For English last year I wrote a journal as a character from the book A Lesson Before Dying, by Ernest J. Gaines. I am not sure if this will make sense if you have not read the book, bu ti think it will. Please give it a try. F.Y.I. the grammar mistakes were purposeful.
Tante
Lou’s Journal
Entry thirty the
day
I
watch the trail for her. I know it kill her to see her boy here and she doin
the best she can. So while she stare straight ahead at her boys head, I follow
what’s goin on. While her ears are hearin but her brain not listenin I listen
to it all, no matter what I feel, I gotta do this for Miss Emma. She be the
best friend I have, as sweet and good as homemade pie. There ain’t not much
else I can do, so I do this.
The
scene was not a pretty one. A plain court room, the judge white red faced and
sweaty, the jurors white, all men. Kinda intimadatin when I first go there. Me
and Miss Emma walked in together. As soon as she sat down, it as if some switch
went off in her head. She could no longa move only when absolutely necessary
did I ever see her move a muscle in that dreadful room. Poor Poor, Miss Emma my
heart aches. I would be no better off if it was Grant accused of murder. Either
way, they would both be innocent men. Jefferson is innocent he was only in the
wrong place at the wrong time, I know it. Miss Emma raised him right. I also
know that the defense did all they could, to try to get Jefferson a light
sentence. But I cringe when I hear them call him a ‘boy’ and a ‘hog’. I don’t see what good that did. Aint it easier
to kill a hog then a man? Don’t make Jefferson or Miss Emma feel too good
either. Otherwise… I got no complaints…
Everyone
knew the verdict before it was made. A robbery, with two black robbers and an
old man the owner, killed? The people need to blame somebody and that somebody is
Jefferson. He is a black boy in white world. I know since I born that that
situation brings out no fairness. It’s just the way it is. I hate this day more than anyone could
imagine. Sometimes I think ‘why us’, but that thinkin aint gonna get me
anywhere. If I have bad thoughts I just repent and pray to God. He keep me
safe, him and Reverend Ambrose, a good man. Nothin much else happened to-day.
We goin’ back on Monday at 10’oclock sharp for the sentence. I pray for Jefferson,
but this is the one time God forgive me, that I think my prayers aint doin
nothin. I will end this with a good by and good thoughts.
Entry fifty my visit
Today
I went with Miss Emma and Reverend Ambrose to visit Jefferson. Fore I get to
that there is Grant to deal with. He lied to us about Jefferson, told it better
then it was. I can guess a reason not to hurt Miss Emma’s feelins. Not sure
what I woulda done in his shoes but I still wish he hadnt gottan Miss Emma’s
hopes up. Now Jefferson, took bein’ called a hog worse than I thought. It
consumed him, taken over his soul. It like he be alive but dead inside. His
actions showed it clear and well. Today at the cell Miss Emma lost her temper,
and hit her boy. I sorta wanted to hit him too, god forgive us both. But just
cuz he in bars don’t mean he get to be disrespectful to the Lord and to Miss
Emma. Maybe Grant is rubbin off on him in bad ways. My Grant gave up on the
Lord and I be sad bout that but there nothing I can do. I tried praying. I
tried getting’ Reverend Ambrose to talk some sense in him. But he still ran
away from the Lord. What else can a woman do? I cant control that boy no matter
what I do, but there’s one thing he cant run away from. I brought him up better
than that to refuse. Grant will help Miss Emma he will go to that cell, and
talk to Jefferson. Grant is the teacher it’s his duty to teach Jefferson how to
be a man. Prove those lawyers wrong. Jefferson will die an honorable
man. God Bless the Lord and that boys
soul. I will end this with a good by and good thoughts.
Entry seventy Jefferson
I dedicate this entry
to Jefferson who died a man. He died a man, yes he did he was strong till the
end. He walked straight to that chair. I thank God. I thank Grant. If Jefferson
wasn’t meant to live then at least he could die a great man. I couldnt be there
myself, I had to stay home with Miss Emma. But I heard. I heard that Grant did
good and had changed Jefferson. I cried. How could I not? Jefferson the boy I
knew was no longa gonna be on this earth. The day that we had all been pushin’
back had finally come to smack us in the face. At times like this I only have
the Lord to believe in.
The
night before it happened I stayed at Miss Emma’s house. I stayed there all
night. Keepin her company. While she got restless fits of sleep, God wouldnt
even give me that. I stayed up all night. I don’t think I will ever live a
sadder night. People from the quarter would filter in throughout the night to
comfort Miss Emma. But I knew, I knew none of it really helped. Only the
Reverend could ease her pain down some. But then he left for some rest cuz he
said he had to get there early tomorrow. Miss Emma was glad that she could at
least know that Reverend Ambrose and God would be with her boy. Im proud of
mine. Im proud of my boy for what he done. I believe we all are.
Today
was a day of mournin. It was a bleak day full of prayers, God, sadness and
acceptin’. Miss Emma took it the hardest as expected. But she was brave too and
so proud when the news came. That her boy walked straight as can be.
I
wanna write down my own little prayer, sent out to the heavens Everyone prays for
Jefferson to-night, we all love you boy. I shed my tears for you. Rest your
soul. Amen.
I
will end this with a Good by and good thoughts.
END
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