Mr.+Hilmer's+Final+Projec

**P****OV #2: A run-a-way's point of view**
Tonight's the night. The night I'll take the risk of losing my life. The night I'll reach Canada. The night I'll finally be free.

It's April 28th, 2009 7:00 p.m. Only an hour left until I leave for Canada. I continue picking the cotton and placing the bunch in the baskets. "What would it be like? Will I be the only one? Will there be others? Will I get caught? What if I do?" I wondered to myself. Time passes quickly. It's 7:50 p.m. I gather the lasts of cotton and place them in the basket. I make my way to my owners house along with the basket of cotton. Before I even reach the house, he opens the door anxiously and steps out. "Hmm one pound more then last night, you must of not been thinking about much." I kept quiet, even though there were loads of things on my mind. He gave me $20.00 and sent me to my cottage out back. I quickly gather my things including food I have been saving, clothing, water, money, etc. It's 8:00 p.m. I step outside my cottage as I feel the cool breeze rush through me. I peek up at my masters room to make sure the lights are out. They are. I quickly make my way through the corn field which leads into the woods. I stay hidden in the trees but keep the trail in sight. I never thought I'd spend my 16th birthday escaping to Canada.

As I'm making my way through the woods, I think back to all those hot summer days spent working in the fields, picking and growing over and over again. I remembered the day I got 20 pounds and all I got was some food and 5 whips for not doing this on any of the other days. I kept going. It was so quiet, I could here my feet below as I stepped on twigs and branches. I stopped, though the sound of twigs being stepped on continued. Someone was following me. I quickly ran behind a tree to hide. In the moonlight, I saw a scrawny man standing, listening to any signs of movement. He was the same color as I was. "Are you escaping to Canada as well?" My voice which broke the silence surprised him. He examined me for awhile then finally replied "Yes I am." We talked quietly about how work was for us. I didn't realized that the sun was already raising. We heard then sound of a gunshot go off. We quickly hide behind a tree. We saw a light colored man holding a gun, who seemed to be looking at our direction but we couldn't quit tell. "Reveal yourself." The scrawny man had stepped forward. The light colored man ordered him to walk back. I jumped out of the tree and attacked him. I had just killed the light colored man.

I stood in shock. "Thanks" He finally said. We continued making our way to Canada, to freedom. At this point I was unafraid of anything, not even my master who I feared so deeply when I was in the fields. We continued walking. Two more men who seemed to be in their 20's joined us. A child and his father also joined us as well. Together, the 6 of us made our way to Canada. We made it to Michigan, as free state. We came to the conclusion that we would stay here for a little. Knock knock knock. I went to the door to answer it. "May I help you?" I asked. "You and the other five, come out right this instance." We we told to put or hands behind our backs and get on our knees. "Trying to run away are you now?" The man asked. "Yes, Michigan is a free state BUT that doesn't mean slaves can come here. Too bad you didn't make it to Canada, so close. I will return you back to where you came from and you all, will be executed."

We rode in silence in the carriage. The man rode with us in the back to make sure we weren't going to try to get away. He kept giving us these disgusted looks. Sometimes he spat on us. We returned back to Alabama and were now making our way to the jail house. Our execution was to be tomorrow. The jails were disgusting. They smelled like rotten corps. They only gave us two slices of bread for the 6 of us. I layed down on the hard cold ground and tried to get some sleep. The water leaking above me didn't seem to be helping me. I sat up watching the others as they slowly fell asleep. I didn't, I couldn't go to sleep. The sun light broke through the windows. "Get up!!" The man yelled as he rattled against the bars on the other side. He opened the cell and pushed us out, in chains. We made our way outside. As we walked to the gallows, we saw that there was already a crowd awaiting our arrival. The ropes were placed around our necks. We started to rise. I struggled to catch some breath. I saw light. It was black now. "You shouldn't have tried to run away, see what happens?" My owner said looking down on my grave. "You were a good servant."