Monday, April 8, 2013

The Calamity in Somalia - Fictional Story


By the time you're reading this, you must be really grateful because you're not suffering the hunger like we did in Somalia.
Oh by the way, its Sarah here. I travel with my mom and my brother to find food for us to survive this calamity. 
It was June 19. The weather was very hot today, as if the sun was scorching us. The air seems very humid and warm. The sun's heat had caused beads of sweat to form in my face. There were almost nothing left here, only shattered trees and dried weeds all along the way. Even mom looks very tired and weary the longer we continue our journey. If you're asking where our father is, he is working out from the country as he recounts that there are no more jobs here in Somalia, and the price of foods have been increasing drastically. So he asked us to stay here, cause he'll be going back in the weekends; promising that he will bring hope for us.

So, here we are walking in the endless ruins as our stomach is trying to sustain the hunger we hold on for so long. There were a half-eaten loaf of bread and some musty old cabbages in our bags; made from rags which our grandmother had made for us before she pass away not long ago because the lack of food here. All of us have been a bit gloomy ever since. 

"We're here, kids" my mom said happily as she pointed to a river. She have a dark curly hair with quite a dark skin, her eyes look very sad and I know she was trying to hide all those sadness inside and guide us through this long journey. Her name was Lia, it was actually Liana but that's her shortened name and most people call her that. She was dressed in old rags, like us. 
She carried a bag which was filled with our supplies. 

"Water, at last" my brother, Cain shouted. He look exactly like my father, with dark skin face with short curly brown hair. He looks very happy as he saw the water in the river flowing water. Yeah, waterFresh Water.

"Yeah!" I yelled, a bit too loudly. I quickly grabbed the bucket we had bring to scoop the water we found.

The water felt cool at my hand as I scoop it. It felt so nice to feel it, after walking in this never-ending scorching desert. 

After we had our supply of water we continued our journey until we found a hill with a small cave underneath, it was enough for us to camp there for a while. 

"We will have the salty cabbages for tonight" my mom said as she open the bag and took some old cabbages and began to tear it to shreds.

"Again?" I asked 

"Yeah, we will find more food later" my mom quickly added as she heard the anxiety in my voice growing deeper and more uncertain. 

"It's okay, sis" Cain assured "We will save the bread for tomorrow" 

We eat the remaining cabbages silently, until my mom said,

"Not to scare you guys.. but the remaining foods we had in stock will last for only two days; at the latest. 

"That's a really short time" Cain said.

"Yeah, but I think we should try to survive with it" I said.

After we eat, we sleep on the solid stone the cave had provide us with. Waiting for food to come, and a chance for us to survive. 

                                            -----------------------------------

As I slept in the cold and dark cave, I dreamt I was standing on top of a mountain. A really beautiful mountain filled with life. Grass and trees were growing with joy. Even the trees have some fresh fruits growing in it. 

Juicy! I thought. 

As I ran for the tree, I realized I will still dressed in rags and my grandmother's bag was still with me. Inside the bag was the half-eaten bread I had saved for tomorrow. The only food we have. But somehow, looking at the tree had made me feel somewhat sad.. It was only a dream, even if I eat all those fruits, I'll still be starving anyway in the morning. 

But my feet wouldn't stopped me, I keep running until I reached that tree, when something or someone loomed on top of the tree, casting shadows on my face. I focus my eyes to the creature and I saw a cat. Its furs glittered with golden fur, it's eyes was luminous yellow. Its paws were neatly cut and the cat's face smiled with delight. 

"Take the fruits with you" the cat smiled. "Even if you think that was only a dream, don't you know that dreams are somewhat real?" 

I was too surprised I couldn't talk as I simply nodded and began plucking some apples and oranges to the bag I magically brought. 

"Take your time" the cat said cheerfully as it leaped and vanished. 

Weird... I thought

But what if this dream is real? I could bring all these fruits with me, we can survive! 
So I quickly pick all the fruits and put it in basket, after I was done I could hear my mom's voice saying,

"Wake up Sarah!" my mom's voice said, "And why are there..?" 

"FRUITS!" my brother screamed.

I open my eyes immediately, the moment my brother shouted.

"What is it?" I asked, still sleepy. 

I saw what was I holding, to my surprised I was holding the bag we have, filled with the exact same fruits that I picked in my dream.

"What?" I asked myself confusingly. 

"Food!" my brother exclaimed.

"Where did you get it?" my mom asked me amazed.

"Well it started when I have a dream.." I said slowly and then tell the whole story to my mom and my brother who were listening to the story with a stern expression on their faces

"Amazing" my mom and my brother said at once. "But we couldn't stay here, we need to get moving"

"Yeah" I agreed.

So we started the new day with some grapes and apples. And we continued our journey after that. We were feeling really great,  and we were really happy for the blessings we received. 

But I started to think about the mysterious dream I had last night.. what was that?






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