War Child: A child solders story

War Child: A child solders story

One day messed up my life. I woke up slowly and rubbed my eyes.My back cracked like fireworks as ,I went outside and ate with my mom and little sister.For a little while I played tag and hide and seek with the little kids.A little while later I had to go walk to get water for my family.I walked slowly dragging the light bucket, dust trailing behind me.’’OUCH!What did I just step on?” I exclaimed. I bend down and pluck the small thorn out my foot.I see the pond in the distance.Some time later I get to the pond and drink some water and rubbing some on my face, it felt so good.I place my wrapped cloth doughnut on top of my head.I put the heavy container of water on my head, my foot still sore from the thorn. I just knew going home would take longer than coming had.I got home when the sun was setting.We ate around the fire and then I went straight to sleep.

The next day I woke up and something felt wrong.I went to go eat but my mom and sister were still sleep.I got my bucket and started walking .The weather was muchhotter today and smokey too.I get halfway there and i hear a big BOOM.The ground rumbles .I turn around and scream “AHHHHHH”, a big cloud of smoke rose from the distance, ”THATS MY VILLAGE.,’ I screamed.I drop the bucket on the ground and sprinted back home.My chest heaved but I could not breathe but I did not step.I got to my village and stopped in my tracks.It was all gone, my house,, my family..My sister was crying on something.I walked closer and I fell on my knees.”NOOOOOO PLEASE.”I cried for so long.Me and my sister ended up gathering all the stuff we can.While doing that we found 13 other kids and 10 adults.We found a barren it was a safe place for now.We ended up putting all the things we found in 3 big bins.We sent 6 men to go hunting and only 3 came back with 2 birds 1 deer and 3 bags of fish.We stuffed our faces with food. Although our hearts were empty,we all went to sleep full.

When I woke up 5 people had left .They did not take anything with them.We were left to 18 people when we started walking and found 2 of the people who had left.They were dead. We continued past them. All of us are hungry. We don't have any more food from last night.We have found a village and they have food .We ate breakfast and got some water . and kept walking to find the Itang refugee camp in Ethiopia.My sister grew tired so I put her on my back and kept walking. The group walked slow in the burning heat.we have little water left and had been walking for so long.As I got tired I could barely walk right.My foot still sore from the thorn we finally passed another village .We stopped to get food water weapons and more people joined us to get the refugee camp.The sun had started setting when we got to the Nile River .We all talked and agreed that we would go to sleep tonight and then make boats the next day..The Nile: the longest river in the world,the mother of all life. "What's on the other side?’’ One of the other adults asked. “The Akobo desert and then Ethiopia, ”another responded. We sent 6 people to go hunting and they brought back fish, and a

bird.We all ate and then hurried off to sleep in preparation for our long journey I woke up the next morning and everybody was apologizing ”I'm so sorry.” ‘’ What are you sorry for? “I ask.One adult says “your sister shes …..”Before she says anything else I already know what she is going to say.I look for my sister, I don't remember her going to sleep but I was in a rush to go to sleep. “NOOOOOOOOOO,”I cry out..We started building boats.Me and 3 other kids had to collect logs and trees for the boat.I was tired and hopeless.I had nobody to help me get through this anymore.I felt myself begin to cry agin.My feet aching, I walked slowly with the heavy logs in my arms and hands.I kept going because I wanted to get somewhere safe before I unraveled into my feelings. I'm scared to make any friends or open up on this journey because I feel like they will die or after all of this they will find their family and forget all about me. It took us 2 days to finish some boats.They started testing boats , we made 10 boats by the first day but only 6 of them worked.We did not have a lot of people but we made 4 more boats by the end of the second day that worked just in case more people found us on the way.We tied the boats in a long row and added the extra ones at the end.We made paddles with the extra tree branches.We start rowing in the water, the hot sun burning our dehydrated skin.Thirsty with no water left.Hungry with no food eaten in 2 days.

We saw a small island and stopped at it to get water and food.I had eaten some chicken and it tasted like when my mom had made some and it reminded me of the warmth of my home before the war started.I started crying because this was my little sisters favorite food.I ate it all. When I was walking around I saw a couple of dinka people and they knew I was nuar..I stoped dead in my track when I seen this man standing in front of a stant.I pull out a photo of my dad and the person I see at the stand is my dad.I walk up to him and I say” hi I am …..” BAM He hit me in my face .My face started to burn.I feel my face and it stings.He keeps hitting me.I cant move my face is getting We see a small island and stop at it to get water and food.I had eaten some chicken and it tasted like when my mom had made some and it remind me of the warmth of my home before the war started.I stated crying because this was my little sisters favorite food.I ate it all. When I was walking around I saw a couple of Dinka people and they knew I was Nuar..I stopped dead in my track when I seen this man standing in front of a stantdI pull out a photo o my dad and the person I see at the stand is my dad.I walk up to him and I say” hi I am …..” BAM He hit me in my face .My face started to burn.I feel my face and it stings.He keeps hitting me.I cant move I feel my face getting more rubicund .”No stop John I'm your child Grace Nyang.” He stops and I see him understand who I am.He helps me up.” Come on, we don't want people to know that we are talking.A Dinka like me and a Nuar like you.” John says.we walk into an ally and he say.”I'm sorry I did not know that's who you are.”I feel my face and it still burns.”Its ok I should have never walked up on you like that.”I stand there for a long time just staring at him.In the photo he dont got a beard now he has a black and gray one.He broke the silence when he said “I know your mom died.”My heart skipped a beat when he said that.”HOW?” “lower your voice, we don't want people coming over here.” I stare at him.All he cares about is people not hearing us.I try to walk away and he grabbed me by me arm.”Can I explain before you leave”I look in his eyes he looked sorry.”Sure.”He tells me about how he only left because he was dinka and he did not want people to think that he was betraying his tribe.He said him and my mom still sent letters to each other.He told me he alway thought about me.He tell me that now it is time for him to stop hiding in the shadows.We walk out of the alley and everybody is staring at us whispering as we walk by.I found the group b a candy stand .I run to get some and started eating some mango chewy candy.I remembered all the time me and my sister would eat the freshly cut mango on a hot sunny morning.We sleep there for the night because its getting dark.They find us a spot by the water.We start hearing a painful buzzing.I turned over and all you see is black specks in big clumps..By time we wake up we all are itching.We found out that they were mosquito and flies..I started walking back to the boats.We had to finish this long journey.Me and dad got in the middle of the boat and we all started rowing."I see the desert over there.”I say standing and pointing at land .We keep pushing in the hot sun burning like a fire.We get to the desert.We get off the boats.We see nothing but trees and bushes.We gather water and all the supplies we can carrier.We start walking .The sweat dripping like a leaky sink.After the first day walking we were all tired.We have not eaten food in 1 day.I co.I could not sleep.”You awake?” dad asks."Yeah."It's quiet for a moment.

Then he asked, "Where is your little sister?" I closed my eyes, feeling tears welling up. "She… she was eaten by lions," I replied, my voice shaking. "Oh," he said, before asking, "When?" "Can we talk about this tomorrow?" I requested. "Sure," he agreed. The next day, everyone slept well except for Dad and me. For the first time, I was at the back of the group. I didn't see the rock in front of me and stubbed my toe so hard the nail came off. I tried to hold it together, but the tears just slipped out. I couldn't stop crying, and the pain made it hard to see. "Grace Nunge, do you see those bushes over there?" I looked up and saw some that seemed both far and close. We kept walking until it started to get dark. We eventually found a pond with a dead bird and some fish. Everyone’s stomach grumbled as we prepared the meat. Once the food was ready, we stuffed our faces. We didn't sleep that night; instead, we sang and danced around the fire. The next morning, we continued our journey and reached the refugee camp .We go in and they keep the family together so me and my dad where together.They put us in a house with 6 other families we shared a bunk.I was on the top he was on bottom.That night is the first night I have ever slept that good.I woke up the next day and had energy.I went outside and ate breakfast with the rest of the people.The rest of the day went by fast.I never expected to stay there for 6 years. I went to america .I went to a good collage school.I found my group of people. I got my degree I am so proud of myself.I got a job as a Dental Hygienist. When I went to school I got a friend I got a friend that I live with now.So I am not alone.I told my story and I survived the good and the bad.Now its now time to tell the world your story.Never give up on your dreams.