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A.J. Bagnell

THE TENT HOUSE

June 17th 1931 in the state of Texas.

I was at home waiting for Ma and Pa to get back from shopping.

An hour went by and Ma came bursting in the door with my two sisters and

baby brother covered in mud and dirt.

Ma told me to pack the important things in the car because she

said ¨the dust is coming.¨

I asked Ma what in the world is the dust and she told me it was  storm of dust.

I finally got all the belongings into the car and we drove toward California

where it is clean of dust.

As we were  Driving a storm hit us and the car broke down because

of all the dust stopping the engine, we had to abandon the car and find shelter from the storm

We found a small area in a hill where we sat and prayed for the storm to end.

It felt like ages went by before the storm ended.

As soon as the storm ended we stepped out and the car in the

road was submerged in dust.

Ma and I and my older sister Mary tried our best to dig

out all of our belongings but didn’t find much

We ended up building a small tent for us to stay in with

all the things we could find from digging out the car.

The  first night was very rough because we had nothing to sleep on besides

rocks.

The very next morning Ma wanted me to go into the nearby wood

to look for some food while my sisters helped Ma fix up the shelter.

We all came together and sat down in a makeshift table out of boxes and used our

luggage as seats.

I put all the things I could find, all I had was some berries.

Ma knew we wouldn’t last long with only the things we have.

June 31, 1932

More and more storm are hitting, the entire forest is almost buried

In dirt.  Ma told us to stay with My sisters and take care of my baby brother.

Only 30 minutes passed when me and Mary got worried for Ma.

We tried walking in the direction Ma went and we walked, and walked.

We looked down in front of us, only to see, Ma.

Augest 17, 1932

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The Storm

It’s the summer of 1935.

I am so excited to be turning 5 years old today.

I hope it is a great one.

It was a sunny day.

The clouds were so puffy,

and the sky was so beautiful.

To have my mom here with me

makes me so happy.

I wish that my pa was here,

but he died when last year

when I was 3 years old.

It was a bright day,

so beautiful.

No rain.

Just as I thought it was going to be a great day

I saw some dark stuff and the sky turned black.

I ran to ma and told her about the sky.

She said let me look,

and she when to the window.

She said we need to leave.

I said no.

I am not leaving everything behind.

Then,  I finally gave in.

Where will we go?

I don't know said ma.

On the road watching the dust trail behind us.

Ma said we need to pull over to sleep,

so I set up the tent all by myself

while ma was taking care of my baby brother,

and my sister was helping her.

My other brother was getting food, pillows and blanket.

When the tent was done

my ma put baby brother to sleep.

I got the fire going  to keep us warm.

After 2 days we packed up

and went on the road again.

It took 3 days

before we arrived in California to live.

Now I get my own room,

and my sister gets her own room.

My other brother gets his own room to.

My baby brother has to share with ma

because he is too young.

I hope to live here forever,

and the only thing to do is pray

and hope for a better future.

July 1935

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Ava’s Diary

Loss

I have lost everything.

I have Pa and my brother,

but that’s it.

Ma died having my youngest brother, Lil’ Wayne.

I am the oldest.

I am 15 years old and my name is Ava.

Lil’ Wayne is 5 and Billy Joe is 9.

Ever since we lost Ma

I have been the Ma of the family.

Pa has been really immature,

so I have been caring for Billy Joe and Lil’ Wayne.

When the dust storm hit our house and destroyed it,

Pa got some sense knocked into him,

and we decided to take a train to California.

April 3, 1935

Waiting For The Train

The dust stung my eyes

as I squinted out across the railroad tracks.

Not a train yet.

Billy Joe has been really quiet lately,

usually he’s the temperamental one.

Lil’ Wayne caused stress to the family.

Now, he just sits around and stays quiet.

Pa is the one who has really acted up.

Ever since Ma died,

he was really depressed

and goes out to adult clubs in the middle of the night.

He really hasn’t been watching over us kids,

so I have been taking care of us.

Finally, a train came chugging down the tracks.

No one said a word as we hurled ourselves into a boxcar.

We were on our way to California.

April 5, 1935

Up Ahead

I couldn’t wait until we got to California.

After the dust storm,

Pa must’ve realized how lucky he was to have us kids

because he stopped going to clubs

and he got a lot more protective.

Pa says that we will start a whole new life in California.

He says that everything will be ok,

and we will buy a farm with livestock

just like Ma wanted.

He says that the boys will be put to work outside

while I would take care of everything inside.

Pa has been really confident,

so I’m hoping that we could have some luck.

California has been really crowded,

so I’m hoping for the best.

I stared out across the landscape,

the train rocking me to sleep.

April 8, 1935

THE END

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Through the Dust

My name is James,

and I am 6 years old.

I live in Oklahoma with Ma, Pa,

and my baby brother named Will.

At this time

my life isnt very good at all.

Since all of this depression is happening

our money is lost

somewhere in the bank,

and we had to give up our house that we lived in.

Since we don’t have a house

or barely any money,

my Ma and Pa have decided

to make the travel to California.

I was frustrated

that I had to leave my friends in Oklahoma,

but at least we wouldn’t have to

deal with the dust.

I was only 6 years old,

but I had to deal with situations

that most kids my age don’t understand.

For example,

having to put in

all of my time and energy

helping in the farm.

Each of us take a couple belongings

with us for the trip,

and Ma packed us little bits of food

we had left in our old house.

One thing I brought with me is

my favorite blanket to keep me warm.

We are waiting for someone to be nice enough

to hitch us a ride to California.

We are still waiting,

and it has been over

2 hours.

Finally Ma tells us

that we are going to walk

to the nearest train station for a ride west instead.

We are walking now

for about 3 hours,

and I can actually see the train station

in the distance.

We are getting closer and closer

to the train,

but I see a big black cloud hovering over us

and I start shaking.

Pa shouts,

”Run as fast as you can and jump into the train for shelter.”

I am doing as he said,

but I make sure

that Ma and Will are with us.

I am a few feet

away from the train

and then a powerful shock of dust hits me

and I fall to the ground.

I crawl with all the muscle

that I have left

towards the opening in the train

and I saw my Pa’s hand

reach out to me.

I grab his hand

and he pulls me up,

just as the train takes off.

I scoot more inside of the train,

with dust stinging my eyes.

I could see a blurry vision

of Ma, Pa, and Will.

I look at them in hopes

of new better life in California.

Summer 1934

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Kaitlyn Builta

The Ceaseless Wait
My name is Johnny,

i'm 6 years old.

I live in Oklahoma with my Ma, Pa,

and 2 year old brother, Jack.

This time in my life

isn't going very well.

Since all of this depression is happening

our money is lost in the bank.

My Ma and Pa couldn't afford the house

or car that we had,

so we had to give it up.

My family and I decided

to travel west.

I was very upset to leave my friends,

but the good thing is

we won't have to deal with the dust.

My family and I  will be able to find a house

that we love and can afford.

Even though i'm only 6,

I understand things that most 6 year olds don't,

like, dust storms

and the great depression

to name a few.

Ma decided

that we should start heading to California.

We packed up the food

and drinks we had left over.

We tried getting a ride for someone

since we don't have a car.

After we walked for a mile

no one was kind enough

to give us a ride,

so we just walked

until we found a train station.

While we were walking,

little bits of dust burnt my eyes.

We still can't find the train station,

so we just kept walking.
It took nearly over 3 hours

for us to find a train station

about 10 minutes away.

We were so close to the train station

and I noticed a big grey cloud

right above us.

I suddenly saw the sky

turn more dark and grey so I said,

“Ma, Pa, look at the sky what's going on?”

Ma responded with,

“Guys were close to the train,

let's hurry and get on it.”

We all started running as fast as we could,

we got about a feet away from the train

and a big shock of dust hit me

and I fell hard to the ground.

I got up as fast as I could.

Everyone was safe so we got on the train

and started heading west.

Summer of 1934

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A New Beginning

The Storm

The dust kept falling from the sky as if it would never stop.

my brother Joe kept crying through the whole storm,

it was driving me crazy!

My Pa was out in the dust trying to save the animals from the dust,

Ma was worried about Pa during the storm,

Pa finally came back inside.

Ma ran straight at him and hugged him,

Ma said, “I’m so happy that you're alive!”

Pa replied, “I’m glad too. All of the animals are dead.”

Joe stopped crying when Pa said that,

we all sat down for a while,

the dust storm finally stopped,

we all went outside.

The farm was a mess,

the crops were gone,

the barn was ripped apart,

and the animals were all dead.

Ma said, “Everything is ripped apart.”

Pa said, “I think we need to leave Kansas and head to California,

where there’s no dust.”

“I think we should.”

January 20,1935

The Decision

We’re getting ready to leave Kansas and head to California,

we’re saying goodbye to our friends before we leave,

I wasn’t too happy about leaving,

but it’s for the best.

When our stuff was all loaded up,

we headed to California for a better life,

with no dust.

January 21, 1935

A New Beginning

We’ve been on the road for days,

I’m glad Ma brought some food,

Pa said we’re halfway,

I didn’t think we were halfway,

Then the worst of the worst happened,

the automobile run out of gas,

Pa said, “Well, we’re out of gas.”

Ma replied, “What are we going to do now?”

“We just have to hope that someone helps us.”

We waited for a while until someone knocked on Pa’s side door,

Pa rolled down his window,

The guy said, “You need some gas?”

Pa replied, “Yes we do. Thanks.”

“No problem.”

The guy filled our gas tank and drove away,

in 10 days we made it to California,

we bought a farm and lived there for the rest of our lives.

January 31, 1935

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The trouble of the dust storm

Dear, john

I have not not too talk to you sends you moved out of the dust.

It's a good thing that you left because we got one of the worst storms.

We did  not have rain for one week before the dust stormy  and 7 ½ days after too.

have been trying to help pa keep up with the cows.

Me and pa walk around the town trying to find the cows but gave up because you can't see.

During the dust stormy it broke

that finch that the cows were in and all the cows left but one.

Me and pa went looking for the cows but could not  find them

and you can't see a thing a thang

Ma is vary sick and can't get out of bed.

She has dust pneumonia and has too have a mask on all day.

The whole farm got discarded

and. I had to help the fixes the fix fence because i'm the only one in are family that's a boy other than pa

and I also have to help take care of Ma.

I wish that I was not the only boy

in the family because I have to do all of the work.

We are going to head too sand california

if ma can get out of bed

We will be there august 1st in san Francisco sisco 1st track track

Ma hass pass away after a long time

We are going to bury her on the top of the mountain

Where she loves  watching the sunset and the stars

We will not come to california because we don't what to leave ma

I hope too see you soon .

Love,

Frank        1935 July 10 th

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Getting out of the dust

July/13/1930

Dear Harris

My dad will not go to California, but the dust is killing our crop and our cows.

My older sister Ava ran away.

I am thinking of running away too so I can meet you in California.

Should I, or should I stay and hold out for a little longer?

I tried to convince my dad, but he refused.

My brother wanted to leave, then me and my brother got on a train.

Then fog rose and a figure appear it was my dad.

He said he wanted us to be together.

Then we were coming to an intersection and we jump off.

July/22/1930

Then a dark shadow appear it was Ava she said the train she was on exploded and got off in time.

There was a box car dad decided to sleep here for the night.

In the morning we got out then a train came in and we got on.

The rattle of the rail made me fall asleep.

August/4/1930

When we got to california I wonder what the future holds maybe we will start a farm or we work in a store dad said as long as we stay together nothing can go wrong.

August/4/1931

By time we had a farm and I work at the grocery store. We bought a car for my sister to go back home to see the what the damage was on the house.

Three weeks went by then she returned and she said the house was in a blanket of dust.

We decided to live in california.
love billie jo

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No where
My life hasn’t been easy.
My name is Johnny,

I’m 13

and my family and I haven’t had a good life.

We had to leave our house

because the dust kept making our plants die,

and we didn’t have many supplies.

My baby brother keeps crying,

and I haven’t  much sleep.

Ma also doesn’t get a lot of sleep either,

because she has to take care of me, my brother, and all of us.

Right now we are are sleeping in a tent,

and we don’t have a bed.

We have to wear our same clothes twice a week.

We are miserable

because we don’t have much food or water right now.

We have no communication

and our car stopped working.

We can’t get to California.

My sister doesn’t talk much ever since Pa died.

One day I ran away and I didn’t look back.
I’m going to California and i’m going by train.

I will always miss my  home and my family.

April 2 1930

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Headed West

Its early spring

and Pa is getting ready to plant crops.

I tell him he should

but he isn't as hopeful as I.

I'm very frustrated with him.

I grew up here,

I can't leave this place behind.

My Pa calls me Jo Jo

and I just hate that,

I wish he would call James,

my real name.

He says I need to be more of a man

until a dust storm hit

when Mama was at work

and Pa left me home alone with my sister,

Silvey.

I was scared to death about Pa

and trying to keep Silvey calm.

I remembered what Pa had said

“be more of a man” so I did.

For three days straight,

and I guess Ma couldn't come home in  this weather.

I gave Silvey her bottles

and made the meals,

and I'm only 6 years old.

When Pa came home

he said the car had broke down

and he couldn’t get any money from the banks.

Pa says we are going to leave

but I can't leave

“this is my house.”

I pleaded

I don't know how he did it

but Pa got me to come

with the rest of my family

and head and catch a ride west.

I’m very mad

but still trying to help.

I know that going west

we would find a better life.

Pa said

that there aren't anymore dust storms

and by the time there there is

we will be having a better life already.

But I'm still scared

and confused

and since Ma and Pa are all stressed

I am too.

I feel the worst for Silvey

she was just born 6 months ago

and won't get to

ever live life on a farm

like I did.

Its getting late

and it cools down pretty quickly

seems how fall is coming.

We wait forever and ever,

hopefully someone will give us a ride

to a better life.

We waited day and night

but I guess it was worth it

because a kind man

gave us a ride.

I'm gettin scared,

the sky is turning gray,

and my clothes are blanketed with dust

The car is pretty nice

he said he is on to the west

before he gets dusted in.

Me and Silvey

are exhausted

and Ma and Pa

try to stay awake

as me and Silvey fall asleep,

but I'm still slightly awake

scared from the gray sky,

and what seems to be a dust cloud.

Then suddenly

a big dust storm

comes rolling in

I had never seen the sky so black.

The driver honks

and pulls over

so people know where he is at.

He gives us each

a wet cloth

to put over mouth.

I'm going to die

I think to myself,

Silvey must be so scared

and upset.

Meanwhile,

Ma is trying to console her

but it doesn't do no good,

I want to go back home

where everything is perfect

and life back to normal.

-February 5, 1934

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The Dreadful Dust 1932

My name is Joey and I am 6 years old.

I experienced something awful in my life.

A huge dust storm hit.

We lost our house and a lot of our belongings

from the dust storm.

We had to leave our house to get away from the storm.

So, my family and I had to live on the streets for a few days,

I was miserable.

My little brother Johnny cried all night,

that made Ma, Pa, and I stressed out,

we barely got any sleep from that.

That's how the story all began.

After a long day searching for food and shelter,

we found some extra corn from the fields,

but sadly no shelter.

My family was trying to get out of the dust,

the dust covered the whole land.

Ma and Pa were really stressed to find food for Johnny and I.

Finally, we got to the train stop,

so we could get away from the dust.

We packed up our suitcase and waited 2 hours at the train stop.

My family and I didn't have a change of clothes,

so we were all covered in dust.

After the wait,

Pa decided we should move to a different train track because nothing was coming at the other train track.

After my family and I walked a mile to the other train track,

we saw a train coming our way.

We jumped on the train and headed to California because there was no dust storms there.

Finally,

when we got to California we found a great house and Pa has a job now.

So that means Ma is at home with Johnny.

Now we have enough money for me to go to school,

and I have met plenty of friends!

I am still adjusting to my life in California, but it has been great so far!

July 6, 1932

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In the dust storm

It was the summer of 1934

and ma and pa I were in the dust storm

and it sounded really bad.

We could hear the cows mooing in distress

and when I looked out the window all I could see were  automobiles sitting there getting covered in dust.

I was helping my Pa build our new fence

because of the dust storm torn it down.

I had to help because Ma had to clear the  house up a little.

When I was helping Pa

I wondered how Pa stayed at this farm

with so many dust storms

but then he probably is used to it.

There was only one cow still here.

I was wondering if the other cows got taken of with the storm.

When I was sitting there I thought to myself

if it was up to me to move

I would stay and take care of the farm.

After the dust storm

Pa and I walked out to see our barn

torn apart and are fence looked liked it was gone.

We both went to the basement to get are shovels.

Pa and I  stayed out there until dusk.

That night I heard pa and ma talking about moving

because ma couldn’t stand another dust storm

but pa didn’t want to leave the farm.

When I woke up the next morning

I went to the kitchen to see want ma made for breakfast, but ma wasn't there.

It was just pa.

Then I thought Ma was still in bed,

but then I realized that dad had his head down.

I knew that she left.

1935

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Mess of the Dust Storm

Summer,1931.

When the farm was going down and not making money and i’m sad.

When I went outside I saw a dust storm coming right at me!

An hour later the dust storm was over.

When we saw the mess of the farm we decide to move because the farm was failing two.

Two months later we were going to move,

but were “Ma” I said

Ma said,”to California son”.

I said “ya, i’ve never been their,

should we say bye to our neighbors”.

“Ya we should ma”,Pa said

“Ya we should”,Ma said

The next day we said goodbye to our neighbor’s.

The day we left I forgot where we were going again,

but I can asked Ma.

The next day we were almost there,

but our car broke down!

I was worried that we were going to be in a dust storm again,

and worried we were never going to make it to California.

Then Pa went out to find some help I hope.

An hour later Pa came back!

The person with next to him and his name was Jackson Andrew.

The next day Jackson fixed the car!

Then we left and said thank you.

We made it to California!

“Ma,Pa lets live here forever¨, I said

¨Yes we will¨,Pa said

¨Yes we will¨,Ma said

Lets see how good it is here everybody.

1931 December 4.

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California Bound

April 23,1936

Dear Journal,

6:30a.m.

I can feel the dust hit my face,

I walk to the house.

I open the door and a take a deep breath.

When I’m outside I can barely breath,

without inhaling handfuls of dust.

”We can’t keep doing this,”

I overhear Ma say to Pa.

“Then maybe we should leave,”

Pa replied.

“Fine!”Ma yelled.

She stomped out of the room.

”Buddy,pack up your bags we’re moving west,”

Ma called to me.

So I went and told May,

Thomas,

Joe,

Fredrick,

and Elly to pack up.

I got baby John’s bag,

and Fredrick got newborn Lucy’s things.

Pa too care of Ellis and William.

7:30a.m.

We loaded up our truck with food, Blankets,

Water, our bags,

and tools.

Ma and Pa sat in the front.

The rest of us loaded into the back of the truck.

I stayed in the very back so that I wouldn’t feel the wind and dust.

We were on our way to California.

“I’m going to miss Mary,”

Elly cried.

No one answered,

it’s probably because everyone but Elly, Frederick,

and I were asleep.

10:30 a.m.

The car came to a stop.

William,Ellis,and Pa got out of the car.

They pulled off the left tire,

there was a piece of glass stuck in it.

They sat on the ground to fix the tire.

12:30p.m.

They fixed the tire so now we’re on our way to California.

I reach into my bag and grab a book:

The sun also rises

by Berenice Xaivier.

It came out in 1926.

5 years after I was born.

So on my 8th birthday

,when I became interested in reading,

I asked for it.

I was so happy when I got it.

”May,can you please hand me a biscuit?”

I ask.

She nods

,gets in the food bag and gives me a biscuit.

The biscuit is stale but it’s still delicious.

April 26th 1936

We got to California.

We bought a cabin big enough for all of us.

The cabin has a farm in the backyard.

We planted corn,

Beans,Potatoes,

and carrots.

We also bought four cows,seven chickens,

one horse,and two donkeys.

Pa works on the field with William and Ellis.

Ma works at home during the day and at the bank at night.

--Buddy age 12

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On the rails

My name is Forrest,

I am twelve years old,

I have blue eyes,

long black hair  and about five feet tall.

I have one little brother his name is Thomas

he has short blond hair and blue eyes like mine.

He is five years old,

he looked mostly like Ma and I looked like Daddy.

We had driven back to the farm from the bowling alley,

every single thing was covered in dust.

We had no food no water no nothing.

Daddy decided we have to leave this barren place.

The family agreed we would pack up and leave.

I didn’t want to leave little Rex, our dog, here

but we didn’t have no room.

The automobile got us halfway there

until she broke down.

We walked to the nearest train station

until a train came stopped.

We ate lunch on the train,

it wasn’t as bumpy as I thought.

We had made it to California with barely any food or water.

All of us were crying because we were just so happy.

Daddy started building a cabin

I helped while Ma scooped water from the pond nearby.

After a couple of weeks the cabin was finished.

The farm was keeping up just fine,

the apple trees were healthy,

and everyone was happy, until...

July 5, 1934