By Nicky Ji

Based on Roll Of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor. TJ's all alone in his house, and under attack from racists.

In the blackness of night, I slid through the open window of my bedroom. Falling into a crumpled heap on the floor, making much noise as I did so. I did not realise my family would wake: but not from me.

The sound of loud cars and angry men shot through the window. "Y'all come on outa there! We want that thieving, murdering nigger of y'all's." Shacking in cold sweat, I knew why the night men were here: for me. I thought coming home would solve my problems, not make them worse. Bangs against the front door of the house told me my fate had arrived. A window smashed and pounding footsteps from many men made me hide. I softly opened the wooden door to the cupboard, stepping inside. Closing the door behind me I was plunged into darkness. No light, everything a sound.

Tears falling from my eyes, I could hear my mother and father being taken outside. My sisters screaming trying to gather the younger ones and telling Claude to move from under the bed covers. In my mind I saw everything. My poor family. It's all my fault. My chest was searing with pain. If only I had let Big Ma help me. The Logans could have stopped all of this, I know it. But why would the Logans help me after what I did? I got Mrs Logan fired all because I was angry about her failing me on a stupid history test!

I was so nervous that I would not be able to remember any of the dates. The evening before the test, I wrote down all the dates Mrs Logan said the test would cover, onto a piece of paper. Stacey being me friend and all, you would think would understand. When I told him what I was planning to do, he went crazy. Threw the notes into the road. So I went to the woods at lunch to write me a new lot.

When Stacey got the blame for me cheating, I could see the frustration in his eyes. It was completely unfair his mama whipped him in front of the whole class. I felt like I should stand up and tell Mrs Logan not to punish Stacey as he done nothing wrong. I was fuming; so was Stacey.

Stacey wanted revenge on me. After school had finished, I ran to get away from him. Went up to the Wallace's store I did. The Logans aren't allowed up there. Their mama told them so. And their papa would be mad and hit them 'til tomorrow. Any way it ain't my fault their mama so blind she can't tell who's even cheating! And why make the tests so hard? The dates aren't even in the books we were given. How can you learn them if you don't have them?

Up at the store, I told the Wallace's just how crazy the teaching methods are at Great Faith school. Told Kaleb Wallace that Mrs Logan failed me again. Didn't mean for him to take it as such a big issue. I didn't really. I like them Logans. They're the only people who treat me right.

I could hear Mr Simms telling R.W. and Melvin what to do. The Simms were nice to me to start. Now they've turned on me. Why did I become their friend? They got me that pearl-handed gun I wanted. That gun is what got me into all this mess. I had been hanging around the Wallace's store. R.W. and Melvin told me they thought I was not like the other black kids. Made me feel special they did. Asked if I could be their friend. Well Stacey wasn't talking to me any more, not after what happened with his mama.

After a few weeks, I started to like R.W. and Melvin. They said they really liked me; that I was their friend. They would get me anything I wanted. Even the gun from the mercantile I told them about. At the mercantile I wandered way they were wearing stockings over their heads. I know now they did so the Barnetts wouldn't recognise them, but know me. It was horrible at the mercantile. R.W. and Melvin hit the Barnetts to the floor- they're probably dead by now.

I should have stayed with the Logans. When the Simms and I went to Great Faith before the revival started. It reminded me how good the Logans are. But I hurt them bad. I wanted to stay and sort out the trouble I caused. Nearly did. But the Simms were calling. As the Logans walked off I thought that our relationship would be hard to fix. Why would I need their friendship anyway? I was friends with the Simms now. I didn't have to call them 'Mister' and they gave me a new suit and going to get me the gun. Oh I wish I could change what happened, then this would not be happening now.

To think all this trouble started when Mrs. Logan failed me on that history test. I shouldn't have got mad. She was right, I am a failure. Had too much pride. Maybe if I had worked hard for the test, listened in class, did the work. I could have been a grade A student. If I hadn't let one bad test get me down. Worked my way up from the bottom to the top of the class. Or if I had owned up to cheating. Then Stacey would still be my friend.

I wish the Logans were still my friends. I would've never got into the Simms circle then. The lynch mob would not be at my house, as I wouldn't have gone to the mercantile. The Barnetts would be fine. And so would my family.

The door of the cupboard I'm in swings open. My thoughts drown in my fear. This is it. The fuming white man drags me outside through the house on my knees. I'm so weak I can't do any thing. I try to scream but the man turns on me. His fist lands on my jaw. Pain shoots across my face, as blood falls from my mouth. Outside everything is a blur. Kaleb Wallace is staring at me. I try to tell him I did nothing. My jaw hurts so much. I hear someone speak. " Stop lyin', boy, 'cause you in a whole lot of trouble. You was there- Miz Barnett, when she come to and got help, said three black boys robbed their store and knocked out her and her husband. And R.W. and Melvin Simms seen you and them two boys running from behind that store when they come in town to shoot some pool. Now who was them other two and where's that money y'all took?"

I tried to tell Kaleb Wallace I took no money and the two other boys were the Simms. A big mistake. He kicked me in the stomach. It was already swollen, now it must be broken. I could not hold in the pain. Falling onto the ground I cried with pain. I could my mother. My poor mother. She must feel terrible, totally terrible.

Lights came near the house. Mr. Jamison had arrived. He was good to black folk. Mr. Jamison started talking to the mob. Maybe he could help. Noise floated around my ears. I could not make out whole sentences. They were talking about Harlan Granger. The words "...no hanging on his place..." circled me. I wasn't sure if this was true. But if it was, I could be saved. There could be a trial. Laughter filled the air and a man pulled at me. I was moving towards a car. "No". Mr Jamison was trying to stop them.

I've caused so much trouble. More than I even know of. I'm glad Mr Jamison's here. And Stacey. I'm glad I was friends with Stacey. Maybe there'll be a trial. Either way the judgement goes, it has to be better than what the lynch mob would do to me. It has to be.