own for breakfast. I get dressed and go downstairs. “My! You look nice today. I thought you were just going to see Rachel.” ‘I am, Mom. I was just feeling like looking good today” “Alright. Well, once you are done with breakfast and take care of your dishes, you may go” I eat quickly and hurry to clean my plate and fork. Once they are on the drying rack, I head out the door. Rachel is waiting for me as usual. We walk to the church, excited to see all the people there and our new idol. However, when we turn the corner, I am shocked to see that there is no one there. “Sheyann,” Rachel says slowly, “Did you ever ask when Mr. King was going to arrive?” “Oh, I guess I forgot about that part,” I say, “Do you want to play until someone shows up?” “Yeah, that sounds like a good idea,” Rachel says happily. We walk over to the lawn in front of the church. We play some of our favorite games, like who can do the most cartwheels in a row or pretend house. We had just finished making little figures out of sticks from one of the trees when the first car showed up. It was a lot bigger and fancier than most of the cars we usually see in our neighborhood. Then another car came, and more and more. Until the parking lot was practically filled with fancy cars. No one had these types of cars last time we were here. “Are you sure we are in the right place?” Rachel asks me. “I hope so,” I reply. We see two men getting out of one of the beautiful cars near us. When people see these two men, they instantly walked over and gathered around them. “Let’s go,” Rachel tells me. We push through the circle of people until we see the two black men in the middle. One of them was putting a suit coat jacket on the other. The man who was getting the suit jacket put on him was medium height with beautiful, kind eyes and kinky hair. When the man who was holding the suit jacket saw us, he immediately turned and asked us, “Do you girls know who this man is?” “No,” We said together. We didn’t know anyone here. “This is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.” The man said to us. Dr. King looked at us and smiled. Instead of speaking to the large crowd in front of him, he began talking with us instead. “Hello ladies, what are your names?” He had a deep, beautiful voice that was both chilling and trustworthy. “I’m Sheyann, this is Rachel” “Hello,” Rachel says. “How old are you two?” He asks kindly. “Nine years old, sir,” Rachel says. “I am eight!” I say right after Rachel. “So what grade does that put you in?” “We are both in third grade, but we go to different schools,” Rachel tells him. “Are you two from around here?” “Yup, my house is three blocks down that way,” I say as I point down the street. “Mine is close to the church” Rachel adds. He keeps talking to us, asking us questions about ourselves and why we were here today, and listening to what we had to say. Could this man, who our teacher spoke so highly of and who has spoken to the president of the United States, really be talking to us? We are just two kids, and there are a ton of adults waiting patiently and watching us. But this man is talking to us. I can see why Mrs. Moore spoke of him in such high regard, for the man in front of us is truly great. Finally, the people gathered around begin to walk around to the back door of the church. “Where are those people going?” I ask Dr. King. “Well, we are going to have a strategy meeting so that this town can have a bigger part in the movement” He replies. The man that helped put Dr. King’s suit coat jacket turns to us and says, “You little girls can go on and play now because we’re about to have a meeting…” “No”, Dr. King said firmly, “They want to come in. They can come in.” He took us by the hand, and together we all walked into the room. The meeting hadn’t started yet, but instead of leaving us to go talk to the other adults, he stayed. He seemed really interested in our lives and us as people. His concern for us, and our family, our struggles, it was amazing. Seeing this man, I feel like Santa has come to town. “Alright, well, we are going to start the meeting now. Although you are welcome to stay, it might be a bit boring for you two. However, we are going to be having more of a meeting for all of the freedom fighters in town later tonight.” I look at Rachel. “We’ll be there,” She tells him. We walk out of the building with huge smiles on our faces. “He was amazing,” I say to Rachel. “I think I have heard his speeches on my radio before. My parents like to listen to him. They should be coming tonight, so you can sit with us if you like. “ “That would be great,” I say. We spend the rest of the day playing and talking about Dr. King. That evening, Rachel’s parents came. They showed up with a small group of white people in tow. One of them was Jonathan Daniels. “Hey Rachel, what are those people doing with your parents?” “Oh, well, my parents have actually been involved in the Civil rights movement for a while. Dad has actually been going door to door trying to get black people to vote. Anyway, some of the freedom fighters have come a long way to be here. My parents offered up our home for some of the civil rights workers.” “You have been living with a bunch of white people in your house? Why didn’t you tell me?” “Well, we both know your parents don’t approve of the Freedom fighters in the area. My parents thought it might be better not to tell you.” “Oh, ok,” I say. “I really wanted to tell you, but we were afraid that if your parents found out, they wouldn’t let me see you.” She says quickly, “I’m sorry” “Oh, I understand. It’s ok” I say. I am glad she told me now, and I truly do understand why she didn’t tell me. We walk up to Mr. and Mrs. West and the group behind them. After hugging Rachel’s parents, I say hi to Mr. Daniels. We all walk inside and sit towards the back. Once everyone got settled in their seats, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. came through the door. As soon as he appeared, people began to stand up and clap their hands together in applause. I could see the expressions of enthusiasm and happiness on their faces. The air was filled with the joy of Dr. King’s arrival. I could not express my joy of being there and seeing him again simply by clapping and standing, all the excitement moved me to start singing. I begin to sing “Glory, Glory Hallelujah” with all my might. Someone in the row in front of me joins in, and then another person and another until the entire congregation is singing “His truth is marching on”! Being in this Beautiful chapel, hearing everyone sing, seeing Mr. King walk to the stage, this is all so amazing. The feeling I have, right now, right here, is outstanding and amazing and wonderful. I can tell now that I will never forget this moment and this feeling. I can do anything with these people. This is what I want to be part of. Where I am meant to be. As Dr. King reaches the pulpit, I can see his face from where I am standing. It is a thrill to see the smile and expression on his face, and the new type of enthusiasm radiating from him. This is amazing. He gets up there, and he begins to speak to us. His voice makes the room go silent. It was strong and deep, full of conviction and truth. He talks of a brighter future, of a place where people get along, where we are equal. He talks about a place where no one is chained by their color and people accept you, no matter what you look like. “One-day children will walk together and say free at last, free at last, thank God almighty, we’re free at last.” We walk out of that meeting with new hope in our hearts and ideas of the future racing in our minds. I say goodbye to Rachel and happily head home. When Mom asks why I was out so late, I apologize for my tardiness and head to my room. With all the day’s events to dream about, I drift peacefully to sleep.