Read a couple of snippets:
Jim' s story opening goes:
Afghanistan July 2011. War! People usually say it's bad, but they don't usually think when they say it. But trust me, it's extreme hell!
Dear Diary,
What a day! I’m waiting for my daughter at our house with a lovely, hot drink, but…. She doesn’t show up! Where could she be? I’ve searched everywhere for her! I’ve spent the best part of my day looking for that annoying, little girl! Why does she have to do this today, when everybody is supposed to be moving villages because the English took over Ella
At school she took extra food so she could give it to the children. She also saved food from her plate and gave it to them. Rose was really annoyed with the soldiers for putting them there.
Caitlin Owen.
It all started with the war. My husband went off to fight, so it’s just me and Rose. Well it was. Rose disappeared two nights before the war ended. I never saw her again.
I can remember the brave soldiers went off to war, we were all cheering and waving our red, nazi flags. I remember the dress Rose was wearing, blue with a ribbon. Quickly, tying the red bow in her hair, - we were in such a rush.
Then one evening after school, Rose didn’t come home. I waited and waited with her hot drink. I was really worried.
Eventually she came home. I was furious but at the same time I was curious of where she had been. There were scratches on her face and whilst washing her hair, I found a twig. “Where did it come from?” I wondered.
The food was going quickly, but rose seemed to be getting thinner each day. That worried me. So I was cunning. One early morning, when rose went to school, I followed. She went in places she shouldn’t. She sneaked through a wood and eventually she came across a clearing. I couldn’t believe my eyes. All this time she had been giving her food away to Jews.
Just then I promised myself one thing, I would tell her the reason why they were in there, caged like animals. I would tell her tonight. I sneaked back home.
When Rose opened the door and walked into the kitchen. I looked into her eyes and realized if I told her, I would put a hole in her heart forever. I decided it would be best to keep it a secret. I would never tell her.
The next morning the town decided to leave. That was the day Rose disappeared. Everybody I asked said she was probably ahead with her friend. I took their word for it and walked away.
Just as we were walking into the distance there was a shot. It echoed through the buildings. I heard it. I knew it was Rose. I couldn’t move all I could do was cry in despair. My friends asked me what was the matter, but what I knew was a secret forever.
Megan Underhill January 2012
