DAY THIRTY-FOUR

Dear Diary,

We're all rescued.

Now we're in the cabins in the Australian warship.

Andrew comes in, and he brought in some food for me and Bibi.

After talking to me, he went out of the cabin.

Just as he went out, Omar came in, with my ball.

What a relief!

Jamal.

DAY THIRTY-THREE

Dear Diary,

People are screaming and yelling.

Rashida asks me to come up to the deck.

It's the Australians.

They've come to save us.

Jamal.

DAY THIRTY-TWO

Dear Diary,

Me and Bibi are trying to scoop out the water from the ship.

It's clearly not working, but we've got to try.

I can see how exhausted Bibi is. But she still carries on.

I know why.

Her father's a baker.

Jamal.

DAY THIRTY-ONE

Dear Diary,

I'm having a wonderful dream.

I'm dazzling the crowd with my wonderful footwork.

Then Bibi's scream wakes me up.

I see a huge wave crashing down on us.

Oh no.

Jamal.

DAY THIRTY

Dear Diary,

Pirates.

Pirates come on board. And the smugglers join them.

Rashida and Bibi pretend to be boys as the pirates patrol around.

They don't notice that they are actually girls, so our plan must be working.

Instead, the pirate tries to kick the ball.

But I snatch it back.

The pirate gets angry and kicks my hip.

Pain explodes in me.

Once the pain has reduced, i realised what has happened.

The smugglers have abandoned us. Could it be any worse?

Jamal.

DAY TWENTY-NINE

Dear Diary,

Bibi has a fever.

She is sweating so much.

She asks how many days we've been on the boat.

Then, she tells us it is her birthday.

I cannot believe i have forgotten.

We all wish her a happy birthday.

I try to cheer her up by planning her birthday celebration in Australia.

Everyone is feeling better.

Then Rashida mentions that she was born in Australia.

She tells us about what had happened.

She reminds of me of my parents.

Suddenly I'm not so happy anymore.

Jamal.

DAY TWENTY-EIGHT

Dear Diary,

The smugglers come around.

They tell us that that the money we paid is not enough, and that we need another hundred dollars to go to Australia.

We haven't got any money, but, thank god, Rashida saves us.

She passes the smuggler the watch, and it is enough for the four of us.

After they pass us, we sit there and pray that the smugglers get enough in their bucket to continue the journey.

They finally do.

Jamal.

DAY TWENTY-SEVEN

Dear Diary,

I'm seasick.

I feel terrible.

Rashida says it'll only wear off after one day.

This is horrible.

Watching all the people suffer, i can't help but think of Australia.

All the laughing people, the kind government, our parents, and football.

I hope we get there soon.

Jamal.

DAY TWENTY-SIX

Dear Diary,

I am making bread under the deck.

The sailors are watching me, fascinated by what I am doing.

I'm using seawater for the salt in the bread.

I'm not sure if I put in too much.

The area under the deck is full of water.

It's already up to my knees.

I'm worried.

Jamal.

DAY TWENTY-FIVE

Dear Diary,

The girl introduces herself.

Her names is Rashida.

She offers us some food and water, and even sun protection cream.

She' so nice.

Inside her big pink suitcase, I see something.

Something more precious than gold or Manchester United tickets to me, at the moment.

Flour.

Jamal.

DAY TWENTY-FOUR

Dear Diary,

We're on our way to Australia.

Everyone's vomiting because of sea sickness. Especially Omar.

We're all lining up for food, and then i realise that the person giving out the food is the sailor in yellow overalls!

I'm worried that he might not give Bibi a proper serving after he recognises her.

Then the person standing infront us' blanket catches fire!

I grab it, throw it one the floor and put it out.

That's when i see the girl's face.

I've never seen anything like her before.

She tries asking for food again, but the sailors are waving her away.

How rude.

Bibi yells at the sailors, and they decide that we shouldn't get food either.

That is just unfair. The girl stops us.

She tells us getting to Australia is more important than them.

She thinks that they didn't wash their hands before opening the soup packets anyway.

I like this girl already.

Jamal.

DAY TWENTY-THREE

Dear Diary,

We try to ask the sailor for help.
But it's useless. He only angers Bibi and causes trouble.
A smuggler approached him as he was about to hit us. The smuggler told the sailor off and when i tried to tell him that we needed to chase the boat to get to our parents, he started screaming at us.
We go to the deck and a boy approaches us.
It's the one who tried to steal our ball!
I make space for him and let him sit down.
His name is Omar.

Jamal.

DAY TWENTY-TWO

Dear Diary,

I jump into the water to save Bibi.

I finally see Bibi, just a face in the water.

I grab Bibi, but i have no more air to breathe. I need to go to the surface.

Then something grabs me and is pulling me up.

The sailor is grinning at us. Bibi swears at him.

I remember mum and dad.

I yell out their names.

Then Bibi points to the other end if the deck.

It's pulling away from the shore, heading out to sea.

I see them on the boat, searching for people around them.

Then i yell mum and dad.

They turn around and stare. Dad tries to jump over the boat, but mum pulls him back.

The gap between us is wider than two football pitches.

We are helpless.

Jamal.

DAY TWENTY-ONE

Dear Diary,

Everyone around us starts moving.

The smugglers have opened the gates.

I grab Bibi and try to follow mum and dad.

That's when Bibi says that she's going to get the ball. I try to stop her, but I can't.

When i finally get to her, she's lying down at the edge of the dock, trying to pick up the ball.

Then the boy comes and says that he is going to get the ball. He lowers himself into the the water, but then, he slips.

I try to tell the people around me that a boy has fallen inside the water, but no one seems to hear me.

Then i see a sailor. I try to get him to listen to me, but he doesn't understand. I grab his pole to get his attention, but he slaps me.

Bibi kicks the sailor, but he throws her over the side of the boat.

Oh no.

Jamal.

DAY TWENTY

Dear Diary,

The smugglers have left us standing at the dock, where I can see the boat that taking us to Australia.

Bibi had been asking mum and dad too many questions. To distract her, I bring her over to play some football.

That's when I meet the boy who tried to steal my ball.

He tackles me and tries to get it from me but i won't let him.

Then, Bibi yells at the boy. The boy says that Bibi can have the ball if she will behis girlfriend.

Bibi gets really angry and hits him in the leg. He screams, and falls backwards, and drags me with him. Bibi kicks the ball away from the boy's grasp and it falls into the water.

Jamal.

DAY NINETEEN

Dear Diary,

The plane took off.

We should be happy, but we're not.

And while i plane takes off, i realise that now that we haven't got the candle to look after us, we're going to have to look after each other.

Jamal.

DAY EIGHTEEN

Dear Diary,

We get out of the bus and into the airport.

Mum and several people thank god that they're finally getting out of the bus.

I can understand; the bus is hot and cramped.

A policeman stops us to check whether we have any weapons.

I grab mum's rucksack to check whether the candlestick is inside, it's mad eof metal and i'm afraid that they will take it away.

It's not inside the bag.

I realise Mum has sold our candlestick, our precious ancient candlestick that's kept our family safe for hundreds of years.

We're not protected anymore.

Jamal.

DAY SEVENTEEN

Dear Diary,

Dad gave the policemen money.

He tells me that the policemen are going to help us get to Australia.

We're leaving really soon, in a few days.

I tell Bibi about all the good things about Australia.

I'm so happy and excited, we're going to Australia!

But one thing bothers me. Why isn't mum happy?

She probably misses the village. I can understand.

I do too.

Jamal.

DAY SIXTEEN

Dear Diary,

I decided to back bread.

The smell will attract dad, and he will be able to bring me back to the tent.

But then someone grabbed me. It was the boy who had tried to steal my ball.

I instinctively protect it.

He offered to take me back to my family. I decide to trust him.

Then a big modern car passes by us.

The boy tells me it is the 'United Nations' and that they give the people out here tickets.

I think that these people can help me and my family and the boy to get to Australia.

I try to get their attention but I don't succeed.

There are too many people.

Oh no.

The United Nations men are going back into their car.

I try to find the kid, but i can't.

I walk around for ages.

Then i finally see dad.

But i see something not that good as well.

Dad is surrounded by uniformed police.

Oh no.

Jamal.

DAY FIFTEEN

Dear Diary,

We are at a refugee camp.

I offered a boy if he wanted to play with me. He says yes.

Instead of passing it back, he takes it and runs!

I'm so angry!

I run after him, but as i am getting closer, he drops the ball.

I want to catch him and whack him on the head. But i don't because I realise I'm lost.

This place is full of sick people!

I see a truck with a red cross. I run after it to try and tell them that there are tons of sick people back in the camp.

I finally stop them.

The man says that the people are just hungry not sick.

I mention that I'm going to Australia soon.

The man introduces me to another man, with yellow hair, a red nose and blue eyes.

I've never seen anyone like that before.

He must be from Australia!

He tells me great things about Australia.

I'm so glad that mum and dad chose such a wonderful place that I could sing.

But when they leave, i realise that I'm still lost.

What kind of a desert warrior am I?

Jamal.

DAY FOURTEEN

Dear Diary,

We're stuck in the back of a stinky old truck, full of sacks.

It smells like there's been goats in them.

I ask mum and dad where we are going.

They say we're going to place called Australia, which i think is really, really far away.

Mum says that it's a safe, happy place where the government won't find us.

After the truck stops, there are men shouting outside of it.

I'm so scared i grab both mum and dad's hands.

Then, thank god, the truck starts moving again.

That's when dad says goodbye to our country.

Jamal.

DAY THIRTEEN

Dear Diary,

Dad comes back with mum.
They are safe.
I've never been so happy in my life.
Dad and Mum tells us that we are going on a trip, a long way away, and that we need to leave soon.
I am thinking that if I go somewhere else and become a football star, then come back to Afghanistan, I might be popular enough to form a new government.
I hope it will work.

Jamal.

DAY TWELVE

Dear Diary,

It wasn't a football trial.
Women were there, covered from head to foot.
They were being punished.
Mum was there.
She escaped.
Thank God.

Jamal.

DAY ELEVEN

Dear Diary,

Dad drops me and Bibi at an old shop.
He asks us to stay there while he goes to pick mum up.
But then he accidentally tells us that he's gping to the football stadium.
That's when i realise that Mum and Dad are going there to explain to the government how our football skills will help Afghanistan get a national team.
This is fantastic.
I decide that since that's their plan, they're going to need us there as well.
I really hope this will work.

Jamal.

DAY TEN

Dear Diary,

Dad says that Mum has gone to the city.
She wants Dad to take us to somewhere safe, and that we'll meet her tommorow.
I believe Dad because he never lies unless it's to protect someone.
But i'm also guilty about Yusuf's ball. I offered to give mine to Yusuf, because I blew his up.
Yusuf won't accept it. He says that we'll need it where we're going.
I hug him to thank him, because I'm afraid that I will cry if i say anything.
Then Dad tells us we have to leave. We get into the taxi and Dad makes us lie down o the floor.
I tell Bibi that no matter what, our family will always be together. Just like Machester United.
I really want to believe it's true.

Jamal

DAY NINE

Dear Diary,

I snuck out to play football.
But then Bibi finds me and wants to play.
I'm impressed with her, she's such a natural.
She made a magnificent kick and then it banged onto the door of our house.
Then it exploded.
Dad swore. He nevers swears. Unless it's about the government.
That makes me realise that the government has blown up our house.
It's not fair.

Jamal.

DAY EIGHT

Dear Diary,

I've thought of a plan that will stop the goverment from making us leave.
My brain has just gone 'overboard'.
I think that if I get very good at football, I might inspire the government to start a national team. And they might stop being angry at my parents.
I think it's a brilliant plan.
But to get good, i need practise.

Jamal.

DAY SEVEN

Dear Diary,

I'm scared and angry.
I don't want to abandon my home.
I know my and dad don't want to either.
I saw dad stroking his oven. It's been in his family for three generations. And now he has to leave it.
He and mum look so miserable.
None of wants to go.
I've decided that I need to find a way for us to stay.

Jamal.

DAY SIX.

Dear Diary,

Dad tells us we have to leave, and never come back.
The government found out about Mum's secret school.
She's a teacher you know.
We have to leave.
But i don't want to.

Jamal.

DAY FIVE

Dear Diary,

We were sneaking back home, Bibi disguised as a boy.
But she kept on ruining it by talking loudly.
She needs a lesson on how to be sneaky, and how to control her temper - she starting throwing rocks at the truck that passed by.
But theen came Mr Nasser.
He started accusing us of breaking his window.
But then Yusuf tells him that I have too much skill to break a window.
When i was proving it to him, I accidentally lost dight of the ball.
And then i really did break Mr Nasser's window.
It was a stupid thing for me to do.
Then Dad comes.
He is really very mad.
I hope he isn't, but i know he is.
He didn't even wink.

Jamal.

DAY FOUR

Dear Diary,

I was afraid. Bibi was on a land mine and the government couldn't catch her out of the house without a parent.
Then i decide that I'll take Bibi's place on the landmine so that she won't get caught. It was a good plan.
But just after I've convinced Bibi to leave, Bibi comes running back.
And she flings herself onto me. And then we fell off the mine.
I was so scared that moment. I thought that we were going to die.
But we didn't. The metal plate hasn't flipped up.
I feel good.
We are alive.

Jamal.

DAY THREE

Dear Diary,

I managed to get Bibi away. Thank god.
I told her that that Yusuf needed her help, which was true.
But i couldn't go with her. I needed my ball. I couldn't leave without it. It means too much to me.
I tried talking to the tank. It doesn't reply.
I grab the ball and try to pull it out.
But then the tanks move away! They didn't attack me, they just backed away!
I was so relieved.
That is, until Yusuf told me that Bibi had stepped on a mine. Oh no.

Jamal

DAY TWO

Dear diary,

I discovered that Bibi's ball had travelled much further than I'd thought. I'm secretly impressed. That must have been a very good shot.
But Bibi honestly doesn't realise how dangerous these landmines are. I must get it drilled into her head.
But then, when I got nearer to her, i saw the gun barrell move. I had thought the tank was abandoned. I think i mistook the sound of the engine for the wind. When i got closer to take my ball, i realised it wasn't. It's engine was running. Thank god Bibi was no where near.
Then I turned and told Bibi to run.
Instead, she starts throwing rocks at it. She's as dangerous as some of those tanks.

Jamal.

DAY ONE

Dear Diary,

I was playing football today. It was fun.
Everything was going fine until Bibi came.
I think she has forgotten that she is a girl and that she can't play football in public.
I cannot be mad at her because she is only nine. She forgets things.
If she keeps up with this, she's going to get caught and get mum and dad in trouble.
I know she doesn't want to...
But then she also forgot why we don't go into the desert.

Jamal