In Nana’s past, he lived in the Florida Keys with his cousin and the white folks. They were given huts to live in and jobs. Because they could swim well, Nana and his cousin Kofi were sent to work in the underwater salt mines.

One day, a ship came to their island, promising to bring them back home. Many of the Black people didn’t trust the ship after surviving the slave boats. They didn’t know that a war was breaking out in the US between the North and South, which would soon lead their ship to be dry-docked.

The kids convince Willie’s brother, Johnnie, to chaperone them to a nearby field. He’s distracted by his fiancé, Ruth, until they start crossing the bridge. Johnnie questions their destination.

They must cross the bridge to get to Hickory Park.