All the Names

Two days ago, against her mother's wishes, Suzanne left rural Illinois. At eighteen, this was her first trip away from home and one she had been planning for some time. There was no choice about it in her mind.

She got off the train at Penn Station. She was so excited to finally have made it to New York City, she could hardly breathe. "First we take Manhattan," she said aloud as she consulted the route map. She tapped the words Lower Manhattan on the map then headed for the stairs.

She left the subterranean world of trains and subways and entered the sunlit bustling world of the city. Wide eyed and with the open mouth of a child, she gazed skyward and slowly made her way on foot to Lower Manhattan.

The Freedom Tower was more grand than she could have ever imagined. But it was the reflecting pools she wanted to see. The bronze parapets with all the names engraved encircling the building's footprints. All the names. Her father's and her grandmother's included.

Suzanne was barely two years old when the towers crumbled before the world on live television, taking with them, the pillars of her family. Shortly thereafter, her mother left New York with her toddler and they never talked about "it". This trip was all about "it".

As she made her way thru the park, the rising crescendo of the National Anthem gave her chills. The trumpet player perfectly hit the high notes and tears welled in her eyes. She rested her hands on the cool bronze plate and watched tiny drops of rain materialize on the metal sheet that surrounded the North Pool..

Suzanne knew exactly where the letters that made up the names she sought, were located. She often dreamt of running her fingertips over each letter. John Michael Grainger and Suzanne Elizabeth Grainger. But right now she stared at Francisco Alva's name, wondering if someone else's life suffered a void with his loss, as significant as hers. She wanted to touch the letters but it seemed as intimate as stroking the cheek of a dead loved one.

Suzanne ducked her head as the rain started falling heavily and made off to finish her quest. The cold rain sent a chill that seeped into her being and she shivered uncontrollably.

"Excuse me, miss. Looks as though you need a raincoat," said a woman.

Suzanne looked up to see her mother holding her grandmother's famous blue raincoat with the tear mended on the shoulder, just like her grandmother's favorite Leonard Cohen song.

"Mom, what are you doing here?" asked Suzanne. She hugged her mother tightly.

"I lost two important people in my life to this place. I didn't want to lose a third. I wondered if it would be okay if we explored this place together," replied her mother.

Suzanne shrugged out of her soaking jacket and slipped into one offered by her mother.

"I would love it if you came with me," said Suzanne. "Are you ready?"

Her mother nodded. Suzanne grabbed her hand and they took off for the South Pool.

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Writer's Cramp 11-12, prompt info below, word count: 518

NEW PROMPT: Use the following Leonard Cohen song titles in your story. Be sure to make them bold to make it easy for tomorrow's judge to find.

Suzanne
Anthem
Famous Blue Raincoat
First We Take Manhattan

(technical note: you don't have to capitalize them like they are in the titles)