Diary

June 16, 1856

     I heard the boss talkin to Miss Jessie today. Seems there's more trouble with their people. Usually I'd say it ain't no business of mine, but ever since my family was brought to this strange land on the ship we've had to rely on Miss Jessie and her Poppa for food and shelter.
     Today my boy was whipped for playin' in the yard when he was supposed to be workin'. He ain't nothin' but six years old. I had to hold him in my arms while he cried while Mary Anne cleaned the gashes on his back. He screamed and cried and just kept askin', "Momma when can we go home?" I watched the tears stream down my baby boy's face and made a decision. I called my oldest boy Malaki and his sister Rajeen and told them to bring their brother Leviticus to my bed after sun down, I hadn't told them anything yet, but we leavin' tonight. This mornin' when I was in the kitchen I put some extra biscuits and ham in my apron. Now I'm putting it in a sack to take with us. I haven't told anyone where we goin' and I'm not so sure I know myself yet. All I know is Ima follow that north star my husband Jimmy always told me about before he was whipped to death by the boss.
     I should've left then, but I was so scared of getting caught with my children. I told myself if they ever came close to my children we was gonna leave that night. I never thought they was gonna go after my baby. What kinda person can do that to a precious little boy? He ain't never do nothin' to nobody and Lord knows I treat they children like they's my own. I put some fresh clothes in the sack to cover the smell of the food. We didn't have enough clothes to leave behind, so they wouldn't be able to get our scent. I knew they'd have the dogs after us by sun up. I was gonna make everybody wash up in the creek a few miles down to try and get rid of our smell  just in case they got it from the little pallets we slept on. The door creaked as it opened revealing my babies as they walked in, not knowing what was in store for them.