(You might want to read part 1 and part 2 if you haven’t already. The era is set in the early 1900’s but after the Victorian era, so African Americans were not equal to whites yet. It is also set in November.)

IMG_5045I was surprised to see a girl very different from me standing there. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost. I’m Naomi, who are you?” the girl smiled. “Sorry, I’m Emmi! What did you say about this place burning down? Do you know if the woman inside it was killed in the fire or not?” I asked. “I’m sorry, can’t be much of help there. Don’t rightly know.” She answered. “That’s fine.” I sighed, slightly saddened.

IMG_5046“Um, well like I said, I’m Naomi! What brings you here?” Naomi asked.

IMG_5047“I’m a runaway orphan, I suppose. Though I don’t believe I’m an orphan yet – I’m still looking for my mother. But I’m not getting very far, you see I’m cold, tired and hungry.” I answered wearily.

IMG_5048“Well, come with me to where I’m staying! I’m an only child, but my Papa’s two states away lookin’ for a job, and my Mama’s was put in jail two months ago jail for a reason she was too upset to tell me. So instead of going to an orphanage for colored girls I wanted to live free, on my own. So I’m here.” Naomi invited me. We talked while walking along, me talking about my family – how my father and older brother had died of some sickness and not knowing if my mother was alive or not, how she sent me to the orphanage since she couldn’t find any work or food, knowing at least I’d get decent food there.

IMG_5049So we finally came to where Naomi stayed. “Here it is!” she announced. “What I call, the Dirt Mountains!”

IMG_5050Naomi scrambled up to the top of the mountain, used to it, while I struggled to climb up. Naomi offered me her hand.

IMG_5052“WHEW!” I said, taking a breather. Naomi and I rested. I knew she didn’t need to, but she was too sweet to tell me so. I had NEVER climbed such a big thing and I was pooped, my heart beating fast.

IMG_5054

IMG_5055 I looked on and on at the mountains. They were all so big and so many of them!

IMG_5056“C’mon,” Naomi said after giving me a few minutes to catch my breath. “I’ll show you where I sleep.”

IMG_5057“In a ditch-looking thing?!” I cried. “What about ants and spiders?!”

“I don’t know. I always wake up to them crawling on me and I just shake ’em off.” Naomi answered, shrugging.

IMG_5058We went up to the highest dirt-mountain. “It isn’t easy living here, but it’s someplace. I usually steal food from town or eat dead bugs if I find nothing. It’s only going to get colder, so we have to find some way to keep warm. But for now, what do you want to do? Would you like to stay with me? I would LOVE some company.” Naomi told me.

“I would love to stay!” I smiled. “Wanna be friends?” she asked hopefully.

IMG_5059“Absolutely.”

TO BE CONTINUED

Madison here! Not a cliffhanger, but makes you wonder what’s going to happen to Emmi next, huh? :) What do you think?