The Escape
By Vincent Zhang, Lea Kwok, and Jayden Perez
Facts don’t change, and that's why they are hard to face. Facts are the truth about a certain subject. A fact was that I was robbed by a group of gangsters. I remember that they came in like ninjas. My baby sister wandered too far. She was found by the gangsters. She was killed. When we found her body, sadness came over me. It had become a fact. She was holding a turnip close to her heart.
My family had come to America for a better life, but so far everything was dark. Literally. The sky looked like doomsday and a flash of lightning came every now and then. The captain of the ship looked like he was a pirate. He also acted the part. Captain Kuzzle, but Benson and I called him Pirate Whitebeard behind his back. Pirate Whitebeard made Benson and I sleep in the lower docks, where all the equipment was stored and where most of the crew slept. Pirate Whitebeard treated us like we were his crew, making us scrub the floor and check the equipment. Our parents didn’t protest because it was the only way Pirate Whitebeard would take us to America. We were going to New York City!
When we got to New York City, everything looked like heaven to me. New York City looked much more glorious to me than China. China was all low fashioned compared to the people here. Here people wore fancy clothes compared to the rags we wore in China. Once we were in New York City we were told the real deal of why we came here by one of Pirate Whitebeard’s workers. “Captain Kuzzle brought you here only so that he could sell your people for money to work as migrant farmers to farm owners upstate,” he said. He said it too late though. We were already in New York City and there was no escape.
Soon we were at what you would call an illegal auction. People were going to buy us only as something similar to slaves. “I would like to take these two strong looking boys right here,” said a voice. These words were unfamiliar but I had a bad feeling I was going somewhere.
Suddenly two men yanked Benson and I, and we were dragged away. Probably, we were auctioned and people wanted us. Father and Mother wasn’t with me though. I was doomed!
Soon we were on a farm. Here we were given a shelter. There were 5 other children. All of them were from different cultures, and one was whispering to his friends “New kids, bet Whitebeard took them here too.” I asked him how he knew Whitebeard. “Everybody here has been taken by him. That beard of him is fake, and his name isn’t Kuzzle either. Kuzzle is the name of the man who runs this area.“ “How do you know?” Benson asked him shakily. “I know because Whitebeard is my father.”
“W-what?!” I shakily exclaimed. I started to back away from the group of kids and Benson started to follow. Benson was probably as shaken up as me. I saw how this kid could be Whitebeard’s kid. He had that same scowl and the menacing look on his face. This kid could probably be paid by Whitebeard to take care of us and make us work. But what he said next impacted the rest of my life. “I’m Sirus Rupert. My father-I mean Whitebeard, dumped me here and got me to work. I don’t call Whitebeard my father because he has been cruel and I am SO close to calling child services on him. I would’ve already, but I don’t have a phone. Oh, and these other kids? This is Raj, he’s from India, Kim, she’s from Korea, Nate, he’s from Australia, and Henry, he’s from England. They all got tricked by Whitebeard and separated from their parents. They also came to America for a better life, like you two.”
Once Sirus realized he’d been rambling on and on, I introduced Benson and I and asked the other kids if they knew how to escape and how long they’ve been here. Apparently, they’ve all been here for at least 4 years, but I guess you lose track of time on a farm. Sirus tried to escape with them many times, but no luck. He also warned us that if we tried to escape, out came the whip. I’m also going to assume that the whip came out often on Sirus because I saw a couple of scars and he had attempted so many times.
It was Benson’s and my first day. Sirus taught us ways to slack since we were going to be here for a while. For example, we would waste our time until someone inspecting came by and then we would pick up our hoes and work. I mean we didn’t earn that much money anyways. Even if we earned the money we still could do anything. We were trapped. We might as well try to enjoy our time here, since we were never going to go. My job was to pick turnips.
Every time I did work of picking turnips my heart would feel a pain, for it reminded me of my sister and the turnip. Everyday at the end of the day I would get paid something like a dollar or two.
Every night Sirus would assign each of us to get a certain item he requested. This was suspicious because these items were not very common. It was pretty useless for us. Some items we even had to steal from the people who owned the farm.
Then one ordinary evening, Sirus announced that we were escaping. My brain was so split because I thought the owners of the farm would get mad and I would finally see my parents. But then, I realized that I didn’t know where my parents were or how Sirus would pull this off. But deep in my heart, I felt that Sirus could be trusted, and that I should follow Sirus. For my sister. The things we took were used to create a giant crate.
Soon we were on a farm. Here we were given a shelter. There were 5 other children. All of them were from different cultures, and one was whispering to his friends “New kids, bet Whitebeard took them here too.” I asked him how he knew Whitebeard. “Everybody here has been taken by him. That beard of him is fake, and his name isn’t Kuzzle either. Kuzzle is the name of the man who runs this area.“ “How do you know?” Benson asked him shakily. “I know because Whitebeard is my father.”
“W-what?!” I shakily exclaimed. I started to back away from the group of kids and Benson started to follow. Benson was probably as shaken up as me. I saw how this kid could be Whitebeard’s kid. He had that same scowl and the menacing look on his face. This kid could probably be paid by Whitebeard to take care of us and make us work. But what he said next impacted the rest of my life. “I’m Sirus Rupert. My father-I mean Whitebeard, dumped me here and got me to work. I don’t call Whitebeard my father because he has been cruel and I am SO close to calling child services on him. I would’ve already, but I don’t have a phone. Oh, and these other kids? This is Raj, he’s from India, Kim, she’s from Korea, Nate, he’s from Australia, and Henry, he’s from England. They all got tricked by Whitebeard and separated from their parents. They also came to America for a better life, like you two.”
Once Sirus realized he’d been rambling on and on, I introduced Benson and I and asked the other kids if they knew how to escape and how long they’ve been here. Apparently, they’ve all been here for at least 4 years, but I guess you lose track of time on a farm. Sirus tried to escape with them many times, but no luck. He also warned us that if we tried to escape, out came the whip. I’m also going to assume that the whip came out often on Sirus because I saw a couple of scars and he had attempted so many times.
It was Benson’s and my first day. Sirus taught us ways to slack since we were going to be here for a while. For example, we would waste our time until someone inspecting came by and then we would pick up our hoes and work. I mean we didn’t earn that much money anyways. Even if we earned the money we still could do anything. We were trapped. We might as well try to enjoy our time here, since we were never going to go. My job was to pick turnips.
Every time I did work of picking turnips my heart would feel a pain, for it reminded me of my sister and the turnip. Everyday at the end of the day I would get paid something like a dollar or two.
Every night Sirus would assign each of us to get a certain item he requested. This was suspicious because these items were not very common. It was pretty useless for us. Some items we even had to steal from the people who owned the farm.
Then one ordinary evening, Sirus announced that we were escaping. My brain was so split because I thought the owners of the farm would get mad and I would finally see my parents. But then, I realized that I didn’t know where my parents were or how Sirus would pull this off. But deep in my heart, I felt that Sirus could be trusted, and that I should follow Sirus. For my sister. The things we took were used to create a giant crate.
The crate had a vegetable painted on it turnips. It all makes sense. We had stolen turnips, and small pieces of wood. We got inside. Sirus was uncovered by the space of a single turnip. Then I knew it was fate. I put the turnip, into the empty slot right as one of the outlookers opened the crate. My heart stopped beating. What if he had seen me?
Soon we were shipped to a grocery store. The trip took 48 hours. The workers that opened the crate, confidently, were my mother and father. Tears of joy flooded from my eyes. My mother told Benson and I that everything was going to be alright and for once, I knew that was a true fact.
Soon we were shipped to a grocery store. The trip took 48 hours. The workers that opened the crate, confidently, were my mother and father. Tears of joy flooded from my eyes. My mother told Benson and I that everything was going to be alright and for once, I knew that was a true fact.
Richard Marker: The Fictional Story of a Young Migrant Laborer
By: Preston Zheng and Ayman Rahman
By: Preston Zheng and Ayman Rahman
Sweat dribbled down Richard Marker’s forehead. The burning, hot sun stared down Richard, as his hoe slashed crop after crop. His foot grew blisters and cuts, but that was the usual. His skin was dotted with cuts, injuries, and rashes.
It was 6:00 A.M., and Richard Marker was out in the fields with his rusty old hoe that he’s been using for 3 years. Day after day, he woke up, ate a quick meal of fruits, vegetables, or any other small morsel, and commenced on his working again. It was a different farm occasionally, as Richard was a migrant farm worker, like many of the 250,000,000 children who toil away in the fields to support their families.
Child labor is not as easy as it seems. It’s not just work and your chores. For Richard, it’s his life, his duty. Sure, the government did in fact ban child labor… excluding farm workers. Without the work, Richard’s family would’ve been plunged into extreme poverty, famine, and a sure-death experience in a blink of an eye.
It was 6:00 A.M., and Richard Marker was out in the fields with his rusty old hoe that he’s been using for 3 years. Day after day, he woke up, ate a quick meal of fruits, vegetables, or any other small morsel, and commenced on his working again. It was a different farm occasionally, as Richard was a migrant farm worker, like many of the 250,000,000 children who toil away in the fields to support their families.
Child labor is not as easy as it seems. It’s not just work and your chores. For Richard, it’s his life, his duty. Sure, the government did in fact ban child labor… excluding farm workers. Without the work, Richard’s family would’ve been plunged into extreme poverty, famine, and a sure-death experience in a blink of an eye.
Looking up to the sky as young Richard swiped the sweat off his forehead, he pondered,
“Is this seriously going to be my life from now on?”.
Sighing, he tugged at his sack, containing blood-red tomatoes. He slung it over his shoulder, and began trudging himself over to the farm. A truck overhead sat quietly in the dust, carrying bags upon bags of tomatoes. These were being delivered to the nearest supermarket.
Richard’s hands, now enveloped in dust and dirt. The dirt entered his cuts from picking, and stung his hand all over. But that didn’t matter, pain was typical and didn’t bother him much. All he thought about was his hunger and food. It was already 8:00 P.M., and he was covered in dust from head to toe. All this would pay off for a few cents per day. He thought about his dinner, cabbage soup and potatoes… yum!
Now you may probably be wondering, “That’s it?! Working for half the day and only a few cents? Only cabbage soup and potatoes?”. Sometimes, it can be worse. There might be days when their pay is so low, they don’t even eat at all! Believe it or not, their minimum wage is about a few cents! These families can only afford simple foods, such as making soup out of cabbage. The children can’t get a proper education either.
Getting a full education for Richard always seemed so far from his reach. Just when he was starting to understand everything and actually learn something, he had to move for another session of laboring again. He never got to complete his education.
Richard always dreamt of a better life. He had a dream to get a college education, get a better job, and provide money enough for him and his mom to move out into a better house. He just had to keep working! The minimum wage of this farming work was so low, that all the family members had to work in order to even fill their stomachs with a little food each night!
“Is this seriously going to be my life from now on?”.
Sighing, he tugged at his sack, containing blood-red tomatoes. He slung it over his shoulder, and began trudging himself over to the farm. A truck overhead sat quietly in the dust, carrying bags upon bags of tomatoes. These were being delivered to the nearest supermarket.
Richard’s hands, now enveloped in dust and dirt. The dirt entered his cuts from picking, and stung his hand all over. But that didn’t matter, pain was typical and didn’t bother him much. All he thought about was his hunger and food. It was already 8:00 P.M., and he was covered in dust from head to toe. All this would pay off for a few cents per day. He thought about his dinner, cabbage soup and potatoes… yum!
Now you may probably be wondering, “That’s it?! Working for half the day and only a few cents? Only cabbage soup and potatoes?”. Sometimes, it can be worse. There might be days when their pay is so low, they don’t even eat at all! Believe it or not, their minimum wage is about a few cents! These families can only afford simple foods, such as making soup out of cabbage. The children can’t get a proper education either.
Getting a full education for Richard always seemed so far from his reach. Just when he was starting to understand everything and actually learn something, he had to move for another session of laboring again. He never got to complete his education.
Richard always dreamt of a better life. He had a dream to get a college education, get a better job, and provide money enough for him and his mom to move out into a better house. He just had to keep working! The minimum wage of this farming work was so low, that all the family members had to work in order to even fill their stomachs with a little food each night!
After licking the whole bowl clean, Richard immediately slept once his head hit the pillow of his raggedy bed. After a whole day’s work, this was the only thing that actually felt good. He usually had the common dream of going into a luxurious mansion, then looking out the window to see kids working out in the field, faces sweating, tiny bodies, and bulging sacks of crops. Then, eventually, a look of pity would spread across Richard’s small face, and he’d run out, joining them, and the dream would end.
After abruptly waking up in the midst of the night, Richard looked out in the opening of his dilapidated down house. It was still dark out, and it was a little too early to be working now.
After abruptly waking up in the midst of the night, Richard looked out in the opening of his dilapidated down house. It was still dark out, and it was a little too early to be working now.
I AM NOT CUCKOO FOR COCOA
By: Anna Hu, Phoebe Chan and Molly Bell
By: Anna Hu, Phoebe Chan and Molly Bell
I sighed again as Maddie made her way towards the door hoping to get away sneakily. While I was doing that, I made a mental note that it was almost time to go to work at the factory, I got my coat ready to go to the door.
Standing right in front of Maddie as she tried to open the door with her small, frail hands, I said, “Ya know, Maddie, it’s almost time for school. How ‘bout I drop ya off?” I asked
She let go of the door knob and gave a small nod. I smiled a little as Maddie went to play with her hand sewn dolls (by me, of course) peacefully as we made the trip to her school.
“I’m going to work now so don’t get into trouble, ya hear me?” I yelled as I dropped her off at the front doorsteps. I smiled satisfactory as I saw her nod. “Well then, guess I’m off to work.”
Standing right in front of Maddie as she tried to open the door with her small, frail hands, I said, “Ya know, Maddie, it’s almost time for school. How ‘bout I drop ya off?” I asked
She let go of the door knob and gave a small nod. I smiled a little as Maddie went to play with her hand sewn dolls (by me, of course) peacefully as we made the trip to her school.
“I’m going to work now so don’t get into trouble, ya hear me?” I yelled as I dropped her off at the front doorsteps. I smiled satisfactory as I saw her nod. “Well then, guess I’m off to work.”
I quickly rushed to work and saw Fiona working her heart out.
I watched Fiona work on her cocoa bean picking. After a basket full, she went to her space to cut the cocoa beans. She sighed and went to get her cutting tools. I decided to speak up.
“Hey! Fiona! Got any room for me to help or am I done for the day?” I joked. Fiona cracked a barely visible thin-lined smile.
Fiona waved okay and I went over to hold, trying to hold the tools safely. Not that there were anyway to hold sharp tools safely, but I can always try. I started cutting the cocoa beans. I already finished my basketful of cocoa beans, so I decided to help Fiona out.
I watched Fiona work on her cocoa bean picking. After a basket full, she went to her space to cut the cocoa beans. She sighed and went to get her cutting tools. I decided to speak up.
“Hey! Fiona! Got any room for me to help or am I done for the day?” I joked. Fiona cracked a barely visible thin-lined smile.
Fiona waved okay and I went over to hold, trying to hold the tools safely. Not that there were anyway to hold sharp tools safely, but I can always try. I started cutting the cocoa beans. I already finished my basketful of cocoa beans, so I decided to help Fiona out.
“What do you think you are doing?” barked Mr. Otto, our “boss.”
I sighed “Sir, I’m just helping Fiona out with her cocoa beans” I said politely hoping to not add fire to the fuel.
“Well that’s just preposterous! You could use that time to fill another basket missy not play friends around here!” Mr. Otto screamed while giving me a lecture.
I gave Fiona a tight smile, a little sad one, and headed off to pick more cocoa beans.
I sighed. When will this all ever end? I thought sadly. For as long as I could remember my life was always cocoa beans. Mother had worked for this exact family as well. I remember it faintly from when I was little, I heard from my father that when my mother had me, Mr. Otto was furious he had wanted mother to get rid of me, but my mother wouldn’t listen. So, Mr. Otto said that if I were to be born, my life would be in debt to Mr. Otto and I would have to work for him. My mom didn’t want my future to be like that, but she had no choice then, she had Maddie, but in secret.
I sighed again for the uptenth time. I knew I had to work hard. To support Maddie and me with all the necessities was hard, but I was determined for Maddie to live a life just like a normal 11-year old. But, I know I wasn’t the only one with hardships. Fiona had it even worse. She had 5 sisters, 2 brothers and a sick mother. I knew I may’ve been luckier than a lot of workers but when you only know your life, you can’t help but feel you’ve got it hard.
I sighed “Sir, I’m just helping Fiona out with her cocoa beans” I said politely hoping to not add fire to the fuel.
“Well that’s just preposterous! You could use that time to fill another basket missy not play friends around here!” Mr. Otto screamed while giving me a lecture.
I gave Fiona a tight smile, a little sad one, and headed off to pick more cocoa beans.
I sighed. When will this all ever end? I thought sadly. For as long as I could remember my life was always cocoa beans. Mother had worked for this exact family as well. I remember it faintly from when I was little, I heard from my father that when my mother had me, Mr. Otto was furious he had wanted mother to get rid of me, but my mother wouldn’t listen. So, Mr. Otto said that if I were to be born, my life would be in debt to Mr. Otto and I would have to work for him. My mom didn’t want my future to be like that, but she had no choice then, she had Maddie, but in secret.
I sighed again for the uptenth time. I knew I had to work hard. To support Maddie and me with all the necessities was hard, but I was determined for Maddie to live a life just like a normal 11-year old. But, I know I wasn’t the only one with hardships. Fiona had it even worse. She had 5 sisters, 2 brothers and a sick mother. I knew I may’ve been luckier than a lot of workers but when you only know your life, you can’t help but feel you’ve got it hard.
After a days hard work, I returned home. I wasn’t surprised to see Maddie welcome me. She ran over to me, like always and noticed the cuts on my hands. “What happened there?” she asked.
I shook my head “Nothing you gonna have to worry about sweetie” I said hiding my hands behind my back.
Maddie shrugged and then her eyes started to sparkle. “Our school is gonna do a fundraiser!” she cried happily.
She showed me a brown smooth textured piece of… I don’t know. But it did taste pretty good as Maddie shoved it into my mouth.
“I don’t think you’re supposed to do… MPPF” I said as Maddie shoved yet another piece of chocolate in my mouth.
I shook my head “Nothing you gonna have to worry about sweetie” I said hiding my hands behind my back.
Maddie shrugged and then her eyes started to sparkle. “Our school is gonna do a fundraiser!” she cried happily.
She showed me a brown smooth textured piece of… I don’t know. But it did taste pretty good as Maddie shoved it into my mouth.
“I don’t think you’re supposed to do… MPPF” I said as Maddie shoved yet another piece of chocolate in my mouth.
“Wait! Maddie did you check the ingredients? You know that I have a severe allergy to nuts!” I shouted scrambling to find the wrapper of the chocolate Maddie fed me. I let out a sigh of relief when I scanned the ingredients and saw no ingredients that mentioned nuts, or oils made from nuts for that matter. Then, I let out a gasp as I saw a familiar logo I had been working with for all my life. This uses cocoa beans? I scanned over the ingredients once again. My suspicions were confirmed. This is what I had spent my life making this piece of food. And they never let us taste this piece of… whatever this is. With my startled face Maddie asked, “Did you really never taste chocolate before?”
My face must’ve looked confused as Maddie said the word chocolate because after that Maddie gasped saying “You haven’t? Almost everyone on Earth has tried it!” Maddie screamed dramatically.
I rolled my eyes and walked away, thinking about what I just learned. Our life is worth a tiny piece of… candy. I never thought cutting myself at least 3 times a day was worth this. Just then, I felt all the anger in the world inside of me.
The next morning was Saturday. I decided I didn’t want to drive and decided to walk because I will be late to work and he won’t get as much cocoa beans to make chocolate. “Bye Maddie!” I waved.
My face must’ve looked confused as Maddie said the word chocolate because after that Maddie gasped saying “You haven’t? Almost everyone on Earth has tried it!” Maddie screamed dramatically.
I rolled my eyes and walked away, thinking about what I just learned. Our life is worth a tiny piece of… candy. I never thought cutting myself at least 3 times a day was worth this. Just then, I felt all the anger in the world inside of me.
The next morning was Saturday. I decided I didn’t want to drive and decided to walk because I will be late to work and he won’t get as much cocoa beans to make chocolate. “Bye Maddie!” I waved.
Suddenly, something hit me. What was the reason I worked in these harsh conditions in the first place? Right it was to get/earn money. But, even if I arrive late does it really matter what I learned cocoa beans are for? Because either way I need to get the money. I sighed again. I felt so helpless that farming it’s a never ending cycle. Sooner or later Maddie would probably work at a farm or factory. I can’t help it because the money won't sustain us much longer even if I work till my bones are breaking and my back is breaking.
What I didn’t realize was that Maddie was following me. As I was deep into my thoughts I heard a branch snap. I whipped around startled and saw that no one was there. It must have been my imagination. I thought to myself. I proceeded to walk to work without hearing anymore snapping twigs. As I walked into the cocoa farm, I went to my little area set up for me. I grabbed a basket and started collecting cocoa beans. Halfway through the tree, I went down the ladder and sat down.
I noticed a commotion near the middle of the cocoa bean forest.
What I didn’t realize was that Maddie was following me. As I was deep into my thoughts I heard a branch snap. I whipped around startled and saw that no one was there. It must have been my imagination. I thought to myself. I proceeded to walk to work without hearing anymore snapping twigs. As I walked into the cocoa farm, I went to my little area set up for me. I grabbed a basket and started collecting cocoa beans. Halfway through the tree, I went down the ladder and sat down.
I noticed a commotion near the middle of the cocoa bean forest.
“Who let a child in here?!” Mr. Otto shouted gleefully. There was a policy that any child let into the factory had to now work at the factory. I ignored it because I know Maddie couldn’t have possibly wandered here right? As I continued working, curiosity got to the best of me. I strained my neck to see who everyone was gathered around.
“EHHH?!” I screamed.
“CLINK!” my scissors fell stabbing my thick boots as I saw who everyone was surrounding. It was MADDIE!
“EHHH?!” I screamed.
“CLINK!” my scissors fell stabbing my thick boots as I saw who everyone was surrounding. It was MADDIE!
“Oh no no no no. Please don’t do this to me oh my gosh” I muttered as I ran towards Maddie who was clearly enjoying the attention. She didn’t know the harsh consequences she would have to face after this, she didn’t know that this would be the last time she would be able to smile so freely.
I rushed over to Maddie and grabbed her arm and try to pull her away from this horrid place. She was too young to live this. “What are you doing here?” I hissed.
Maddie replied “Well, your cuts must be from work, so I was curious and decided to look at where your cuts are from. This is a really horrid place. You should quit your job.”
“Well, don’t you see that I am the only one who can support this house? If you work here, you will lose your education… everything! Please, just go now!”
She obeyed, but had a pouty face on her face.
“Now is not time for you to pout! Do you realize how much danger you have landed yourself in?” I hissed yet again.
I pushed her out the door and watching the door, I went back and grabbed my tools, and started cutting the cocoa beans. When she was fully out the door and I could finally concentrate on my cocoa beans, I cut myself 2 more times. “WHO LET THE GIRL OUT? SHE WAS PERFECT FOR PICKING COCOA BEANS!” Mr. Otto screamed. “NO PAY FOR ALL OF YOU! FOR A WEEK!”
Great! I mumbled to myself knowing how much food that would cost me. As I went back to work, my eyes kept drifting towards the door, making sure that Maddie won’t come back. And so she didn’t.
I rushed over to Maddie and grabbed her arm and try to pull her away from this horrid place. She was too young to live this. “What are you doing here?” I hissed.
Maddie replied “Well, your cuts must be from work, so I was curious and decided to look at where your cuts are from. This is a really horrid place. You should quit your job.”
“Well, don’t you see that I am the only one who can support this house? If you work here, you will lose your education… everything! Please, just go now!”
She obeyed, but had a pouty face on her face.
“Now is not time for you to pout! Do you realize how much danger you have landed yourself in?” I hissed yet again.
I pushed her out the door and watching the door, I went back and grabbed my tools, and started cutting the cocoa beans. When she was fully out the door and I could finally concentrate on my cocoa beans, I cut myself 2 more times. “WHO LET THE GIRL OUT? SHE WAS PERFECT FOR PICKING COCOA BEANS!” Mr. Otto screamed. “NO PAY FOR ALL OF YOU! FOR A WEEK!”
Great! I mumbled to myself knowing how much food that would cost me. As I went back to work, my eyes kept drifting towards the door, making sure that Maddie won’t come back. And so she didn’t.
After my work day, I went back home to find Maddie on the computer. She was writing something which I guess is for her homework.. I went to the kitchen and started cooking. I made a simpler dinner, because I need to pay for the money I missed out on.
And so it became Monday, and Maddie seemed very cheerful. I decided to drop her off at school and drive to work. She ran to school and I sighed sadly as I thought about going to 11th or 12th grade. I waved bye and drove off to the cocoa bean farm. Then the pattern starts again. Pick, cut, pick, cut…
I sighed as the week passed by faster than I thought it would.
As I went into work at 9 Am, I headed for the trees. Too bad there’s too many trees, if it was only like 10 we would have a peaceful year. I thought. I was picking the last cocoa bean on the tree, I saw a glimpse of kids. Please don’t tell me Maddie is with them, I screamed to myself. As I went down to sit, I saw about 20 kids and 2 adults. “Is that a class?” I murmured to myself.
And so it became Monday, and Maddie seemed very cheerful. I decided to drop her off at school and drive to work. She ran to school and I sighed sadly as I thought about going to 11th or 12th grade. I waved bye and drove off to the cocoa bean farm. Then the pattern starts again. Pick, cut, pick, cut…
I sighed as the week passed by faster than I thought it would.
As I went into work at 9 Am, I headed for the trees. Too bad there’s too many trees, if it was only like 10 we would have a peaceful year. I thought. I was picking the last cocoa bean on the tree, I saw a glimpse of kids. Please don’t tell me Maddie is with them, I screamed to myself. As I went down to sit, I saw about 20 kids and 2 adults. “Is that a class?” I murmured to myself.
Mr. Otto had amazing hearing and screamed “What?!?”.
He whipped around and saw a class with a few adults. “Oh gee! More kids to take! Who cares about if the adults get mad?’
The teacher then walked up to Mr. Otto and said “Hi! My name is Mrs. Luna! I am a teacher at P.S. 103. I am here to look around this cocoa bean farm. It seems wonderful and I am sure my students would have a lot to write about this! *Turns to the kids saying* Now, look at all these kids, why don’t you go up to one and say hi?”
I watched as Mr. Otto stayed there with his mouth open wide. Slowly, Fiona, me and other cocoa bean workers had kids in front of them asking them questions. “What is this place?” A little boy with blond hair asked.
He whipped around and saw a class with a few adults. “Oh gee! More kids to take! Who cares about if the adults get mad?’
The teacher then walked up to Mr. Otto and said “Hi! My name is Mrs. Luna! I am a teacher at P.S. 103. I am here to look around this cocoa bean farm. It seems wonderful and I am sure my students would have a lot to write about this! *Turns to the kids saying* Now, look at all these kids, why don’t you go up to one and say hi?”
I watched as Mr. Otto stayed there with his mouth open wide. Slowly, Fiona, me and other cocoa bean workers had kids in front of them asking them questions. “What is this place?” A little boy with blond hair asked.
“This place is a cocoa bean factory. Its where the most important supply comes from.” “Why do you have all those cuts on your hands?” Maddie asked
“I have the cuts because we have to open the cocoa bean’s shell, so we use sharp tools. Sometimes we aren’t careful so we can cut ourselves.”“When did you start working?” A girl with glasses asked.
“I started working when i was 11 years old. It all started with my mom, who had to work here to support her family. Later, she was due to have me, so Mr. Otto said that I had to work here if she gave birth to me. Oh how I do wish I had a better job to work for.” “Why can’t you just quit your job?” A pale boy asked.
“Well, thats because if we try to escape, we will get whipped. We really can’t escape during the day, and if I quit my job, I would be whipped, which you really shouldn’t experience.”
“What if you get sick?” A girl with curly hair asked “Oh, then we still have to work. Sometimes I just try to skip work if I was sick, but Mr. Otto usually whips me when i do return.”
“Woah this place is bad!” Some of them rang out. “Yeah, I totally agree. I don’t know how I survived doing this for 7 years *Sighs*... All I want is a normal life with school… I wish I was like you guys, not having to work.”
“I have the cuts because we have to open the cocoa bean’s shell, so we use sharp tools. Sometimes we aren’t careful so we can cut ourselves.”“When did you start working?” A girl with glasses asked.
“I started working when i was 11 years old. It all started with my mom, who had to work here to support her family. Later, she was due to have me, so Mr. Otto said that I had to work here if she gave birth to me. Oh how I do wish I had a better job to work for.” “Why can’t you just quit your job?” A pale boy asked.
“Well, thats because if we try to escape, we will get whipped. We really can’t escape during the day, and if I quit my job, I would be whipped, which you really shouldn’t experience.”
“What if you get sick?” A girl with curly hair asked “Oh, then we still have to work. Sometimes I just try to skip work if I was sick, but Mr. Otto usually whips me when i do return.”
“Woah this place is bad!” Some of them rang out. “Yeah, I totally agree. I don’t know how I survived doing this for 7 years *Sighs*... All I want is a normal life with school… I wish I was like you guys, not having to work.”
After the day full of questions was over, I went home and asked Maddie this “Did you plan all of this out?” Maddie gave me a playful wink, which I took to be a yes. I gave her a sweet smile and was cheerful the rest of the day.
The next day, I decided to buy a newspaper on the way to work, now that suddenly Mr. Otto gave us a higher pay. The front news said “The Changing Times”. It was written all about the cocoa farm and more child labor in other places. And I thought that our home, Ghana was the only one! That i have heard of any way. I quickly scanned the article and smirked. This is just what we need to put our chocolate making factory out of business. Or, even better pay more. Just to keep Mr. Otto on edge hopefully he will treat the workers better and spare more money.
The next day, I decided to buy a newspaper on the way to work, now that suddenly Mr. Otto gave us a higher pay. The front news said “The Changing Times”. It was written all about the cocoa farm and more child labor in other places. And I thought that our home, Ghana was the only one! That i have heard of any way. I quickly scanned the article and smirked. This is just what we need to put our chocolate making factory out of business. Or, even better pay more. Just to keep Mr. Otto on edge hopefully he will treat the workers better and spare more money.