Center was destroyed. The 27-year-old Marine veteran saluted the flag, not just for honor of country and the Corps, but for the bravest man he’d ever known who died on this day.
I wrote this for the 182nd FFfAW Challenge hosted by Priceless Joy. The idea is to use the image above to craft a piece of flash fiction between 100 and 175 words long. My word count is 174.
Today marks the seventeenth anniversary of the heinous terrorist attacks on our country, a time when we remember those who fell, and the courage of the men and women who first responded to the attacks. I felt I should write something appropriate.
To read other stories based on the prompt, visit InLinkz.com.
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Thank you James.
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You’re welcome, Kat. I try to say something about 9/11 every year, and given recent events, I thought I should say something positive about our nation, our flag, and the men and women who serve as police officers, firefighters, and in our military.
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My thoughts are with everyone and anyone who suffered the loss of a loved one, friend or colleague seventeen years ago. I was working for an American Bank in the UK when those planes hit.
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I was working for the U.S. Postal Service and was distributing tubs of mail to the carriers in the Main Post Office when we heard the news.
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It’s a time we’ll never forget.
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It was good that you posted this story…We should always recall those who went into the world trade centre to help.
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As well as those who perished on Flight 93. Thanks, Michael.
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A touching tribute James. Funnily enough I was just thinking that this was the first year since the tragedy that there has been very little coverage on the news over here in the UK.
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I guess after 17 years, it’s beginning to have less significance outside the U.S., and perhaps for some who live here. I was reading various comic strips this morning including one commemorating 9/11. Someone commented that our Grandparents got over Pearl Harbor so we should get over 9/11. Several other people beat me in telling him to shut his pie hole.
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I was very disappointed when I read my on-line comics page and found only one 9-11 tribute.
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I found one on a strip I don’t normally read and, of course, Dick Tracy had one. Nowhere else, at least among my favorites, not even Mallard Fillmore, which is a very conservative comic strip.
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The only one I saw was Wizard of Id for Flight 93. Not even BC had one this year.
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Someone who lives in Scotland commented on my blog that this was the first year that 9/11 hadn’t been significantly covered in the UK news. I’m wondering if the unpopularity of Donald Trump and general disrespect for flag and nation are having an effect. Children born when 9/11 occurred are now High School seniors.
That said, I did come across this iconic photo which, if it isn’t, should be the official image we always associate with this event; the indomitable will of the American people and the heroism of our first responders:
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I love this photo.
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Me, too. This photo challenge often uses surreal imagery which has led to the creation of some interesting tales.
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What? We still remember Pearl Harbor.
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I love it, James! It is perfect for this time in history. Such a terrible and sad day and we should never forget.
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Thank you kindly.
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This story absolutely brought a tear to my eye, as is usual when 9/11 is upon us again. I think you wrote something poignant and definitely appropriate for today, James.
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Thank you, Jade.
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A touching and fitting tribute James.
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Thank you.
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Touching story. Remembering dad, the bravest man who died on the day.
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Thanks.
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