Have You Forgotten Chapter 3: Where Were You?, 10th Anniversary, a danny phantom fanfic

Another remembrance of 9/11, this time with a new take and different song.

Disclaimer: I don't own Danny Phantom or "Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning)" by Alan Jackson.

"Where Were You?"

Alan Jackson

A 9/11 Tribute

A black-haired eight year old was inside that day. Although, unlike most children, he was not playing a type of game, he was asleep in bed, sick with the flu. Young Danny Fenton slept most of that day, unable to speak without coughing and a forehead slick with sweat. So, when the first plane crashed into the North Twin Tower, Danny was completely unaware of it.

Where were you when the world stopped turning on that September day?Were you in the yard with your wife and childrenOr working on some stage in L.A.?Did you stand there in shock at the sight of that black smokeRisin' against that blue sky?Did you shout out in anger, in fear for your neighborOr did you just sit down and cry?

Maddie and Jack Fenton, however, were watching the news. Eyes glued to the screen, Maddie could think of nothing else than the tragedy occurring. She was also thinking about Danny. Forgotten was the Ghost Containment Device she'd been working on, left on the counter in the basement beside the radio which had first alerted her of the crash.

Did you weep for the children who lost their dear loved onesAnd pray for the ones who don't know?Did you rejoice for the people who walked from the rubbleAnd sob for the ones left below?Did you burst out in pride for the red, white and blueAnd the heroes who died just doin' what they do?Did you look up to heaven for some kind of answerAnd look at yourself and what really matters?

After watching the smoke billow out of the skyscrapers for about ten minutes, she stood, saying "I'm going to check on Danny," numbed from the shock. Slowly, almost mechanically, she made her way up the staircase and into her son's room, finding him asleep, drenched with sweat. She replaced the moist washcloth, which had gone from cold to warm, kissed her baby's cheek, and returned downstairs.

I'm just a singer of simple songsI'm not a real political manI watch CNN but I'm not sure I can tell you the difference in Iraq and IranBut I know Jesus and I talk to GodAnd I remember this from when I was youngFaith, hope and love are some good things He gave usAnd the greatest is love

It wasn't until later that day that Maddie Fenton finally cried. Her daughter Jasmine came running through the front door of their home, to be wrapped in an enormous bear hug by her father. A few minutes later, the orange-haired ten-year old looked at her mother with watery eyes and asked, "Why do they hate us Mommy?"

Where were you when the world stopped turning on that September day?Were you teaching a class full of innocent childrenOr driving down some cold interstate?Did you feel guilty 'cause you're a survivorIn a crowded room did you feel alone?Did you call up your mother and tell her you loved her?Did you dust off that Bible at home?

One Year Later

Nine-year old Danny Fenton, long recovered from his bout of flu, wanted to go outside. He'd had his hand on the doorknob, ready to turn it, when his mom grabbed the back of his t-shirt and pulled him back.

Did you open your eyes, hope it never happenedClose your eyes and not go to sleep?Did you notice the sunset the first time in agesOr speak to some stranger on the street?Did you lay down at night and think of tomorrowOr go out and buy you a gun?Did you turn off that violent old movie you're watchin'And turn on "I Love Lucy" reruns?

"But Mooooooooooom," he whined, "I wanna go out!"

Did you go to a church and hold hands with some strangersDid you stand in line and give your own blood?Did you just stay home and cling tight to your familyThank God you had somebody to love?

"No, Danny," she replied, sounding uncharacteristically strict, "Go watch TV or something." So, taken aback, young Danny walked into the comfortable living room of his home, having completely missed the sorrowful tone of his mother's voice.

It was then, flipping through the channels of the television, that Danny first saw the collapsing Twin Tower. Letting out a little cry, Danny jumped from the couch and ran back into the kitchen. "MOM! The... TOWERS! They're falling!" Without saying a word, Maddie gathered her son into a hug, holding him tight. After a moment of soothing words, she walked into the living room, still holding Danny.

And the greatest is the greatest is love.

It was then that Danny knew. It wasn't live television, and it wasn't a movie. It was real. It had happened. And he knew he would never forget.

Where were you when the world stopped turning that September day?

This is a take on my experience with 9/11. Unlike Danny, I was at school. My school had this thing called ISS (in-school-suspension) and that's where I was that day. Basically, they put you in a small room with a teacher, the door is closed, and you're not allowed to talk to anybody. It was kind of like a during-the-day detention. I was in first grade at the time.

So, since the intercom isn't hooked up to this room, I had no idea 9/11 had happened. I went home that day and my parents didn't tell me what happened. I just know they hugged me a lot that day. Whenever someone mentioned the Towers, I would ask what they were talking about and they would change the subject. So, I really didn't know it had happened until a year later when I watched a thing on this history channel.