Let's go back in time, before the internet existed, before there were telephones. Yes, back before there were cars and the Golden Gate Bridge. Let's go back to the time when women were strictly homemakers and had to cook their food over a fireplace. It was a time where men worked hard from sunrise to sunset, when farmers were much more prevalent. And down South, plantation owners had slaves, dozens of dark-skinned men and women who did all the hard work for their owners. Despite what they wanted to do, they obeyed every command that they were given, for fear of being beaten or torn away from their loved ones. They could do no better than be a slave. No task that involved reading or math was given to them, for the plantation owners did not want them to get too smart and rebel. However, the slaves were street-smart. They had common sense and were quick-witted with practical knowledge, the kind of knowledge it takes to survive. Combine that with the intense desire to escape the tyranny of their owners and potential separation and the hope of being their own man, according to God and not men, and you have the recipe for the historic runs of slaves to the Ohio River. Cross that river, and you were free, or so the story went.
Annie was a young mother of two who lived in a snug log cabin two or so miles from the Ohio River. Her house was one of the last stops as part of the Underground Railroad. Annie assisted her husband with hiding slaves from their masters in any way that she could. As a God-fearing Christian, and a human being, she could not condone the actions of the slave owners. While she wasn't sure if blacks should be given their freedom (It wasn't a woman's business to be informed on political matters), she knew they deserved better treatment than they were getting now.
She wasn't afraid of them hurting her, or of the the irate slave owners that would come by the quadruples with dogs at their heels, pounding on her door at all hours of the night to see if she had seen any runaway slaves. Annie always gave a bright smile and patiently welcomed the men in for a warm cup of coffee or freshly baked slice of bread. She cheerfully answered any questions the men would ask her, and she would feign ignorance about seeing any signs of slaves about. Meanwhile, her husband would be already be on the trail riding the slaves to the next drop-off point, or five or six slaves would be hiding in her cellar. The children knew not to make a sound. Annie had a secret sound she'd make if they would be close to discovery, and the slaves would slip out a secret exit behind a cabinet if their owners insisted on searching the cellar. Annie's children learned hiding slaves was a fun game, and if they were asked any questions, they knew to keep their mouths closed about them.
The young mother always made sure her secret guests were well-fed and given clean clothes if needed. She didn't mind if she was without something for a few weeks until her husband could replace it. Often, she was required to wash wounds (gotten from slaves owners or the trip itself). Annie had to force herself to think of happy things when she was their nurse. Otherwise, she'd be sick from the cruelty she witnessed. This only inspired her to help them more.
One time, a teenager had arrived to them with typhus. He had run away on his own and had gotten sick on the journey. Annie insisted he stayed until he was better, but every day the boy stayed was more of a chance that they would be discovered by his angry owners. Annie's husband had been forced to stay overnight in town when the slave owners had come to look for the boy. They insisted on searching the whole house, and there wasn't much she could do to stop it. The boy was almost discovered under the bed, but thanks to Annie's daughter asking one of the men a question, he was able to slip out the window and hide in the woodshed until they left.
It was never a dull moment being a part of the Underground Railroad. Annie successfully help over 87 slaves. Singles, couples, and families. Young and old alike. Of course she had been tempted to quit a few times, for the sake of protecting her own family, but she received a thank-you letter once from a girl that had escaped with Annie's help four years earlier. She could write now, and she was happily living with her entire family. Annie pulled that letter out whenever she wanted to bale out. Then she took a deep breath and asked her husband what he needed her to do this time.
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
Day 199: Humiliation at the Fair
Should be Day 217. My sister gave me this challenge, to write a story backwards and plan it as I go. It's quite a difficult task that needs much more planning than I had time for.
I quivered and shook the water off me. It splattered against the grass. I ran as fast as I could into the bushes a few yards away to stay out of sight from any nosy spectators. The music from the Ferris wheel, which usually meant such joy for children, was only a bitter reminder that I was still stuck at the fair. I stared down at my hands. The water had stung the red chafes that were streaked across my palms. I sat curled up with my arms wrapped around my shins and my eyes shut tight. I couldn't wait until this day was over.
I could hear the laughter ringing in my ears still. I was running, I didn't know where, but I knew I had to get away from them all as soon as possible. My arms stuck to the paint that now covered my clothes as I pumped them while I was running. I couldn't think believe they would trick me like that. What's more, I couldn't believe I was stupid enough to fall for it. Maybe I was too naive. The lake was a few yards ahead of me. I didn't want to get wet, but I wasn't sure what other choices I had. I needed to wash the paint off of me, and I didn't want anyone else seeing me like this, even if it was in the girls' bathroom. The water looked murky, and a few tadpoles swam away from my finger as I tested the temperature. Tepid. I took a deep breath in, plugged my nose, and dove in, scrubbing my arms, hair, and clothes.
My feet crunched against the hay as I wandered in the barn. The smell of cows was that awful, familiar smell. Awful because it stunk but familiar because it reminded me of my childhood home. I checked my text messages again. This was the right building. I called my friends' names again, but goats and chickens only answered. As I was staring at the blue ribbon winners, I heard Melanie greet me. I was confused though because she didn't sound very excited to greet me. She said her animal was in this cage towards the back of the corner. When I got there, the pen gate was wide open. I turned around to question it when I saw Fern and Clive there too. They pushed me towards the gate, and I scraped my knee as I tripped over a cable to an incubator. I heard their laughter reverberate on the walls, followed by a loud clank. They had closed the gate on me. I wiped the dirt clods off my face and yanked on the rusty gate as hard as I could. My hands ached. I called, but they ignored me as they walked away (or hid behind the barn door, as I later found out). When I was finally able to jiggle the gate a certain way to pop open, the gate pulled against a white string, that rained down white paint all over my new jeans I had bought as an effort to impress them.
I hung up the phone, staring blankly at the wall. I couldn't believe the conversation I just had. Melanie, The Melanie Vickers, had actually invited me to her party. I had been trying to get her attention for the past semester, sitting near her at lunch and in the library, wearing clothes I hoped would get her attention, reading magazines so I could know what I could add to a conversation in case she spoke to me. My hard work had paid off. It didn't matter that she only invited me because some of her guests couldn't show up at the fair. At least I was invited. I hoped this was the start of good things to come.
I quivered and shook the water off me. It splattered against the grass. I ran as fast as I could into the bushes a few yards away to stay out of sight from any nosy spectators. The music from the Ferris wheel, which usually meant such joy for children, was only a bitter reminder that I was still stuck at the fair. I stared down at my hands. The water had stung the red chafes that were streaked across my palms. I sat curled up with my arms wrapped around my shins and my eyes shut tight. I couldn't wait until this day was over.
I could hear the laughter ringing in my ears still. I was running, I didn't know where, but I knew I had to get away from them all as soon as possible. My arms stuck to the paint that now covered my clothes as I pumped them while I was running. I couldn't think believe they would trick me like that. What's more, I couldn't believe I was stupid enough to fall for it. Maybe I was too naive. The lake was a few yards ahead of me. I didn't want to get wet, but I wasn't sure what other choices I had. I needed to wash the paint off of me, and I didn't want anyone else seeing me like this, even if it was in the girls' bathroom. The water looked murky, and a few tadpoles swam away from my finger as I tested the temperature. Tepid. I took a deep breath in, plugged my nose, and dove in, scrubbing my arms, hair, and clothes.
My feet crunched against the hay as I wandered in the barn. The smell of cows was that awful, familiar smell. Awful because it stunk but familiar because it reminded me of my childhood home. I checked my text messages again. This was the right building. I called my friends' names again, but goats and chickens only answered. As I was staring at the blue ribbon winners, I heard Melanie greet me. I was confused though because she didn't sound very excited to greet me. She said her animal was in this cage towards the back of the corner. When I got there, the pen gate was wide open. I turned around to question it when I saw Fern and Clive there too. They pushed me towards the gate, and I scraped my knee as I tripped over a cable to an incubator. I heard their laughter reverberate on the walls, followed by a loud clank. They had closed the gate on me. I wiped the dirt clods off my face and yanked on the rusty gate as hard as I could. My hands ached. I called, but they ignored me as they walked away (or hid behind the barn door, as I later found out). When I was finally able to jiggle the gate a certain way to pop open, the gate pulled against a white string, that rained down white paint all over my new jeans I had bought as an effort to impress them.
I hung up the phone, staring blankly at the wall. I couldn't believe the conversation I just had. Melanie, The Melanie Vickers, had actually invited me to her party. I had been trying to get her attention for the past semester, sitting near her at lunch and in the library, wearing clothes I hoped would get her attention, reading magazines so I could know what I could add to a conversation in case she spoke to me. My hard work had paid off. It didn't matter that she only invited me because some of her guests couldn't show up at the fair. At least I was invited. I hoped this was the start of good things to come.
Thursday, August 1, 2013
Day 198: Adam and Eve
Should be Day 212.
An author brought the fact to my attention that Adam and Eve were the cause of the first animal sacrifice. You see, an animal had to be killed in order for God to clothe them in animal skins. An animal covered their sins, and it was the ones to be killed in the world's history. I thought it was a fascinating realization.
Adam and Eve, awkwardly holding up the branches and leaves in front of themselves, stood in silence as God's stinging words still lingered in the air.
"God's law was so simple to follow," Eve sighed. "That was the only place we could not eat at. The serpent was so deceptive. I feel like such a fool for listening to him."
"I trusted you," Adam said softly.
"I'm so sorry, Adam! I took you down with me. I wish I wouldn't have done that."
"I know it wasn't intentional. I guess that just means that we shouldn't blindly follow each other. We should listen to our hearts and remember what God has commanded us. Then we can help each other." Adam pondered for a moment. "I am actually the one who needs forgiveness. It was my responsibility to lead you away from temptation and save us both, and I failed. Can you forgive me?"
"Of course I do!" She squeezed his hand and then jerked when God faced them again, and all the guilt and fear flooded back to them.
"Follow me," God instructed.
Adam and Eve quickly walked through the garden as God moved swiftly past the grove of trees. Eve couldn't even look at the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Adam stepped on a sharp pebble and bled for the first time. They stopped on a grassy hill that was near the sparkling stream. A flock of sheep were grazing a few feet from them, and Adam couldn't help but smile at the familiar sight. All was well with them.
"You are going to need better clothes than that," God explained. "This hurts me much more than it hurts you. It was my intent for man not to be aware of his nakedness and need clothes."
Eve let out a slight scream when she saw one of the sheep near them fall to the ground and another after that. Then they both watched as the blood was spilled, and God made clothes out of the wool. Adam's heart was heavier than ever. He had lovingly tended those sheep, named them, and watched them be a family. Now their sins had cost those innocent creatures their lives.
An author brought the fact to my attention that Adam and Eve were the cause of the first animal sacrifice. You see, an animal had to be killed in order for God to clothe them in animal skins. An animal covered their sins, and it was the ones to be killed in the world's history. I thought it was a fascinating realization.
Adam and Eve, awkwardly holding up the branches and leaves in front of themselves, stood in silence as God's stinging words still lingered in the air.
"God's law was so simple to follow," Eve sighed. "That was the only place we could not eat at. The serpent was so deceptive. I feel like such a fool for listening to him."
"I trusted you," Adam said softly.
"I'm so sorry, Adam! I took you down with me. I wish I wouldn't have done that."
"I know it wasn't intentional. I guess that just means that we shouldn't blindly follow each other. We should listen to our hearts and remember what God has commanded us. Then we can help each other." Adam pondered for a moment. "I am actually the one who needs forgiveness. It was my responsibility to lead you away from temptation and save us both, and I failed. Can you forgive me?"
"Of course I do!" She squeezed his hand and then jerked when God faced them again, and all the guilt and fear flooded back to them.
"Follow me," God instructed.
Adam and Eve quickly walked through the garden as God moved swiftly past the grove of trees. Eve couldn't even look at the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Adam stepped on a sharp pebble and bled for the first time. They stopped on a grassy hill that was near the sparkling stream. A flock of sheep were grazing a few feet from them, and Adam couldn't help but smile at the familiar sight. All was well with them.
"You are going to need better clothes than that," God explained. "This hurts me much more than it hurts you. It was my intent for man not to be aware of his nakedness and need clothes."
Eve let out a slight scream when she saw one of the sheep near them fall to the ground and another after that. Then they both watched as the blood was spilled, and God made clothes out of the wool. Adam's heart was heavier than ever. He had lovingly tended those sheep, named them, and watched them be a family. Now their sins had cost those innocent creatures their lives.
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