said Mr. Jones. âTamika has told us how you have been helping her and Jesse learn about the Underground Railroad. Itâs nice of you to do that.â
âThank you,â said the professor, âbut itâs no trouble. I enjoy working with young people. Itâs fun to watch them get excited about history.â
While the adults talked, Tamika just sat there quietly and hung her head.
âI missed seeing you on Tuesday,â the professor said to Tamika.
Tamika looked down as she talked. âI donât think I want to learn about slavery and the Underground Railroad anymore.â
âWhy, sweetheart?â her father asked.
âI donât like it,â she answered quietly. âBesides, Iâve got a lot of homework and I donât have time to see the professor.â
Professor Tuesday swallowed hard before continuing. âI heard that youâve been having nightmares. Is that true?â
âJesse wasnât supposed to tell,â Tamika said.
âWhy didnât you say anything to me?â her mother asked, placing her hand on Tamikaâs shoulder.
âI didnât want to worry you,â Tamika said.
Tamikaâs mother stood up. âIâm going to get a glass of water. Professor, would you like something?â
âYes, please,â the professor answered. âIâd love a glass of water.â
Her mother went into the kitchen. After a few moments, she came back with water for everyone.
âThank you,â said the professor as he took a glass. After he took a sip of water, he continued. âWhat is really bothering you, Tamika?â
âAll this stuff about slavery and danger scares me,â she said.
âTo be honest,â the professor added, âit scares me a bit, too. In fact, Iâve had nightmares about the Underground Railroad, myself. I had a bad dream about you, me, and Jesse being chased by slave catchers. It was very scary. But all of us are perfectly safe,â the professor said calmly. âThe Critter Cam helps us see the past. None of us will be harmed at all.â
âI know,â Tamika said. Her voice was shaky. âItâs just that I donât want to see it. I donât even want to think about it.â
âHoney,â her mother said carefully, âbad things did happen to African-Americans back then. Slaves who defied their ownerâs commands or ran away from their masters were treated harshly; some were even killed. But those who were brave, and those who helped them, changed the world. Donât you see how important that is?â
âI guess,â Tamika said as she rubbed her eyes.
Professor Tuesday suddenly remembered something. He pulled out the box he had found in his office and handed it to Tamika. âI want you to have this,â he said.
Tamika took the box from him. âWhat is it?â
The professor shrugged his shoulders twice. âJesse and Mr. Spinner came to my office on Tuesday. Your friend shared information about Eliza Harris and Laura Haviland, two brave women who lived in the 1800s. Laura Haviland lived in Michigan. She fought for the freedom of slaves almost her entire life and even started a school to help them learn to read and write. Something that slave masters would never allow.â
âWhat about that Eliza person?â Tamika asked.
âEliza Harris,â the professor said. A gentle smile crossed his face. âShe is what this gift is all about.â
âWhat do you mean?â Tamika asked.
âAnother abolitionist woman named Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote a book about Elizaâs life. I am giving you a very old, very valuable copy of that book, Uncle Tomâs Cabin .â
Tamika opened the box. Inside was a dusty old book, just like the professor said.
âThank you,â Tamika said shyly. âIâm not crazy about reading, but maybe my mom or dad will read it with me.â
âOf course we
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