This is really really good. I like your idea. It's a prospect that no one should be able to encounter. BUMP!
Sad yet amazing! I love the idea! So here it is: Bumpity Bump Bump, Bumpity Bump Bump, Bumpity Bumpity Boo!
Hmm... Maybe the are talkin in their own language or the were taught to speak English ya never know... Unless if the author tells us in the story or tells us before updating
Part 5: I heard a loud whistle blow as we got off the ship. Hundreds of white people were gathered around the docked ship, mostly men. They stared at us, studying our every flaw. Three white men were leading me, Jaraan, and mother inside a dirty-looking pen. Before I knew it, one of the men was taking me away to a different house than my family. "Mom!" I screamed out to her, thrashing while the man dragged me. "It's okay," she mouthed those words to me. "This isn't the end." This isn't the end. There are countless ways to interpret those four words. Did she mean that this wasn't the last time I would see her? Did she mean that I would never see her again, but I wasn't going to die? I was shoved onto a table that had jars of liquid I had never seen before. The white man picked one up, stuck his hand in it, and started smothering me with it. It made my skin look shinier than before; maybe even healthier. By the time he was done, I looked like a greased pig. The whole entire time, I thought about Jaraan and my mother. Were they going through this, too? Was I ever going to see them again? After an hour or so more of cleaning me up, they finally stopped and led me outside. "Mom! Jaraan!" I screamed with delight, running towards her and Jaraan with open arms. They both hugged me back, not letting go until the white men pulled us apart. "It's time to go," one of the men growled, showing an evil smile. My mother stood in the middle of me and Jaraan, holding both of our hands tightly. "Just remember," she spoke softly. "Stay safe." Her words to me reminded me of one day a couple years back... FLASHBACK "Mom," I said in a sleepy voice as I laid down next to her. "Yes?" she said tiredly, turning around and looking me straight in the eyes. "Why did you name me Aamina?" I asked confusedly. "Well," she started. "Your name means safe, or safety." "Aren't I already safe, mother?" I looked her in the eyes. She hesitated for a moment, looking at something far behind me. "There are a lot of bad people in this world," she finally spoke. "They will hurt us and try to separate us. But I would never let that happen." She smiled, and gave me a kiss on my forehead. I thought for a moment, then asked her what Jaraan's name meant. "He will sing," she smiled. "That is what his name means. I just know that one day, he will sing, and every human, every animal, will stop to listen to his beautiful voice." I smiled at my sleeping three-year-old brother, thinking of how he'll turn out in several years. END OF FLASHBACK We were all led to a humongous building labeled "Auctioning House." Auctioning? What were we doing at an auctioning house? Two white men led me, Jaraan, and my mother to a tall pedestal, and shoved us until we climbed to the top. At the top, I saw the hundreds of white people holding money in their hands, just waiting to auction, and then it hit me. I was the one getting auctioned. I immediately tensed up, not knowing what to do. Were we going to get split up? Was my "owner" going to be cruel and vicious? A man came up to the pedestal, studying us fondly. He went to an older-looking man, and said to him, "I want those two youngsters." He pointed straight at me and Jaraan. The older-looking man came up to the pedestal, and grabbed me and my brother. "No!!!!!!!" I screamed at the top of my lungs. "No! Mom! Please!!!!" "Aamina!!!!" she cried. "Jaraan!!!!!" "Mommy!!!!!!!" Jaraan bawled. "Mommy!!!!" The two iron doors closed and separated me and my mom. Forever.
Part 6: The older-looking man, I heard his name was John, who had grabbed me and Jaraan shoved us into the back of a car. Jaraan scooted closer to me, not daring to leave even an inch of space between us. The man who had "bought" us climbed into the front seat of the car. When John was out of sight, he turned around and studied us closely. "Do you have any idea what's going on?" he finally asked. We shook our heads in unison. He sighed, shaking his head. "It's terrible what's going on. How they take you from your homes, then auction you off to some random people. Those random people treat you horribly, beating you and working you until the point of collapse." He paused a moment, studying our expressions. "My parents are from the north," he continued. "Meaning they were against slavery, as most northerners are. They migrated to the south for reasons they never told me, and bought child slaves. But they didn't treat them horribly. They bought them so the children wouldn't end up in vicious hands. Since my parents died just over a month ago, I thought I'd continue what they did: saving kids from awful childhoods of being a slave." "What is slavery?" Jaraan asked. "Good question," the man let out a small chuckle. "Well, a slave is someone who is owner by another person. The slave has no choice, no freedom, and no money. They work all day everyday and get paid nothing. It's terrible, really. I just don't see why the southerners think this is right." We all sat in silence as the man kept his eyes on the road while he drove. My small brain couldn't understand how a car could move with just the press of a pedal. My eyes wandered to my left, to where a boy around my age sat. I was so focused on the man that I hadn't even noticed him until now. He sat clutching the seat, terror still showing in his eyes. He was probably separated from family, too. My spirits raised a little, knowing Jaraan and I weren't the only ones going through this. "My name's Jim, by the way," he said, keeping his eyes stuck on the road. "Just think of me as your dad," he said after a moment, smiling. Dad...I only vaguely remember mine. He died when I was 4 years old. My mother always told me a poem while tucking me in bed... Daddy just wants you to know He loves you with all his heart. Jesus asked for Daddy's help So Daddy for now must part. Know that Daddy's always with you Each and every day. Know that Daddy will always love you In each and every way. Mommy might be sad right now And cry over this. Please do Daddy a favor, Give her a hug and kiss. Daddy's body might not be here But know you’re never alone. For Daddy's with you always and forever, Even though Daddy's at Jesus's home. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I am SO sorry for not updating in SO long! I'm continuing this story now Aamina has a very sad life
Part 7: I stared in awe outside of the car. Enormous brick houses lined the dirt road. African men...or slaves...were pulling weeds out of the ground and putting seeds down in their place. I imagine all of the wonderful flowers and crops those tiny seeds will grow. Then I imagine one day growing my own garden. Beautiful, it will be, with its pure red roses and all of its radiant colors. I broke out of my daydream, coming back to reality. My eye caught a slave's, and he stopped and stared at me. He dropped what he had in his hands and ran up to the curb. "Does anyone else see this as wrong!?" he yelled, pointing at the car I was in. Jim had stopped it. "They take children away from their moms and dads! We work long hours with no pays and no breaks! We-" He was about to finish his sentence when a loud gunshot fired, and he slumped to the ground. Dead. I expected the other slaves to start a mob of some sort, but I'm guessing fear overtook them, and they went back to work like nothing had happened. I wondered if that man had a family. If he had been ripped away as I had been from mine. The last four lines of my mother's poem came to my mind: Daddy's body might not be here But know you’re never alone. For Daddy's with you always and forever, Even though Daddy's at Jesus's home. I wondered if that man made it to heaven. My mother used to tell me that heaven was a beautiful place where you can be...safe. I relived those moments with my mother once again. "Well," she started. "Your name means safe, or safety." "Aren't I already safe, mother?" I looked her in the eyes. She hesitated for a moment, looking at something far behind me. "There are a lot of bad people in this world," she finally spoke. "They will hurt us and try to separate us. But I would never let that happen." Her last words lingered in my mind... They will hurt us and try to separate us. But I would never let that happen. I now realized what she meant. These people are the bad people. They're separating us. My mother promised she would never let this happen... I felt myself get angry, and something strange occurred. "Don't be mad at her," a voice said. That voice...it was vaguely familiar. It could only be one person...my father. "It was beyond her control," he said. My dad was one of the only people I could trust right now, and I felt my anger towards my mother start to slip away. After a few moments, we arrived at one of the largest houses I've seen as we were driving. My eyes and mouth hung open in shock. "Well, come on now!" Jim said excitedly. "Come see your new home!" "A place you will never call home." My mother's words rang in my head. I felt like I was betraying her by being somewhat excited to live here, mostly because I've never lived in a real house. I took my first steps up to the building that was now my home, and held Jaraan's hand tightly. The boy who sat in the car next to me trudged behind us, his feet clacking against the concrete. As I took the final step to the door, I realized there was no going back. Images of my mother appeared in my mind, but I quickly shook them away. They're too painful to bear, because I've realized... I'll never see her again.