Please do not copy the diary entries. They belong to the author, I would not be sharing any of them if I did not purposefully comment and respond to almost every other sentence. And FYI STARTING AT this chapter of my  annotation of  this book is where it is not for the age group below high-schoolers as there are really dark stuff coming up. Unless you use it as a model to write your own example of annotation or a challenging writing prompt to follow NEVER COPY IT EVER. I will never put this book in stores or on another website either. This is a solo Wattpad story only and only exists for the convenience of those who wish to catch onto several writing skills and practiced them, Skylights, when they have no resources to use and accessibly provide themselves off line. I don't want any money for it and I don't want popularity for it. It is just a simple gift to less fortunate than me and to me them being able to read this is satisfying enough. It is enough for me that readers will want to read it.

You, however,  may quote whatever annotations I have stated that you find make a very good lesson and point I will allow that. I quote people all the time. And I will be listing several quotes from the story in these chapters to come up later because they are really good to quote, my friends.
144: 163rd diary entry annotated.
Saturday, December 17, 1859.
Mr. Harms still treats me like I'm not there when others be around us. (14 words)
He left me a copy of The Liberator, put out by a abolitionist named William Lloyd Garrison from the Boston. (20 words, never heard about that newspaper nor this abolitionist either.) I read the pages to Aunt Tee and Spicy. (9 words, can no longer considered stealing because it was willing given to her to use and read.)
They listened to every word — stories about black abolitionists. (9 words, of course they'd be hooked on that stuff.) I read about a woman named Sojourner Truth, who speaks out against slavery everywhere she goes. (16 words, this woman is a Believer of God and the mention of God was all through her impressive abolitionist speeches, Skylights.) Even when the mas'ers say they gon' stone her to death, she keeps a-talking. (14 words, that's being a hero to keep standing strong in your moral beliefs and value even when threats are thrown at you endlessly.) Aine scared of nothing, because she's telling the truth. (9 words, when you tell the truth for a really good cause it bolsters up your own courage.) "Slavery must be destroyed — root and branch!" (8 words, yes indeed!)

I am so glad to know about Miz Sojourner. (9 words) I mean to be like her one day. (8 words, like her by fighting for the same cause not physically become her.) Maybe even meet her when I get to freedom. (9 words, unfortunately she is so much older than you I don't see that dream coming true, Clotee.) Maybe we could be abolitionists together. (6 words) Demagine that. (2 words) But will I be brave like the shepherd boy, David? (10 words, girl you've already become brave and you don't even realize it, child.) If I was with Miz Sojourner, she'd help me be strong — and we can end slavery, too. (17 words, girl you're mentally wise more now than when we were first meeting in this book when I started this annotation project. And being mentally wiser than you were before makes you mentally strong as well, you conquered your bias, your misbeliefs in other white men's judgement and overcame your hubris as well. That's been mentally wise and strong.)

145: 164th diary entry annotated.
Sunday, December 18, 1859
Waith works the people in the Quarters like dogs, won't let up on them a minute — push, work, driving night and day — painting, chopping winter wood, feeding the livestock, on and on. (32 words reminds me of Buster from Lady and The Tramp II and how he bosses the junkyard dogs around so hard, Skylights, Tramp's clear cut rival of a street dog.) He's constantly yelling and screaming, and lashing that whip. (9 words, endless noisiness!) I'd like to wrap it around his neck and give it a good yank! (14 words, that's a bit much for even you, Clotee.) The more he yells the more Mas' Henley and the Missus feel they're getting their money's worth. (17 words, not sure that's exactly true at all, child.)

146: 165th diary entry annotated.
Monday, December 19, 1859
It snowed today, not enough to cover the ground. (9 words, that's gotta be nice.) William sat by the window and longed to play once more in the snow. (14 words) "You're different, Clotee," William say matter-of-fact-like. (6 words, I am not surprised he said that when you get smart it starts showing itself really, really fast.) Lord, now William is noticing me. (6 words, because you help love him on a daily basis he won't say a thing to his parents because they wouldn't believe him anyways currently.) Who next? (2 words) I made on like I didn't know what he was talking about. (12 words.) He say, "You don't sound like the other slaves. (9 words, again children often times are the most observant.) You say talking, instead of talkin'. (6 words) You say, I am instead of I is. (8 words) You say, they were instead of they was — and things like that. (12 words, all truly true, Clotee was unconsciously aware that her mouth and tongue had shaped themselves to utter the politest form of English language speaking it fluently.) You talk almost as good as a white person. (9 words, wow another brilliant compliment from the sweetened child.) Why is that?" (3 words) I shrugged my shoulders and got out of there as quick as I could. (14 words)
Missy was always teasing me about talking proper. (8 words, if there is one positive thing to say about Missy is she does have keen hearing. This is what makes her different and yet even more dangerous than ever, Skylights.)
Miz Lilly had spoke about it, too, and now William. (10 words, the awkwardness!) Was my learning to be my undoing? (7 words, nope God's already proven that by keeping people away from your cabin at night when you read to Spicy and Aunt Tee.)
I must be particular to write but not talk too proper. (10 words) I could get myself into trouble. (6 words, William wouldn't get you in trouble anymore now. Because he knows you as a loving friend now you're no longer in his eyes just a servant slave in the house to him.)

147: 166th diary entry annotated.
Tuesday, December 20, 1859
Five days to the Big Times. (6 words) Two men by the name of Campbelle came to Belmont today. (11 words) They stayed for supper. (4 words, these people are from one of the States that secede first from the country of the United States they lived in Florida the 3rd state to secede from the Union on January 10, 1861, but these guys originally came from and were born in Tennesee the last state to secede.)

The older Campbelle is gray-haired with a matching mustache, stocky, but well-dressed. (12 words) The son is taller, thinner. (5 words, not surprised at any of those descriptions.)
The Campbelles are horsemen from Tennessee, same as Mas' Henley. (10 words, born and raised in Tennessee but no longer live there any more.) While serving biscuits and coffee, I turned to listening. (9 words) I'm piecing it all together so I can write it down. (12 words, must be hard keeping up with all the countless conversations you've heard by other white people.)
"We've been watching you for some time," said Silas Campbelle, the older man. (13 words, that's so creepy.) "We like the way your boy rides." (7 words, uh oh! I smell a bad deal coming to fruition just around the corner, Skylights.) "I got the best jockey in Virginia right here at Belmont," Mas' Henley bragged. (14 words, bragging lends you absolutely no benefits.) "He'd be great if he had a fair mount," said Amos Campbelle, the son. (14 words, they're envious. Their cause is nowhere near justice and with the way they brought up the deal was explicitly creepily offered. I don't trust them; they're very fishy.) "We've got the right horse. We need your jockey." (9 words, poor Hince.) "What's your offer?" (3 words)
"We'd like to buy Hince." (5 words, uh oh!)
My heart sank! (3 words, mine would too if I were that closely emotionally tied to him.)

I almost dropped the plate of dessert tea cakes, but I caught them before they all slide off the tray and on the floor. (24 words, not surprised you lost focus, most people do when they hear something they never want to hear, Clotee.) The men were too fixed on what they were saying to pay attention to me. (15 words, God gave you that shielded veil around you,) "No deal," Mas' Henley answered. "But, I'll make this bet. (10 words) My jockey against your horse. I lose, you take Hince. (10 words, that's the worst type of bet and the Campbelles were dumb to agree to it the first place.) I win, I take your horse." (6 words) "Set the date?" "New Year's Day." (6 words, a little time to have Hince get off the plantation.)

Later
Hince was shocked when I told him what I'd overheard. (10 words not actually surprised about his actual reaction.)
"So Mas' Henley done bet on me 'gainst the Campbelles' horse?" (11 words, really need to considered those stupid words of the deal more, honestly, Hince. Not all good things last forever just like bad things are meant to cease at certain times. This is a bigger deal than you make it out to be.) He shrugged and went back to rubbing Can. (8 words)
Is that all Mas' Henley thought of Hince — to bet him against a horse? (14 words, yes even Clotee knows how absurd this deal was, thank you for making that more apparent.) "S'pose you lose?" I asked. (5 words, a likelihood with the way he is leaning too much into his overconfidence. Overconfidence just like pride will knock you off your feet sooner than you can cry out the word, "Help"! This was an unfair deal, and Deep Southerners never play anything the fairest way. They would be willing to cheat to get all they wanted too. The horse of theirs would win and they'd make sure of it.)
Hince talked brave. "I won't lose. (6 words, overconfidence is gonna be your downfall from fame Hince in a white man's land.) Big Can is a good horse, nobody really knows how good. (11 words) Mas' Henley musta planned this all along. (7 words) That's why he been having me hold back a little, winning without ever letting Can stretch out. (17 words) That's gon' be our edge on the Campbelles." (8 words, they already suspect that obviously.) Once he put voice to those words Hince didn't seem worried. (11 words)
All I pray for is for him to be right. (10 words)
So does Aunt Tee and most especially Spicy.
Hince can't lose. (11 words)

148: 167th diary entry annotated.
Thursday, December 22, 1859

We all gathered on the porch to see the Christmas tree lights. (12 words, you're still more fortunate than others, Clotee.)
The tree didn't look as pretty to me as it used to. (12 words, so much has changed since your last Christmas Season, it is hard for even lights to shake off all the bad feelings for everybody who needs them shaken off now.) Maybe Waith being here has spoiled the Big Times for us all. (12 words, probably true.)
As hard as everybody done worked to get the place ready for the holidays, Briley Waith went to Mas' Henley and tried to get our off-days cut short. (28 words, told you if he always had his way you'd spend 24-7 working bent over till your back officially is deemed broken by the strain of the exercise.) I heard him say with all the runaways happening, he thinks we should be kept bent over working so we can't take time to study up on freedom. (28 word, this guy literally epitome of all the bad people were anywhere when they happened to be selfish abusive white folk. Just reading about this guy's suggestion reminds of the methods in the work and slaughter camps for Jewish in Germany. He's that bad of a person, deep to the core. He is just like those horrible soldiers who worked to force people to do work that was so bad, Skylights.) Thank goodness, Mas' Henley had sense enough to realize that he'd have a r'bellion on his hands if he didn't give us the days off between Christmas and New Year's. (30 words, Henley is a smarter form of man than Waith could ever hope to reach.)
"Tell you what, though," he told Waith. "I won't give out any travel passes this year. (16 words) That ought to cut back on any runaway attempts. (9 words) Thank you for thinking ahead, Waith. You're a good man." (10 words)
I just wrote M-E-A-N in the ashes. (7 words, more like brute and violent all in one package.)
Mean. The picture of Waith is clear in my head. (10 words) This is going to be a sad, sad Christmas for folks who were hoping for passes to visit their loved ones on nearby plantations. (24 words, so very true indeed.)

149: 168th diary entry annotated.
Saturday, December 24, 1859 — Christmas Eve
Been so busy, I aine had a chance to write in a few days. (14 words) Everything is ready for the Big Times — in the Big House and down here in the Quarters. (17 words, well done.) Even the weather is on our side. (7 words that is always good news, Skylights.) If it stays warm like it is today, we'll get to eat our dinner outside. (15 words, yes that's one of the best things to do ever.) Everybody is home for the holidays. (7 words) Mr. Harms stayed here, rather than go to his home. (10 words, not surprised.) Clarissa and her husband are here from Richmond. (8 words)
The tree is up, the stockings are hung, and we've got the cream ready for Mas' Henley's famous eggnog. (19 words) The Missus led the family in singing carols. (8 words)
As soon as I could slip away, I joined Aunt Tee and Spicy in the stables. (16 words, what's happening there I do wonder.) That's where the folks from the Quarters were having their Christmas Eve dance. (13 words, awwh, that's so very awesome) All under the watchful eyes of Waith, the overseer. (9 words, not so awesome yet.) Aunt Tee served him a glass of danderlion wine. (9 words, wonder how that was made.) Waith drank it and ate a big plate of pickled pig feet, a roasted sweet potato and ashcake. (18 words, he is also a pig when it comes to eating bushels of food, Skylights.)
Aunt Tee winked at Spicy and me, because she had put a potion in his drink. (17 words, yes Mother instincts are kicking on in for you two preciously innocent girls, Clotee.)
'Fore long, we looked for Waith. (6 words)
He was curled up like a fat snake, sound asleep. (10 words, funny someone managed to make you fall asleep in the middle of your watching job, Waith.) Slept through the whole party. (5 words, that's a real win for everyone who lives right here on this Belmont plantation.)
He never guessed what had made him so sleepy. (9 words, lol that's even so much more hilarious than beforehand, Skylights.)
Thank goodness for Aunt Tee's potions — and the Afric woman that gave her the recipe. (15 words, praise the Lord they ever actually met in the past long before Aunt Tee became an official slave.)

150: 169th diary entry annotated.

Sunday, December 25, 1859 — Christmas Day
It is Christmas — all day. (5 words)
"Christmas gif'," we all shouted outside Mas' Henley's window first thing this morning. (13 words, never heard of that before, Skylights)
After the families from the Quarters came to the Big House to greet the family and get their gifts, they hurried back to the Quarters to begin their Week of Sundays. (31 words, you only have that week of Sundays this year cause Master Henley isn't as stupid as you might believe he is, Clotee. But actually receiving gifts from the family in the Big House that's really news to me.)
Us who work in the kitchen had to work all day — fetching and toting, wiping and cleaning. (17 words, still rough as ever.) Missy saw another side of Miz Lilly today. (8 words, she knew she had it coming.) Missy was moving slow-like and whining about having to work on Christmas. (12 words, now you know this job isn't all that fun just like field work isn't all that   fun either.) All at once Miz Lilly popped Missy right upside the head. (11 words, fair justice delivered at last, Clotee.) It hurt Missy's heart that I saw her get slapped. (10 words, she had coming for her sooner or later anyways, Skylights.)
I had Aunt Tee and Spicy bent over laughing, when I told her how Missy looked — eyes all bucked, mouth poked out — what a sight. (25 words, not something I would ever laugh about ever even if the victim did deserve it at the time.) She had it coming after what she did to Hince. (10 words, totally true.)

Later
Everybody in the Big House is happy because William stood up on his own today. (15 words, he's getting so close to walking all over again that's why he was smiling earlier days before because he had this surprise to showoff.) I felt good seeing him standing up all by hisself, too. (11 words, you should you helped get to this point.) So that's why he's been all happy. (7 words, so very true indeed!) He knew about this. Mr. Harms got lots of praise. (10 words, his suggestion did work a wonder that became a miracle.) Even Miz Lilly had to 'fess that Mr. Harms had helped her son stand. (14 words, you don't get much praise from that woman ever, and because Mr. Harms helped William's legs no longer be lame soon very Miz Lilly would protect his life because of her son's being heal just once but that would be enough to pay his good deal forward.)
He'll be taking a few steps any day now. (9 words, yeah! That's such great news!) I feel happy for William. (5 words, you should feel super elated for him, to be a child and to not walk or run is no life for children your age at Clotee.) I'd helped William come this far, too. (7 words, indeed you did, Clotee.)
I'd rubbed his legs and toes and sat with him when he was lonely. (14 words, even keeping someone company for a while change their first impression of you drastically and that had occurred in William.) Nobody knew what I'd done — but I knew and that made me feel well within myself. (16 words, of course it would, this is a blessing in disguise well worth the hard toil, time and patience it had required of you Clotee. When you give back life you feel like you want to shout in joy.)

151: 170th diary entry annotated.
Monday, December 26, 1859
Today begins the first day of the Big Times. (9 words) No work for the field hands. (6 words)
For us in the kitchen double work — more toting, fetching. (10 words, that is so annoying.)
Yesterday after we had served the big meal for the Henleys and cleaned up, we went down to the barn where there was a gathering going on. (27 words) Aunt Tee had made a cake from stuff I'd been sneaking out of the kitchen for weeks. (17 words, she used it for a very special time. And this night was one of them, Skylights.)
All the elder folk stood to one side as judges. (10 words) Somebody started patting the juba, clapping the tune. (8 words, juba I believe is a drum like instrument but with a softer sound than that of our modern drums, Skylights.)
Then came the couples, strutting the cakewalk. (7 words) Hince and Spicy come out first — high-stepping and kicking their heels. (11 words, not surprised they would dance together once again.) They were wearing matching shirts that Aunt Tee had made from the cloth Miz Lilly handed out. (17 words, wonderful idea!) Everybody had to say they were a fine-looking couple. (9 words, also totally true too.) But they could also dance. (5 words, also true.)
I had on my dress that Mama had made and the ribbon that Hince had brought me. (17 words, now that's a good outfit indeed.) Missy had on one of Clarissa's dresses, too. (8 words, you're still being too proud of your fortune and