Chapter 5 "Heading Out"

It was the next morning and everyone was picking up bodies in the blazing hot weather. Mack, George, and Mom were sleeping in the tent when a soldier came in and started to drag Lewis out. Mack woke up, “Goodbye Lewis.” “Sir, would you like to watch me bury him?” the soldier asked. “The bed has wheels.” “Alright, that sounds fine.” George pushed Mack out on the dirt path as they watched Lewis’s burial. As they filled up the hole with dirt, Mack said goodbye one last time.

It was a couple of months later and Mack was still in bed. Chris rushed in the tent with a cane. “Sir, I carved you a cane. If you use this, you’ll be able to start your journey today, or you can wait awhile just to get ready.” “Well, Chris, you and your army have been a great help, but I think we should start heading out today. We got to get this kid and his mother free,” Mack said. “Sounds good sir,” Chris said. “George, I carved you a cane also,” Chris said. “Mr. Chris, my leg doesn’t hurt though.” “Ah, so you say. That leg will get sorer than ever walking all the way up north.” “George, he’s a doctor, do what he says,” Mom said. “Fine, I’ll use it,” George said stubbornly. “Well, General, it’s been a great pleasure camping with you,” Mack said. “It’s been a great pleasure camping with you,” Grant said back. “Well, goodbye General,” Mom said. “Goodbye madam.”
Mack, George, and Mom were two hours into their journey when they heard a loud yell. Next, they heard someone ordering something (not in English). Last, but not least, they saw men dressed in feathers and cloth. “No, no, no, no,” Mack said. “Indians! Run!” George screamed. Mack, George, and Mom started to run their fastest when the Indians started to chase after them. The Indians had ferocious dogs on leash. They let them go and the dogs started to chase after George, Mack, and Mom. One of the dogs jumped on George and started biting him. “Get this thing off me!” George screamed. The dog was ripping through George’s clothes and another dog was biting George on the arm. An Indian came up and stole his cane for no reason. He just picked it up and chucked it. Mack and Mom didn’t even notice what was happening to George. Mack was walking as fast as he could on his cane, but the rate he was going, he was a goner. “Mack! Start running!” Mom screamed. “I can’t! There was a musket ball that hit my spine! Remember?” “Mom! Mack! Help me out!” George screamed. “George! Hang on!” Mom ordered. Mom booked over to where George and the dogs were. Mom tried to tackle the dogs but they just jumped on top of her. “Mom, are you nuts? That’s not gonna work. “Guys! The Indians are right behind you!” Mack screamed. The Indian Chief shot his bow and arrow at Mom. “Mom!” George screamed. George saw the arrow coming like it was in slow motion. Quickly, George pushed the dog on him up a tiny bit and next thing you know, the dog collapsed with an arrow sticking out of him. George got up and pulled the arrow out of the dog and stabbed the other dog with it. “Alright, Mom, Get up!” George screamed. George and Mom caught up to Mack and ran as fast as they could. Another arrow came zooming in. It was heading right towards Mack. Luckily, it went right over his shoulder. “Whoa!” Mack screamed. Another one came zooming in. This time, Mom fell with an arrow in her leg. “Mom! Are you okay?” George asked. “I’m fine. Just go without me.” “No, Mom, I got shot in the leg. I didn’t say to go without me. You got shot with an arrow in the leg. You can get up.” As soon as George finished saying that, he heard a gunshot and saw Mom close her eyes. “Mom, no!” George screamed. “George, I’m sorry, she’s dead. We must keep moving. “You’re right. I’ll miss her so much,” George said. “C’mon, we’ve gotta go,” Mack said. George and Mack got so far ahead that they hid in the woods and watched the Indians pass by. “Mack, you think my mom is looking down proud of me for leaving?” George asked Mack. “Only if she didn’t want to see her son dead. So the answer is, yes, she is very proud of you.” “Mack, I miss her already,” George started to bawl. “It’s okay. It’s okay.”

Why I'm Thankful for My Family

Today I am going to share why I'm thankful for my family. First of all, I'm thankful for my parents. My dad is a very hard worker, earning a lot of money. Every day he works from 8:00 A.M. to about 6:00 P.M. He is exhausted at the end of the day because he is an electrician. Also my dad is a Christian who takes his faith very seriously. My mom takes time to teach important things about our country, about Christianity, and our education. In school, she teaches us about our Constitution so that when we grow up and vote, we know who to vote for. Every morning she does a little bible study with me and my brothers. She has taught us to be obedient, orderly, diligent, kind, and content. Both my mom and my dad know what is best for us. It doesn't matter if we think it's fair or not, it always turns out to be good.

I'm also thankful for my brothers. John is very skilled at guitar and likes to entertain us by playing a lot of cool songs. John is also a very good big brother. Whenever any kid comes over and starts to pick on me and Dan, John always tells them to stop or go home. Steven, my other brother, is very skilled at piano and violin. He is also a good big brother. He always sets an example. Whenever one of us is fighting, he always tells us to stop. My younger brother, Dan, is also very skilled at piano. He makes up some really cool songs that sound good. Dan is also a very loyal brother. He sticks up for me, and I stick up for him. Anything I do, he does; anything he does, I do.

I'm also thankful for my two sisters, Kasey and Jessy, and Kasey's husband, Eric. Kasey is a very nice sister who lets my brothers and I come over and play. She serves us very good food that I love. Eric is very nice for always playing with us. He is helping John and Dan make remote control airplanes right now, and he shows us his plane. Overall, Eric is a really nice brother who plays a lot of things with us. Jessy is a nice sister for taking John, Steve, Dan, and me out to Wendy's and stuff like that. Any time Mom and Dad are gone, she will help us make dinner and sometimes take us somewhere.

The last member of my family that I love is our dog Morgan. She is a Golden Retriever who really loves us. We love her too. Morgan is the nicest dog I have ever seen. I know that because she always likes to be around people and have them pet her. We really love Morgan because she is very rambunctious. Whenever she sees someone she doesn't wag her tail… she wags her tail and her whole butt. My family is the best family, and that is why I am thankful for them!

Chapter 4 "Battle Stations"

"Get a medic!" Grant screamed. Grant's medical staff started to carry Mack and George to the medical tent. "How's your leg kid?" The medic named Christopher asked. "It's fine. Just heal Mack," George answered. "He's not waking up," Chris said. "We've got to get this bullet out!" Grant ordered. "We're trying our best sir," Chris replied. It was two hours later when the surgery was over. George and his mom were waiting eagerly for the news. "Mack... was a good man," Chris said slowly. "That's why God spared his life." "No way," George said in surprise. "Just don't continue on your journey until Mack is fully healed," Chris said. "You guys can camp out here for a little while." "Thank you so much!" Mom said. "You guys can go in and see Mack now," Grant said. "Hey kiddo, how's your leg?" Mack asked. "So good I forgot I was shot," George said. "How's your spine?" "Very sore." We can't go on our journey for a couple of months." "I'm expecting a couple of battles too," Grant interrupted. "Nothing you can't handle, General," Mack said. "Sir, random people are at the top of the hill with muskets," the corporal told Grant. "They waiting for a fight?" Grant asked. "Most likely sir." "Battle stations!" Grant ordered. "Charge!" The leader of the other side ordered. The leader was wearing a white mask to cover up his face. "George! Mrs. Tucker! Get in Mack's tent in the back of the camp!" Grant ordered. "C'mon George," Mom said. "Get in, get in," Mack said quietly. George, Mack, and Mom were waiting in the tent for the battle to be over. All of a sudden, everything got quiet. Mack, George, and Mom were waiting in the tent scared to death. The leader with the mask came in the tent. "Hello," he said. "What do you want?" Mack said angrily. "You tell me, Mack." "Lewis?" What are you doing?" Mack asked. "Coming back for my slaves you traitor," Lewis said. "I see you lost three of them. George is hit, and you seem pretty injured yourself Mack. Looks like you're not doing to good." "Lew, you got two options," Mack said. "Get out of my way, or I'll kill you. And you know I don't want to do that." Mack had a gun hiding under the covers.
"Kill me!" Lewis laughed. "You're so weak Mack, you have been your whole life." "I'll tell you one more time. Get out of my way, or I'll kill you." "Drop the gun," Grant ordered. General Grant came in from behind with a gun. "Sorry Grant. I can't do that, but you can." Bam! Grant shot Lewis because Lewis tried to kill him. "Lewis!" Mack screamed. "I'm sorry Mack, he attacked me."

Chapter 3 "The Underground Railroad"

Tom was a great kid,” Mack started to preach at Tom’s funeral. “He was a friend to most of us and a best friend to George.” Once the sermon was over, George walked up to the coffin and placed a rose on it. His mom set a rose on next, then Mack, Lewis, and one more man. George couldn’t sleep that night. He was thinking about all the fun times he and Tom had when they weren’t working. “George, what’s wrong?” George’s mom asked. “Just thinking about Tom,” George said. “Tom was a good kid.” His mom said. “He was also a loyal friend.” George said. “Well, try to get some sleep,” his mom said. “Master Lewis is probably gonna be pretty stressed.”

When George woke up he found himself in a wagon riding away from the plantation. “Mom, what’s going on?” George asked. “Mr. Mack is taking us on the Underground Railroad,” “Mack!” Lewis screamed. “Get back here now! I don’t want to hurt you!” Bam! Gun shots were flying past the wagon. “Get down!” Mack ordered. Guards jumped on their horses and chased after the wagon. One guard jumped off his horse and on the wagon. Bam! George shot the guard with Mack's gun. "George!" There's four muskets in the back of the wagon. Give one to yourself and the rest to those three men!" Mack ordered. Bam! Mack killed the last guard with his pistol. "Alright, we're safe now," Mack said.
One hour later, they ran into a southern army. “Get out of the wagon,” General Robert E. Lee ordered. He was pointing a gun at Mack. “Where is the slaves' plantation?” “Back down south,” Mack answered. “Southeast in Virginia.” “But these slaves aren’t going anywhere.” Click, Lee cocked his handgun. “You’ve got three seconds to turn this wagon around,” Lee said. “Three... two... one!” Bam! “Mack!” George screamed. “Don’t worry about me and run!” Mack said. “The gunshot was the northern army general! There’s gonna be a battle!” Mack screamed. Bam! Bam! Bam! “Get out of here!” The northern general, Ulysses S. Grant, said . Mack, George, his mom, and the three other men booked out of there. “Keep running!” Mack screamed. Bam! Bam! Bam! All three of the men dropped dead. “No!” Mom screamed. “Mom get back!” George screamed. George ran and pushed his mom on the ground and, BAM! “OW!” George screamed. George was shot in his right leg. “Mrs. Tucker! Get up and help me carry George!” Mack screamed. “Ah! Take it easy! George demanded. Bam! The northern army was pushing through the southern army. Bam! Mack dropped George. “Mr. Mack!” Mom screamed. Mack was hit right on the spine. Bam! “That’s all of them, we’ll give you shelter at our camp,” Grant said.

The Underground Railroad

Introduction

This story is about an African boy named George Tucker who is twelve years old and he was born into slavery. The Underground Railroad isn’t underground and it isn’t a railroad. It’s just a secret pathway up north.

Chapter 1

Slavery

It was a sunny morning when George woke up. It was 8:00 A.M., and he was ready for another hard day. His family was separated from him besides his mom. Behind Master Lewis’s back, George’s mom taught him how to read and write. The master’s younger brother, Mack, didn’t think slavery was right and had taught her how to read and write.

“Come on! Keep it moving!” Master Lewis ordered. Whip! George got smacked on the back with the whip for the fourth time today. “Lewis, don’t you think you’re being a little harsh on them?” Mack asked. “Oh they’ll get used to it,” Lewis replied. “Mack you’re twenty-three years old. You can’t feel sorry for everyone your whole life.” “I do, because I don’t have a black heart, Lewis,” Mack said. Lewis was silent the rest of the day thinking about what Mack said.

Chapter 2

Runaway Slave

“George. Mack whispered in the middle of the night. “George. George! Now George was wide awake. “What is it? George asked. “I’ve got a plan," Mack said. “What’s your plan?” “Basically, it’ll bring you to the north,” Mack said. “What’s your point?” “Don’t you know?" Mack wondered. “The north hates slavery. Some are called abolitionists, and they try to abolish slavery,” “What’s that mean?” George asked. “It means they’re trying to end slavery,” Mack answered. "They’re on your side.” “Can my mom come too?” George asked. “You bet she can,” Mack said. “I’m planning to get about twenty more slaves up north.” “Then count me in,” George said. “Alright, go back to sleep,” Mack said. “Night George.” “Night Mack.”

“Alright, get up,” Lewis said nicely. “You guys get a short day today,”

“Tom, can you pass me that shovel?” George asked his best friend who was also a slave. “Sure thing,” Tom said, passing a shovel. “Hey, did you notice that Master Lewis is being awful nice today?” George asked Tom. “Can anyone not? It’s like Mr. Mack knocked some sense into him," Tom said.

“No whip today, huh, Lew?” Mack asked. “No, I thought about what you said, and I decided that being so harsh is wrong,” Lewis answered. “Hey, George, could you… guards! Runaway slave!” Lewis said. “Tom! No!” George screamed. Guards jumped on their horses and chased after Tom. Tom was running his fastest when all of a sudden he hit a thorn bush. The guards caught up to Tom and he was lying in the bush in pain. None of the slaves were close enough to see what happened when they heard, BOOM! Slowly, Lewis carried Tom back to where all the slaves were. “You murderer!” George screamed. Lewis just looked at him and began to walk again. “Did you hear me?” George asked. “You killed him!” George started to chase after Lewis until Mack stopped him. “It wasn’t Master Lewis,” Mack said. “The guard shot him.”