In memory of the 2981 victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, among them three Albanians
[Disastrous September, by the Albanian-American author, Skifter Këlliçi, takes place on two different days: May 10 and September 11, 2001. The novel tells the story of a well-known CNN reporter named Steve Ferguson, engaged to Jacqueline Cramer, a flight attendant based at Logan International Airport in Boston, Massachusetts. In addition, the novel explores the lives of four Albanians. Besim Istrefi, Rrok Camaj, and Marko Muzaka worked as window washers in the Twin Towers. Sokol Kama, a journalist and writer, works in security at Logan International Airport. On September 11, 2001 just a few days before Steve and Jacqueline’s wedding, two planes, bound for Los Angeles, depart from Boston. Terrorists hijack them and crash them into the Twin Towers in New York. The author, who worked at Logan International Airport during the attacks, offers a gripping account of the tragedy and shows how it could have been avoided.]
By SKIFTER KELLICI
[Translated from the Albanian by Carrie Hooper]
“When Steve came here last May to work on his documentary, he and Jacqueline, went all the way up to the 107th floor,” said Rrok. “Hey, Marko, you never brought your fiancé so we could meet her. I met her last night, and let me tell you, she’s very pretty. I happened to see her with Marko as they got on the subway to go to the Bronx. They were holding hands. Marko didn’t even see me. That’s how in love he is.”
“Well, why didn’t you say something?” asked Marko.
“I didn’t want to interrupt your moment of love.”
“Is she that pretty?” asked Besim.
“Of course,” said Rrok. “A handsome, young man like Marko would only choose the prettiest girl.”
Marko shook his head and said, “Don’t mind him, Besim. He is exaggerating. My Maria is beautiful, but more important, she is a beautiful person inside.
“We will see you this Sunday at Steve and Jacqueline’s wedding,” said Besim.
“Do I have to bring her, too?” Marko teased.
“Weren’t you listening when Steve and Jacqueline invited both of you to the wedding?” asked Besim.
“Of course,” said Marko.
“There you go,” said Besim. “There’ll be Said and Serena, Sokol, you and Maria, Marta, Trim, and I. You can announce your engagement at the wedding. Are you coming, Rrok?”
“I wasn’t invited,” he said.
“Come on, man, Steve and Jacqueline would be thrilled to see you. They felt bad when you told them you’re single. Why don’t you come? We’ll have a good time. We can sing a few songs from Kosovo together, like Moj e bukura, more which Steve and Jacqueline loved.”
“Amazing!” said Rrok. “An American wedding and an Arberesh engagement.”
At 7:59 AM, American Airlines Flight 11 prepared to depart for Los Angeles from Logan International Airport. Pilots Chris Frasier and Patrick Estrom started the airplane’s engines. Jacqueline and Emma helped passengers to their seats, among them, Muhammad, Abdul, and Satem, who flew in first class. Vail and Rashid flew in economy. Muhammad took his phone out of his pocket and dialed a number.
“Marvan,” he said. “We are about to leave – What’s going on?”
“We’re boarding now.”
“Have a good flight, Brother Marvan.”
“You, too, Muhammad.”
A few minutes later, the plane roared like a large animal as it ascended into the blue sky. The Arabs pretended to sleep. Jacqueline looked out the window. The tall buildings disappeared as the plane flew into the fluffy clouds. She thought of Steve, whom she had met on this very plane. She would never forget his interview with her for his documentary, A Day at Logan International Airport, Boston 2000. While deep in thought, Emma approached her.
“Every time we take off, I think of Steve’s first question when he interviewed me: “Why do you like your job?” said Jacqueline.
“I remember him asking you that,” said Emma. “You gave a splendid answer and made some comparisons I don’t remember right now, something about fishermen if I’m not mistaken.”
“That’s right. I said fishermen love the sea, the waves, and the wind that pushes their boats, sometimes slowly, sometimes furiously.”
“Oh yes, now I remember. You also said the plane is your boat, and you sail the skies, which are sometimes calm and other times stormy like the sea. I also remember Steve asking you if you were ever scared. You said accidents don’t just happen in the sky, but also on the ground when people walk or drive. I feel free as a bird up here. I feel like I’m flying.”
Jacqueline and Emma didn’t realize Greta had joined them and had overheard their conversation.
“I feel the same way,” she said.
“And you will after a hundred flights,” said Jacqueline.
“Even when you go home, you’ll be ready to go back to work,” said Emma.
“My mom will celebrate her 50th birthday in two days,” said Greta.
“Wow! Half a century!” said Jacqueline. “That’s pretty special.”
Chris and Patrick felt like birds, too, and loved their job.
“So, Chris, you’re leaving us, too,” said Patrick.
“It would have been easier if they’d said I wasn’t able to fly,” said Chris with a frown.
“In any case, you’ll still be at the controls.”
“Yes, but just as an instructor. I’ll only work a few hours a week, teaching other people to fly instead of thousands of hours flying all over the world.”
“Well, someone has to teach people how to fly. Imagine if experienced pilots like you refused to do that?”
Chris remained silent.
Read: Miss of Freedom – A Poem from Albania
“Would you become an instructor at the Aviation Academy if you had the chance?” asked Chris.
“In a heartbeat,” said Patrick. “But I don’t have your experience. Besides, you have a good reputation. Everyone at Logan knows who you are.”
Chris recalled an incident from several years ago. During a landing, one of the engines stalled, and the plane almost crashed into some nearby houses. Needless to say, the terrified passengers panicked.
However, Chris managed to land and avoid a collision, thereby saving the lives of about three hundred passengers.
Patrick interrupted Chris’s thoughts when he said, “One day, someone may come up to you and say, Do you remember me, Mr. Frasier? I was one of your students at the Academy. Wouldn’t you feel proud?”
Chris nodded. Still, he thought about the fact that today was his last flight. He had been a pilot for twenty years.
After the passengers watched a short safety video, Emma put a hand on Jacqueline’s shoulder and said, “Ladies and gentlemen, today’s flight is very special. It’s our friend, Jacqueline’s, last flight from Boston. She is getting married and will live in New York. Later, I will ask you to raise a toast to her and her future husband, a well-known CNN reporter named Steve Ferguson.”
The passengers applauded.
“Congratulations,” said George. “I’ve never heard news like that on a plane.”
“I haven’t, either,” said his wife, Amanda.
She stood up, gave Jacqueline a kiss, and embraced her.
“This deserves a special toast,” said a tall, skinny man. “I am attending an international conference on lung cancer in Los Angeles, and I brought a couple of bottles of wine to celebrate with the other doctors and scientists, but I think we should open one of the bottles right now.”
“I agree,” said George. “My wife and I also brought a couple of bottles of wine. Our daughter just graduated with a degree in computer science, and we’re going to celebrate that.”
“Please, let’s just use our wine,” said Jacqueline.
“She’s right,” said Amanda. “Do you want us to land drunk in LA?”
“I’m not the only one celebrating,” said George. “Other passengers want to celebrate, too. What about you gentlemen?”
He looked at Muhammad, Abdul, and Satem, but they just stared at each other.
“George, do you remember that man?” asked Amanda, pointing to Muhammad.
Suddenly, Muhammad felt uneasy for he thought Amanda might have overheard his conversation with the security worker about the pocket knife.
“I remember you,” said George to the three young men. “You and your friends were talking, laughing, and having fun. Why not keep it going?”
Muhammad and his friends were very nervous and could hardly breathe as they thought about what was going to happen any minute. And now this. (Continues)
Click here for Part-1, Part-2, Part-3, Part-4, Part-5, Part-6, Part-7, Part-8, Part-9, Part-10,
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About the Author
Skifter Këllici was born in Tirana, Albania and received a diploma in history and literature from the University of Tirana. He worked as a journalist, scholar, and sportscaster on radio and television. He is the author of several novels and nonfiction books, including the children’s books, “Memories of the Old Neighborhood” and “In the Footsteps” as well as the historical novels, “Assassination in Paris”, “The Murderer with the White Hands”, and “September Disaster.” He wrote the screenplay for “In the Footsteps” which won a special prize at the International Children’s Film Festival in Giffoni, Italy in 1979. He has lived in Boston, Massachusetts since 1999.
About the Translator
Carrie Hooper was born and raised in Elmira, New York. She has been blind since birth. She received a B.A. in vocal performance from Mansfield University, Mansfield, Pennsylvania. She went on to receive an M.A. in German and an M.A. in vocal performance from the State University of New York at Buffalo. After completing her studies, she spent a year at the Royal University College of Music in Stockholm, Sweden as a Fulbright scholar. Carrie currently lives in Elmira, New York. She taught German, Italian, and Romanian at Elmira College. She has a passion for foreign languages and in addition to the languages mentioned above, she is also proficient in Swedish, Spanish, and Albanian. Music also plays an important role in Carrie’s life. She teaches voice and piano lessons, gives vocal concerts, plays the piano and organ at a church, and sings in a community chorus. Carrie not only loves music and languages, but also enjoys poetry. She has published three books: “Piktura në fjalë” (“Word Paintings”), a bilingual collection of poetry (Albanian-English), “My Life in My Words”, and “Away from Home.” She has also translated texts from Albanian and Romanian to English.
[The book ‘Disastrous September is being reproduced in episodes with the consent of the author]
