Chapter 1 Everything changes, Part 1 of 3
If I had known what life would be like now versus 17 years ago when everything changed, I would have been better prepared. There is nothing that can compare to what we’ve endured over they years. Now that You’re the same age I was when it all started. It’s time you knew the whole story.
Friday, May 8th, 2009 around 12:00pm. It was like any other day in Berlin New Hampshire. The weather was just starting to improve after a long harsh winter. You could smell the spring air, and see the last remnants of the snow melting away on top of the numerous mountains surrounding the Androscoggin valley. I was only 14 at the time, my freshmen year of high school. I had good friends, a girlfriend. Lifewas simple and easy, Wake up, get ready, go to school, Hang out with friends,rinse and repeat.
I had just finished up in Chorus, I loved singing and acting at the time. As I was walking out of class, An announcement came on the PA system
Announcement: “ Will Andrew Sidell please report to the main office, thank you”. I hurried along to find my father standing there waiting.
Dad: “Andrew, We’ve gotta go. They let us out of work early.” My father, As much of an asshole as he could be,looked genuinely concerned.
Me: “What’s going on?” I asked
Dad:“Don’t question it, I thought you’d love to be out early”
We left the office and headed out to the parking lot, getting in his jeep, and heading home. We didn’t live far from the school, It was easily a 20 minute walk, about 5 miles, if I used the shortcuts near the high school.
Arriving home around 3:00pm after having gone to the local Walmart for our weekly shopping trip, we head inside.My father immediately went to the tv and turned the news on, I sat on the floor and watched with him. The news was showing a helicopter circling above what looked to be Los Angeles California,
News report: “Below we’re are seeing a mass of people, In what looks like a massive riot breaking out in Inglewood, From ground reports, We’re hearing that people are attacking one another, They’re even attacking the responding police officers trying to keepthe peace. More to fol”
the tv cuts to color bars.
My father changes the channel to the local news. The anchor continues to talk about what’s going on.
“We’re covering what’s happening in Los Angeles California, As of now, It seems that the studio over there has lost communication, The last thing we saw was the riots from above, We are also hearing reports that this rioting is not isolated. It seems to be worldwide as well as closer to home, down in Boston. Local law enforcement is recommending to be prepared incase this problem spreads, The president is unsure if this is an attack on US soil. The national guard is being activated across the country to assist with the riots, but so far it seems isolated to major cities. We will continue to provide updates as we get more information”
