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!"