The Underground Railroad (6 page)

“What's a founding father?” I asked.

“Founding father is a term used to describe the early political leaders of the United States who worked to form our country.”

Tamika looked puzzled. “Why didn't his mother call him ‘John' or ‘John Adams'?”

Professor Tuesday patiently explained that Abigail Adams, John Adams' wife, often called her husband “Mr. Adams.” So the professor's sister gave her son that name because it sounded very important.

Tamika just shook her head. “That's good, I suppose, but it is still a funny name for a little kid.”

I was curious about the animal on the professor's table. “Where did you get that skunk?” I asked. “It won't spray me or anything, will it?”

The skunk instantly came to life and scurried across the table toward us. Then it stopped short. Tamika and I screamed and ran toward the door.

Mr. Adams burst out laughing. Professor Tuesday walked over to his nephew and took the remote control from him. “Mr. Adams, you are a stinker. You shouldn't have scared our guests like that. Now, say you are sorry for frightening them.”

Mr. Adams looked sad and made the letter ‘a' and moved his hand in a circle over his heart.

“That means he's sorry,” I said. “I learned that sign in school.”

Tamika suddenly spoke up. “Don't let it spray us.”

“It's not real,” answered the professor with a chuckle. “That little critter is going to help us do our research on the Underground Railroad. It will help us go to places and see things safely. I call it the Tuesday Critter Cam, and I can't wait to show you how it works.”

“Are we going to use the skunk today?” Tamika asked.

Professor Tuesday scowled and looked at my friend over the tops of his glasses. “Please do not call my invention a skunk. It's a Tuesday Critter Cam.”

“But a skunk is the perfect animal for your invention,” I said. “If anyone sees it, they sure won't go near it.”

“I suppose that's a good point,” the professor said.

“Well, are we going to use the Critter Cam today or not?” Tamika asked.

“Yes,” answered the professor. “That's another reason why I've invited Mr. Adams to join us today. It will take at least two people to work the Critter Cam and the Tuesday Teleporter at the same time. You'll see.”

“So, where are we going and what are we going to see first?” Tamika asked.

The professor smiled. “I think we'll visit a barber in southern Indiana.”

“A barber?” I asked. “Shouldn't we visit somebody who was important in the Underground Railroad?”

“The Underground Railroad was made up of many different kinds of people. Some were ministers, some were farmers, some were business owners, some were young, and some were old. People who helped escaped slaves weren't all black and they weren't all white, either. They were just ordinary people who believed in equal rights for everyone, regardless of race.”

“Who is this barber we are going to see, and what makes him so special?” Tamika asked.

Professor Tuesday started tapping information into his laptop as he answered. “His name is George DeBaptiste, and he is special for a lot of different reasons.” The professor stopped for a moment and looked at Tamika and me. “He was born a free African-American in Virginia in either 1814 or 1815— no one knows for sure. He was trained as a barber and worked as a personal servant for wealthy people.

“DeBaptiste and his wife moved to Madison, Indiana, in 1838. That is where we are taking the Tuesday Critter Cam. I can't wait to see how it works.”

The professor turned to Mr. Adams. “Are you ready with the Critter Cam?”

Mr. Adams nodded his head. Then he tested the invention by making it go back and forth. The professor turned on the web cam and microphone. Everything was working perfectly. Professor Tuesday hit the ENTER key on his laptop, and his office lit up like a fireworks show. Squares of light circled the room faster and faster. A loud hum started vibrating in our ears. Suddenly, a green fog appeared right in front of us. It was the Tuesday Teleporter.

Mr. Adams worked the remote control and the Critter Cam moved slowly toward the green fog. The professor nodded to Mr. Adams, and his nephew pressed on the joystick. The wheels of the Critter Cam sped up, and it disappeared into the green fog.

Tamika and I gathered around the professor's laptop to watch. Lights and sounds from the teleporter filled the screen as the Critter Cam tumbled through time and back into the 1840s. When the lights stopped, there was a deadly silence and the screen went black.

“What's wrong?” Tamika asked.

“Nothing,” said the professor as he worked on his equipment. Slowly, images started to take shape on the screen of the laptop. “We are visiting Madison, Indiana, at night. I just have to adjust the camera so we can see better in the dark.”

The Critter Cam edged forward in the dark. Gradually, a building began to take shape along the edge of a clearing in the woods. “Mr. Adams,” the professor said, “if my figures are correct, that building over there is what I want to visit. Move the Critter Cam a little closer, please.”

Mr. Adams pushed the joystick forward and the Critter Cam moved silently toward the building. Tamika jumped and gasped out loud when she noticed a man creeping along in the dark. The man stopped and looked around carefully. Then he took a key out of his pocket and fiddled with a large lock on the door.

“Is he a runaway slave?” Tamika asked nervously. “Will he escape?”

“No,” the professor replied, “he is the owner of a stable. This is his building. There is a special wagon inside the building.”

“What's so special about it?” I asked.

“You'll have to wait and see,” answered the professor. “Mr. Adams, follow the man but keep back a safe distance so the Critter Cam stays hidden. We may have more visitors shortly.”

The heavy wooden door to the building creaked open, and the man stepped inside. He lit a lantern that cast a dim light on the contents of the building. As the Critter Cam approached we could see a broken-down wagon and some horses. Then we saw the man approach the horses.

“What's he doing?” I asked.

I
n the soft glow of the lantern light, the man set to work on the horses. He stroked their long necks and spoke to them softly. Then he began putting something on their hooves. I couldn't quite make out what he was doing. Before I could ask, the professor spoke.

“The man you are watching is putting pieces of carpet on the horses' hooves so they can move quietly through the night.”

“But that wagon looks like it's broken,” Tamika added.

Before the professor could answer, the man carried the lantern closer to the wagon. He put the light down and started to work. He quickly repaired the wagon. What looked to be a big job was really simple and easy to fix. Then, he hitched up the horses and placed the reins carefully on the seat of the wagon. What he did next surprised us.

The man turned his lantern down as low as it could go. Then he opened the barn door wide. After looking around carefully, he put his hands to his mouth and made a hooting sound like an owl. The night was quiet and still. He waited and listened carefully, keeping watch for danger all the time. Another owl sound echoed through the dark. The man raised and lowered the lantern two times, then turned the light off completely.

Professor Tuesday asked his nephew to move the camera back a bit. Mr. Adams moved the joystick back carefully and turned the camera toward a nearby woodlot. In the pale moonlight we could see several shadows edging carefully toward the barn. Hushed whispers were exchanged, and people started climbing up into the wagon. When all the passengers were aboard, the wagon headed out of the stable and followed a path through the farmland. The horses' hooves made very little noise. The passengers on the wagon peered silently over its sides, watching for signs of trouble along the road.

Mr. Adams turned to Professor Tuesday and signed a question.

“No, don't follow the wagon,” answered the professor. “Let's keep the camera right where it is. We can watch to see if there are any slave catchers chasing them.”

After the wagon was out of sight, we heard something moving. Whatever it was, it was close to the Critter Cam. We all jumped when we heard a dog barking. Mr. Adams pushed on the joystick and started chasing the dog with the Critter Cam. It was very funny to watch.

“I think it's time we brought the Critter Cam back for today,” said Professor Tuesday.

Mr. Adams turned the Critter Cam around and drove it right back through the Tuesday Teleporter. It returned to the professor's office in minutes. Professor Tuesday closed down his time machine and the green cloud disappeared as quickly as it had appeared.

“I thought we were going to visit George DeBaptiste,” Tamika said in a pouty voice.

“The man who was driving the wagon was George DeBaptiste,” answered the professor. “Now, we are going to learn more about him and the city of Madison, Indiana.”

“Great,” I said. “How are we going to do that?”

Professor Tuesday turned and looked at Tamika and me. “You two are going to learn about George DeBaptiste using some old and new technology.”

“Wow,” Tamika said excitedly, “when can we start?”

“You can start anytime you want,” answered the professor.

“Huh?” Tamika asked. “What do you mean we can start any time we want? Aren't you going to take us back in time to learn about Mr. DeBaptiste?”

“No,” replied the professor. “You are going to do some reading, and you are going to write a report on him. Plus, I want you to do some research. Your assignment is to tell me about Mr. DeBaptiste's wagon and the town of Madison, Indiana.”

“What?” Tamika cried. “That's too much like school. I thought you were going to help us learn about the Underground Railroad?”

The professor looked at Tamika and me over the top of his glasses. “I am helping you learn. Do you remember what Mr. Douglass said about the importance of reading and learning about history?”

Tamika nodded her head sadly. She didn't like homework, especially extra homework.

“We remember,” I said. “We can work on the report together. Plus, I'll bet that Miss Pepper will give us extra credit.”

“I would imagine that she will,” said the professor. “In fact, I will call her and suggest that she give you extra credit for your work. I have some books for you to read. Plus, if you go to the public library, you will probably be able to find a great deal of information about George DeBaptiste and the history of Madison, Indiana.”

Mr. Adams tugged on the bottom of Professor Tuesday's jacket.

“Oh, I see that my nephew has gathered up some books for you on the Underground Railroad. Perhaps you'll find some information. You can start with these.”

“Thank you, professor,” I said as I took the books from him.

“Yeah, thanks,” Tamika added. Her voice didn't sound too happy, though.

Before we left the professor's office, he made one more point. “If you decide to do an Internet search about George DeBaptiste, make sure you have an adult help you.”

“We will,” Tamika said as she looked down at her shoes.

I could tell that she didn't like the idea of extra work. “C'mon, Tamika, this will be fun.”

Though it was dark back in Madison, Indiana, it was still daytime at the professor's office. There was still plenty of daylight when we left the professor's office and started walking to Tamika's house a few blocks away. I could tell she was upset because reading isn't her thing. Even Miss Pepper has a hard time getting her to read. When Professor Tuesday gave us some books and asked us to do a special report on George DeBaptiste and Madison, Indiana, she didn't like it one bit.

I wanted to learn more about the Underground Railroad, but I didn't want to do all the reading and work on the report by myself. When we got to Tamika's house, I gave her one book and I took the rest.

I was afraid that I had gotten myself into another pickle. I might have to do this report all by myself.

W
e had some busy days in school after our visit with Professor Tuesday as our class was getting ready for the school play. I didn't get a chance to talk with Tamika about our project. On Saturday, she called. Part of me didn't want to talk to her. I was sure she was going to tell me that she either didn't want to, or wasn't going to, help with the project.

When I picked up the phone, my friend's voice was full of excitement. “Did you know that George DeBaptiste moved from Madison, Indiana to Detroit, Michigan? He owned a boat that was used to ship escaped slaves to Canada, where my family came from.” Tamika said. I was trying to take notes for our report. She talked so fast, it was hard to keep track of everything she was saying. “At first I didn't want to read this book the professor gave us, but I learned a lot of stuff from it. George DeBaptiste did all kinds of cool things. He even led black soldiers during the Civil War and worked with President Henry Harrison, a real President of the United States! I've even seen a picture of him in a book.”

“Slow down, Tamika,” I said, “I can't write that fast.”

“Sorry,” she said, “but I'm really getting into learning about George DeBaptiste. He may even have helped my family escape to freedom a long time ago.”

“I thought you didn't like to read,” I said. “I was worried that you wouldn't want to work on this project.”

“W-e-e-e-ll,” Tamika answered, “my dad started reading the book to me one night. After a few chapters, I wanted to learn more. So I've been reading it on my own. I also like to read it to my mom and dad. Maybe I've changed my mind a little bit about reading.”