Students, imagine you are Phillip. You have just awoken on a raft that is bobbing aimlessly in the middle of the ocean. There is nothing around you but endless sky and water. You suddenly realize you are not alone on the raft... The person with you is not your mother, but a large West Indian man, a stranger.
In this journal, you will need to write from Phillip's point of view. Describe what is happening around you, as well as your thoughts and feelings. Be detailed, but do not simply retell the story. Click on "Comment" to write your post for each new entry. Be sure to only sign with your section and initials only (ex. "LA1 - SB"). DO NOT give your full name. Talk to me if you have any questions.
36 comments:
The Cay Journal Blog
Scott Kubiak
I just woke up and I can not remember what happened to me after that board hit me on the head. Where am I? I am scared to death because I do not know where my mother is. Who are you young one? My name is Phillip Enright. What is your name? My name is Timothy. I do not like Timothy because he is so much different than I am. I wonder what will happen Next?
Jared Frank
LA1
10/29/09
If I were Philip I’d be scared that Timothy would hurt me. I’d hate to get only a couple of drops of water a day. I just woke up and I notice I am stranded in the middle of the ocean on a raft with an old West Indian. He tells me his name is Timothy. Timothy says I can only have a couple of drops of water a day. If a schooner comes and finds us we can drink all the water we want, but if not we can only have a few drops. The only way he catches fish is to have them jump into the raft. When they jump into the raft he grabs them and puts them in a box. If I were on the raft I would be scared. I would want to get out of the raft immediately.
When I woke up in the middle of the ocean, I could feel being bobbed, on a raft on the ocean. When in need of water, a Negro man said to me “How are you feeling?” I was scared. I had never been that close to a Negro before. My mother said that Negroes were rude and unkind. The Negroe man was named Timothy. He said that there was jug full of water located on the raft. When Timothy and I found it, he said that I could only have 2 drops of water on my tongue. When I was done With the 2 drop serving of water, I kept insisting for more. Timothy ignored me. I got mad at Timothy. Later on he said something. Timothy told me that we could eat raw fish. Who eats raw fish? Negroes eat raw fish. They are different.
I don’t know what will happen next. Will we get torpedoed?
Laiken Schultz
LA3
10/29/09
I just woke up on a raft that’s really wobbly. I see water all around me, no sign of land. I just heard a voice, it sounded like a West Indian man. It was, he was big and strong with gray hair, a mustache and beard. I must have hit my head on something because it hurts terribly. Soon I asked ‘Where is my mother’. He said she was probably on another raft. I asked for water, and he gave me the tiniest sip, I asked for more and he said no. By that time I was getting mad.
I just wake up and I am in this boat. The last thing I remember is the tragic bombing of the S.S. Hato on my way to America. Here I am now with this creepy old man in the middle of pretty much nowhere. All I can see is mile and mile of blue ocean. The creepy old man I think I have seen before on the boat but am not for sure because I do not have that many memories before my head injury. He calls himself Timothy with no last name. I don’t really care if that is or isn’t his real name or not I am just so thirsty. Timothy is so harsh and mean he don’t even let me have more than a couple drops of water. He says that someone will find us tonight and then I can drink all the water I want. I really hope he is right because I am so thirsty. Until then we have to not drink all the water supply. The mean man Timothy just says that I have to sleep because of my head injury. I guess he is right I think he will be quiet if I go to sleep, too. I wonder what will happen next.
That’s all I can remember. Silence, then the explosion. And then it all went black.... Where am I?... I woke up in a small raft in the middle of the ocean. My first thought is, where is my mother? At first, I thought I was alone. But I am not. There is a large, wiry West Indian man next to me. I recognize him from the ship’s crew. There is also a small cat. The man, (who’s name is Timothy, by the way,) said the cat belongs to the ship’s cook. It’s name is Stew. I am very thirsty, so I ask Timothy for some water. We did, a whole gallon of it, to be precise. He gives me, like, three drops, no more. I asked for more, but he said we must save it. We didn’t know how long we’d be stranded. That greedy old man...
“Where am I?” I said. A man said behind me your on the ocean. I said where is my mother. He said probably in a safe place. I new he was African American because of his black muscular arms and his skin. I asked him his name he said Timothy. He asked me my name I said Phillip. I asked him for some water. He gave me a little bit. I said, “I want more I’m thirsty.” He would not give me any. I got mad then I thought he is taking all the water himself. Then I saw a large fish jumped out of the water and landed on the raft. Timothy grabbed it and ate it raw. He told me to eat. I wasn’t going to eat it raw.
I just woke up and my head is throbbing. I lay back down slowly and look around. I ask myself Where am I? Where is my mom? Who are you? O my gosh I am on a boat in the middle of no were and I don’t know who I am on a boat with. I sit up very fast and look at this person in a weird way. I think about what has just happened but I can’t remember anything but what is just now happening. I am really thirsty and this person won’t give me water and I am very hot. I want my mom and I want to go home but witch way is home? I don’t think he knows I am awake so I fall back asleep. When I wake up I see the person right in my face I scream and tell him to back off he does. I wait for a few minutes finely he tells me his name his name is timothy I ask all these questions and to most of them he dose not have an answer. I start to cry I want to go home I want my mom I am thirsty. I am really thirsty and this person won’t give me water and I am very hot. I feel like I am going to be sick and I do I get scared and start to cry again. Later on in the day all I got to drink was like three drops of water so I yell at this person I cant remember his name. I am still very hot and don’t have shade but the sun is going down. I want food so very bad I am starving. A few minutes later a fish jumps up on to the raft and this person tells me to eat it raw. I did not to eat the fish because it would make my stomach hurt ever more than it already does so I go to sleep.
I have woken up. I slowly sat up but as I did, my head started throbbing. I quickly laid my head back down and checked out my surroundings. A raft. No mother. A western Indian. No Mother. Beads of cold sweat began to trickle down my cheek followed by salty droplets of water. I was crying. War was a very ugly thing, I now learned. I quick glanced at the Indian. He was sitting cross-legged and had closed his eyes. He was doing some weird mediation thing. I started to cry again. Instead of my mother, I got some weirdo! I blubbered harder and harder until hit me like a ton of bricks. If it weren’t for my mom, I wouldn’t be in this situation. My sadness turned into anger as I closed my eyes and went into a deep peaceful sleep.
The Cay
I just woke up; I am on a bobbing raft in the middle of the ocean. It is very blue. It looks good for swimming, but I can’t because I don’t know how deep it is. There is an old West Indian on this raft, his name is Timothy. He says his name is Timothy and nothing else. I am very thirsty, but Timothy will not let me have very much water. There is also a cat on the raft, his name is Stew and he belongs to the cook. All I can see is water and sky, the only other living thing I can see is a few birds. Timothy says a schooner might find I said it will find us. All Timothy will let me eat is raw fish. Yuck! I won’t eat it. I don’t quite know what is going to happen tomorrow, but I hope someone will find us.
I woke up in a raft in the ocean. I wanted to be home in my father’s hands. The blue water tossed me around. I sat up to see a man with a cat I had never seen before. The man with the cat turned around and said, “Hello young bahass.” He was Negro, with white hair as white as snow, and white teeth. My mom never trusted Negros; then again, she never did want to move to Curacao. I knew I had to trust this man so I said, “Hello.” In a shaky voice. “Tis is Stew. He was the cook’s cat, he climbed in covered in oil and I des couldn’t through him out.” The strange man said. I asked him, “Who are you?” Then he said, “I am Timothy.” “Timothy what?” I asked. “Dis Timothy.” He replied. Then I fell back into a slumber. When I woke up, it was noon. I asked, “Can I have some water?” Timothy pulled out a tube, and poured a few drops into a cup. I drank the water and then asked for more. “Yes,” Timothy said. “here you go.” I protested, “I wouldn’t even be here right now if it weren’t for my ding dong mother! Now give me more water!” Then I fell asleep wondering what would happen next.
I just woke up and found that I am in the middle of the ocean on a raft with a West Indian named Timothy. He told me that he rescued me and brought me to this raft. We have biscuits, a jug of fresh water, and a few pieces of chocolate. I am very woozy and thirsty, but he will only let me have a very little amount of water. I think he’s trying to save all the water for himself. I miss my mother so much, how could she do this to me? Why would she let me be stuck in the middle of the ocean on a raft with a big, strong, and ugly West Indian? I wish I knew. I can see why my mother thinks they’re different. The thought of my mother dead frightens me a lot. My head hurts a lot, so I am going to take another nap.
I just woke up and found that I am in the middle of the ocean on a raft with a West Indian named Timothy. He told me that he rescued me and brought me to this raft. We have biscuits, a jug of fresh water, and a few pieces of chocolate. I am very woozy and thirsty, but he will only let me have a very little amount of water. I think he’s trying to save all the water for himself. I miss my mother so much, how could she do this to me? Why would she let me be stuck in the middle of the ocean on a raft with a big, strong, and ugly West Indian? I wish I knew. I can see why my mother thinks they’re different. The thought of my mother dead frightens me a lot. My head hurts a lot, so I am going to take another nap.
If I were Phillip..............
I just woke up and, my head hurts a lot. All I see is blue, the big blue ocean.... everywhere. I’am on a raft , with one person, and that person is not my mother. I’ am really scared knowing that my mom is somewhere in this big blue ocean without me. I must go meet the man that is on the raft with me..... I’ am even more scared now, the man is a west indian, he is a complete stranger to me. He is a mean man , he will not give me water, but he also seems very wise. I wish I was with my mom and dad. If only we hadn’t left Curacoa . I would know where my family was and if they were ok, I would also be with my best friend Henrik. Of course we did leave Curacoa, and now I’ am alone with a strange.
If I were Phillip..............
I just woke up and, my head hurts a lot. All I see is blue, the big blue ocean.... everywhere. I’am on a raft , with one person, and that person is not my mother. I’ am really scared knowing that my mom is somewhere in this big blue ocean without me. I must go meet the man that is on the raft with me..... I’ am even more scared now, the man is a west indian, he is a complete stranger to me. He is a mean man , he will not give me water, but he also seems very wise. I wish I was with my mom and dad. If only we hadn’t left Curacoa . I would know where my family was and if they were ok, I would also be with my best friend Henrik. Of course we did leave Curacoa, and now I’ am alone with a strange.
“Ah!! Why does my head hurt? Mommy,Mommy. Where’s my mommy?” Then I look around and try to find my mom. And see this weird, creepy old man in front of me. Then he starts talking to me. I noticed that he even had an accent. I thought “if he has an accent then he must be a West Indian. Then I wanted to lie down again because my head was aching badly. I was also very thirsty to. So I first asked him, “So what is your name?” And he says, “Timothy” I say, “Timothy what, what is your last name?” He says that he doesn’t have a last name. “Well my name is Phillip.” Soon I started to get tears in my eyes. I really, really wanted to see mom. But then at the same time I got sort of mad at mom because if she didn’t just wasn’t so scared of the war we wouldn’t have even been here. I had to get my mind off this, so I asked if he had any water. He said, “I will give you some water, I bet you are thirsty.” So he gave me my cup and he didn’t even fill it up half way! I finished the cup in less than a second. And then I asked for more. And then he said, “No, No, No, we have to save as much water as we can. Who knows how all we will be here.” Then I started to get mad at him. I started yelling, “Hey! I am thirsty give me the water now!!! Well I knew I was thirsty but I didn’t want to start an argument. So I went to the other side of the life-boat. All bored, mad, sad, and angry I sat there.
I am scared like crazy. I woke up on a raft. There is a man named timothy he isn’t very nice he won’t let me have any water. He said many schooners pass through here.
He wants me to eat raw fish. My head hurts very bad. He said that right after we were torpedoed, a piece of metal fell of the sinking SS. Hato and landed on my head. He has made cover out of his shirt to protect me from the suns heat so that my head injury deosn’t get worse. I am tired and I don’t know what will happen next.
How long have I been out? I just woke up on a raft, I miss my mother, and this strange black man is starting to bug me. I remember the torpedoing, fire everywhere, we were separated! I miss my father too, and I miss my house. I can still remember when my mother would complain about the smell of oil. Or when my father would play catch in the back yard. Ahhhhh… my head! My head hurts, my throat is dry, and I’m hungry! Timothy is getting on my nerves, he refuses to gig me much water and wants me to eat raw fish! We should have never left Curacao
I just woke up and all I saw was blue, I'm bobbing back and forth in a small boat I thought I was dreaming, I wanted to stay dreaming but I herd a voice it was not my mothers it was a low voice and then I noticed I wasn't dreaming, I also remembered what happened to the Hato I sat up and saw a big West Indian man. I asked "who are you? and where's my mother?" he told me she should be on another boat. I stared disliking him when I said I was thirsty and he only gave me a drop of water, he also ate raw fish I'm really thirsty and I want to go home with my family.
By: Nabiha Mushtaq !!!
If I were Phillip an away from my mother, and left with a stranger I would be scared. I was frightened on the raft a lone with out my mother. The farther I went the more I got worried. Then I saw a stranger Then he started to talk to me I felt a little better. I was still sad that my mother was gone. I began to feel a little uncomfortable that the stranger was talking to me and I did not even know what his name is. So I asked what “is your name” and he said Timothy. My throat began to feel to feel dry so I asked him for some water, and he only gave 3 drops of water. I kept on asking him for some but he would not move. I did not like him anymore at this point. So I did not talk to him anymore.
I woke up in the morning with my head aching in pain . Suddenly I realized I am in a boat in the middle of water. I am scared. Where’s my mom? I want to cry .There’s a stranger next to me I ask him his name. Timothy he said. Am thirsty and this man is really bothering me because I ask for a drink and he just gives me a little. I think he’s saving it for himself. I don’t really like this man. He is annoying me a lot. The strange man tells me to go back to sleep. I wake up with my head throbbing again. I am hungry the man says we could catch fish and eat it. He caught to fish and he gave me the two largest pieces. Timothy starts eating it RAW!!!! No wonder why my mother says they live differently they eat raw fish! This guy is really creeping me out. My head is throbbing again am going to go back to sleep.
I just woke up and my head is throbbing. I'm not alone. Someone else is here and hes not my mother. Where is my mother? Is she dead? I asked the West Indian these questions but he wouldn't know. My hands are shaking. I'm terrified. I felt as if the world had come to an end. How can I sit here doing nothing when my mother could be dead? I'm starving, thirsty, terrified, worried, and my head hurts. The only thing worse than that is that I'm not here with my mother. I'm here with a stranger. I can't trust him. What if he try's to kill me for meat? What if I'm trapped here forever with this strange man and starve and never get to say goodbye to my mother or father? I don't like this. I want to jump in the water to cool down. If I had one wish it would be to be with my mother. I wouldn't care if I was starving or stranded. I would rather die with my mother rather than this big, ugly stranger. I feel butterflies in my stomach and I think something is stuck in my throat. I was so tired of this guy. He needs to be quiet. He gave me a sip of water that just made me more thirsty. I swear he is trying to kill me. He wants me for meat. Now I'm uncomfortable. I will never take my eyes off him.
The Cay Blog Day 1
I don’t feel well… my head hurts… I feel a breeze and it feels good… as I opened my eyes I felt as if the sky was moving, as if I was moving, floating… suddenly I feel as if I’m on the ocean. I lift my head up to see where I am, even though my head is throbbing with pain. I find a very large and old looking West Indian before me. He looks at me and says, “Oh, so you are awake now, eh?” I noticed my eye grow wider as I stare at this stranger. At that moment I say, “W-who are you?” He looked at me and said, “Timothy.” I looked back and said, “Phillip…” He smiled at me. In no time I fell asleep again. As I spelt I thought of my mother. Where was she?? Is she alright?? Then I thought about Timothy. I don’t like him… he is big and ugly and weird. I don’t like him at all.
By Nuzha Z.
I just woke up in a strange dream, I think. I see birds in the sky and water all around me; I am in shock not knowing what to do. I feel the water, it is warm. Unexpectedly, I look in front of me and see a very ugly black person. I was surprised and speechless. When finally the black man said, “Young bahss how are you feelin?”I did not know how to react. So I said “Where are we?” From saying that, I knew this wasn’t a dream.
I have just woken up and I am on a raft without my mother. My head hurts. I am scared. I was put on this raft with a stubborn West Indian, named Timothy. I am parched but Timothy will not let me have a full cup of water. He, also, is trying to make me eat raw fish. I do not want to eat raw fish. I bet he is saving the good stuff for himself. I am, also, worried. Where is my mother? Is she ok? Who is she with? This is all her fault. She was the one that wanted to go to Norfolk. Timothy is making me very mad and nervous! He is keeping everything for himself! He is so stubborn! I wish mother just let me stay with father. Then, I would not be here, with Timothy. I am so mad!
THE CAY
I woke up. I looked around and realized that I was on a raft, in the water in the middle of nowhere. I was quiet for a moment. Ouch! For it seems I had hit my head when we got torpedoed!! Something was not right I thought. When I peered around there was a strange black man looking at me. I felt upset when I realized that the only person on the boat was me and a black man, not my mother not my father but a black man. I asked the strange man what is your name. He said his name was Timothy. I thought he was strange and he talked in a weird strange sort of way. I could tell it was calypso by the way he rhythmically spoke it. I asked the man for a drink of water. He gave me a little but I demanded more. The stubborn black man gave me a few more drops but that was it. I told him to look around and there is plenty of water here!!! He said if you drink this water it will make you sick. It is too salty and it’s not clean. I thought mother was right about black people being stubborn!!! I felt sad that my mother wasn’t here so I began to cry. The man told me we were lucky we had food and water. I asked one more time for a little more water but he ignored me and put the cork in the bottle. I got angry and furious and said you just want all the water to yourself!! His mouth didn’t move. He was asleep. I think??
I just woke up. I look around but I don’t see my mother. I really don’t know where I am. All I see is a cat, the endless ocean and a black man. I am very frightened and worried. The black man is looking at me and knows that I am awake. He says that his name is Timothy and he explains how he found me and pulled me up on this raft. I can’t remember how this all happened so I started asking him question after question. He stopped me and with a heavy accent told me to get some sleep. I awaken for a second time only to find my mouth totally dry. The noonday sun is beating down on us with very little cover. The raft we’re on is made of ebony wood almost as dark as Timothy. I ask Timothy for some water but he gives me only a few drops. I again ask him for water and again only a few drops come my way. I get mad at him and raise my voice. He just ignores me. I think my mother was right about Negroes.
Mason Bennett October 29, 2009
Blog
It is day one I am stuck on a raft with an old black man Timothy. I am extremely thirsty and Timothy won’t give me more than a couple drops of water. I feel really shaky and dizzy. I am very worried about my mother being safe and not knowing where I am. I wish my mom, dad, family, or friends were here because I don’t like this stranger who won’t give me any water to drink. I feel like I am going to faint from dehydration. I wish my mother would have let me stay with my father or just everyone stay in Curasao. If my Mom was not so stubborn, I wouldn’t be here right now pretty much dehydrated, with a stranger who won’t give me any water. I am very dizzy and shaky. I wish I was home or in school or playing with my friends.
If I were Phillip and I was stuck on a raft with my head hurting I would feel sad that my mom wasn’t there. I would also feel very scared that I’m sitting next to some stranger. I would be in deep pain from hitting my head and I would be sobbing like crazy. I would be mad because I would not have my mom with me. I probably wouldn’t even talk to the stranger for days. I would wonder where I was and probably wouldn’t like this West Indian sitting next to me. The mans name was Timothy and I would be mad at him especially because he would barely let me get water. Timothy caught a fish and wants me to eat it raw! I would be very hungry but wouldn’t eat anything. That’s how I would feel if I were Phillip!
I am Philip and I am blind. Right now I am telling Timothy that I cannot see. He is saying, “Look at the sun Philip, look!” I am trying to tell him that I cannot see the sun. It’s like it’s a big black curtain that you cannot see out of. I hate being blind. I have to rely on my hearing, smelling and touching ability. I am going to sleep, trying not to believe that I am blind. Finally, I have gone to sleep. I am waking up and then I hear Timothy shouting, “I see an island!” I stood up and all of a sudden, SPLASH! I hit the water yelling, “Timothy, Timothy, help me!” Then Timothy jumped in too. He grabbed me by the hair and threw me on board. He finally got out of the water saying, “Dang fool! You almost got me killed!” After a few deep breaths, he calmed down. I said, “You saw an island?” Timothy said, “Yes, dat be true.” I said, “Does it have people on it?” He said, “No.”. I said, “I don’t want to go on the island!” He said, “We’re going on dat island.”
After I awoken on the raft, I felt like I was abandoned in the middle of nowhere and that it was a dream. Soon I found out it wasn’t a dream after seeing a non good looking black man, who I think is from the West Indies, right in front of me saying something. He spoke English, but not too well. Finally I got what he meant to say, “How are ya felin, young bahss”. I just knew getting stranded with him, maybe the fastest way to die; I found that out when he gave just a few drops of water. I thought he was just plain mean, I knew we weren’t going to survive, but I have high hopes that I will. I hope I find land or a schooner could find me.
Blog 3
Timothy and I have been on the island for quite some time. Timothy has been doing all the work from building the hut to building fires, he’s just done everything. At about 12:00 mid day I find myself asking “Timothy, what are you doing?” He replies, “I am making a very long rope.” I say, “What is it for?” Timothy says, “It’s for you to help me work.” A few hours later, Timothy puts a stack of palm fiber in my lap and says to weave them for our bed mats. I say, “How do I do this?” Timothy takes my hand and guides it over the palm fiber, and says, “Up and over.” So I did it thinking it’s the least I could do since he’s been doing everything.
Timothy and I have been stranded on our cay for many days. I feel like he has been happier since we arrived .He has been much nicer to me sometimes. He has done all the work but he just asked me to make some sleeping mats out of palm leaves. He tells me to go under and over to make the mat. I tried I failed I gave up. He told me to try it again. Then I was angry at him how could I make us sleeping mats if I was blind. Then I called him a stupid, ugly and a dumb person who can't spell. Then he got very mad he slapped me very hard across the face because of how mad he was. Later I had felt very, very bad about what I had said earlier. I asked him for something but iI new he came over to me.Then I asked him if he wanted to be friends. Then he said you have always been my friend. I think he was happy.
Mason Bennett
November 12, 2009
Language Arts
A Change Within
A Change Within
It was a hot sunny day on the Cay. Timothy is trying to get me to make a mat and I don’t think he remembers that I am blind. When I reminded him that I was blind he just ignored me. Then I finally came out with him by saying all the things I have been thinking. The thing that changed my feelings toward him is that he finally let his anger out by slapping me on the face, and I now want to try to be his friend. Timothy was still trying to get me to work after he said I have been his friend all this time. I guess today wasn’t such a bad day after all.
Mason Bennett November 23, 2009
The Cay Journal
When I woke up Timothy told me that it was a great day on the Cay. Later on Timothy and I were at the hut and we heard the sound of a rifle shot, but Timothy told me it was the ocean’s whitecaps
Mason Bennett December 4, 2009
Gone but not forgotten
It was a warm sunny depressing day. I have returned to the Cay to recognize Timothy and give him a new headstone. It has a shiny marble with Timothy’s name engraved on it and his famous word “outrageous” also engraved. I put his knife on it with a large bottle of water and food. The one thing I wish the most is for Timothy to meet my parents. Well, tis outrageous life you lived Timothy!
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