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.”