Page 101 - JM Book 9/2020

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When he heard the knock at the door, Jefferson knew it would be Ike. “Good evening Ike,” he said as he opened the door.
“H-H-H-Hello Mr. Jefferson,” Ike responded. “Is it true? Will the Redcoats
go home now and l-l-l-leave us alone?” He said with an excited voice. “Are we really free? They can’t h-h-hurt us anymore, can they? The w-w-war’s over now!”
Jefferson accepted the warm biscuits that Ike handed to him.
“I am afraid the war is not over,” Jefferson said as he looked at Ike and placed both hands on his shoulders. “The British troops will not go back to England until we defeat them on the battleground.”
“I thought that since we’re f-f-free, they’d have to leave. I d-d-don’t understand.”
Jefferson led him into the sitting room. They both took a seat.
“Ike, I only wish it were that simple.” Jefferson wanted to choose his words carefully so Ike would understand. “Congress has only declared that America has the right to be free. We now have to earn that freedom by defeating the British military in battle. Or, we have to convince them that they cannot defeat us – then maybe the troops will go back to England.”
“Oh! . . . I t-t-t-thought the war was over,” Ike said with disappointment written over his face.
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“Nothing of importance this day,” King George III wrote in his diary.
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