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Jack & Elaine – On The Mark

Jack & Elaine – On The Mark 1662 809 Jason Stadtlander

“On your mark! Get Set! Go!” the teacher yelled. As soon as he had spoken the word ‘go’ six children took off down the track, tiny legs pumping hard, arms flailing, and Jack among them.

Jack could feel his heart beating in his chest as he came around the first turn, he badly wanted to glance over his shoulder but didn’t dare. There were now three children in front of him; Susan, Tyler, and John – the boy that had made fun of him on the bus two months ago. Jack’s feet began to reach a steady cadence forming a rhythmic pounding on the red recycled rubber track. A soft whoosh could be heard every time his sneakers hit the surface. In the distance, a bird called and children could be heard screaming something that Jack couldn’t make out. He rounded the second turn, passing John and close behind Tyler. Now half away around the track, Jack, Susan, and Tyler were approaching the far side bleachers where the rest of his gym class sat. Among them, his new best friend, red-headed, freckle-faced Elaine screaming at the top of her lungs “Go Super Jack! Go! Go Jack Attack!”

That statement alone was enough to give him the added drive to increase the beat of his feet on the pavement. Ever so slowly he approached and passed Tyler who quickly fell back. Jack’s lungs were burning by the time he reached the third bend. He took the inside lane coming up on Susan’s left and found a force deep within him to drive his legs faster, no longer an uncoordinated child, but a machine. Jack worried that he might not have the ability to control them if he increased his speed, but found the power none the less. He passed Susan just as they made the fourth turn and the finish line was in sight.

His teacher, Mr. Crabtree stood at the finish line with his stopwatch, waiting for the children to cross the line. Jack could hear Susan attempting to catch up, but it was futile, he now had a good five yard lead on her. He sprinted as hard as he could to the finish line and blasted across it unable to slow down for twenty feet and finally coming to a stop. Jack stood, slumped over with hands-on knees staring down at his sneakers, his lungs felt like they were on fire but he felt so alive.

Two minutes later a hand slapped him on the back gently, it was Elaine. “Jack! You flew! Good job!” she exclaimed.

Still out of breath he replied “Thanks. I can’t believe I beat John.”

Elaine scoffed “That idiot? You left him in your dust halfway around. I was impressed you beat Susan. She’s a good runner.”  She looked at him. He was glancing back at John “Why do you let John bother you so much? You’re so much better than he is.”

“I’m just so used to him picking on me. It’s strange, to do something better than him, that he can’t stop me at.”

She took him by the shoulders and stood him up, staring him in his blue eyes. “I don’t cheer on stupid people or weak people. I cheer on ‘super people’ like you ‘Super Jack’” and she hugged him. The two walked back towards the bleachers, passing John but not looking at him one bit as the other children cheered Jack’s approach.


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Jack and Elaine – Bad Things and Good Thoughts

Jack and Elaine – Bad Things and Good Thoughts 402 512 Jason Stadtlander

Jack walked into the living room to see a photo of a beautiful young woman in a silver frame. It sat on a small table across from the sofa accompanied by other smaller photos featuring the same woman who he knew to be his aunt, yet he had never met her.  There was a quiet solitude shared by the small grouping of photos as two flames danced about in the glass panes from the candles set amongst the frames.

The boy’s father walked into the room and set down one more photo. “Why are there all these pictures of Aunt Heather?” Jack asked his father who looked at him, sorrow in his eyes. His father grabbed the leather ottoman and pulled it up to the table motioning for Jack to join him.

“Today is a special day. Do you know what today is?” his father asked.

Jack searched his mind but could not come up with a good guess. “Wednesday?” he asked.

“Yes. Wednesday the eleventh of September. Eighteen years ago, September 11th, was on a Tuesday… Just like today, it was a beautiful day. But on that beautiful day, there were some bad people that did some bad things.”

Jack, only six years old, looked inquisitively at his father, not quite understanding what he was talking about. “Why?

“Well, it’s complicated.” His father replied, paused, then continued “On that day Aunt Heather was on a flight home and one of the bad men took over the plane she was on and crashed it into a building in New York city.”

Jack didn’t speak for a moment, consumed with this unwelcome news. “Was she scared?”

A tear rolled down his father’s cheek. “Mommy and I have wondered that same thing, many times. The truth is, it probably happened so quickly that she didn’t have enough time to be scared. At least that’s what we hope.”

Now the questions began. His father knew the barrage of questions was upon him and intended to discuss them regardless of his apprehension. It was critical that Jack understood.

“Will it happen again? Will bad people attack with planes again?” Jack asked.

“I don’t know, but people all over the world try to prevent it from happening again, but the truth is, there will always be people out there that want to hurt others.”

“Why didn’t Aunt Heather stop them?”

“It’s not that easy Jack. They were very strong and it was a very confusing and scary moment.”

“Why do people hurt people? Don’t they have kids? Don’t they have mommies and daddies too?”

“I don’t know son.” His father said cautiously.

Jack thought about this for a long time and then decided to go out to his tree house. He climbed up the ladder and saw his friend Elaine, seated on a chair. “Hi.” He said meekly and sat down beside her.

“Do you know what today is?” she asked.

“Uh huh. It’s Wednesday.”

“It’s nine eleven.” She replied despondently matching his somber presence.

“I know.”

Elaine looked at Jack, “Why do you suppose people hurt all those people back then?”

“I guess they were angry?” He replied.

“Why couldn’t they just talk? So many people’s mommies didn’t come home right? It’s so stupid.” Her voice broke as she spoke these last words causing her eyes to well up, though she held back her tears.

Jack looked at his friend, sensing some deep hurt but was unwilling to push. “You know, I think… maybe it was to teach us something.”

“Teach us? What could it possibly teach us?” she asked.

“Well, it taught my daddy to appreciate the family he has. It taught you and me to think about this stuff. Maybe if we think about it and we teach other people to think about it, it won’t happen again.”

“Maybe.” She said, looking back out the window on the lawn below. She placed her head on her folded hands.

“Maybe we will just realize one day that we are all the same. We are all just trying to be friends in this world and we need to do it together.”

“I’m glad I have you as my friend.” He said.

She smiled and looked at him. “Me too.” and the two hugged.


If you’re interested in reading more about 9/11 and a recounting of the events, check out Feathers in the Wind in Ruins of the Mind or listen to The Story Portal episode of Feathers in the Wind


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