Summer. The time everyone loved and looked forward to. The time to enjoy the sunshine, not stressed about other things. This is how summer is viewed now, but back in 1803 it was a lot different.

As I stepped onto the rough ground, it felt like my breath got taken away from me. There was something different in the air. Hard to swallow. Hard to breathe. As I approached the town, things were starting to come into view through the deep haze of smoke in the air. I kept walking, my feet dragging, tired from the long journey to this town. I saw large buildings everywhere and barely anyone outside. At first I thought everyone was inside because of the air quality but then I thought to myself, “I have never seen buildings like these, smoke billowing from the top.” I was supposed to be meeting an acquaintance named John Locke at the front of the building, bordering the water. The idea of these huge buildings with water next to them was so foreign to me. I had many questions to ask Locke but I sat on the steps waiting for him. My legs throbbed and the ten minute wait felt like three hours since I drifted off to sleep. I was awoken by the sound of horse hooves pattering the rough, rocky, ground. As I gazed up tiredly, I saw who I was waiting for. My friend Locke who could answer all of my questions. I stood up to greet him. His presence made me feel more comfortable in this unknown environment. The reason we were meeting at the building was because we pondered the idea of buying what was now a factory but wanted to see it for ourselves. Since we were no longer under control of kings, we both had our own views on controversial topics. We waited outside for a while but then we heard the clicking of locks opening, then a large creak. The door to the factory opened and we were greeted by the owner, Robert Jutsmin. Robert was dressed very nice, wearing a freshly ironed suit and tie. I automatically had a picture in my mind of what the inside would look like. I thought there would be clean machines all along the perimeter, men and women working inside with all of the newest equipment and safety procedures. I imagined sleek, clean, white floors with bright white lights shining down on all of the joyful workers. As Robert slowly opened the door, I was taken by surprise. I was utterly disgusted. As we slowly walked in, I noticed a haze of smoke skim the top of my head. I stood at the front and looked around, not listening to what Robert was telling Locke and me. As I looked to the left I saw filthy machines with young children managing them. Some of the children were sticking their hands all inside of them, untangling textiles that got caught in the apparatus. They weren’t properly dressed, some weren’t even wearing shoes. They were covered in dirt and grime from their heads down to their toes. As I began to scan the rest of the factory I caught a glimpse of Robert. He had a demonic type grin on his face, seeming like he was proud of what he owned. I told myself that no one should be content with this horrible type of environment. I leaned over to Locke to see what he had to say. “Are you seeing what I am seeing?” No response. I kept to myself during the rest of the tour. Robert kept showing us the “great” things about his factory and why it was so efficient. The dark lighting and the haze in the air gave me an eerie feeling. Something needed to be changed but I couldn’t figure it out. I needed to talk to Locke in private but now wasn’t the time. After Robert finished showing us around, he began to tell us about all of the amenities for the workers. We were told about how they got payed and also got housing on site. This was so they didn’t have to pay for outside housing, therefore making more profit. On our way out of the factory I slipped away from Robert and Locke. I got one of the children and told him to come with me. I needed to figure out what work was like here. “What do you do on a normal day”

“I stay on one machine the whole day, usually hurting myself in some way.”

“Are you paid a decent amount?”

“$2.50 a week at most.”

“That’s it for the amount of work you do?”

“Yes sir. Can I get back to work so I don’t get in trouble by Mr. Jutsmin?” his voice trembling.

“You can but I am going to get you out of here. Believe me.”

I caught up to Robert and Locke. They were right by the door. As we started to walk out Robert said, “So…?”

“We need some time” I said.

Now was my time to talk to John Locke and express my opinion on why we shouldn’t purchase the factory. “How do you like the factory?” I said.

“It’s good. I like seeing all of the hard work inside.”

“Are you kidding me! The kids in there are being treated horribly.”

“They are getting compensation for their work.”

“They are children. They need to be educated and not under control of a factory owner just like how the kings controlled us.”

“I need some time to think.”

“We will meet back here in 20 minutes.”

As I slowly walked off of the factory steps, my stomach dropped. How could someone run a factory like this. As I walked away, I began to feel tired again from the long trek to this horrible place. I saw a bench in the distance and made my way over to it. As I sat down, I started to scan my surroundings. As I looked to my right I saw a park. Emty. I pictured the parks I am used to seeing back home, kids running around with their parents watching from a distance. Something needed to change. I tried picturing the kids I just saw in the factory. Working hard everyday like adults and not living like kids should. They needed to be educated and think on their own. That was the whole point of the Enlightenment and what got us out of the dark ages. They needed to take control of their lives and that started with me making a difference. I wasn’t going to let these horrible actions take place any longer. The 20 minute break seemed like forever once again. I stared out at the hazy horizon letting my mind run free. I devised a plan but I needed to run it through with Locke. We met back at the factory and now was the time for change and justice.

“We need to do something about this child labor” I said.

“You changed my mind. I used to think working was the most important thing but now I think that these kids should be educated and be able to make their own decisions just like we do.”

“If we don’t purchase this factory, these things are still going to happen.”

“So are we willing to pay for it just for the sake of the children?”

“No. The owner is going to pay.”

We met back with Robert in his office. He had the same smirk on his face. He asked if we were going to purchase the factory. I proudly said that we were not going to purchase it and he went crazy.

“How could you waste my time like this?”

“How could you treat children like this?” my voice trembled as I let those words out of my mouth.

“I am just making money, and that is all I care about.”

“Thank you for your time” John said as he pushed me out of the office.

I wanted to make this man pay for what he was putting children through. On our way out I saw the kid I talked to earlier. “Get all of your co-workers and meet me in the textile room.”

He was nervous but he followed my instructions. As the clock ticked along the children and women started to assemble. I instructed Locke to escort all of the workers out of the factory. Everyone was out of the factory. Everyone except for one evil man. Robert sat in his office, trying to come up with a way to pay the kids less money. As he worked on his evil scheme, I started my own. I found a pack of matches and instantly knew what to do with them. I began to light each match and throw them into the running machines as I walked out of the factory. Once I reached the front door, I yelled “FIRE.” It was too late for Robert. I could hear him yelling inside and I knew he now regretted his decisions. All of the workers were now free citizens, no longer under control of the owner. Everyone began to celebrate. I took a walk back to the bench with Locke. This time as I sat down, to my right were happy children playing in the park like they should’ve always been.

“Good work Rousseau” said Locke.

We sat and watched the children play until we both drifted off to sleep.