04 Freedom Fighters

4 Freedom Fighters Jack carried the water bucket into the tent. The scene inside was like a nightmare. The tent was hot and stuffy. A dozen injured soldiers lay on small cots. Some called for food. Others begged for water or just moaned. Jack wanted to rush back outside. But Annie got right to work. She rolled up her sleeves and smiled. “ Hi, everybody! " she said cheerfully.

None of the soldiers smiled back. “ I have good news! ” she said. “ We've brought lunch! ” Annie moved down the row of cots. She handed out pieces of bread and chunks of potatoes to all the patients. “ You'll be feeling better soon, " she said to one sick man. “ You'll see your family again, she told another. Jack looked around nervously. He wasn't sure what to do. “ Give them water, Jack! ” Annie called to him. Jack saw a tin cup beside each man's cot. He picked up the first cup. Carefully, he used the ladle to fill it with water. Keeping his eyes down, Jack handed the cup to the patient. He felt shy and uncomfortable. He didn't know what to say.

Jack moved on to the next patient, then the next. He gave each wounded man a cup of water. But he never looked right at any of them or spoke a word. Soon Jack and Annie had finished passing out food and water. “ Good-bye! " Annie said. She waved and left the tent. Jack quickly followed her. “ Let's go home now, " he begged once they were outside. “ We've got what we came for. ” “ If we leave now, the patients in the next tent will go hungry and thirsty, " said Annie. Jack sighed. “ Okay, " he said. “ But after we take care of them, we're leaving for sure. ” He followed Annie into the next tent.

Just like the last tent, it was filled with wounded soldiers. But the soldiers in this tent were all African-Americans. “ Hi, everybody! ” Annie said, smiling warmly. Again, she passed out potatoes and bread, She also talked and made jokes. Jack poured water into each of the tin cups. Again, he didn't speak to any of the soldiers. But as he handed over the last cup, a patient spoke to him. “ Thank you for your kindness, son, " the soldier said. Jack glanced shyly at the man on the cot. He was an elderly, silver-haired black man. “ You're welcome, " said Jack. He tried to think of something else to say. He remembered Annie's cheerful words.

“ You'll get well soon, " he told the patient. “ You'll be with your family again. The man shook his head. “ No, I’ll never be with my family again, ” he said quietly. “ My wife and children were sold long ago. ” “ Sold?" said Jack.