Kitch was one of six African American boys who had grown up as a slave on a plantation in Mississippi. They all were turning 18 and three of the boys were to be sold. Kitch was being sent to Williamsburg, Virginia. Kitch did not mind leaving the plantation. His parents had died two years ago, his dad of natural causes and his mom of disease.

As Kitch worked on the field he often thought of leaving the plantation. Although life on the plantation had been nothing but hard labor and poor treatment, this is where he grew up and he knew he would miss it. Kitch was leaving the next day and he was a little nervous. He remembered what his father would tell him most nights before bed, "One day you will be a free man, free to live your own life. I will forever be with you, by your side. Dont stop fighting to be free."

These words rang in Kitch's head as he slept that night. He would be leaving tomorrow to a new plantation. " Dont stop fighting to be free," he whispered to himself. Kitch decided he was going to be free. He wanted to make his father proud. The plan was to hide a sharpened rock in the leg of his pants to use to cut the chain during the long ride to Virginia. He knew there would be servere consequences if he were caught, but he didnt care.

Kitch thought about where he would go and what he would do when he got there. He knew how to read and write, and he knew the north star would lead him to freedom. He was ready, he had a plan. Kitch lied and waited for morning, nervous for the journey to come.

Kitch was on his way to Virginia. He over heard the driver and his master talking. He found out the route they were taking . Kitch planned to hop off the cart in Tennessee, run through Kentucky, and then through Ohio. When the cart took off he waited till the people at the plantation could not see him and he started working to remove his chain

At last his chains were loose, and a sense of happiness washed over him. Quietly as possible, Kitch slid off the wagon. He stood up and ran and hid behind a tree and watched. The wagon trailed on, the driver had not realized Kitch had hopped off.

Kitch stood there still for a while. He could not believe he had the chance to be free. He thought of his father and how it was his dream or Kitch to be free. Kitch teared up a little. He held his heart and looked up to the sky and said, "I'll make you proud, I promise." Kitch started on his journey alone, with only the clothes on his back

He started his journey walking through the wilderness to try to find a nice spot to rest during the day. He spotted a hollow log laying on the ground. There was old linen sheets and a sack of clothes inside. Kitch crawled into the log and covered himself with the sheets, using the clothes as a pillow. He didnt sleep, he just laid there and relaxed.

Kitch was enjoying his peace when he heard rustling in the bushes near him. He quickly got up and sprinted behind a rock opposite from the bush. A few seconds later a older African American man slowly emerged from the bush. "It is okay, I only want to help." The man had a thick accent. Kitch had grown up learning english, and he didn't not know the language of where his parents came from.

"I am Mutumboe, I come from Birdsville plantation in Georgia." He step closer to where Kitch was standing. Kitch stood from behind the rock and starred at Mutumboe. They stood across from each other for a while until Kitch said something. "Georgia is very far, how long have you traveled?"