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. 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.
166: 184th diary entry annotated.
Early February
I don't know what day of the week it is. (10 words, it is hard to keep track of weekly days sometimes.) They tell me I've been sick with a awful fever. (10 words, concerning all your entries about the awful cold January temperature last chapter, I believe it and I believe your friends as well.) Aunt Tee and Spicy used teas and salves — but it was Mama's love that pulled me through. (17 words, God helps us understand him by communicating with images of those we always lived and understand, she is seeing an image of her Mom not a physical being.) Whilst I was in a fever, dreaming, Mama come to me all soft and gentle. (15 words, but I do believe the voice and words were ones she would indeed say.)
"Get well, daughter. Live and grow strong."
Then she told me something that's really got me studying on the meaning. (20 words, you got me hooked already, Clotee.)
She say something Rufus used to always say, "To the one God gives much, much is asked in return." (19 words, man, that is truer than we ever realized that it could be so true! A line worth quoting.)
Then I saw Rufus standing with Mama. (7 words, they are with God in a better place.)
He say, "You have been given much, Clotee. (8 words, very true.) You can read and write, when others can't. (8 words, very true.) Now, you must put your learning to good use. (9 words, gifts from above are useless lest we put them into good old causes, Skylights.) Use your learning." Use it to do what? (8 words, the answer is about to meet you.)
167: 185th diary entry annotated.
Week later
I'm feeling better every day. (5 words, good)
Still wobbley. I'm back working in the kitchen and Big House. (11 words, hopefully that got your mind off being sick for so long, Clotee.)
After the dishes were done from the midday meal, I walked to the woods. (14 words, walking through Nature always made me feel better when I feel made or ill after being ill, Skylights.)
It's not nearly as cold as it has been. (9 words maybe you're right; I wouldn't know. Never stayed over night in Virginia or West Virginia yet.)
Most of the snow is melted. (6 words, a temporary thaw, Clotee.) I passed the cemetery and spent a minute with Uncle Heb, and I remembered Rufus and Aggie, Wook, and Baby Noah who never got a chance to live. (28 words, so sadly true and unfortunate about Baby Noah.) Then I moved down toward the river. (7 words, the sight of the river still amazing to see even now despite all that has happened within your own past.) I wrote F-R-E-E-D-O-M in the mud. (6 words, Freedom on its own is such a vague and subjective word in the English language, Skylights.) It still has no picture. (5 words, by itself, Freedom wouldn't show anybody a picture.) Maybe my dream meant that I should run to freedom up in the Philadelphia, the New York, or the Boston, and then use my reading and writing to help the abolitionists. (31 words, maybe, but I don't think that is what it means.) Is that what I should do, Mama? (7 words, I don't think so.)
168: 186th diary entry annotated.
Monday
I know it's Monday because Miz Lilly come to the kitchen to pass out the flour, sugar, and meal. (19 words, a full circle wrap up, Skylights. She started the book with this line and comes close to ending with it.) She gave Missy a pretty scarf to wear on her head. (11 words, that woman spoils stupid people way too much.) Then she swished past me with her head in the air. (11 words, being very weird as usual.) Suddenly I got an understanding. (5 words, meaning her vision was enlightened possibly.)
Miz Lilly is like a spoiled, silly girl — playing silly games with people's lives. (14 words, kind of true.) She's like a little girl in a big woman's body. (10 words, a little lady who rather wished and dreamed for the day she'd be recognized as a grownup, kind of like Susan from C. S. Lewis's Narnia Books of the main four characters only Susan is far less haughty than Miz Lilly ever could be.) Pitiful. (1 word, true.)
169: 187th diary entry annotated.
Tuesday
It's a winter thaw. Day was almost warm. (8 words, winter air meddles with our thoughts frequently.) But Aunt Tee say it's a fooler. (7 words, very true.) I wandered down to the spot where I had seen Mr. Harms talking to the one-eyed man. (17 words, God called you there to figure something out.) No reason. Just did. (4 words, you don't realize it, but God did call you to this place.) I heard the crackle of leaves underfoot. (7 words, who else could that be in the middle of the daylight, Skylights.)
I stopped, stood dead still, listening, waiting — for what I didn't know. (12 words, time to tie up some loose ends that weren't tied up yet. Loose ends of Gratitude that is.)
"Clotee. Over here. It's me, Mr. Harms." (7 words, time to close loose ends with a familiar face. But it would not be Goodbye just yet, either.) I was sure glad to see Mr. Harms and I told him so. (13 words, God wanted you to meet again for you to learn something, Clotee, to learn how capable your own brain actually already is. And you would be relieved to know he has been just fine.) He wondered why I had come to that place just then. (11 words, the reason is invisible to her.) "I don't know, sir. I just came." (7 words) I'll always b'lieve Mama guided me there. "I thought you would be in the Boston by now," I said. (19 words, in real truth God physically directed her to be there at that same spot.) "No," he said, laughing. "But this is my last run. (10 words, I'm amazed he still knows how to left with all the chaos he just went, Skylights.) My partner and I are too well-known in the Tidewater. (10 words, yep we already know that anyways.) I'll move on after we take the next group out." (10 words definitely for the best for him.) "Who will be the conductor here at Belmont?" I asked him. (11 words, good question and means there's a gap that needs to be filled.) "We won't have a conductor here." (6 words, that's very bad news, but it also means nobody else is willing to take the risk any more.) "That's too bad. Belmont is an important link in the railroad. The abolitionists will find someone, won't they?" (18 words, I doubt anybody will volunteer to put themselves on the frontlines after what happens with Harms get out.) I pulled myself tall. (4 words, brave girl.)
"Sir, I want to go with you to freedom. I'll work hard and help the abolitionists in any way I can. Please say I can come." (26 words, is that really your purpose, Clotee?) "Clotee, you don't have to beg. Of course you can come. (11 words, he is the only to realize the difference between crying and really begging from Clotee, he is smart.) Be here on the next dark of the moon. (9 words, that actually makes sense. Going out, starting out when the moon gave no light meant escaping slaves would be harder to track.) Bring fresh water but travel light — bring only what you need. (11 words, other things make harsher louder noises, so yes when escaping travel light as possible.) It is a dangerous journey, Clotee. (6 words, also true.) But you are no stranger to danger. (7 words, that is very true.) You are a remarkable girl, and we abolitionists will be proud to have you in our ranks." (17 words, he complimented you once again, Clotee.) Mr. Harms hugged me. "Take care, little Clotee. (8 words, that's probably the only other Hug she has ever gotten from a white person the first being William.) Thank Spicy for what she did. I have a feeling you were in on it, too." I nodded. (18 words, great guess, I told you always knew it.)
"Tell Hince I hold no hard feelings. (7 words, this is a great white man, a man with much profound wisdom that hd hardly has opportunity to ever share.) I might have done the same thing." (7 words, an even greater man to put himself in another's shoes within heart and not just mind, an honorable person indeed.) Then, "If possible, find some way to say thank you to William." (12 words, Mr. Harms is a really charming gratefully person.)
170: 188th diary entry annotated.
Wednesday
I've told Aunt Tee and Spicy about seeing Mr. Harms and how he was planning another runaway on the next dark of the moon. (24 words, he did ask for them to be thanked, so she did need to tell them once.) But as hard as I try, I can't get Aunt Tee to go with me. (15 words, not surprised, Aunt Tee figured she slow you guys down and I don't blame her, girl.) Spicy wants to go, though, because Hince is going to be leaving soon as his papers clear. (16 words, if they clear that is, Skylights.) "I'm too old, chile," say Aunt Tee. "Besides, I can't leave Uncle Heb. I lived with him. (17 words, another reasonable statement for her to not go.) I'll be buried 'side of him, too. But you go on, honey. (12 words, she's also a very devoted loyal wife to her husband.) Go to that freedom here on earth." (7 words, Aunt Tee always put Clotee before herself everyday.) Going without Aunt Tee? (4 words, guess that sounds impossible to you to do.) That would be like losing Mama again. (7 words, I can see why you would ever think like that.)
171: 189th diary entry annotated.
Next day
The Campbelles came to Belmont on their way back to the Deep South. (13 words, the cheaters are back.) "We've come for our property," said Silas Campbelle. (8 words, you don't deserve him; you didn't even really truly earned them, Skylights, so stop with the stupid foolish property talk.) "He's a free man," said Mas' Henley. (7 words, I don't blame him for going through with his original thought ever.) I must have polished all the brass off the mas'er's doorknob trying to hear what was being said. (18 words, lol that's so funny.) "You had no right to sell what didn't belong to you." (11 words, yeah right as I said you never truthfully really earned him and it wasn't selling, stupid.)
172: 190th diary entry annotated.
Monday again
Since Mr. Harms got run away, Miz Lilly been trying to teach William so he can get into Overton School. (20 words, he is not gonna accept you as a teacher anymore Miz Lilly, who made him uncomfortable during lessons.) Unteach is better to say. William won't have none of it. (11 words, true and good job you tell her that her lessons were never fun, she deserves to be annoyed by kids.) He gets about nicely with two canes. (7 words, nicely done, fear William.) Pretty soon, he'll be walking without them. (7 words, that's so very awesome.) When William saw me watching from the hallway, he waved. (10 words, oh, that was awesome, dear Skylights.)
Later, I stopped by his room. He was playing with Shadow. (11 words, that is so sweet you're paying back his wave by visiting him.) "If Mr. Harms had had time, he would have said thank you," I said. (14 words, and you kept your last promise to Harms and told William how thankful and grateful he was, Skylights.) "I'm sure he would have," said William. (7 words, definitely agree.) I think the message got through. (6 words, definitely true.)
173: 191st diary entry annotated.
Week later
I write this with a heavy heart. (7 words, I don't like that comment.) The judge ruled that Hince was not free because he didn't b'long to Mas' Henley when he freed him. (19 words, stupid judge I bet they actually bribed you to vote in their favor. They've done whatever it took before to get all they want, because they are such cheaters anyways. Such lame politicians!)
"The free papers he wrote aine worth a lame horse." (10 words, and that's such a deliberate insulting commented remark.) The Campbelles are coming to get Hince Monday-week on their way back south. (13 words, again stupid politics.) I've cried dry. Aunt Tee and Spicy have, too. (9 words, I don't blame you, Skylights.) We got to stop crying and start thinking. (8 words, also yet again true.)
174: 192nd diary entry annotated.
Monday (I hope)
Just when you get to thinking that times can't get no worse, something else happens. (15 words, also true.) The weather's like that, too — fooled us into believing spring was almost here, but it snowed again today, all day. (30 words, also true, and so very awkward.) While I was dusting Mas' Henley's study, I come across a paper that say he was selling Spicy to a man named Mobile, Alabama. (24 words, God put you in the right place, Skylights.) They are coming for her on Tuesday-week. (7 words, you've got time to figure out something, Clotee.) Spicy and Hince say they won't be separated — rather be dead first. (12 words, also very true and reasonable opinions.) Talk like that makes a cold chill go up my back. (11 words, I don't blame you there, Clotee.)
"What we gon' do?" Spicy asked me, right pitiful-like. (9 words, good question.) "You the one had the idea that saved Mr. Harms. (10 words, true.) Can't you think of a way to help me and Hince?" (11 words, I know you can definitely.)
There are abolitionists and conductors on the underground railroad who want to help us — but we aine got time to wait on them. (23 words, also true sometimes you must be ready to act on your own.) This time, we got to do it ourselves. (8 words, totally true.) We got to make an 'scape plan. (7 words, totally very true, Clotee.)
175: 193rd diary entry annotated.
Saturday
I was reading Spicy's Bible when I turned to a page where somebody had written, "My baby girl was born on February 28, 1844." (24 words, that's surprising.) I showed it to Spicy. (5 words, that should cheer Spicy up for awhile, Clotee.) "Mama must'a wrote that in the Bible," she say, touching the words with her fingers. (16 words, even words as special as these hold such sentimental value.) "She could read and write like you, Clotee." (8 words, we already know that.) "Like you, too, Spicy. You done learned how to write your name and lots of words. (16 words, also very true too.) With a little more practicing you'll be writing real good." (10 words, such real brave encouragement.)
"My mama wanted to name me Rose," Spicy said. (9 words, I remember that.) I wrote in Spicy's Bible, Spicy's real name is Rose. (10 words, A good reminder.) "Do you believe that everything in the Bible is true?" I asked. (12 words, that's a bit of a stretch but we all know what she really means by it, And it's also same time sweet.) She nodded. "I wrote your real name in your Bible. (10 words, now she knows how to spell her real name for the rest of her own life.) The name your mama wanted you to be called. (9 words, you're so sweet and gentle, Clotee.) ROSE. From now on you are Rose." (7 words, and that's how she'll be referred to in the epilogue in another chapter, Skylights.)
176: 194th diary entry annotated.
Shortly after midnight Sunday morning
There is a terrible thunderstorm raging outside. (7 words, Random mountain valley weather so unpredictable.) We had to call off the run. (7 words, Not surprised.) But we have to go no later than tomorrow. (9 words, absolutely true.)
2 more chapters left before this annotation project is complete. Hope you've enjoyed this adventure we all went on together, sweet Skylights.
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