tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-938946797167110252024-02-07T15:30:17.925-08:00Lil SamThis blog is related to the series, Lil Sam's Amazing Adventures. In the books a boy goes on 'fantasy train tripsDr. Wilmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12376738541252830068noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-93894679716711025.post-29185673477233758542012-05-22T14:49:00.001-07:002012-05-22T14:49:34.113-07:00LIL SAM ON THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>RIDE ON THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD</b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Quint
kept going deeper and deeper into the woods. It was hot and humid,
and mosquitoes were flying around my head and arms, and every part of
my body that was not covered with clothes. Susan was slapping at
mosquitoes too. She didn't look too happy, but was afraid of seeming
afraid in front of me and Quint.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
“<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Quint,
where we going,” she finally asked.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">We
could no longer see MaMu's house or any of her neighbors houses.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
“<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Shh,
I hear something,” he finally said.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">We
all stopped and tried to listen. But all I heard was the drone of
mosquitoes, and the wind in the trees.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 200%;">Then
I heard it. It was like a rustling in the bushes. Couldn't tell if it
was an animal or what.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
“<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">You
hear that?” Quint asked.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
“<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Yeah
but what is it?”</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Susan
was behind me, she grabbed my arm and held on tight. </span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">We
kept quiet, looking in the direction of the rustling. We didn't have
long to wait, soon we saw a man leading a boy and girl, with a woman
in the rear. They were walking stealthily, low to the ground, looking
over their shoulders at each step. They almost didn't see us. The
girl in turning her head spotted us first, and tapped on the man's
shoulder without uttering a word. He then saw us and stopped the
little group.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">We
all looked at each other, not saying a word. We didn't know who was
friend or enemy.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Finally
the man eased over to us, walking low to the ground, and whispering
said, “Ya'll with that Smith family that's suppose to come with us
up north?”</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
“<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Yes
sir,” I said, “we're with the Smith family, but I don't know
about going with you up north.”</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0.07in; margin-top: 0.07in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">The man, I guessed
he was the father, tried to reassure us about this trip. “Ya'll
can't stay here I hear the dogs coming now, “ he said. “No need
for you to be afeard, I've known even the youngest person to be able
to change the course of the future, so come on,” he said
encouragingly as he turned to lead the way.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
“<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Well
you can't stay here,” he said again, “those dogs gonna be on our
heels soon, if they not get you first, then you gonna lead them to
us, and we all gonna be in a heap of trouble.”</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">He
begin to walk away, his family following. He looked back once and
with his hand urged us on to follow.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">I
looked at Quint and Susan. What should we do, I mouthed. Far away we
could hear dogs. Besides wolves, I was really scared of dogs.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Without
another word, we three followed the little family. We didn't know
where we were going, but knew we couldn't stay here with the dogs
coming. Besides we had come too far to find our grandmother's house.
Maybe these people could help us get back.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Following
their lead we crunched down low, but going as fast as we could. We
must have gone miles it seemed. Nothing looked familiar. We didn't
talk to each other, but we knew we had to keep moving.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">We
came to a little stream. The man held his hand up for us to stop. He
whispered that the water would throw the dogs off our scent. But we
were not going to cross the stream, but walk along the edge in the
water.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
“<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">They
expect us to cross, and by the time they figger out their mistake,
we'll be long gone in the other direction,” the man said.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Again,
we just followed along, not saying a word. Quint and I had been on
adventures before, and nothing bad had really happened to us. That's
what this felt like.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">This
family was dressed real funny. Only the man had on shoes, the rest
were bare footed. Their clothes were raggedy. The girl and the woman
had bright colored scarves on their heads. We later learned that this
was to show they were not children anymore. The girl just had on what
looked like a slip. They all carried thin blankets.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">After
what seemed like several hours, walking in and out of the water, we
stopped under a big old magnolia tree. The woman opened up a cloth
bag and gave us each a piece of cold corn bread. I was hungry and we
all began to eat. It was nearly dark now, and we couldn't hear the
dogs anymore. I think it had been a long time since we had heard
them.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">I
ate, looking around at this strange group of people. The man was big,
dark and strong looking. All while he was eating he was looking
around. Between him and the woman, who I figured was his wife, the
two children sat together, looking as tired as we were. The boy and
girl were about our ages, about 12 – 13 years old. I don't know how
they could do all this walking barefoot, but they seemed use to it.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">I
decided to be brave and ask were they were going. </span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">'Where
you going sir?” I asked</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">He
looked at me strangely.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
“<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Boy
you sound like some of those northern blacks I heard of once when I
was in Atlanta,” he said with a smile on his face.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
“<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Are
you from Siloam too,” I asked.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
“<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Yeah,
but we decided to leave tonight,” he responded, “Moses told us
now is the time to go.”</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
“<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Where
you going?”</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0.19in;">
“<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Why
boy, we going up north, where no body can beat us anymore, or break
up our family, like they tried before. We going to follow that north
star to freedom.” he paused, “we all on the underground
railroad.”</span></div>Dr. Wilmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12376738541252830068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-93894679716711025.post-10093228302797228232009-08-29T06:18:00.000-07:002010-01-07T05:32:19.726-08:00Lil Roger and His Amazing AdventuresThis is a series of books for children. It is about a boy who has these amazing, exciting adventures that includes his love of trains, family history, and lessons in self control.Dr. Wilmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12376738541252830068noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-93894679716711025.post-41519915342225386062009-07-14T00:32:00.000-07:002010-01-07T06:04:40.581-08:00EXCERPT FROM THE BOOK - LIL ROGER'S AMAZING ADVENTURES<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEdYGGcczrozBhdvqX00TbIt4iiC4TCJ8Ab_kgF3uFhpgRxrxaVdcOKwJ0pdu1SVjnCqE7HwFFUHJFHARM44YUObXZFWOpcP2Gs9faGvGJWRA0oAERXZwBhG9CeQkPlZhDyVFIR2l1pAE/s1600-h/african_american_art_BOY.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 217px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEdYGGcczrozBhdvqX00TbIt4iiC4TCJ8Ab_kgF3uFhpgRxrxaVdcOKwJ0pdu1SVjnCqE7HwFFUHJFHARM44YUObXZFWOpcP2Gs9faGvGJWRA0oAERXZwBhG9CeQkPlZhDyVFIR2l1pAE/s320/african_american_art_BOY.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423998538613544946" /></a><br />......<br /><br />I must have fallen asleep while sitting around the table, because when I opened my eyes, the trains looked bigger and I looked smaller. I was actually on the table. I must be dreaming, I thought.<br /><br />This was great. I saw the trees and little houses I had put up, and they looked so real. Looking up I noticed the sky and clouds, not the ceiling in my room. Instead of a ceiling light, there was the sun.<br />....<br />“Whoo whoo”.<br />....<br />Suddenly I noticed something creeping behind the trees. Was it a dog, a big dog? No it was a wolf. I had never seen a real wolf, except in books, but I knew that’s what it was. I passed him and noticed his red eyes, his hair that stood up on his back, his lips pulled back and his big teeth all shiny. Suddenly he leaped from behind the bushes and started to run toward the train and me.<br />.....<br />As I jumped down, the wolf jumped all the way into the engine room and followed me.<br />I ran as fast as I could, but that old wolf was close behind me. I could hear him breathing almost. He still had that grin on his old ugly face. I ran around big boulders. I ran up hills and down hills, but that old wolf was still right behind me.<br /><br />Suddenly up ahead I noticed something new. It looked liked a Lion. What would a Lion be doing out here? Was he going to join the wolf in attacking me? The Lion was standing still, looking not at me but at the wolf.<br /><br />The wolf seemed to notice the Lion too, and he slowed down. I soon ran around the Lion, but he didn’t look at me, he was still looking at the wolf.<br /><br /><br />...<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><>< <><<>< </div>Dr. Wilmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12376738541252830068noreply@blogger.com0