It was a beautiful, warm, and sunny morning at the Jackson Family Farm. A hickory aroma of crispy bacon drifted through the parlor. Sarah Jane put on her bonnet. She was so happy for school to end. She just finished sixth grade! Summer always brought loads of adventure, and now that Sarah Jane was eleven, she could discover even more! Bring on summer of 1860!

Sarah Jane skipped out onto her front porch. She lived in a plantation house on a large cotton farm. She always stayed where her parents could see her in the yard, but today she went excitedly past the barn. As she frolicked towards the fields, she noticed about ten people working. They were bent over and picking crops. She had never met any of the workers, and she could hardly wait to introduce herself. Maybe she could work in the field or maybe she could make a new friend she thought to herself.

While Sarah Jane went closer to the working people, she noticed a girl that looked about her age. Sarah Jane was overjoyed! She started to run as fast as she could to say hello to the pretty girl. When Sarah Jane approached the girl, she introduced herself and asked, "My name is Sarah Jane. Do you want to play with me?" The working girl did not look up. She said, "My name is Jessie, and I can not play." Sarah Jane was upset and asked, "Do you think you can play with me tomorrow?" Jessie still did not look up from the crops. She replied, "I am never allowed to play."

The next day Sarah Jane woke up determined to make friends with Jessie. She raced out to the field again. This time Sarah Jane brought two dolls to play with, but When she got there, Jessie was working. "Hey Jessie do you want to play? I have dolls! There's one for you! Please?" said Sarah Jane. Jessie hesitated for a second. She looked around to see if anyone was watching. Then she said, "Sure! Let's run!" The two girls raced behind the barn and were playing happily with the dolls. As they made up stories, Sarah Jane could see that Jessie's hands had blisters. Jessie's clothes were dirty, and she was very skinny. Sarah Jane was just about to ask her new friend why, when Sarah Jane's father came out and exclaimed, "Sarah Jane, you must not play with her! She is my slave!"

Jessie dropped the doll and ran back to the field, apologizing the whole time. "Sorry, Mister Jackson. I apologize, sir. Please, sir, I promise not to talk to your daughter again!" She did not look up at him either.

Mr. Jackson sent his daughter up to her room. Sarah Jane could not eat, think, or sleep. All she was worrying about was Jessie, and how she was her father's slave! Sarah Jane had to do something to help her friend. When she heard her parents go to bed, she waited awhile longer. Then she grabbed her abandoned knapsack from sixth grade and escaped into the dark, summer night.

Soon Sarah Jane stumbled across the fields and back to the barn where the slaves were kept. Sarah Jane peeked inside. With the help of the moonlight, she saw Jessie. She tiptoed over to her, careful not to disturb the other workers who were sleeping in beds made of hay, and peer at Jessie. She was still awake, so Sarah Jane lit a match and showed her face to her friend. "What are you doing here?" Jessie whispered. Sarah Jane squeezed her hand and said, "I came to see my friend." The two girls sneaked out of the barn and talked all night by the light of the moon.

Sarah Jane offered Jessie some leftover cornbread which her friend ate happily. Jessie glanced over at the knapsack and asked Sarah Jane what was inside. "That is a bag that I carry to school. Ugh, school- so BORING!" Jessie was shocked. She said, "You are lucky to learn to read and write. I wish I knew how!"

Sarah Jane had an idea. That night and every night for the rest of the summer Sarah Jane brought extra food from home for Jessie and began to teach her friend. They started with singing the alphabet. Many nights were hard, but their friendship was protected by the darkness of the night. After a long, long, while Jessie had memorized the alphabet, could write all the letters, and read! That was a start!

After Sarah Jane taught Jessie the alphabet, one night she asked, "How do you feel being a slave, Jessie?" Her friend looked down. "It's fine," replied Jessie quickly. "But how do you really feel about it? You have those blisters, and you are never allowed to play. That isn't fine, is it?" questioned Sarah Jane. "Well... I hate it. Your father makes us do all of the tough work," remarked Jessie. "Oh," said Sarah Jane, "I want to get you out of this horrible place if you hate it! We are all the same. I want you to be free like me." Sarah Jane said good-bye, tiptoed out of the barn, and went back into her room where she had an amazing dream...