Day 31 Chapter 34

We were saved form the sinking ship.

By Andrew. I knew it was from his shirt.

He made us hang onto his ears, and he was serious.

He was very nice. He asked if my hips were okay. I told him it was not.

And he wasn't surprised.

I asked him if Rashida was okay. He told me she was merely dehydrated, so she'll be alright soon.

I asked about Omar. But he claimed Omar wasn't found.

But we needn't have worried.

Omar appeared soon after.

To claim his dinner.

Day 30 Chapter 31 & 32 & 33

The boat leaked.

And my hip hurts.

Waves are crashing down us.

I lost Rashida and Omar. And Bibi's with me only because our belts are tied together.

The water was freezing cold. Everyone was scooping up as much water as they can with their pots and pans.

I was ready to drown underneath. Till everyone suddenly started to rush up.

I was surprised. Rashida suddenly appeared and wanted me to come up too.

I haven't lost her. But I did not have the strength to go on.

Still, I tried my very best to stumble up.

And I saw a white flag.

One that represents doctors.

Day 29 Chapter 30

People started screaming. At first I thought it was that the word of the fifty different ice-creams had reached them.

But I realized there was another boat beside ours.

For a moment I was wild with excitement. I thought it was Mum and Dad.

But it's too big to be Mum and Dad's boat.

I heard them muttering a scary word, pirate.

I went numb with fear.

A few pirates jump on board. We waited for the smugglers to fight them off.

They didn't. Instead, they greeted them with big grins, shook hands and jump onto the pirate boat.

I understood. They must have arranged this, taking our money and dumping us.

And now they were catching girls without their parents.

We disguised Rashida and Bibi into boys and started playing soccer.

One of the pirates joined in, and tackled me.

I knew I should let him win. But I didn't. I snatched the ball.

We waited for the pirate to shoot us all. But he didn't.

Instead, he gave me a strong kick on my hip.

Pain exploded inside my body.

I can't describe this pain, but it made me cry. Rashida rubbed it till it felt just a little bit better.

And I saw the pirates gone.

We were abandoned, alone in the middle of the ocean, a boatful of starving wailing people, and three scared sailors.

It couldn't have been worse.

Bibi's got a fever.

The food had ran out, and it was also Bibi's birthday today.

She was the one that reminded us.

I wished her miserably, and felt very guilty.

We had a little chat, and realized that Rashida was actually from Australia!

We turned out attention on her as she related her story on how she had came to Afghanistan and could not go back.

Because of our wicked government again.

I told her I felt sorry for her, and my thought ran back to my uncles and grandparents.

And Mum and Dad.

And my eyes turned watery.

Bibi's birthday did not seem so happy anymore.

Day 27 Chapter 28

I woke up feeling hungry. And I also realized I was not seasick anymore.

I thought they were preparing to give us food. But it was not.

The chief told us that they had charged a wrong price. We needed to pay another hundred dollars.

Everyone started yelling and wailing, not only the babies.

We did not have any money.

But Rashida took out a watch and told them that it was for the four of us. The smugglar took a look and accepted it.

She then explained that her dad knew something like that would happen, and had spent the rest of his savings to buy it.

I wondered, as the journey continued, if Mum and Dad were in the same situation.

And I wondered if Mum would give up her wedding ring without a fight.

Day 26 Chapter 27

The waves got bigger. And I feel seasick.

Everyone was praising me for my bread.

And they told me seasickness would wear off after a day.

But Omar gloomily told me we had five more days to go. And he was right.

Half the people in the boat was in the same plight as me, some worse.

I saw them suffering, but I knew why were all these needed.

I wanted Australia, the kind government, and Mum and Dad.

Day 25 Chapter 26

The sailors watched me as I did the bread. They seemed very curious. The nasty one was asleep, so I was safe. Rashida watched me with curious eyes too. I think she’s as excited. I thought her parents was very smart. To let her bring floor in case of emergency.
I also noticed that the area had already been flooded with water. I tried explaining it to the sailors, but they didn’t get what I mean. I didn’t tell Bibi or Rashida. I did not want them to get worried.

Day 24 Chapter 25

The girl was called Rashida. That was a boy’s name, but she was named after her dead brother. Omar joined in, saying that her parents were horrible, but Rashida disagreed. She told us that she was the only one that came because they could not afford more tickets. We started chatting.
We talked about football, and I showed them a few of my skills. Rashida noticed we were sunburned. She offered us some sun protection cream, and I peered into her bag while she took it out.
I got excited. I saw floor in her bag. And with floor, we could make bread.

Day 23 Chapter 24

I met a friendly girl on the boat. She was very nice. But she made the boat catch fire. And the sailor wasn’t pleased, so she didn’t get her food.
Bibi tried explaing it wasn’t entirely her fault, but all she got in the end was that she didn’t get her food too. And if she didn’t, I couldn’t too. But I felt so hungry.
The girl tried comforting us, assuring us that they didn’t wash their hands anyway. I felt better. And I decided to like her already.

Day 22

I tried very desperately to ask the sailor to stop.
But it didn't work.
Bibi tried too. But she got very violent. I had to stop her desperately.

I tried explaining that my parents were at the other boat.
But they practically ignored me. I could see they were getting angry and irritated.
So I decided to stop.

Bibi cried. I tried stopping her, in vain.
I hugged her tight, trying hard not to cry.

The boy who also fell into the water appeared with my ball.
He was saved,, together with my ball.
Bibi wiped away her tears. She told him we'll be meeting our parents soon.
It was true in a way.
But the boy added, if we were lucky.
I agreed,in a way.

Day 21

Bibi fell into the water too.
I'm also in the water.
I tried looking for her.
But the water keeps coming into my eyes, stinging it.
I couldn't stand it anymore.
Until someone started dragging me out of the water. Finally.

I was pulled up. I can breath, finally. But I could no longer see Australia.
I saw Bibi, and hugged her close to me.
No one will ever be able to take her away from me away.

I looked around for mum and dad.
I couldn't find them. I looked around, and noticed the other boat, quite far away.
I saw two people looking frantically around, Mum and Dad.
They were at the other boat, and there was nothing we could do about it.

Day 20

Everyone started pushing me suddenly.
I realised the gates had opened.
It’s time for us to board. Yet my ball is still in the sea.
I knew that in order to get up the boat, i had to forget my ball.
I forced those thoughts out and looked for mum and dad.
I finally noticed them, but they were far ahead.
However hard they tried reaching us, they couldn’t.
Everyone was pushing them towards the boat.
Bibi begged me to get the ball.
She reminded me that if we don’t get it, our dream of being football stars would be gone.
I was torn between two.
I told her that I could make her a new one made of cardboard.
Then some one appeared. It was the boy again. And he offered to help us fish out the ball.
He almost got it, but he fell in the water. And started struggling.
I panicked and looked around for someone that could help.
I failed, and got hit by the sailor.
I watch as Bibi also got hit.
But i was in a daze. To save her.

Chapter 21

Day 19

The smugglars were really unfair.
They don't seem to realise how dangerous it was in the plane.

Me and Bibi started playing football.
Everyone stared at us in awe.
I think they've never seen a girl play football before.
I was proud of Bibi in a way.
I wanted someone to join me.
Two people playing is not fun at all.
And someone joined us.
It was the boy who stole my football that day.

I didn't mind. At least some one is joining us in the game.
But he kicked it too had while tackling me.
& made me lose my soccer ball.
It flew into the sea.

Chapter 20

Day 18

We should by right have been happy that we've finally boarded.

But we're not.

We were too used to the bombings that happen in planes that we're too tensed.

We were afraid of the attackers that might invade our plane.

I tried telling mum that their weapons are all hidden.

But it doesn't convince her.

She said passenger planes doesn't have any weapons.

I had a feeling she's right.

I tried making both me and mum feel better.

I though of the sold candlestick.

Without our ancestors to look after now us, we're on our own.

I am afraid.

Chapter 19