The+Jungle+Journal

The Jungle By: Jordan Hampton

September 7th, 1930 Dear Journal, Today, I came home from school and my father was standing in the doorway. Once I came in the house, he told me to sit down. My pap had lost his job. What am I gonna do without money and a home. I am only a 17-year-old man and how am I supposed to live without my pap and a roof ova my head. My pap kicked me outta my house and told me to go and make a living, and that I’d be much betta livin’ on my own. What am I supposed to do, just live on the rails and try and find sum work. My father is kicking me out, but I am going to ride the rails tomorrow morning from my home in Tennessee, all the way to New York to look for a job to save my relationship with my pap. This is the only way to save my family. September 8th, 1930 Dear Journal, I left my father today in my home in Tennessee and took route 66 on the train Northwest towards New York. All I have with me are a couple of my favorite books, my journal, and only one change of clothes. I’m all alone on the train when a couple of railroad police catch me and throw me into jail for the night. Shaking, and worrying I lay down on the bed in the jail cell when my cell opens. Along comes a young girl named Darla. Darla was a beautiful girl, and we made an instant connection with each otha. Talkin’ for hours about our plans and tellin’ me stories about her family. Darla’s motha has cancer, and in order to save her Darla wants to go and make some money for her to get all betta. We both have troubled families in this rough time, so we are gonna travel on this journey together towards New York. I’m a little scared and worried about what is gonna come my way on my journey once I arrive in New York with Darla. I’m just lucky that I’m not alone. Darla and I get outta jail tomorrow mornin’ and I cant wait to enjoy this journey ridin’ the rails with her. September 9th, 1930 Dear Journal, I woke up next to Darla this morning and I had this amazing feeling in the pit of my stomach. Darla is beautiful, and just my type of girl. We rode the rails today and stopped in a Jungle in New Jersey. Tonight was a night I will neva forget. I made a move on Darla because I felt like she was the one, but she pushed me off of her while I kept tryin’ and tryin’. The screamin’ and shoutin’ of Darla’s beautiful voice still are alive in my head. The way she was pantin’ and sweatin’ tryin’ to get away from me, but I neva stopped. I was too attracted to her. Her glistenin’ blue eyes, and her long blunette locks. Darla lays with me for the rest of the night, but I can tell somthin’ is wrong. I thought she wanted to, I thought she felt the same way about me as I did for her. With all my strength, I kept her with me for the rest of the night. September 10th, 1930 Dear Journal, Darla and I jumped on the train as soon as we woke up this morning’. She was quiet, with her cute dimples, and blue eyes that seemed to neva look at me. After 2 more hours on the train ride, we finally arrived in New York. Bright lights from the city buildings, and many streets covered in dirt. Something was wrong with Darla, and once the train stopped she vanished. We were great friends and I didn’t want to lose her, but she was gone. I didn’t think that I came on to her too strong, but maybe she didn’t feel the same way about me. I was scared that I lost her forever. September 17th, 1930 Dear Journal, It’s been a week since Darla has left me alone in New York. Scared and worried as to where she might be. I hope she is okay, I hope I didn’t ruin my chances with her forever, I hope she still cares about me the way we connected to each other in the jail cell. I found some work the otha day and got a job in a factory. I’m makin’ a decent amount of money, but not as much as I hoped. Hopefully, things will get betta soon because I miss my pap and Darla very much. September 18th, 1930 Dear Journal, Today I received a letter in the mail saying that Darla had committed suicide last night. I’ve cried and wept all day long. Was it because of me, why would she eva do that, did her mother pass away. All of these thoughts are runin’ through my head. I have never felt this way in my life. My hands shaking, my heart beating faster and faster, I lost her forever. I leave to go and see my pap back home in Tennessee tomorrow because I need to be with someone and talk about what happened. I am too afraid of losin’ someone I love again. September 19th, 1930 Dear Journal, Today, I left New York and headed towards Tennessee back home to see my pap. I got on the train on route 66 back towards home. When I got on the train a group of boys attacked me. They push me, kick me in the gut, and punch me from all different directions. I fall on my head and I feel the warm blood dripping down my face. My life has come to an end. I will never be able to see my pap again and help save the one’s I love. I’m finished. Sincerely, John Burns