MY DAY IN THE LIFE!!!!
We have to do them in Social Studies. They are a bout a person (Made up or real) in the time period we are talking about. Must have five facts. So here it is! Facts are underlined.
I sigh. It’s still dark out, and Anthony is crying. It’s usually dark out when I wake, but Father is still here. I can here him snoring. He leaves at 4:30 sharp every day. Which means it’s not 4:30. Not even close. I rush into the Littles room and pick up my five month old brother, Anthony, before he wakes my parents. The two other Littles, Claire and Jenette, are still asleep. I shush Anthony while I rock him in my arms. He eventually calms down and falls asleep. I figure I might as well start breakfast, because I know I won’t be able to fall asleep. It’s March 23, 1852, I think. As I’m boiling water, Father walks in the room, sleep still in his eyes.
“What are you doing up, Chase?” He mumbles.
“Anthony woke up, and I figured I might as well make you breakfast before you go.” In response, he just walks over to the table and sits down. My Father is what they call an Abolitionist. I don’t really know what that means, just that he’s fighting against slavery. I don’t really know what the big deal is. Isn’t slavery just men working for other men, getting room and board in return? I mean, some money could be a nice bonus, but they don’t really need anything. They get their house and clothes and food. The adults say that it’s racist. Discrimination against African-Americans. I don’t know what an African-American is, but I bet they’re no different from me or Father. So I don’t really know what the big deal is.
Claire, the oldest besides me, walks in right after Father leaves. I set a plate of pancakes down in front of her, along with the jar of molasses. I do the same when Jenette wakes. Finally, when I hear Anthony cry, Mother helps him. When she’s done calming him and feeding him, she also leaves. She works for Mr. Johnson, the tailor. Most people disapprove of her working, but I am almost fifteen and can take care of the kids.
The day passes as it usually does. First, I eat with the Littles. Then, I work on teaching them. Anthony just plays with the blocks, but I teach Jenette her colors and with Claire I work on the alphabet. I can read, as well as Mother and Father. A lot of our neighbors disapprove, but I like being able to read. I like knowing things. Then, I make rice and green beans from the garden for lunch. We go outside to get some fresh air afterwards, me pushing Claire and Jenette on the rope swing and Anthony sitting in his chair, watching the world. Mother comes home at three, and Father at six. Me and Mother make dinner. Chicken and left over rice from lunch, with a few vegetables from the garden. Afterwards, Father has a surprise for us. Well, for Mother. It’s a book called “Uncle Toms’ Cabin”. He said he got it as fast as he could. It had to do with his work. The truth about slavery. I didn’t think there was anything Father didn’t know. Father explained a little sheepishly that he’d already read it at work, but that meant that Mother could start it tonight. She obliges.
The whole night I could hear her gasping, and once I heard her crying. I have to get that book, I think. I like to know things. And this sounds worth knowing. Finally the candle is blown out. I count to one hundred ten times, then ten more times. I get up and creep into Mother and Father’s room. I snatch the book and a candle, along with a match. I walk quietly back to my room, and light the candle. I open the book, and begin reading. What I read astonishes me. Slaves were people with brown skin, taken from their homes in a place called Africa. The more I read, the more despaired I get. They were whipped, and they only got one pair of clothing. The houses they lived in were crammed and full of dirt, bugs, and sickness. The food was practically a dogs meal. But there was hope, it said at the end of the book. The “Underground Railroad” was a way that we could help these poor people. It never explained what the Underground Railroad was, but I knew that I would help it in any way possible.
When I finally put the book down, Anthony is already crying. Time to get up. I rub my eyes. I was so sleepy... Today was going to be a long day.
TA DAA!!!! So yeah.
Hope that updated you on the Randomness of My Life.
The awesomest,
CEO
