Day 20

We were kept in a stuffy room in the plane. We were served only one bowl of noodle per day. I was so afraid that the government sent spies onto the plane and we would have no energy to fight them all. Our lives would still be threatened until we reach Australia. After a long journey, we reached our destination, we still had to take a boat to reach the place we were going. While waiting for the boat at that moment, I lent Bibi the ball so that she could show off her skills to others. Someone came to snatch the ball and it was the boy who promised to bring me to the tent. He ordered that the ball should be his since i had found my family. Bibi, the boy and i started fighting for the ball and Bibi was so outraged that she kicked the ball far away and into between the boats into the water.

Day 19

We were not at all happy though this was the first time we took a plane. It was a long journey, i tried to do something that could kill my boredom, i tried to think of what Yusuf may be doing at that moment. The plane we took was an ancient plane. You could even feel the pressure in your insides when the plane took off. Dad said that there was no weapons on the plane which I doubt so. In addition to that, we had no ancestors to protect us, we had to stay united as a family....

Day 18

This is the first time i have been to the airport. I have only seen it once on television, there would be a room with beverages but the one we went had none. We went onto a boat after our flight. Mum was still looking very sad after all the comforts from me. We were actually smuggled there. The soldiers came to check everyone's bag for weapons and dad refused to pass them our bag. The soldier was very angry at us, i reached for my mother's rucksack and found out that the candlestick wasn't there anymore. Mum had sold it away for the sake of us, now i undaerstand why she was so sad....

Day 17

I understood why so many police were surrounding father, it was because they were the government's spies and they are here to arrest father. But father escaped scot-free after passing them some money. I wondered where father got so much money from. Then i had an scary thought, would the government put up an advertisement to reward those who arrests father? Mum explains to us that we are going to leave for another place again. Mum looked so sad which i don't understand why...I'm so confused...

Day 16

I was thinking of ways to find my way back out tent. I try to gather ingredients for baking breads so because father can even smell bread about 50 kilometres away. Then someone grabbed me, and it is none other than the boy who snatched my ball, he promised to bring me home for a dollar and he pointed to my ball. On the way back, we met the United Nations and there were people crowding around them and i decided to join in. I thought of an idea to play football and show off my skills to them so that they will think that i could make a contribution to the society. But i failed as i could not even put the ball down to dribble as everyone was packed in sardines. I decided to give up but the boy was already nowhere in sight, luckily my ball was still with me. But when i turned around, i spotted our tent. I was so excited until i went nearer and saw father surrounded by uniformed police. I was so frightened.....

Day 15

There were many people and tents. We made our new tent too. I took my football out for practice and suddenly a boy came to me, asking me if i would like to buy some water. I then politely rejected him. Seeing his disappointed face, i offered to play soccer with him. Before he answered, i passed the ball to him and he picked the ball up and runs off with it. As he wasn't running very fast, i caught up with him within minutes and he just dropped the ball. I picked my ball up furiously. I looked around and noticed that i was at a different part of the camp, packed with hungry waiting for the shipment to be sent into the camp. Then i met an Australian man who explained to me what was happening and even told me that girls were allowed to play soccer too in the country. I thought that this country was perfect. I decided to rush back till our tent to tell about the good news. But everywhere looked the same to me, then i realised that i had lost my way and i did not know how to get back to the tent.

Day 14

I got the information that our next destination would be Australia. It would be a long journey before we could reach the place. Mum comforted us that that was a much more wonderful place than in the place that we are now in. We were lying under the smelly old sacks in the back of a truck. We did not know how long we still had to go, and we just waited and waited until suddenly, the car came to a halt. We could hear people shouting from outside, mum ordered us to keep still until everything is over. After a while, the truck started moving again and dad bade goodbye, probably to the country or the people. We know that we were safe again, safer than before.....

Day 13

We were in the loss of what to do next. Bibi kept pestering me if mum and dad were alright. But luckily the appeared before us and were back safe and sound. They said that we were going somewhere far this time. Dad decided to coat his car with a new colour so that no one would recognise him. And after that, he was going to sell the car. I was so shocked upon hearing that. After hearing his explanation, i gained determination to become a famous football star and our family would always be safe.

Day 12

There was a lot of people outside the stadium i was expecting that there would be a match. Bibi didn't seem ready for the talent in her to be showed to strangers. Mum and dad was not in sight. Bibi shouted for them and she had already forgotten that no one should know our true identity yet. At this moment, I caught sight of mum. There were soldiers pointing rifles at her. I badly wanted to shout but all we could do is to stay quiet. Luckily, dad hurles out from his taxi and rescues mum. She finally escapes from the soldier's rifle. It was so close...

Day 11

The moment i woke up, I prayed that we have not reached the city. I realised that i was sleeping on the floor and had breadcrumbs stuck to my face. I'm not at all excited but instead worried. I kneeled up silently and peered out of the window. City buildings were new to me, no one mentions them in the village so i did not know much about them. The only thing i know is that they had governments in them. The car came to a stop, dad explained that he was going to the stadium to pick mum. All of us were very sad, we didn't want to come here. In addition to that, we found out that dad and mum was actually going to the stadium to convince the government football officials about my football skills so that i could play for the country and our lives would not be threatened. I decided to tag along as i knew i had the need to go.

Day 10

My heart was throbbing crazily today. I was dying to know mum's whereabout. Dad put us down from his arm and that explain what was happening. At that moment, our hopes were all pinned on dad. All the villlagers were in the street talking about the explosion. We went to Yusuf's house to bid them goodbye while i handed him my ball. We didn't bear to leave the village but we had no choice. I thought that no matter where we were, our hearts were united.

Day 9

When sky falls dark and everyone is asleep, i would have been training in the middle of the street. As i was concentrating on the ball, a voice frightened me. It turned out to be Bibi, heaving a sigh of relief, i scolded her for following me. Then she got the ball to her feet and started dribbling. I could not believe my own eyes, she was playing better than any of us and her skills came naturally. Suddenly, a flash of light came from nearby, our house exploded, our father from nowhere appeared behind us. The government had blown up our house.

Day 8

I tried ways to not think about the matter anymore but i still could not take it down my brain as it was already deeply etched in my mind. I was watchng the match between manchester united and charlton. I asked Yusuf's grandpa if the government would forgive mum and dad if i were to play as well as them. I badly wanted to stay. He supposed if i could become the star of the Afghanistan's national football team, then none of the villagers would be threatened to leave the village. I thought that it was a good plan and decided work towards

Day 7

I'm angry. I don't want to abandon our home. Dad has just replaced the mudbricks in room and he promised me a lino. I don't want to go. Mum handed us the precious stones and told us that it will keep us safe. After being told by Mum to pack my clothes, I really hope that she would change her mind. I gauged my capacity of my luggage but found out that i could not fit in any more of my favourite stuffs. Upon seeing Dad's and Mum's faces filled with disappointment to, I was determined to find a way for us to stay.

Day 6

As Bibi and i smashed the window while playing football, we thought that mum and dad would scold us for breaking the window but to our surprise, mum told us that she loved us instead of scolding us. However, Dad broke a news to us, informing us that we need to leave our house as the government had already found out about their secret school

Day 5

Bibi started to hate the country we are in. We headed home immediately to tear up the note Bibi left before anyone returns. I was holding onto my ball, suddenly, the angriest man Mr Nasser arrived and grabbed Yusuf. He accused us of breaking his windows which we had nothing to do with it. He threatened to call the police and we were all scared out of our wits. Until my father comes and assuer Mr Nasser his payment and apologies then he walked away. Dad looked so angry that he wasn't even blinking, this time including Yusuf is going to get a big scolding. No one dared to argue though we were really innocent, not even Bibi.

Day 4

Hearing no explosion, I supposed Bibi was still safe and sound. I came up with the idea by sliding my leg onto the landmine so that i would be replacing her. But after i successfully got onto the landmine with her leg sliding off, i heaved a sigh of relief. I was going to miss Bibi a lot when she goes calling for help with Yusuf. She ran towards me, wanting to give me a final hug before she left. Due to the speed she was running, the force pushed me down onto the floor and off the landmine. Luckily, the landmine did not go off and we felt like we had just escaped from death. It was a close shave.

Day 3

Bibi starts to get violent and started throwing rocks on the tank. I was very afraid that something would happen so i began to 'talk' to the tank. I called out for her to help Yusuf and she did not argue about it because she loves helping friends. Fortunately, i managed to get my ball safely after talking to the tank for a while. I muttered prayers of thanks and started getting up, ready to go home but to my disappointment, Bibi got stuck on a landmine and she could not move.

Day 2

I saw her run to the side of the rocket crater as i followed behind. I was so worried for her, the entire place was full of landmines. I prayed to myself for her safety, but when she spotted me, she got very furious and said that i didn't even see her as a teenager but a child instead because i still had to accompany her to get the ball. Hearing this, my heart shattered into a million pieces. Luckily, i thought of a reason within no time and managed to cheer her up a little before she gets violent. She explained that she had left a note on the table telling our parents that she is going out for soccer. Hearing this, I felt a need to rush home to tear up the note before anyone sees it because it is going to be a big crime. As she was rushing towards the route to go home, i went to pick up the ball but before i could get it, the tank produced a 'clang' sound and made me scared out of my wits. I tried to run in the opposite direction towards Bibi but my legs couldn't move.

Day 1

Today is a bad day for me, though i was fuming inside my heart, i didn't have the courage to express it out. We were playing soccer, and i thought that i was unmarked of anyone so i took the opportunity to show off but instead it turned out different. In addition to that my sister arrived at the field wanting to join us though she knows the rule that girls can only stay indoors. She didn't even notice that i was giving her a stern glare and continued playing. Then she runs off to the other side of the open desert to get the ball and she must have forgotten that we are not allowed to go there for any reasons.