I was in the sixth grade. No one told us anything until classes were over. I've talked to others who said their teachers canceled school or turned on the news for them, but our teachers didn't tell us a thing.

My mom always picked me up from school, and I could see concern on her face when I got in the car. She was hyper-focused on the radio, so I asked what was going on. I don't remember exactly what she said, but I started listening and that's when I found out.

The TV was blasting the news when I got home (don't remember what station). That's when the magnitude of the moment dawned on me. Those images are seared into my brain.

I later went with my dad to get gas, and there was a line out of the parking lot and down the street. I've never seen that before or since. Folks were standing outside of their cars, talking with each other. The subject of conversation was the same down the line.

The next day at school felt funereal. It was like everyone at school that day had just lost one of their parents. You could stir the emotions with a spoon. I'll never forget that feeling or that time.