Joni woke up early Tuesday morning, and was getting dressed when she heard the telepathic broadcast in her head.
Girls, please meet on the lawn in thirty minutes, Willow said. Joni thought for a moment, and then remembered. Of course, it was the 11th.
Armelle looked over to Friday. "Do you know what's up?" she asked, pulling her hair back into a pony tail and grabbing a sweater.
Friday
"Haven't the foggiest," Friday yawned as she got dressed. "Surprise marathon run?"
She ran her fingers through her short black hair to untangle the knots a bit before running her comb through it a couple of times.
Willow, Joni and Armelle
Willow stood at the flagpole as the girls started to show up. She'd lowered the flag to half mast. When it looked like just about everyone was there, she started.
"So, as most of you know, today is September 11th. 4 years ago, a group of terrorists attacked this country, killing 2993 people, including the 19 hijackers, and leaving 24 people missing, presumed dead. I'd like us to stop for a moment of silence, and everyone is welcome to say a prayer, no matter who you want to pray to," Willow said.
Joni closed her eyes. She didn't really believe in God. Well, kinda, but not really. The Sem God was the same, but different. Nevertheless, she said a prayer, for all the people who died. Even the bad guys. She remembered when it happened, she was 9 years old, and her best friend at the time-- Mallory's-- mom had been killed, working in the World Trade Center. It was the first funeral Joni had ever been to.They'd been in school when the announcement happened, and they brought in TVs for everyone to watch.
Armelle closed her eyes. She remembered now. When she heard about what had happened, she'd wanted to go to New York and help in the rescue/relief effort, but her mother had insisted it wasn't safe, so they settled for sending a large donation.
Friday
Friday bowed her head and looked down at her feet, resisting the urge to sigh loudly. She hated rememberence services. They were always so boring.
Thousands of people died, in this case going about their daily routines, as opposed to serving their country in some war. Senseless waste and all that. She didn't know any of them. She didn't even know if anyone she knew knew anyone involved. Just a random collection of names. And as selfish and unfeeling as it may sound, her first reaction to the news four years ago was: "Great, they are never going to shut up about this." People died every day, why must they go on about it? Seriously!
She shook herself of that thought.
"Get over it, Day," she told herself. "You should at least appreciate the reason why they died, even if none of the names mean anything to you."
But there was no reason, other than the vendetta of some stupid terrorists who had nothing better to do with their time and thought violence was the answer to every problem.
Another thought occured to her: you probably wouldn't be so bored if this was a memorial service for slayers.
Had Friday been walking, that thought would have stopped her in her tracks. Lilly's face immediately came to mind, and the faces of the few other slayers at the school who had died. All trying to do a duty they had been conscripted to do.
And perhaps for the first time in her life, a rememberance service actually had some meaning for her.
Willow
After about five minutes was up, Willow spoke again.
"It's important we remember tragedies, because it can help up stop them from happening again. We train you girls to help protect the world from supernatural evil. I suppose we can get jaded after a while. And then something like 9/11 happens, and you are suddenly reminded that even the very people we're protect can commit horrible, senseless acts of evil. But that doesn't mean we stop trying. And it doesn't mean we forget. So I'd like us to take another moment of silence to think about Lilly Death, Becky Yoder, Stephanie Silverman, Melody Nitsch and Joanna Drake. Buffy Summers." Willow's voice cracked a bit as she said Buffy's name. Willow bowed her head again, as they had another short moment of silence.
Katrina
Katrina swallowed. She missed Lilly.
It was going to be like this for the rest of their lives, wasn't it? Loosing friends. Every year there would be more and more slayers added to the list. And one day her own name would be on that list.
This sucked.
Willow
After a few more minutes, Willow spoke again. "Okay, girls. It's time for breakfast." Willow didn't want to make a huge deal about it, like some people did, constantly having people go over everything, and talk about everyone who ever died. It sucked, and it served no purpose. 10 minutes a year was enough to dwell. More than that wasn't healthy, WIllow believed.