I walked to high school the next day, unknowing. I remember it as being bitterly cold, but that may very well be something my brain added after the fact.
Two and a half miles to school. I took different routes, depending on my mood. That day I walked down 55th to Western and followed Western down to 63rd. I remember black chunks of polluted ice thrown up against the curbs. The odd, muffled sound of cars on packed grey snow. A sky the colour of the street.
I remember a crowd of students gathered around the news stand at the corner of 63rd and Western. I bought a paper, the Chicago Tribune. It didn't sink in. It couldn't be true. Warm in my big coat and scarf, I was numb.
The newspaper was taken from me during study hall by Br. Paduch. I'm not sure I was even reading it. I was just staring at it in disbelief.
I have nothing very profound to say, except that it was a cold day and my heart was empty.

Two and a half miles to school. I took different routes, depending on my mood. That day I walked down 55th to Western and followed Western down to 63rd. I remember black chunks of polluted ice thrown up against the curbs. The odd, muffled sound of cars on packed grey snow. A sky the colour of the street.
I remember a crowd of students gathered around the news stand at the corner of 63rd and Western. I bought a paper, the Chicago Tribune. It didn't sink in. It couldn't be true. Warm in my big coat and scarf, I was numb.
The newspaper was taken from me during study hall by Br. Paduch. I'm not sure I was even reading it. I was just staring at it in disbelief.
I have nothing very profound to say, except that it was a cold day and my heart was empty.

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