Day 17

I was extremely afraid that the police would arrest my father. Mom wasn't covering her face in outdoors now as i thought that this wasn't the time to worry about not dressing properly. I realised that Dad was actually trying to bribe the police in order for them not to catch him. I felt that Dad hadn't got any more money. Now the police were gone, but they might come back anytime to arrest Dad. I felt tensed and worried. My parents told me that we would be moving to Australia in a few days' time.

Day 18

As we alighted from the bus, Dad asked the driver if he was coming too but he said that Dad would be met at the end of the flight and taken to the boat. Boat? That was the first time i crossed over this word. I guessed that Australia didn't have a lot of airports. Suddenly, there were some men checking our bags for any metal objects as metal objects are forbidden beyond this area. I was scared that they discovered our candlestick which we had kept in this for a long time.

Day 19

The plane was taking off and we should be excited for our first flight as we were safe and together. However, we were not. I noticed that we were safe in this plane as the firearms were hidden in the secret compartments but i was wrong. This was a passenger plane and there weren't any firearms. Now that we did not have the candlestick with us, we had to look out for one another.

Day 20

Dad reassured me that we were away from the government for a long distance and we did not have to worry. Bibi and i were impatient and wanted to know immediately which boat was ours. I thought that every passengers had paid for this trip and as long as we gave the tickets to the smugglers, they would not leave us here. Suddenly i saw the boy; the boy who tried to steal my ball in the camp. He was trying to tackle me while he said that the ball was his. The naive boy said that he would give us the ball if Bibi would be willing to be his girlfriend. Bibi was furious and ran against the boy and kicked him hardly. The boy tried to grab the ball but Bibi gave the ball a hard kick and it flew across and landed into the water.

Day 15
I have been cracking my brains to help to find where how to get to Australia together with Dad. Refugee camps are rare to find children. Suddenly, a boy asked me if i wanted to buy some water. He had a gloomy face and with a plastic bottle. I declined. He kept trying to coax me into buying it, which cost only 50 cents. I asked him if he wanted to play, he nodded, so i passed the ball to him. He ran away with it, i was dumbfounded. I chased after him and finally, he dropped my ball and ran away. I'm tempted to catch that kid. I thought that those people at the spot were sick but i was wrong, they were actually hungry, waiting for a food shipment as the guy in the truck told me. Someone sitting behind the truck with yellow hair told me that Australia was the best country in the world. He must be Australian. I was excited. He said that government in Australia encouraged girls to play soccer. I was amazed.

Day 16
I was lost. Just then, i thought of an idea. If i made some bread, Dad would be able to smell it about fifty kilometres away as it was in his blood, he could sense it. I just need flour, water, salt and an oven. Soon, the 'thief' came up to me and said that he could bring me to my parents just for a dollar. Howver, i did not have one. Thus, he wanted my ball and i was shocked. I would not give him for sure. Fortunately, the boy pulled me out of the camp and dragging me to a car. I could not believe my luck as they can help me find my family and even tell us how to get to Australia. However the gloomy kid let go of my hand and nudged through the crowd. I tried to follow but failed. Then, i tried to do football skills and yelled at the crowd telling them not to push by attracting their attention. They did not hear me. I tried to look for him but to no avail. I started to look for a place to build a bread oven. Finally, i saw it, it was our tent with Mum and Bibi with anxious faces. There was something happening that made me panic, it was the police surrounding around Dad.

Day 13
Bibi and i were scared as we hoped that Dad and Mum would be safe. Suddenly we saw a taxi driving towards us, it's Mum and Dad! They were safe, i was on cloud nine. We bolted to hop into the taxi to escape. I was proud of my father of his actions. I was amazed that Dad was going to sell the taxi to get money in order to go for our trip.

Day 14
Bibi was getting impatient as we had not reached our destination. I was scared to ask this question but i managed to ask that. He was not answering. Dad finally said that we were going to Australia as we could live as far as away from the government. I sensed that Australia was a much better place than Afghanistan. Suddenly, we heard men shouting and we were supposed to keep still. The truck came and soldiers were alighted. I was horrified. Finally, the truck moved off and i could relax a bit. Dad suddenly said goodbye, i thought he was saying to me. However, he was talking to our country, as we crossed the border.

Day 11
I was scared, my father's ears turned pink, which was a dangerous sign. He promised that my mum would be fine. We always keep promises in our family. I hate Afghanistan. Just because the government hated music, we could not listen to music. Dad said that he had to leave us at the football stadium as he had to look for mum. I was worried and scared. I did not want to lose mum and dad.

Day 12
People were milling outside the football stadium. We thought the government had given permission for selecting players for the national team. We were excited. As we found seats, we saw an army truck driving in. I was shocked. Women were dragged out of the truck, their hands were tied up. Unfortunately, i spotted one of them to be my mother. I was horrified, i dared not to believe it. I didn't know why mum was here. Soldiers stood behind the women and pointed their guns at them. A taxi drove in and mum was running towards it. I struggled to breathe, the driver was actually Dad. I felt numb as i could rarely move.

Day 8
Yusuf's grandfather was chuckling so loudly that i scared he would wake Bibi up. He was watching the soccer match and a Liverpool striker was sent off for kicking the Chelsea goalkeeper in the head. If Bibi woke up and found out that father and mother were missing, she would panicked. He kept chortling,'Overboard'. In English, overboard means to do something that is bold, wild, dangerous and daring. I did not want to sleep. The next match is Charlton Athletic fighting for survival against Manchester United. If they lost, they will be relegated out of the English Premier League. I tried to think of a plan. I wondered if my football skills could inspire the gonvernment to start a national team and not being cross with the person's parents even if they ran an illegal school. I hope to be a star of Afghanistan. In order for it to work, i have to practise.

Day 9
I would wait for everyone to be asleep then i would sneak outside to practise my football skills. I couldn't sleep as i could not get off the things i was worried of off my mind. Suddenly, Bibi found out that i had sneaked out to practise. I was trembling when she hissed. Bibi also wanted to play. She started dribbling and asked me to get it from her. I got in with my fastest tackle, but it failed. Then, she gave a penalty shot which i had ever seen the most incredible kick in my life. It flew against the door of our house. Unfortunately, our house exploded! I was mouth agaped. The government had blown up our house.

Day 10
I felt a jab into my bruised and numb brain. I wondered where Mum was. Mum wanted us to go a place in the city and we would see Mum tomorrow, Dad said. Bibi said that if Mum was not fine, she would be cross. Dad hugged Yusuf's grandfather and said that it was time for us to go. I tried to give Yusuf my football as i had blown it up but he refused. He said that i would need it wherever i went. I thanked him and he said that he would miss me. We bade farewell. We took a taxi and Dad said,'' Mum still had more school parents to warn.'' I really hoped that we would be togther as a family tomorrow. We may not be in Manchester but we would always be united. My heart was thumping, i wanted it to be true.

Day Seven
I was extremely furious. Bibi and I hate to leave this place. Bibi was scared as she told Mum. The candlestick would keep us safe. Mum asked me to pull down my curtain down and knot it into a bag that i can wear on my back and pack all my clothes. I hoped she could say we need not leave but it didn't happen. Dad was crestfallen as he had to give up on the oven. Mum took off the living room wall and the one of me scoring a goal in the World Cup final. I don't look like a baker in it but a desert warrior. I dried my tears, i was determined to find a way for us to stay.
( Tay Pu Qian as Jamal)

Day 6
I stood in our living room waiting for Dad to scold me. Strangely, he went to talk to Mum. Bibi and I decided to tell them that we only broke 1 window. Suddenly, my parents hugged us and said that we were their precious. Dad finally spoke up and said that we got to leave this home. We were shocked. We thought they were scared of Mr Nasser telling that police that we played football. Dad said that it was not that reason but something more serious. Government had found out that they had opened their secret school. I felt crestfallen to leave this home.
(Tay Pu Qian as Jamal)