Michael Bloor
(first published in The Drabble, Aug 29th, 2020)
Prime Minister Chamberlain was told that German troops were invading Austria while attending a farewell dinner for von Ribbentrop, the Nazi ambassador in London. Chamberlain stayed on for after-dinner drinks and conversation.
George W. Bush was visiting a Florida elementary school when an aide whispered: “A second plane has hit the second tower. America is under attack.” The President continued to listen to a reading of a children’s story, ‘The Pet Goat,’ for a further seven minutes.
When you stepped into the lift and gave me a small smile, my silence wasn’t so bad. From an historical perspective, that is.