Luigi is a poor 16-year-old boy whose family has died. He overhears men talking about Christopher Columbus's planned voyage to sail west to reach Asia and signs up to join the expedition, lying about his age. After a difficult 39-day voyage, they make landfall in the Americas, but Columbus begins mistreating the native people, demanding their gold and cutting off hands when they cannot provide enough. Disgusted by Columbus's cruelty, Luigi decides to stay in the new land with his friend Marcos and the native woman Lila, whom he has fallen in love with. He believes Columbus is a villain based on his harmful treatment of the indigenous population.

1. Christman CC 2BBy Lukas Christman

2. I was walking down the aisle in the marketplace, when I
heard some people talking,
"Did you hear about this guy Columbus, who is going to try
and find the new world?" said the first man.
"Yeah, there is no way I'm risking my life. I'm fine here."
said the second man.
I decided to jump into the conversation.
"What do you mean sailing to the new world?
"What do you mean sailing to the new world?
"What do you mean sailing to the new world?
"What do you mean sailing to the new world?
"What do you mean sailing to the new world?

3. It felt rude to jump in, but it might be a chance for me to get some
money or food. My name is Luigi, I am very poor and alone, my
family all died recently.
"Mr. Columbus is going on an adventure and he is having a hard
time finding people to go with him."
"Where do I go try out?
" You probably got no chance, but there is a sheet over there, it will
have all the information you need. "
" You probably got no chance, but there is a sheet over there, it will
have all the information you need. "
" You probably got no chance, but there is a sheet over there, it will
have all the information you need. "
" You probably got no chance, but there is a sheet over there, it will
have all the information you need. "

4. hanging on the wall. I signed up, and before
I knew I was talking to Christopher
Columbus.
"How old are you?"asked Mr. Columbus.
"18." I lied.
I was a sixteen year old boy but I couldn't
take any chances.
"You good at work?"
"Yes."
This was not a lie. I had been living alone
for 5 months. He nodded, then yelled,
"Next!"
I could not wait for him to call out the
names. "Marcos, Stephan, Luigi, you are
in!"
My life was about the change!
My life was about the change!
My life was about the change!
My life was about the change!
My life was about the change!
My life was about the change!
My life was about the change!
My life was about the change!
My life was about the change!
My life was about the change!

5. Life on board was tough but
fun. We worked long days. I
was lucky, the captain
discovered I had a good
singing voice so I was given
the easy job of ship boy in
charge of the ship's glass.
Every thirty minutes I turned
the glass and sang a prayer
letting everyone on the ship
know what time it was.

6. There were 4 hours of free time per day. We spent it singing, dancing,
telling stories and fishing off the side of the ship. I had become friends
with Marcos. He was great at fishing and could usually catch some fresh
fish. Anything was better than the stale biscuits they served. It was good
to have a friend. Most of the crew was ex prisoners and they could get a
little scary after they drank too much wine. It was great to have a job and
something to eat every day.

7. Things started to go downhill. A sickness was
spreading around the ship called scurvy. Scurvy
makes you bleed from your gums, eyes and ears. I
was lucky not to get it, and neither did Marcos. Mostly
people I didn't know got it.

8. The trip is taking too long. We were supposed to be there by now.
Everyone is getting angry and whining to go home. Marcos and I didn't
complain though. We have nothing to go home to. It does not seem
Columbus knows what he is doing. I have seen his log books. He keeps
two and is lying to the crew about how far we have come. The crew has
threatened mutiny and Columbus has promised if we don't spot land in
two days, we will turn back. I am praying we spot land.

9. Land! Land is right there is front of me! Everyone is cheering,
except Marcos and I. Columbus said we were discovering new
land, but people are already there. When we landed, the
people were very friendly, greeting us and giving us goods.
They have so much food, exotic spices and even gold! It looks
like paradise after 39 days at sea.

10. I do not like the way Columbus is treating the natives. He is
giving junk to the people in return for precious goods. They do
not know this stuff is worthless so they fall for it. He is hurting
people even though they are friendly. He is demanding they
find him more gold, and is even cutting off their hands when
they can't find it.

11. He is talking about returning here and taking an entire
boatload back to Spain as slaves. Marcos and I have no
interest in working for someone so cruel. He is a devil. We
have decided to stay on the island.

12. I have met a local woman,
Lila, and I think I am falling in
love. I plan to ask her hand in
marriage. I think I can live very
happily here. Columbus is
preparing his ship for return to
Spain. Marcos and I will stay
here and prepare for his
return. I need to protect Lila
and her family. Christopher
Columbus is not the man I
thought he was!

13. So was Christopher Columbus
a hero or villain?
a hero or villain?

14. I vote villain. The way
he treated the natives
showed what kind of
man he really was. He
was only concerned
about money and fame.

15. The End