Suspenders — Ben Steinlage

SuspendersByBen SteinlageFor one-hundred and ten years, the Civil War held the record for deaths suffered in a war: the unbelievable number was close to 620,000. Still, on April 12, 1861 a seventeen year old boy was to begin a search that would give him a life of his own. Though that was important, his driving force to leave his masters place was his grandpa. If he could get him to a drier climate he might get over being sick as he was. Our boys loyalties was with family not friends or those of his own kind.Come join Jimmy or better known on the plantation as Pan Face on his quest. Though you, like myself might not see the problem other than being caught. That would be right in most cases but the Buchannan's were not like most some slave owners. They had pretty much raised this black boy as if he was their own son. Though they do have a son by the name of Edgar, the two boys are like brothers. There is one problem in that the main character does try to maintain his position on the place to keep peace among the other slaves.Another problem Jimmy has is that he is head over heads in love with a slave girl at the Marsh place. Ironically Ida Marsh is the girl Edgar loves, which makes sense with the two boys being so much alike. So if he is to leave to be of help to his grandpa, he'll be leaving his best friend, and his girlfriend.There is one more problem that most don't think about when dealing with someone like Jimmy. He was a slave all his life. With that being the case he had never had the opportunity to do things on his own. To make it worse (though it doesn't matter in the middle of a war) he has no money, silver or gold to buy food or transportation. All he has for what it's worth is the “Underground Railroad.” So as I said, come along and see how Jimmy does on his own.