My Star

Chapter 1

 The sun started rising. All the brown leaves on the trees are almost gone, The grass was almost covered in them. It was almost time for The Palmer Family's corn to be harvested and given to people in the nearest town.

 Astra was already up sitting next to her window in her nightgown writing in her journal. She loves to write about her dreams. She believes that they always mean something. Most of Astra's dreams are not very strange, but this one was strange.... 

November 15, 1865

Last nights dream was really strange. I do have sorta strange but usually never get a dream this strange. It kinda scared me

It was pitch black and then I hear a gun shot. The setting then changes to me next the "forbidden" shed. I was with a man. He looked to be about my age. He was tall, dark skinned, had deep brown eyes, and wore old looking clothes covered in dirt.  I have to be honest but I thought he was kinda cute... He told me to get my stuff, I did.  I asked him where we were going and he said "Ohio, it's the only way to freedom." I was kinda nervous. 

The setting goes back to pitch black with another gun shot. 

Nothing happened..

I woke up..

After the last words in her journal we're printed in the paper, someone knocked on the door across the room. Astra got up and hid her journal under her sheets. She brushed part of her fiery red hair to the back of her ear to make sure if it was her parents. The door opened with a creaky sound. 

It was Kindra, Astra's older sister. She was already in her grey long sleeved dress with purple dots all over it. It always reminded Astra of a painting of Maria  Reynolds with her black hair up in a hair-do and her beautiful purple dress for some reason. Kindra's chocolate brown hair was up in a beautiful braided bun. She'd love that hair style and would wear it anywhere. She looked like a queen to Astra. 

"You look beautiful today, sis." Astra said. "You're welcome," Kindra replied. "But right now,  you need to be changed." Astra didn't understand what she meant. "Do we have visitors?" She asked her big sister. "Sorta." Kindra responded quickly as she looked for Astra's corset. 

"What do you mean sorta? They better not be slaves." Astra said 

 "Astra, we've been through this! Father will not get slaves, EVER!" Kindra yelled

"You sure?"

"I'm sure. If we ever do, we'll always tell you."

Astra sighed. 

"I just hate that people just use others of their own kind as poorly treated servents!"

"There's so much you need to know, sis." Kindra said as she pulled the strings on Astra's corset. "Don't make it so tight, please!"  Astra said. "I won't, little sis." 

There had been an awkward pause between the two sisters for a while as Kindra helped Astra to prepare for their visitor, not until Astra got a little curious about them. "Who are the guests?" She asked. "I'm not supposed to tell you," Kindra calmly replied. "But what I can tell you this. They're here to make sure our crops are harvested and that we live and a warm and safe home during the winter." 

"How long will they stay?" Astra asked more curiously. Kindra paused for a second and then responded in full honesty. "I'm not sure..." Astra looked down in a bit of guilt and shame. "They're not slaves.." Kindra added. Astra looked up at her. "You sure?" She asked. 

"I'm sure.." Kindra smiled. She had just finished adding the final piece of her clothing. Astra's dress was white with tiny blue flowers splattered everywhere, yellow flower shaped buttons traveling down across the top part of the dress, and ruffle on the bottom of the skirt. Astra loved the dress a lot. 

"By the way," Kindra added as she revealed the journal under Astra's sheets. Astra became embarrassed. "You don't have to hide that from me." "I know" Astra turned more red at the second. "Write any dreams today?" Kindra asked with a smirk. "Yeah, But it's really strange." Astra answered. "I'm pretty sure it means nothing." "Strange?" Kindra pointed out. "What do you mean strange?" Astra hesitated for a minute before making an excuse to leave the room.

"Mom should be waiting for us downstairs for breakfast." Astra said. "Oh yeah. You're right. Dawn's almost over. Mom's gonna be upset." Kindra said in disappointment. "Let's go downstairs.." Astra nodded. They both exited out of the bedroom and walked down stairs to the kitchen to meet with mom and their slightly younger brother, Draken. 

"There you are!" Mom yelled. "You missed breakfast!!" "Oh.. Sorry mom. Kindra was helping me get in this dress." Astra apologized. "It took you long enough." Her Father appeared. "Astra, you need to start preparing your outfit and getting in them quickly." "I know dad!" Astra said. "You two look lovely today by the way by the way!" Her father smiled. "Thanks dad.." Kindra smiled back. 

"Honey, I don't mean to stop the conversation so early but the.... visitors are almost here.." Their Mother exclaimed. "You're right!" Their Father yelled. "We should be ready for when they come! Girls, meet me and mother out on the porch. We'll be out in a second." Astra and Kindra both walked out on the porch for Mother and Father to talk.

Mother sighed. "John.." she said. "How are we gonna tell Astra the truth about these people." "I don't know, Danielle.." John sadly said. "She's 17! She already knows what a slave is." "But she doesn't know everything about what it means." Danielle yelled. There was a small awkward silence between them. "Let's not worry about it now. I'm sure Astra will figure it out soon." John exclaimed.

Danielle grabbed Draken from his high chair and walked out with her husband out on the porch. Astra and Kindra were sitting in the rocking chairs by the door waiting for their guest. Then a horse with a wagon slowly approaches the house. Astra's palms get moist. She was always nervous when people came to her house.

The wagon stopped next to the family's property. Astra noticed in the wagon were three dark skinned men wearing beaten up clothing. They all looked very nervous. Astra tapped on Kindras shoulder. "Are these our visitors?" She whispered in her sister's ear. Kindra leaned towards Astra whispering "Yes. Now try to be a proper lady for once." The men got out of the wagon and walked up by the first step on the porch and looked up at the Palmer Family. 

Astra looked at the men. She noticed the one in the middle. He wore a torn, dark red coat with a peach colored shirt underneath. He had boots that were covered in dried up mud. He wore deep green trousers with more dried mud on the bottom of them. As a final touch, he had on a peach colored Ivy Cap covering part of his head. This man looked very familiar to Astra, Then she realized, This was the man from her dream

To Be Continued...