Blue Sky:

Inspired
from the
9/11
bombings
Submitted by:
Nazarene Xuxa U. Datago
XI-HUMSS

Submitted to:
Ms. Mary Anne Joy Geronimo
Teacher in Creative Writing
 It was in the middle of July, a cold summer night in the new millennium. "Do you really
have to go?" Mom asked Dad in a dull, straight manner. I can easily sense her mixed emotions
of sadness, fear and anxiety. Dad was already packing his things and nodded in answer to her
inquiry. We really didn't want him to leave but we were really short on budget and needed extra
income. Mom was just a call center agent in Makati and is still waiting for her promotion in 2
months time. As a mother of 3—Ate Marie who is in college, 4-year-old Jun, and me—she
needed to take the night shifts and take care of us while Dad works in the morning. There's this
job opening in New York and Dad was chosen to be one of the software agents to help fix the
technical equipments in the upcoming project for Blue Sky Technologies Inc. for almost 2-4
months.

"It's a rare job opportunity, hon. I have to take it for the sake of our kids. I promise I will
be back as soon as possible okay?" Dad tried to calm Mom down. It's his first time going abroad
and she was overwhelmed about the fact that he will be almost a thousand miles away from
home. Mom packed the last batch of Dad's necessities and we all headed for the airport. As
soon as we saw the unlikely sight of the last call for Dad's flight, we said our goodbyes to him.
Not even a glance, Dad rushed to the plane entrance with a stern, cold expression to keep his
composure. Mom was trying to keep her tears from falling. She was an emotional crybaby to be
honest. Ate Marie said, "Mom it's alright, Dad will just be away for a couple of months. He will be
back and you wouldn't even notice that he left." We all tried to console Mom as we went home.
"I don't know, I just have this bad feeling about your Dad's trip. It's just– I have been watching
the news and I saw those terrorist attacks and got me–" Mom was interrupted by my older sister
and said, "It's all gonna be fine, Mom. You've been watching that thing lately that’s why your
mind keeps on thinking about those. Just trust Dad and let's just pray that God may guide him
everyday ok?" Mom nodded in response and tried to get some rest.

A month has passed and Mom had earned her promotion earlier than expected. She
was so thrilled when she told us and I have never seen her happier. Dad was still working
abroad so we rarely get in touch with him. It seems to me that he couldn’t afford to find time and
talk to us, he’s always occupied with his job. In all fairness, his job really is a big deal. I used the
computer in the school's library to search for Blue Sky Technologies and it shows that it is
based in the North Tower of the Twin Towers located at the World Trade Center. The phone
suddenly rang, it was Dad. Mom spoke to him for about 10 minutes. “He won’t be able to spend
Christmas with us, his visa was rejected. He still has to work for another year.” Mom told us
while trying to hold her tears. This saddened all of us, especially Ate Marie. Her graduation is
soon and she received a lot of educational achievements, too sad Dad won’t be there.
Christmas passed, we celebrated the New Year and Jun’s birthday also passed, still no sign of
Dad. Mom was dead worried about him. She wouldn’t stop wailing for days and almost had an
eating disorder just because Dad did not call. Jun’s only recognition of Dad is our family picture
taken right after his christening. Maybe he wouldn’t be able to recognize Dad when he comes
home. Unlike before, Ate Marie and I were sharing the same emotions with Mom. “What do you
think Naz? Now we’re all dead worried for Dad. With all those terrorist threats going on to the
American government? Who knows what might happen.” “You know Ate, you sound a lot like
Mom having her crybaby fits.” I chuckled softly at the thought. “Naz, not the right time for jokes
you know. Dad hasn’t called for months.” “Ate, relax. I really don’t know what to think but we
have to be strong for Mom.” The phone rings. Finally, Dad called. Mom answered the phone
and put it on speaker.
“What took you so long to call, we’ve been worried sick!”
“I am so sorry for not calling for too long. I’m still stuck with my job, I don’t think I can cope
anymore.”
“Just go home, hon! We all miss you so much don’t you?”
“I do, but my job has strict requirements and I have to comply in order to fix my Visa. They are
the ones in charge of it in exchange for my labor to the company. Tell the kids I will be home
soon. I have lots of pasalubong for them okay? I love you all.”
That was the first time I heard Dad said I love you. He never really was the expressive type.
Serious and stern he may seem, but deep inside he definitely has a soft spot for us.

September 11, 2001. It was the day I passed the entrance test in the most prestigious
University of the Philippines. That morning, when I saw my name on TV, Mom was really, really
excited to tell Dad the great news. Ate Marie was more than happier and gave me her
philosophy book I have always wanted. Jun also ranked first in his school. This calls for a big
celebration because Dad finally fixed his Visa and go home to us. We really miss Dad. In three
days time we will see him again and he would never go work abroad. Our family is now
financially stable. He already found a job near Mom’s workplace, this means that he will no
longer leave us. All is well, all is at peace. Not until the tv broadcast was interrupted, and
showed the disturbing sight of a plane crashing straight to the higher part of the North Tower.
Clouds of smoke almost covered the air. The different footages of this breaking story were
shown on televisions all over the world. Tension filled the room when we instantly realized that
—
“Call Dad right now! Call him!”
Mom’s violent voice shouted for Ate Marie as she tried to contact Dad. All eyes were on
the tv waiting for Dad’s response. “No, no, no, no, this cannot be true no, God please protect
him at all costs.” But it was too late. It’s Dad’s last day at work and was ready to turn in his
resignation. Never knew that it was his last day, his last day in this life as well. On the 99th floor
of the World Trade Center, thousands of people passed away on that agonizing moment, and
one of them is my father. Mom was left in a state of shock. Ate Marie was crying her eyes out. I
was steady as a rock. Our home was cradled in painful silence, not even a sound was heard.
Right before our eyes, the blue sky was filled with smoke and dust, people were crying and
praying for the victims’ lives. A day of glory became a day of dread in just a short amount of
time. We never expected that our lives will change forever after three hours of terror and
bloodshed.

Our lives completely altered its happy, light setting into a shock absorbed household. We
agreed never to visit New York. The events were still fresh in our memories even after years
have passed. Mom is still in shock and has acquired many mental disorders. We never would
bring back the painful memories of the horrifying past. I will never, ever go to America, for I have
lost my light in the City of Stars.