Final answer:
A fictional diary entry from the perspective of a 13-year-old teenager in the 1930s who has run away to ride the rails during the Great Depression, explaining the reasons for leaving and the experiences encountered on the journey.
Step-by-step explanation:
October 15, 1935
Dear Diary,
Today marks a month since I left home to ride the rails. The Great Depression has taken its toll on my family, and I couldn't bear watching us fall deeper into despair. I left in hopes of finding work and sending money back home. I'm only 13, but these times make you grow up fast.
The rails are a dangerous place for a kid, but they're also filled with a strange sense of adventure. At night, I nestle into the crook of a freight car and stare up at the stars, pondering my future. I miss my parents terribly, and I clutch the small photo of them I brought along in my suitcase. Besides the photo, the contents of my suitcase are sparse: some clothes, a piece of bread, a few pennies, and a book to keep my mind off the hunger. The longing to see my family again is overwhelming, yet this journey feels necessary. I've met other runaways, each with their own story of despair. We're all searching for something better, a glimmer of hope in these dreary times.
Every day is a battle against the elements and the constant fear of getting caught, but I've also discovered a camaraderie among us riders. We share whatever little we have and trade stories that keep our spirits afloat. It's a hard life on the move. Still, I'd like to believe this experience is carving me out a future that's a far cry from the hunger and hopelessness I left behind.
Until next time, Diary.