Day 19

Dear diary

I am now flying in an old aeroplane. I looks so old that I thought that it was going to fall apart! Once, one of the overhead cupboards even felll off! Everybody was shocked! I feel so unsafe here. I hope that we reach Australia in one piece!

Day 20

Dear diary

The smugglers are so unfair! They keep us in a hot stuffy house with only one meal of noodles a day and keep us standing us standing on a dockside for almost a whole night. While Bibi and I found some space to play soccer, the boy who tried to steal my ball tried to take it away from me! And when Bibi tried to save the ball from that boy, it went in between the dock and the boat! How are am I going to get my ball back now?

Day 17

Dear diary

What a close shave! Luckily the policemen were not going to arrest Dad. After asking from my father, I found out that the policemen knew people who can get us to Australia! I am now telling Bibi all the things that I have found out from the Australian in the trucks. However, I still miss my friends back in the village.

Day 18

Dear diary

I cannot believe it! Mum and Dad sold our precious candlestick, which has been passed down to Mum from her ancestors and has protected us from all sorts of danger. I am starting to feel helpless as mother's ancestors are not there to protect us anymore, especially when we are on an old plane and when our lives depend on some smugglers!

Day 15

Dear diary

I am now lost a refugee camp. I first went after a boy who took my ball and started running away. After chasing him, he finally dropped the ball and ran away. However then I was in a different part of the camp and there were many people who looked very sick. Therefore, I stopped a truck which was bringing more people in and asked for help. I then found out that they were not sick but very hungry. I also met another Australian in the truck and got as much Information I could get from him. I was so excited to find out that the government in Australia was much kinder and allowed girls to play soccer. However, my happiness did not last for long when I forgot how to get to my tent.

Day 16

Dear diary

I am so lucky! I am finally at my tent. When I was lost, the boy who tried to steal my ball had guided me to some people from the United Nation were giving out tickets to the people there and supposedly, my tent was just beside that place! However, something made me sick with panic again. Dad was surrounded by uniformed police.

Day 13

Dear diary

I am still recovering from the shock that Mum was almost killed.When Bibi and I could not find our parents. A few minutes later they arrived there in Dad's taxi. I am so happy to see Mum again! It also felt good when I was praised by my Dad when I oil which was dripping from the taxi to cover up our tracks. However, I could not believe it when Dad told me that he was going to sell his taxi for the trip. He has been having it even before I was born! He should be very sad right now as he had lost his beloved oven and now he is going to lose his taxi. I am quite curious about the place that we are going to soon after all the things have gotten into the car.

Day 14

Dear diary

We are now in the back of a truck and I have finally found out the place that we were going to-Australia. We have also crosse the border of our country. I had to tolerate many things on the way like the smelly old sacks in the truck. We wre so lucky that the people stopping the truck were not the government.I hope that things improve soon and we can reach Australia sooner and start a better life there.

Day 11

Dear diary

Today I am so excited! Mum and Dad are going to convince the government into having its own national football team! Dad has now left Bibi and I in an abandoned shop in the city and has gone to the football stadium to get Mum. Then suddenly I realised that if Mum and Dad wanted to convince the government into having its own national team, then Bibi and I should be there too!

Day 12

Dear diary

I am so relieved today! When Bibi and I went to the football stadium, some soldiers there started to chain some women, who's faces were covered, to the the goalposts. Suddenly when one of them breaks away and Bibi and I realised, from the way she ran, that the woman was Mum! I also realised that th other women were the other illegal teachers. Thank heavens Dad came to Mum's rescue in his taxi. He distracted the solidiers and stopped them from shooting Mum by throwing burning oil cans at them. Mum quickly got into the car and Dad drove her out of the stadium. However I am still worried about the other teachers.

Day 9

Dear diary

Today, I am so angry! The government bombed my house! While I was practising soccer out in the streets with Yusuf's ball when everyone was asleep, Bibi caght me and started to play with me.Then, It struck me that both of us can carry out our plan! When she kicked the ball and it hit the door of our house, our house suddenly exploded! We were flung to the ground due to a roar of wind. When Dad came and pulled us to our feet, he even sweared on the government. It is really surprising to see someone who hardly swears, swearing on others. I hope things improve soon.

Day 10

Dear diary

We are now saying goodbye to Yusuf and his grandfather. When I anded out my own ball to Yusuf as his ball got exploded with my house, he simply declined and said that I'll need it more than he does. I immediately hugged him. I have never done that to a kid who's not my sister. I am really going to miss him and his grandfather. As I sat in father's taxi, Bibi asked me why mum was not with us. When I explained to her that she still has to warn the other parents of students from our secret school, I also told Bibi that we will always be together. At that same time, I really hoped that what I said would come true. I wish that all our problems will be over soon.

Day 7

Dear diary

I'm so angry! Why should my family leave our house just because the stupid government found out about mum's secret school. The government here is so unfair. My mother just wanted the kids here to have a proper education but the goverment didn't allow that. Therefore, mum started a secret school. She wasn't in the wrong! The government was! I could see that dad was so sad when he looked at the oven that has been passed down in his family for generations. However, when I looked at my painting of me scoring a goal in the World Cup final, I felt slightly more courageous.
Suddenly I am determined to find a way to make us stay.

Day 8

Dear diary

Today, I have finally got a new plan to let me and my family stay in in my house! While I was watching soccer from Yusuf's grandfather's satellite television, I thought of a new plan and I finally got it! I will get so good in soccer that I will inspire the government to star a new national team and help the do really well in the World Cup. That way the government will allow us to stay! I'm so excited! However, if I want my plan to work, I need practice.

Day 5

Dear diary

Today, I narrowly escaped from a big trouble as Mr Nasser, the angriest man in my street, almost caught Bibi getting out of the house as the hat which Bibi was wearing to prevent others from seeing her hair, almost slipped off her head. At first, he accused us of breaking his window but I objected as I really did not break his window. However, while showing him that I was too skillful to break his window by bouncing the ball, I really broke his window! Luckily dad came to our rescue. I am so glad. However, I am quite scared as dad would probably be angry with me for letting Bibi outside the house. I hope I don't get scolded.

Day 6


Dear diary


I am so surprised that mum and dad did not scold me. However, I was struck by another shocking news. We had to leave our house forever! Somehow, the government found out about mother's secret school. I have never seen dad's face so pale and grim before. I too feel very sad as I have been living in this house for so long and my friends are all near my house. I would really miss my house and my friends if I were to leave my house forever.