Extend the End

[kisha, The Clean Up Lady]

Have you ever read a book and thought, that's not how I would have ended it? Or have you ever wanted a sequel because you just didn't feel that the story was complete? How about just wanted a "where are they now" epilogue because you just couldn't let the story go? Well here is your moment to create it! What you will do is take a book that you've just finished or recently finished and give it an alternate ending or epilogue. We have so many writers and inspiring writer's so I would like to help with keeping our writing skills fresh! When you start make sure you let us know the author and title of the book (use "add book" please).

[Londa]

I was looking around for a place to put this!
Little did I know you already had this idea 4 months earlier :0) Well, here is my Epilogue for Mr. Northup...

Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup PART 1

Joseph Bass. The name had come to him without much forethought. Bass had been his deliverer and he would forever be in his debt. Taking his name in this way seemed the least of honors he could bestow. He did mourn the loss of his first name. He had always taken pride in having the same appellation as the wise king. Nevertheless, Joseph was a worthy replacement. Had not he also been sold into slavery and overcome his bondage against insurmountable odds? Yes. He would be Joseph Bass from now until he closed his eyes on this life for good.

There were many in this Canadian town with shiny new names. Newly freed men and women who wanted little to do with the monikers given them by their former masters. As he walked down the road, for a moment he thought he saw his Anne standing on the corner talking to another woman. But no, she was not here, nor would she ever be. She would never again look upon him with her kind eyes. It was for the best he thought. She would fare much better as a widow. She would have much company in her mourning. The war had seen to that. Those around her would shelter her and aid her in her time of grief. As painful as it was, he could stand the thought of her mourning him. He did not know if he could bear the brunt of her hatred if she had known the truth.

What could he have done differently? He hadn’t had any other choice had he? He had done well by Anne and his now grown children, and he had…no he did love them. But slavery had taken so much from him. He had become a different man, and the Anne he returned to was not the one he left. They fought often, and many nights he had slept on the bench outside. The money from the book had bought them comforts, but it could not buy back the time and closeness they had lost.

As much as slavery had taken from him, it had also given him something, or rather, someone. It was not his intent, but loneliness is an awful companion. When she first walked into his cabin, he had thought she was a white woman, but why would a white woman be dressed in such rough clothing? Her first words to him were just as rough as the clothes she wore “I’m hungry; give me some bacon!” Upon realizing she was a runaway, he decided to help her. Over the following summer months, he shared his food, his secrets, and eventually his heart with her. It had been 9 long years since he had been free. He had begun to lose hope and even the will to live. But Celeste had awoken something in him, and he gained a new determination. They decided together that she should abandon her hut at the edge of the swamps and return to Carey. She could withstand the punishment, if he would keep his promise. He promised that if he ever got his freedom he would come for her. He made many promises to the girl who was half his age, and the next holiday season, he made good on one of them. He and Celeste entered into that “holy estate” of marriage.

[kisha, The Clean Up Lady]

I forgot this thread was up too!

I love your version of the end! How creative! I will be doing the same tomorrow.