Glossary

to swell out, puff up,

 

"Black, fiery smoke gushed out of a huge gash in the building's side, billowing into the sky."

to move slightly

 

"Dad didn't budge."

to sway or cause to sway dangerously over to one side

 

"Lucas watched, almost hypnotized, as the plane careened through the sky."

sponsored or paid for by an advertiser

 

"We have no official information about what kind of plane it was, but witnesses report it was a commercial jet."

injury to the brain or spinal cord due to jarring from a blow, fall, or the like

to strike with force; hit

a document given by an educational institution certifying a degree from a course of study (Ex. high school diploma, Bachelor's degree, Master's degree, Ph.D)

a person who oversees the quick departure of the firetrucks

"Lucas reached out and turned the volume up so he could hear it over the voice of the dispatcher."

extreme or intense

 

"With one last ferocious roar, the jet plunged into the side of one of the towers."

a long, deep wound or cut; slash.

 

"Black, fiery smoke gushed out of a huge gash in the building's side, billowing into the sky."

to cough harshly, usually in short and repeated spasms

 

"People coughed and hacked and sniffed."

to frighten or startle so that movement is impossible

 

"Lucas watched, almost hypnotized, as the plane careened through the sky."

intensely

 

"Dad was looking intently south, like he was searching for something."

having ragged notches, points, or teeth

 

"Some of the grains were jagged - bits of ground glass."

to extend beyond the main body or line, to protrude

 

"When he got out of the subway, he looked up and found his landmark: the two silver buildings jutting into the sky."

to wrap with something to deaden or prevent sound

 

"Muffled voices mixed with static came through."

to descend very suddenly or steeply

 

"With one last ferocious roar, the jet plunged into the side of one of the towers."

to make a raspy sound

 

"Dad", Lucas rasped, spitting dust from his mouth."

a loud, harsh cry or sound

 

"Every few minutes the alarm box squawked, and the dispatcher came on with a new alarm."

to walk, move, or stand unsteadily

 

"A woman staggared up to Dad."

to walk with long steps

 

"Hey you!" he said with a surprised grin, striding over."

to become or cause to become twisted together in a confused mass

"Lucas slowed down and looked - it was a big tire attached to a tangle of metal."