I was in my room when I heard my mom open the door. She had been at work all day, but when she got home something was odd. She ran up to my room and shouted at me, "You are in big trouble!" before I could say anything, she said "You are grounded for 1 day!"

When she said I was grounded , I knew I would not be able to leave the house for the rest of the day. I had always wanted to see the world, so I decided to pack my bags. I thought to myself even though I am eleven years old, I will be fine.

I got out my backpack with the most pockets. It had five pockets. I got out 8 pairs of clothing and socks. I also packed all of my markers, pencils and my art journal. I went downstairs for dinner and continued packing.

The next day, after my parent's left for work,I packed in an envelope my $300. Then, I left first and paid $25 for a train ticket.

I was relieved that nobody asked my age because you had to be 13 years old to ride the train by yourself. The train came to a loud screeeeeechhhinnggggg stop. After riding for 2 hours on a train, I was able to stretch my legs while getting off the train. I had to find a map so I could locate where I would go.

While I was exploring, I ran into a girl. She said, "I am so sorry! Are you okay? Well anyways, my name is Gorgina. What is your name?" I replied back,"My name is Kayla. I was wondering if you could show me around New York?" She responded, "Yes of course! I ran away from my school 2 months ago, and have been just exploring ever since!"

I was so hungry, So I went to the hot dog cart with Georgina. I asked her if she wanted one. she replied back to me, " Yes please. Could you also get me a water?" I said yes and got two hot dogs with two waters. After we ate, we set out to blankets that I had packed. We sat down and we talked for a little while. Finally at 9 p.m. we slept.

The next day, we went to get some breakfast. after we did that to Georgina and I bought train tickets. Once we got on the train, a lady with blue hair asked us our age. Since Georgina was only nine years old, I had to lie about my age. When I said that I was 13, she kept moving on and asking people their age. I had nothing to do for the whole 3 hours.

When we got into North Carolina, I bought two more tickets. This time I bought water from a lady that was selling food and drinks. After six long hours, the train came to a loud screeching stop again. At least now Georgina and I could use the restroom.

In New York and North Carolina they did not have buses that would pick you up and take you to your hotel. I did not know this, so I hopped on a bus with Georgina and we rode to a hotel called the Alabama Hotel Resort. it was only $50 total. By this time it was 7:30 p.m.! Now we went to sleep.

The next day,we got on the bus that had like two people on it. The bus made multiple stops. At the third stop, it made a lady named Rosa Parks get on the bus. She sat in the front row. Georgina and I moved to the seat across from her.

At the fourth stop, a lady with a bluish dress walk onto the bus and wanted Rosa Parks's seat. She said no, so she got a police man to come. The police asked her to go to the back of the bus and she refused again. They made her get out at the next stop. (Which was the police station). Even though our stop was next we got off, because we wanted to know what would happen to her.

Before they entered the police station, they handcuffed her. Then I whispered to Georgina, "I think she's going to jail." She replied back, "Why? If you never did anything wrong. all she did was refuse to give her seat to a lady who could have sat somewhere else." I responded back to her, "Maybe they are mad she refused to give her seat to that lady." I heard them tell her that she would go to jail! I thought to myself, this is so unfair!

It was already 9 a.m! I was starving at this point. Since the bus had already made a loop around, we decided to just ride the bus. At the 6th, stop we got off the bus. The breakfast shop got us our food really fast. We ate it, then paid. When we finished there was a big March. We decided to follow them. It led to a huge talk that Martin Luther King jr. did. It was about how everybody should have equal rights. I immediately thought about Rosa Parks.

After that, Georgina and I went back to the hotel. We packed our stuff up and we checked out. Then we caught another bus. It took us to the train station. Then we bought more train tickets. Since Georgina did not have a place to live, I told her she could live with us. I missed my parents so much! Georgina said to me, "Thank you for letting me stay with you!" On the 9 hour train ride, we talked about how Rosa Parks went to jail.

When we got back to New Jersey, my mom hugged me. I had written to her before I left. When I got back, I told my mom everything. She said Georgina could stay with us. When I got back home, Georgina got a bed and new clothing. Thirteen years later, the civil Rights movement ended. Now everything is fair and equal.