Towers Falling

They ride back to Brooklyn. Ben has a lot of messages from his mom, and they know they’re in trouble. Dèja points out that it wasn’t smart to skip school together since their teacher probably would’ve assumed she was sick if it was just her, but she tells Ben that she’s grateful he came with her.

Dèja reads the brochure from the memorial on the way back, learning that 2,753 people were killed. Then, she leans her head back and thinks about the man whose daughter was killed. She recalls, “The footprints were horrible beautiful” (202). She wonders if Pop only recalls the horrible.

Ben and Dèja see Dora and Pop as soon as they reach the top of the steps out of the subway. Dora hugs Ben, asks him how he could skip school, and checks to make sure he’s all right. Ben is relieved that she’s more worried than mad at him.

Pop looks mad, but Dèja is happy that he didn’t call Ma, so she didn’t have to miss work. She thinks about explaining that she’s sorry and that she went to understand him better, but she doesn’t say anything.