Konos History Class-Short Story

By Elizabeth

8/31/04

" I’m going to take a walk mom."

"OK, just be back by dinner time."

As I stepped outside into the crisp, cool fall air, I started thinking about what we had discussed in history class that day. We had learned about the Underground Railroad and how Harriet Tubman helped free 300 slaves, maybe even more. I was thinking how exciting it must have been to try to help free the slaves, when suddenly, I stopped walking. There in front of me was a cave. In all the years I had lived in my neighborhood, I never knew this was here. I decided to venture in a few feet and then all the sudden I heard whispering!

"I don’t think nobody’s going find us in this here dark cave!"

"Oh, be quiet, Jim, cause that ole whippin’ man is going to find us if he hears you whisperin!" They sounded out of breath as if they had been running really hard, but what whipping man were they talking about? I wanted to move a little closer, but when I did, some small rocks fell from the ledge I was standing on!

"Did you hear that, Harriet? I bet it is that ole whippin man. He’s found us!"

"Shhhh! We got to run!"

"Hey wait a minute!" I called, "I’m not the whipping man, my name is Zoe!"

"Where did you come from and what kind of name is Zoe?"

"Well, I live around here, and – who are you?"

"My name is Jim and this here is Harriet. We has been running from our master up on Cotton Hill Plantation. And Harriet has been trying to lead some slaves up to the free states and,"

The lady in the dirty dress said to the boy, "Hush Jim! I’m not coming this far and havin’ you tell on us!"

I realized what was going on and exclaimed, "This is so cool!"

"Cool?"

We heard someone shout, "Hey, wait up boys I think I heard something down here in this cave! I’m going to go and check!"

"Harriet, it is the whippin’ man! He’s found us! What are we going to do?"

"Hey, I’ll cover for you guys, get in the back of the cave!"

"What?"

"Just do it!"

I ran to the front of the cave just before the man reached the entrance.

"Hey there little missy, have you seen these two slaves before?"

I looked at the pictures. Sure enough those two people on the paper were the ones I had seen, but I just couldn’t tell on them.

"No sir, I haven’t."

"Well, we’re going to be moving on now, but you tell us if you have seen them and then I’ll give you a piece of candy."

I just smiled and waved goodbye. I waited for about fifteen minutes, thinking about what an amazing thing seemed to be happening. I must have walked into this cave and gone back in time! I heard my stomach growl, "It must be close to supper time. I had better try to get back home." I motioned for Harriet and Jim to come out.

"Thank you so much," panted Harriet.

"Did that man say how much we was worth? ’Cause last I heard, Harriet, you had 40,000 dollars on your head!"

"Jim! You shouldn’t be askin’ those types of questions. Alls we got to is get to the free states."

"Can I ask you a few questions," I asked?

"Well, be quick, cause we have got to be on our way."

"Would your name, by any chance, be Harriet Tubman? And have you freed slaves before?"

"That is funny that you be askin’ that sorta thing, but, yes, my name is Harriet Tubman. This is my fifteenth trip to Maryland. I aim to free all I can of my people. "

"This is so neat! Thank you for answering all my questions. I think that man should be a ways ahead of you by now."

"Thank you so very much dear. Jim and I really do appreciate it! Bye!"

As they turned to leave, I realized what I had just done! I went back in time and helped free slaves- I even met Harriet Tubman! I can’t wait to tell all of my friends, but I know they won’t believe me!