I feel weird right now. I’ve never written in you, Diary. This is the worst birthday ever. I got you from my friend, Lena. I’m on the ship taking me to my father’s plantation in Virginia. My parents split when I was about 2 years old. My father ended up in Virginia. My mother was going to England, but decided to stay. My mother died last April. So I have to go to live with my father. My four sisters have to come too. My oldest sister is Mary she is 15, then comes 11 Kathrine, here I come after her at 10, then 5 year old Kathalene, and finally my Baby sister at 1 year old. I have to tell you about Sweetie my cat I got her today from my Grandma. It was my birthday present and going away gift. The cat was for my birthday the silk bow was for the going away gift.

Looks like my ship is in port! I must go.

I forgot to tell you my name, well it is Katrina Scott and I am 10 years old as of today. Don’t forget my cat Sweetie!

I finally reached the plantation!

The ride was terrible. The baby was crying all the way. My big sister was telling me to play with Kathalene, who kept bagging me to play dolls with her. Mary told me to play with the brat, Kathalene. The only comfort I really had was looking at my sister Kathrine, which got sick from a plague in Ireland and now is crippled.

"Sweetie get away!" yelled Kathalene today. I hid her doll because she pulled Sweetie’s fluffy tail.

Father’s house is huge with slaves all around!

I saw a slave girl with skin the color of my mother’s coffee and…..BANG….. we were friends.

My father moved away when I was a little girl that never knew what was going on. In that case I don’t know if we will be good friends. Shall we go find out?

I HATE my father. All he said at dinner was how worthless the salves are. Plus he gives me these nasty looks all the time.

He beats the slaves just to be mean. He accused a slave of steeling a piece of chicken off his plate. He ate it!

I’ve been meeting that girl I saw that first day. Her name is "It" as my father calls her. I call her Keesha.

Of course Mary is most loved and I am most hated .

When you look at my father you can tell he is ugly of course, but rich and greedy.

I HATE HIM!

Every day it seems I’m in my room.

But I have an idea. I’m going to get lots of food and get Keesha to unlock my window. We’ll go to the house of Burgesses and complain about my father and get him put in jail.

But this won’t be easy. I have to get Keesha to get my window key. She can climb up the vine ladder and unlock my window while I get food.

I hear footsteps. It would be best if I hid you.

Bye.

Tonight

I’m leaving tonight and I’m taking Keesha to be my witness.

You my diary, are going with me so my father doesn’t burn you up.

Keesha is tapping at my window so I have to go.

We made it to the closest city and got people to take us to the house of Burgesses… well just outside Richmond, the capital city. But in the meanwhile I have to stay in this cold damp smelly cave.

Bye.

I’m on the wagon to get to Richmond. According to the driver there is only five more minutes.

Well the five minutes passed quickly and we’re here!

If I wait much longer until I eat I will die.

Today I complained to the assembly. Keesha showed the scars to them too.

Guess what? They said that they would put him in jail if I made an exeption to live with my aunt as a puritan. "YES" I screamed.

The slaves are free too!