SUSIE'S SECRET
by Janie Barrett
"Run Susie and don't turn back whatever you do!" "Okay, mama," Susie said, as she ran with all her might. Susie carried a package tightly wrapped under her arm. Susie knew the path by heart, but had to always be on the look out for police. Susie was on her way to Miss Claire's, she went there daily. On the way to Miss Claire's Susie always passed a beautiful church. Many people gathered around the church to admire its beauty. Today Susie slowed down to glance at the church. Suddenly, she spotted a policeman. "What should I do?" Susie thought to herself. I will just kindly smile at him and that should charm him enough to let me go. Susie began to get nervous. All of a sudden she began running as fast as she could. "Wait, Stop!" yelled the policeman, but Susie got away. Susie finally reached Miss Claire's house. "Why Susie, you look as though you just saw a ghost." said Miss Claire. "I was almost caught by a policeman," said Susie, gasping for air in between her words. "Well, you are safe here with me Susie, so don't worry. I know we are breaking the law Susie, but no one is going to stop me from teaching you to read and write," said Miss Claire. Now get your books and let's get busy.
The sun was starting to go down and Susie knew she had to get home. As she packed up to leave she tucked two packages under her arm. One package was her books, the other held five fat trout. Susie began to run home in the hot weather. As she ran she kept her eyes open for any police. The one time that Susie took her eyes off the trail she fell. One of the packages fell from her arm and landed at the foot of a policeman. "What is this little girl?" said the officer. "It's nothing," replied Susie. The policeman began to tear the packaging, "Books! What does a slave girl like you want with books? They must not be for you, you can't read anyway," Susie was furious inside, but knew she had to stay calm.
As Susie stood there the package of fish began to slip out of her fingers and soon fell to the ground. "More books?" asked the officer. "No," said Susie. "Your supper if you let me go." The officer examined the fish and finally said, "It's okay for now, but I'll get you the next time." As soon as Susie could turn around she darted off toward home. When Susie got home she started to cry while telling her mother she could not practice her reading anymore. Susie's mother comforted her and pulled a book from a shelf. "What is that mama?" asked Susie. "This is a book you can practice from tonight, it is called Exodus." Susie began to read these words out loud, " I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of slavery." Susie then heard her mother crying in the background. "It's okay mama," Susie said, "God loves us and He doesn't treat us any different from anyone else."
1. Why did Susie want to learn to read? _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________
2. Who showed more courage, Susie or Miss Claire? Why? ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________
3. After Susie's books were taken from her what was the book her mother gave her to read? ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________
4. What do you think would happen at the end of the story if Susie would go back to Miss. Claire's? ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________
5. Why did Susie have to be so secretive when going to Miss Claire's? ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________
"Susie's Secret" Outline
I. Susie leaves on a journey.
A. Stays away from police.
B. Keeps package hid.
II. Susie stops at church.
A. Admires the church.
B. Spotted a policeman.
1. police calls for Susie.
2. never catches Susie.
III. Susie gets to Miss Claire's
A. Tells about policeman.
B. Susie is learning to read.
IV. Susie leaves to go home.
A. Two packages
1. books
2. fish
B. Susie falls.
1. lost 1 package
2. caught by policeman
C. Policeman gets packages.
1. Tells Susie she isn't smart enough
2. Throws books
3. Keeps fish
V. Susie runs home.
A. Susie is scared she will get caught by another police.
B. Susie's mother tells her to keep practicing with the book of Exodus.
C. Susie reads " I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of slavery."
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS:
1. Because none of the other slaves could read. She knew she would need it in the future.
2. They both showed courage because they were both doing something against the law, but it didn't matter to them.
3. Exodus
4. Answers will vary.
5. Because both Susie and Miss Claire could be punished for breaking the law.
SOURCE : Rue, Nancy "The slave's secret." Teachers in Focus, August, 1994.