Lost in the Tunnel of Time Read Online Free

life!”
    Mr. Greene laughed. “Lots of people love the river and have made their living here. Go for it!”
    Jerome, Rico, Rashawn, and Ziggy sat at a table together and ate lunch. The captain cheerfully rattled off facts about the number of bridges and the depth of water while the boat chugged downthe river. People from the shore waved as they passed by.
    â€œAre we having a meeting of the Black Dinosaurs this week?” Rico asked as he stared dreamily at the water.
    â€œI think we should,” said Jerome. “We missed last week because of all that rain.”
    â€œSure, mon,” said Ziggy. “Saturday morning—ten o’clock.”
    â€œSounds good to me,” added Rashawn.
    Rico liked to watch the sunlight dance on the ripples of the water. Jerome dreamed of fishing from the side of the boat. Ziggy hardly sat still, jumping up to see every new sight. Rashawn kept looking at Tiana, although he pretended to be looking for other boats on the river.
    â€œI wonder if anybody tried to swim across the river to freedom,” mused Mimi.
    â€œOh, yes, I’m sure some did,” replied Mr. Greene. “And they had to swim at night, when it was dark and even more frightening.”
    â€œWow, it sure is wide,” observed Nicole.
    â€œAnd terrifying!” added Mrs. Powell.
    â€œWhy do you think it’s so scary, Mrs. P?” asked Rico.
    â€œBecause I can’t swim!” she admitted with an embarrassed grin.
    Everyone laughed, and soon the boat returned to the dock. The tired kids climbed onto the bus with smiles of satisfaction. The ride back to school was quiet.
    As Mr. Greene got off the bus to go home, several kids called to him, “Thanks, Mr. Greene. Come back again sometime.”
    â€œI’ll do that!” he replied. “But first I have to rest up from this trip. Young people have too much energy for these old bones! Pay attention to your teachers, you hear? Bye now!”
    â€œGood-bye!”
    Back in the classroom Ziggy glanced at the clock. “Fifteen minutes before time to go home! Now, that’s my kind of school day, mon!”
    Mrs. Powell had been in a good mood all day, but she still remembered to pass out homework.
    Jerome groaned. “What a terrible end to a wonderful day.”
    â€œIf you give it a chance, I think you’ll like this assignment,” Mrs. Powell told Jerome and the rest of the class.
    â€œWhat do we have to do?” asked Rashawn.
    â€œYou better give Ziggy two of those sheets, Mrs. Powell,” teased Rico. “You know how he loses and forgets his homework!”
    â€œYou might be right, Rico.” She laughed as she handed Ziggy two of the assignment sheets.
    â€œIt’s never my fault, mon,” Ziggy protested, trying to explain. But he took the two sheets anway.
    Mrs. Powell smiled at Ziggy and said, “What I want you to do is write a story.”
    â€œA story? On what?” asked Nicole.
    â€œI want you to call it ‘From Slavery to Freedom: A Story of Escape.’ I want you to make up a story about either a person who was trying to escape from slavery or a person who helped someone to escape,” explained Mrs. Powell.
    â€œYou mean like Mr. Greene told us this morning?” asked Rico.
    â€œExactly!” replied Mrs. Powell. “But this time you’re telling the story. Think about the river and think about the people in slavery. Then make up a story about escape.”
    â€œI think this is going to be fun,” said Tiffany. “When do we have to turn it in?”
    â€œToday is Thursday. Let’s turn them in next Wednesday. If you like, you can read your story to the class.
    â€œDon’t forget now, Ziggy,” Mrs. Powell gently reminded him. “No more excuses, okay?”
    â€œWhen have I ever missed a homework?” Ziggy asked with fake innocence. The whole class groaned and laughed. At that, the bell rang, and the school