Caleb's+Journal

Caleb’s Journal

January 20, 1930 Dear Journal, I will neva’ go back to school. My Pa told me I should have a job at my current age sixteen. That I should be makin‘ my way through the world. Should have a wife in a year and a kid in the next. So that’s what I am startin’. When I got home from school for lunch my Ma was in tears, Pa was screamin’, and my lil‘ sista’ of ten years was cryin’. I waited outside the room and heard my Pa say that times were bad, real bad. And that our family needed money in order to keep our house. I heard Pa say he lost his job at the factory today. Our house ain’t much, but it’s somethin’ to come back to. What would we do with out our house? I snuck to my Pa’s room and took his beaten up leather bag that still had his work clothes tucked inside. I ran down the hall to my room and through in one pair of pants, sock, and extra trousers. I found my hidden four dollars and stuffed it on my shoe. I grabbed a pencil and this journal so I can write back to Ma so she don’t worry ‘bout me. I’m sittin‘ near a big rock next to a train track and there are a whole lotta boys runnin‘ and jumpin‘ onto this big ol‘ train. That’s what I am gonna do. - Caleb

January 21, 1930 Dear Journal, I haven’t slept or eaten in two nights. Those boys were hoppin’ the train to make their way west outta the little town of Smyth, Virginia. I don’t know where I am, so I wont write Ma till I know. I wonder if Pa is mad, or got his job back. I met this nice old guy that reminds me of him. He told me his name was Clark and had a son who looks kinda like me. He is lettin’ me stay with him for the night so I don’t get caught by the rail detectives, because I guess it’s against the law to hop the trains. I wont tell Ma that, she’ll worry. I’m so damn hungry and so damn tired I might pass out. Why did I leave home? I coulda had food now, and slept in my bed instead of the hard ground of the Jungle. That’s what Clark called it. The Jungle. Because it’s in the cover of the trees. Clark gave me some of his canned beans so I’m gonna eat, then sleep. - Caleb

January 22, 1930 Dear Journal, I miss home. I haven’t found a job anywhere even with standing in line for hours. No one wants to hire a kid. I want to be with my friend, John. I meet this girl today. She looks pretty beat up and is covered with dirt just like the rest of us. Her name is Samantha, but told me to call her Sam. She hasn’t found any work either. Must be tough bein’ a girl. I think she is, maybe, a little older than me. I’ma gonna head home. I don’t know what to do. My Pa might need my help at the house and my Ma is probably worried about me because I haven’t written her since I left. I’ll wait for the next train tomorrow mornin’ goin’ in the opposite direction and i’ma head home.