Love is thicker than blood

November 3, 1963
We are put on this earth to make a difference and I want to make a difference . I believe that all races should be equal. I want to help save and free the blacks, that is how I am going to make a difference in this world. I am Bradley Archer and this difference is about to be made.

I was nervous, but more so terrified. I stood there,twirling my shoulder-length dark brown hair and I kept thinking over and over till I thought my blue eyes would burst out of my head. I just hoped that waiting 17 years to make a difference would not be my downfall. Finally,I had gotten away. I had time to let my soul heal from the tragic events that had happened in the last two months. Even though I wanted to save lives, I had ended a few instead and the guilt was killing me;it was ripping me apart inside. I had fueled the fire that the KKK used to burn the blacks. They wanted to release all of their built up anger,so they burned some of the blacks' houses down.

My best friend Janelle, her family, and I got away by running off into the dark night after being almost blown up by the KKK. They had tried to kill us by throwing a bomb into the cheap,dirty motel room we were staying in. We had barely escaped with our lives. We had escaped to a place that was safe, well ,it was for now. There have been recent sightings of the KKK traveling north,but it was getting worse.They were heading straight towards Lowell. Lowell was known for starting the industrial revolution.It was called the mill city. It also had a beautiful river called the Merrimack. Lowell has been our safe haven this was the place where we had escaped to, this was the place that I could call home.

I thought I had escaped. Just when my wounds had healed,both physically and mentally,they would be reopened and salt would be rubbed into them. The pain would be excruciating. I didn't know what we were going to do.However, this time I was ready and I was prepared,waiting for anything they would throw at me.

My heart was pounding in my chest. My lungs felt like they were full of acid. I was running through the forest. As I was running, I stumbled over some tree roots. I fell ... bang. The bullet was flying right at me and just when it was about to hit me,I woke up. Those nightmares had started once I had gotten wind that the KKK was coming towards the north. I knew who was leading the attack; it was my parents. They wanted revenge. To them, I was a disgrace.I had made everything so difficult for them. Now, they were trying to get rid of me!

November 4, 1963
Life was getting better. I was able to run free. My parents never liked me going outside. But now, I was able to walk through the forest without a care in the world. This was the place that was safe, protected,even. I felt close to the forest. This might have been the place where I had the the nightmare, but nature could almost talk to me. It showed me that I had nothing to do with this. It was all my parents' fault. They are the ones who caused the death. I was innocent. The blood was on their hands.

As I got out of my bed, I slowly got dressed,trying to wrap my head around what I was going to do.
I walked into the kitchen greeting,Janelle's mom, "Good morning, Mrs. Andersen, " I said,still half asleep.
" Good morning to you too, dear, "she said in a sing -song voice.
" Is Janelle up yet? " I asked with wonder in the tone of my voice.
" She might be. You can go check if you like just,don't wake the others."

" Janelle , are you awake? " I asked waiting for a response.
" Stop yelling at me; I'm already awake! " she yelled angrily.
" I'm not yelling at you,I was just seeing if you were awake. I need to talk to you. "
"What?" She whined,annoyed.
" I had another nightmare, but this time, I nearly died. " I said,swallowing nervously.
" What do you mean? " Janelle asked with confusion.
" I was shot at , but it gets worse. "
" Huh? I don't understand. " she questioned.
" I was shot at by my parents!"
" How did it happen?" Janelle said as pain was rushing through me.
" They were chasing me through a forest, I tripped over some tree roots, and they just shot at me...I couldn't move or breath at all."
"Calm down Brad,you're just paranoid. I'm sure there is nothing to worry about. "
" You don't get it.My parents they hate me. They're trying to get rid of me and they want revenge."
" Why? I mean we did make their lives miserable, but you're their son."
" To them I disgraced the family name when I started helping you and your family. "
" Don't worry about it,we'll figure it out together, but first,I need breakfast. "
" Okay later we will talk about it. "