Day forty-two

Andrew apologised for not telling me the truth about the place first. He seemed very gloomy. But i thanked him for everything he had done for us. Although we were not in Australia, i was still glad that we were all safe, happy and together. That's all that mattered. :D

Day forty-one

i tell my parents that we're not in Australia. Then i introduce them to Rashida and Omar and helped us through our journey. Bibi told them about those nasty sailors and smugglers. They were just glad that we were safe and so were we.

Day forty

Bibi screams ; because she sees Mum and Dad!!! OH MY GOSH!! WE'RE SOOO HAPPY!! THIS IS ALL I EVER WANTED!! My legs don't want to move ; but that's fine cos Mum and Dad come to me instead..I love them ;)

Day thirty-nine

Bibi screams ; a happy scream. I turn around - Mum and Dad !! Oh my gosh !! i was so happy that i was paralysed !! But that's ok because they come to me :)

Day thirty-eight

Bibi and i sob for hours. Rashida tries to cheer us up by bringing dinner - our favourite fish and chips. But nothing works. All i want is Mum and Dad. It makes me cry even harder when she says that we still have her.

Day thirty-seven

I realise that i can't get Andrew's help as he was out in the sea on the warship. I tried to get help from a group of Australian sailors. However, i only get another bad news ; we were not in Australia...we were in the middle of the pacific ocean....

Day thirty-six

Refugees vs Aussies ; we played a football match to pass time. After much concentration, i managed to score a goal :D but suddenly people started wailing n screaming; News came that the boat Omar's and my parents were in had sunk ... and so had our heart...

Day thirty-five

When we reach Australia, Bibi and i search frantically until Andrew tells us that they have not found the other boat.
To cheer Bibi up, i suggest we explore the place and go look for supermarkets. But when Andrew gives me weird look, i realise that i was being selfish not waiting for Omar's and my parents. Thank goodness Australians are so toughtful :D

Day thirty-four

We were all rescued and in cabins of the Australian warship. Andrew gave me food and apologised for not being able to rescue us earlier.
After sometime Andrew left, Omar entered with the ball! :)

Day thirty-three

Peopla on the deck are yelling and screaming. Rashida calls us to come up. There was a warship next to our tiny boat..it was the Australians!! :D

Day thirty-two

The area below the deck was awash with water. We were trying to scoop it out using vegetable tins. However, it was useless. Bibi was exhausted but was caring on.

Day thirty-one

I'm having a good dream about dazzling the cup final crowd with my footwork. Bibi screams and i see that a HUGE foam-spewing wave is crashing down onto us!!!

Day thirty

People at the front of the boat start screaming. Another boat approaches us - a pirate boat! The smugglers greet them and they jump onto the pirate ship with the bucket of valuables. The pirates weren't looking for money or jewellery, they were looking for girls who were out of doors without their parents! i immediately pull Bibi's headscarf off and put the t-short hat on her head instead and tuck her hair under it. She knots her skirts between her legs so that it looks like a baggy shorts. I tell Omar to give the shorts to Rashida so that she can do the same. I wrap the blanket around her and rub my hand over her face until her makeup is so smudged it looks like dirt and green stains. We sit down and start knee bouncing the ball to one another except Omar.
Then, a pirate comes to us and swings his foot at the ball. My leg responds faster then my brain and i trap the ball and slide it to one side. His kick misses and he falls. Other pirates laugh. He gets up and kicks me in the hip real hard. Omar holds Bibi so that she's not able to kick back the pirate. Tears stream down and the pain was killing me. Only after Rashida rubs my hip for ages, i managed to sit up. The pirates had gone and the smugglers had abandoned us. We were in the middle of the ocean starving with three scared sailors.

Day twenty-nine

Bibi asks me how many days we've been on the boat. I tell her five but Omar and Rashida correct me - it was six. Bibi was doing what i was too. Since all the food had run out that morning, we were calculating if we could survive. Bibi was sweating - she was having a fever. i tell her to forget the days and get some rests. "I cannot forget the day Jamal..it's my birthday," She was right!! How could i have forgotten! We wish her miserably. Since i couldn't give her anything, i decide to cheer her up by telling her to plan her a birthday party when he get to Australia. We talk about hamburgers, fizzy drainks and fifty different kinds of ice creams in supermarkets. Rashida says that her Mom loved supermarkets. We were puzzled for a moment. That's when she tells us that she was born in Australia! It seems that when they received a letter from Afghanistan saying her uncles had died in the war, they came to look after her grandparents. But when they had died too, the Afghan government didn't let them return to Ausralia. I think of my relatives too and Bibi's birthday doesn't seem happy anymore.

Day twenty-eight

i wake up and realise that i am no longer seasick and that the rumbling of the engine had stopped and it was quiet and peaceful. Then suddenly a smuggler shouts that there has been a mistake - everyone had to pay an extra hundred dollars if they wanted to go to Australia as they needed money for the fuel. Alot of people start crying. A smuggler and sailor goes aroung thrusting buckets at people to drop in theier money. When it comes to us, i drop in two breads but the sailor flings them into the sea. Bibi growls. Rashida takes out a watch from her suitcase and drops it in. " Four people" she says and they move on. I feel like hugging her. It was her Dad's. I hope that if the same thing happens to Mom and Dad, Mom would give up her wedding ring without a fight.

Day twenty-seven

For breakfast, everyone gets a piece. They thank me and say that i'm a genius. I don't feel good at all though. The sea was choppy and seasickness was killing me. Rashida gives me some water. I remind myself that we're going through all this so that in the end our lives will be what we dreamed for.

Day twenty-six

It was very nice of Rashida to let me use the flour. It was night now and Bibi was sleeping in the deck with the rest. I had managed to talk to the sailors using sign language and was baking bread on a diesel engine. The area under the deck was awash with water till knee depth. However, i figured that i wouldn't mention it to the others and make them anxious.

Day twenty-five

She invites us to sit with her on her blanket and introduces herself. She was Rashida. She says that her parents had saved money so many years for this trip but when they found out that they could only afford one ticket they gave it to her. Omar joined us and was being quite annoying. Rashida unzips a large pink suitcase and takes out a can of sardine and a plastic bottle of water. We divide that among ourselves. To past some time and forget about our fears awhile, Bibi and i teach her how to bounce the football with our knees while sitting down. When she realises that we're sunburnt she takes out some cream and gives it to us. I realise that our survival might depend on that pink suitcase of hers. Although it was rude to do so. i peeked into it and saw something very precious - FLOUR!

Day twenty-four

Many people are throwing up but Bibi and I seem fine. Two sailors were dishing out up from a metal pot and giving them to people like us who have been in the queue for ages. The person infront of us was completely covered with a dark blanket. When the person held out their hands for the soup i realised that her blanket was very close to the gas flame under the pot and the flame caught its edge! I shout 'FIRE!' and drag the blanket of the person and fling it onto the deck and jump on it. Bibi helps me. After i put out the fire and turn to hand it over to the person i get the shock out of my life. It was a teenage girl wearing shorts and t-shirt, Her limbs were bare and she was wearing makeup! She thanks me and turns to the sailor and helds out a tin. However, the sailor shouts at her in a language i don understand but i know that he means that she doesn't get any food. Before she opens her mouth to protest, he waves her away. Bibi told him that it was unfair as she did not start the fire. I take a step forward too.
Then the teenager grabs my hand and says that is wan't worth it. "I bet they didn't wash their hands before opening the soup packet," she says
I like her already...

Day twenty-three ;

Bibi and the sailor in yellow overalls almost got into a fight. I managed to calm Bibi and explain our situation to another smuggler. However, he doesn't understand. Then, we saw the boy from the camp wet, with my ball. We introduce ourselves to one another and decide to be patient as there wasn't any radar or radio signal to contact the other boat.
Patience

Day twenty-two ;

I jump into the water to rescue Bibi but it doesn't help. Then, someone pulls us up; we're on the deck. Mum and Dad are in the other boat and the distance between us is getting wider and wider :(

Day twenty-one ;

People rush to the boats as the gates open. I grab Bibi and try to get closer to Mum and Dad. Then, she squirmers through the crowd to get the ball!! I shout at her telling her that we'll lose Mum and Dad. But she says that we won't be able to fulfill our dreams without the ball. She's right also...but..isn't staying together important too? Then, the boy from the camp comes along and tries to get the ball also. Then, he falls into the water!! I go to a man n yellow who looks like a sailor and try to get help. Unfortunately, all i get in return is a tight slap that makes me see stars and because Bibi kicked him, he throws her into the water!!

Day twenty..

We wait to alight the boat while waiting at the dock. Bibi and i play ball, and the boy from the camp joins in and claims that the ball is his as i had found my family. The three of us fight for the ball. Then, Bibi gives the ball a huge kick and it disappears between the dock and the boat.

Day Nineteen..

When the plane takes off, Mum closes her eyes tightly while others pray aloud. I realise that without the candlestick and our ancestors, we have to take care of each other.

Day Eighteen..

As we get off the bus onto the the airport and walk towards the plane, we here some angry voices shouting at us to stop. They were security guards to check our baggages. They told us that metal items were strictly not allowed. The thought of Mom's candlestick made me scared. I tried to feel for it in Mum's sack. However, i can't find it! Then i realise what happen; dad had sold the candlestick to pay the uniformed policemen! Mum's scared..

Day seventeen..

Dad pays the policemen some money to take us to Australia. Dad said that we would be leaving in a few days. Mum still looks miserable. I tell Bibi all the good things there are in Australia. I miss the village though..

Day sixteen..

i squat down on my football. Then, the boy who tried to steal my boy earlier, flings me onto my feet. he tells me he'll bring me to my family if i either give him an american dollar or my football. i decide to trust him. As the boy leads me to the camp main roads, a modern car drives past. He tells me that they were the United Nation and that they give people ticket out of the camp. They come out and hundreds of people rush to them. I too tried to get their attention but they soon got annoyed and drove off again.

The boy was no where to be found but i found my family!! However what i saw, wasn't very pleasing; Dad was surrounded by uniformed police :O

Day fifteen..

Upon arrival at the refugee camp, i see the largest crowd i've seen in my life! Mum and Bibi are sleeping in our 'tent'. Meanwhile, i had to chase a boy who stole my ball after i offered playing with him. I could't believe it! After he drops it, i pick it up and realise that I'm in a different part of the camp; a part i've never been to before. Hundreds of people were lying down and moaning. They look terribly sick.

i manage to stop a truck and talk to the drivers. I learn that the people are very hungry as they've been waiting for food to be shipped to them. The other driver is an Australian! I was so glad to learn that down under there were good soccer teams, girls were allowed to play soccer and people were allowed to be teachers, taxi drivers and bakers! There were thousands of schools, taxis, supermarkets and cake shops! Besides, Australians were always happy :D

As i turn back to tell my parents and Bibi the good news, i realise that i do not know the way back! i run aimlessly but it does not help at all. I'm lost!

Day fourteen..

We're in a truck. Dad had given the driver the money he got from selling his taxi. I decide to ask dad the question i wanted to since the time we left the city; "Where exactly are we going?" His answer was "Australia" I was dumb-struck! I did not expect us to be traveling so far away.

Then, the truck comes to a stop and he hear men's voices but no one

opens the back of the truck. When the truck drives off again dad chokes out a 'goodbye' and mum starts to sob quietly. I then realise that we've crossed the border of Afghanistan...I feel even more determined to not let my ancestors down.

Day thirteen..

We arrive back at the shop but our parents are not there. Bibi and i are sick with worry. Then, a vehicle speeds down the road and stops. Mum and Dad get down and we run to go hug them. We tell them what we saw and Bibi sobs. Dad says that we've got to leave as soon as possible. Mum goes into the shop with Bibi while Dad paints and tries to cover the bullet holes in the taxi. He says that he'll be selling the taxi when we get to the other side of the city. That'll be really hard for him as he has had before Bibi and i were born.

The one thing that does not change is my plan.

Day twelve..

Outside the football stadium, people are milling around. i thing that a match must be going to start and the government must have given permission to play footabll. Maybe the national team selectors could be there too! :D
Bib and i search for dad's taxi. No luck :( When the stadium gates open we go up to the highest seats to get a better view. Then an army truck drove into the stadium. The soldiers drag out women whose hands are tied. A women suddenly broke away from the soldiers and fled. The stadium roared!
MUM!!! IT WAS MUM!! The clothes, the way she ran!! It was her and we both knew it!
The government must have arrested her and other illegal teachers last night before they blew up our house! This cannot be happening! It's just so unfair!
Bibi and i fling down the steps when dad comes to the rescue! He accelerates out of the smoke and slams to of the soldiers. When the passenger door flies open, mum flings herself in. Then the taxi veers away and hurtles across the pitch out of the stadium.

Day eleven..

Bibi and i wake up. Dad stops the taxi under a row of light poles with huge straggling bunches of tangled cassette tape which the government had confiscated from motorists. He leads us to an abandoned shop which was very messy. He was going to pick mum up from the football stadium that was not very far. He gave me a folded piece of paper and some money. He told me that if he wasn't back by afternnon, find a taxi and pass both the items to the driver who will then take us back to the village. When he left us, we started eating breakfast which was in a bag. All of a sudden, it hit me that mum and dad are going to the football stadium as they had the same idea as i did! I explained to Bibi what our parents were doing. Just then, another thought hits me! If mum and dad were really going to convince the government football offcial, they need us there too..don't they?

Day ten..

Dad carries Bibi and i into Yusuf's grandfather's cellar. i ask him where mum was. He tells us that she went to the city and that she would meet us there tomorrow. He says that she will be fine.
He asks Yusuf what was happening outside and he replies that the street was packed. People are talking about the explosion and wondering where we are. Some are yelling that they have found pieces of us. Yusuf's grandfather says that the tawi is not damaged and that nobody was in the alley. As dad embraces and thanks him, i hand Yusuf my ball and explain what happened to his. Then dad, Bibi and i scurry down the dark alley and get into the taxi. Dad tells us to lie on the floor at the back. We drive off.

Day nine..

When everyone went to bed, i borrowed Yusuf's ball as i did not want to risk opening my rucksack and making noise getting my ball. i dribbled it down the street when i suddenly hear a whisper. It's Bibi! She said she saw me creeping out of the cellar. As i wonder how to get her back without waking the neighbours, she demands to know where mom and dad were. i tell her that they were in disguise and had gone to warn the parents of other students.
Out of the blue, she says she wants to play and snatches the ball. I stare at her amazed with her moves. A wonderful idea struck me; we can impress the government together! Bibi kicks the ball hard but misses one of Mr. Nasser's unbroken window and thumps into our house. Then, it explodes! Our House! A roar of wind smashes into us and flings us both to the ground. i roll onto Bibi and try to cover as much of her body with mine. People are screaming and running. Our house was gone!
Then, someone pulls us to our feet. It was dad.

Day Eight..

Bibi and i are at Yusuf's place. Both of them were sleeping while his grandfather and i were watching football on his illegal satellite TV. As the commentators say tha Liverpool player went 'overboard', i ask Yusuf's grandfather what it meant. As he had once lived there, he explained to me that it meant to do something that is bold, wild, dangerous and daring. i try to think of a plan so that my family can stay. i wish to go to the city, get the government and tell them what they are doing to us. i stare at the television screen.
Suddenly, as the television picture goes fuzzy, a plan hits me like a bolt of lightning. i ask Yuuf's grandfather if the government would forgive mom and dad if i get very good at football, that i inspire them to start a national team, and do really weel in the World Cup. He tells me that things are very difficult for us as we are not liked by many other people. As a tear rolls down his cheek i realise how important my plan is. All i need to make it work now is Practice.

Day seven..

I'M FURIOUS!! Dad was in the other room packing the prayer mats into a bag. We cannot just abandon our home. Bibi is both frustrated and depressed. Mom brings out the candlestick that has been in her family for hundreds of years. Her ancestors used to burn a candle before they went into battle. She tells us that that would keep us safe. She also tells me tells me pack everything in my room. My arms were too heavy to lift anything. Instead i just stare at everything. After awhile, i hear Dad go down to the cellar. He strokes his precious oven. Mom, on the other hand, buries all her school items. A picture which i had painted was on the floor. It depicted me scoring a goal at the World Cup. Suddenly, i felt determined to find a way for us to stay.

Day Six..

Bibi and i can hear Mom and Dad talking in the bedroom. I thought we would yell at me first. Bibi apologises for causing so much trouble and says that we have to tell Mom and Dad that we only broke one of Mr Nasser's window.
Just then,Mom and Dad came out of their room. They did not look hopeful. Instead of yelling at me they squeeze us both tightly and say that there're only four of us left since all our relatives have died in the war. i did not understand what was going on. "We've got to leave this house tonight and we cannot ever come back." Dad tells us. The government had discovered our school! i feel like a landmine had just exploded next to my head. i already knew how they found out; it was the school transport. Someone might have seen my dad picking up and dropping off girls as they're not suppose to be seen walking in the streets alone. Dad said that someone who he trust told him the news an hour ago. "We have to pack up and leave immediately."

Day Five..

We were already in the village. Bibi was supposed to be a boy. Her hair was tucked into Yusuf's hat andd she was wearing my jacket. Her skirt was rolled up too. When we realise that Mom's shutters were close and that Dad's taxi wasn't there, i thought that we would be able to get Bibi back before anyone realised that she was gone.
Suddenly, Mr Nasser bellows in a furious voice! I tell Bibi to run, however he grabbed her by her shoulder. Yusuf's hat started to slip of her head and her skirt could drop down from under my jacket! Luckily, Mr Nasser did not notice anything. He started to accuse us of breaking his window though. But we did not! Even after we denied, he did not believe us. Yusuf told him that i had too much skill to break his wimdow. I took the ball and did some stunts. Unfortunately, the ball flies off my foot and into Mr Nasser's other window and shatters the glass! Mr. Nasser started to bellow like a bull! He wanted to call the police too. I started apologising a million times when Dad's taxi pulled up. He picks up the ball, grabs me by the ear and apologises to Mr Nasser. He manages to convince him that the involvemnet of police is redundant. That is when he notices Bibi but does not show his shock. Bibi is furious. As we take our leave, Mr Nasser demands for the payment of the broken windows and written apologises. He drops off Yusuf at his street and says that he would talk to his grandfather later. We could all see that Dad was really angry.

Day Four..

I am grateful to not hear any bangs. I pray to not let any of Bibi's legs be blown off. When i reached her and Yusuf i decide that there is only one thing to do. After convincing her,I slide my foot onto the mine as she slowly slides hers off. We hold each other tightly to see what happens. Nothing; the mine does not explode. Like he was told Yusuf takes Bibi home. Bibi gives me a hug and then hurries off with Yusof.
After awhile, i hear her yelling my name and see her running towards me. "I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE YOU!" To my horror, she flings her arms around me and burries her face in my chest! We sway! We totter! WE FALL! We were clinging to each other screaming our heads off before we realised that we were not dead. The metal plate on the mine had not flippped! I take Bibi in her arm and drag her towards the village feeling so faint, sick and dizzy. WE SURVIVED!!

Day Three..

I managed to convince Bibi that Yusuf needs her help. She did not argue because she always helps a friend in need. I like that quality of Bibi and i'm proud of her. After she set off clearly, i have no heart to leave my precious ball. I shout at the tank countless times although i knew it was a silly thing to do. Fortunately, the tank backs away! I quickily grab my ball and watch the tank shudder towards the horizon. Maybe it wasn't a silly thing to do afterall :)
Suddenly, i hear Bibi's piercing scream, followed by Yusuf's high-pitched voice..."YOUR SISTER HAS STEPPED ON A MINE!"

Day Two..

Wow!
I was very impressed with Bibi's kick. The ball had travelled quite far. Bibi really was good at football. (:
LANDMINES!!
I was so terrified as Bibi was just dashing across the dessert without taking precautions to not step on anyone of them. When i finally caught up with Bibi, i was panting but relieved as i did not hear any explosions or see clouds of smoke. Bibi did not know that girls playing football was a big crime! As big as Mum and Dad running an illegal school at home! If the government finds out, it would be a disaster!! i knew instantly that i HAD to take her back as soon as possible.
Just as i grabbed the ball and was about to head back with Bibi, the most horrifying thing happened! The closest tank's engine was throbbing! It was then that i realised that the tank was not abandoned, but parked! My insides turned yogurt. "RUN!!" I shouted to Bibi. However, my legs themselves were wobbling. I could not do anything. Unlike me, Bibi was furious with the soldiers in the tank and she started yelling at the tank! I have to admit that she is very daring and courageous.

Day One..

I LOVE FOOTBALL!! Unfortunately, the Afghan government does not like people playing it even though it is not officially banned. I think that they are embarrassed that we do not have any international stars. ITS JUST NOT FAIR! They are not allowing us to play too! They might actually be stopping children from bringing out their talent in football and pushing away furture international football players. Besides, i girls have hidden talents too! One very good example is my sister, Bibi. She is so good at football, and she remembers all the ball skills i thought her! i was really amazed by her movements today. xD
Also, she forgot why we are not suppose to go into the desert..