We survived the night, but the news reports say that it’s not over.
It’s like taking a Band-Aid off slowly.
GRACE’S DIARY
TUESDAY, OCT. 23
Joel was in the bedroom getting dressed when I climbed back in through the window.
“You been out back?”
“Yeah.”
He didn’t say anything.
“Are Mom and Dad up?”
“Mom is.”
I walked out to the kitchen. I soon learned that the crisis wasn’t over. That morning Khrushchev had a message for President Kennedy. It was printed in large type in the morning newspaper:
I hope that the United States Government will
display wisdom and renounce the actions pursued
by you, which may lead to catastrophic
consequences for world peace.
With the fate of humanity lying in the balance we went to school. Maybe half the kids stayed home; even some of the teachers didn’t come. I suppose Joel and I went to school just because we always did. We had to do something. My mom still had to work. In fact the store was even busier than usual because people were stocking up on staples.
That night, Grace, Joel, and I listened to the radio and played Chinese checkers in the clubhouse.