Time to discover! (2)

I was still starring at the beauty when I felt the warmth of the blazzing sun. I had stayed, starring, all night. My heart felt a stroke of saddenss when I finally realized that I had to move on. Escape from the tight clench of the beauty that had sucked me in. I felt sad and I wondered `will I ever be happy again?` and I disided that as I move on the beauty will only grow. When I spoted a river next to the ocean I dicided, before I leave, I should wash up; there is certain benifits if you were clean, people wouldn't suspect you as much. As I take out my cake of soap, take of my clothes and start washing I feel nice and start from a gentil stroke, to a violent scrub. More and more I fell more free so I scrubed every part of my body so hard that I thought my skin was going to come off. Scrubing and scubing I feel I have to get rid of the smell and even feel of the camp. I wanted to make it seem as if I had never been in there; no evidence that I was in a place lke that at all. After minutes of scrubing I stop and realize there is nothing left to clean, there is not one trace that I have been in that camp. The day had begun and because I had been starring at the beauty all night I would need a nap, as my clothes dried, to keep up my strength. When I woke up I felt like a different person, a real boy, I felt like I belonged somewhere. It was time to move on; I pulled out my compass from my bundle and start headding the way the man had told me  






 

Something to lose or something to gain (8)

I found myself looking upon a cherry blossom and smiling! I was smiling! It reminded me of Maria.

 Money was a bit of problem but I bought a post stamp and an envelope and wrote Carlo a letter, it was not very neat for it was written on the grass on my knee, but I could not feel fine until I sent the letter to him. I wrote:

'To Carlo.

Carlo, I want you to know I’m no longer so sure you’re bad. Perhaps you’re only stupid. And so I’ll. Tell Maria I saw a cherry blossom and thought of her today. '

          We were walking down the road when suddenly I realized something that I should have realized awhile ago, I did not realize the danger we were in. I saw up ahead there were guards, like the ones in the camp, I ducked behind a bush and lay absolutely still, I told King to do the same and they did not notice us. But we were trapped, we could not run back or walk past them, we could not run in a different direction, we could not escape and it was my entire fault. King nudged my leg, "No, we can not go back the way we came." I said almost defeated. King let out a low whine and looked at me with sad eyes; I put my face in his thick fur and started a silent cry.

I was still crying but suddenly I feel the warmth of the dogs tongue on my face, I understood now he was a sheep dog, it was his duty to take my place. "No, I can't let you," I looked at him and thought of the only thing we could do "we have to just run, both of us. I know one of us will die but we will both die if we stay here." I paused. "You were the best friend I have ever had, I love you King."

I positioned myself to run. "Okay let's, go." and just like that we dashed out of the bush. Faster than I've ever run before I heard a gun shot and an unfamiliar loud bark from the dog. King was dead and it was because of me, I should have never let him follow me. I stopped in a ditch far away and sobbed until I couldn't any more, the only friend I ever had, gone, in an instant; but a better thought came to mind, maybe one can get something for nothing at all.

The days dragged on, one day I was walking along a road and I thought I saw King zigzagging in front of me like he used to but I knew it was my imagination.

I had arrived in Denmark and found a both were you can call people, inside was a big book with people's names and their address next to it, I looked up Edith and found her address.

I was walking along the road not knowing in witch direction I should be going in when a woman in a car pulled up beside me. "Do you need a ride somewhere young man?" I told her the address. "I'm headed that way if you want a ride." "Yes please." I hopped into the back of the car and got there in no time. I was really nervous about how she was going to react when she finds out that her dead son is standing on her door step.

I walked slowly to the front door, I reached out and pushed the doorbell carefully and held it there, the door swung open and I saw her standing there. My heart pounding I said sheepishly "Hello, I am David." Her face was full of wonder and joy and almost tears as she said "My son David!"

The tree I saw when I thought od Maria.

phone booth where the phone book was.

A glimpse of the past (7)

Determination was the only thing keeping me alive. The harsh weather was getting worse and worse I had to find shelter and fast or I would not survive much longer.

I found an old barn and set one foot in it and the farmer came out and started to yell at me "You little thief, get away from here," I tried to explain to him my situation but he did not give me a chance to speak. "I am going to call the cops on you!"  When a woman came in and said "NO! Don't call the cops, we could use him as a worker for the winter and let him sleep in the barn then at the end of spring call them and then bring him in." said the woman. They were both evil and not very good looking either, they had terrible smiles sinister and knotty.

They treated me like a dog they gave me left over foods and water and did not give me a bed but it was better than the camp; but the farmer was almost like a guard.

One night I was lying down thinking if I was ever going to get out of here when suddenly an old sheep dog came up to me and started to sniff me. I was tense because they had dogs in the camp but they were mean, the guards used to think it was funny to make dogs bite the prisoners and then they would reward them; but this one just lied down next to me. He fell asleep and so did I.

The next day I had just finished doing something when the farmers son came and completely messed it up; the farmer was really mad and was about to slap me when the dog came and stood in front of me, growling at the farmer. "Get out of the way King." yelled the farmer. The dog did not move. The farmer gave me a nasty look and walked away. King protected me, he isn't a bad dog he was a friend.

That night while I was lying down to sleep King came and lied down next to me. I reached my hand out and stroked him from his head to his bottom only once and did not do it again. King liked my face and looked into my eyes and it was then when I knew that he was my friend I cuddled into his thick fur at night and we shared our heat.

Spring was coming closer and closer and the farmer was locking the doors with a big steel bar on each door to make sure I do not get away. So one night I came you with a plan to get out; since my knife was to dull to cut through the steel maybe it could cut through the old wood, the walls, at night I cut a square big enough for me to fit through, then I would dig though the snow till I got to the other side of the bank, but I was working at night so I was getting tiered during the day and I thought the farmer was going to notice.

It was another week or so until spring was here, but the snow was getting weak I didn't know if the tunnel was going to collapse on me or not, so I decided that I was going to escape tonight.

That night I told King that I had to go and that I wouldn't be coming back. "Take care of your self King. I love you; you were the best friend ever." And I went through the hole I closed my eyes because I didn't know if I would be able to get out but I got out with no problem, I started to run faster and faster when I got to the road I was walking but when I looked back I saw a black thing running after me. I dove into the snow, for a few seconds my face was stinging with cold but it was getting warmer when I looked up I saw King licking my face. He had come with me by his own free will and I was glad he did. He was hard to take care of though I could not feed him every day and I did not have shelter for him but he followed me on his own enjoying every moment of his life.

 A few days passed and we came along to another station where there was police men but we slipped along the side of it; we were walking along the road passed the station when a truck that looked like something they drove pulled up in front of me and rolled down the window. My heart was racing; it was beating so loud that I thought he could hear it. King immediately jumped in front of me and started growing at the truck. "You thought you could get away with out being seen did you." He smiled and completely changed the mood.” Were you headed?" "Denmark." I said stunned and relived at the same time. "Well I don't know if I can take you that far but hop in only if you can keep your dog quiet." "I think I can keep him settled." I said sheepishly.

 The man was very nice and shared his food with us both. He showed me a new way of transportation; a train there was a platform were you stood when you were waiting for a train and a both were you could buy tickets for trains. Most drivers that I got a ride with were scared or uneasy with King but once they got to know him they liked him and were comfortable with him.

The farm I stayed at during the winter

My best friend King.

station where you have to show your papers.

It all ties together (6)

I was walking along a road when up ahead I saw a station were you have to show police officers papers to get through. I saw that I could climb over a mountain and get to the other side without them even seeing me.

I was climbing and found an orange tree, I got an orange and sat comfortably on a rock and ate my breakfast bread and an orange.

The view up here was beautiful, but suddenly a woman’s voice interrupted my thoughts, startled I turned quickly and saw a woman carrying pencils, paint brushes and a easel "May I paint you?" asked the woman, she was older and was not wearing very expensive clothing but had a very nice smile. "Umm, okay." I answered in surprise. She started to set up and said "The sun rise is beautiful on the mountains." "Very beautiful." I agreed.

When she was done painting me she invited me to go and spend the day with her at her house. I accepted and walked with her to her house.

Her house wasn't as big as the other house but it had all the home qualities that you needed. I stayed for supper and she was stunned when I set the tale so beautifully I felt really open with her so I started by asking her name while we were eating. "Sophie Bang," she replied. "And your self?" she asked in return. "I am David." We sat in silence for a few seconds when I asked "Is there a king in Denmark?" She looked surprised and answered "How did you know I was Danish? Yes there is, here I'll see if I can find a picture of him." she got up and started searching. I spotted a picture that Sophie had taken out while looking, there were many people in it but I saw a woman who was very interesting to me. She had grey eyes and a nice face with a graceful smile. "Who is this?" I asked pointing to the picture. "That is a friend of mine, her story is very sad, her husband and son were taken away from her and were killed. I don't expect you to understand."

 'How could someone who has had so much taken away from her still smile?' I thought. "Here he is," my thoughts were cut short by talking "here is the king. Magnificent, isn't he." she handed me a picture. "Very."

I woke up in Sophie's house, I came out of my room and got my things together in my bundle, Sophie was watching me and I looked at her and said "Thank you for letting me stay here miss Bang." "It was my pleasure." she answered happily. I set off determined to go on with my freedom; I had to find the woman who I knew was my mother.

The king of Denmark.

Where the woman had painted me.

Ripped away (5)

One night I could not get to sleep, my mind was racing about 'when I should go, should I just stay for the winter, should I ever leave?' I went down the stairs and out side to think. I was out for about 20 minutes when I went to the door I noticed that the light was on inside, I heard voices. The mother and father were sitting in the living room I dashed out of their sight.

The woman said "Honey, when is David going to leave us?" she asked the man. "What do you mean?" I was going to remember this fro the rest of my life. "I mean I'm worried, about the children." "What ever for?" "Well it's just that I've seen David with the children and he has been influencing them, it's like he doesn't even know how to be a child." said the woman. "Maybe he has been raised in a country were he could not do the things that he wanted to. He is welcome to stay here, he saved Maria's life." answered the man reminding what I had done to be here in the first place. "But do you see the way he acts towards Carlo, he avoids talking to him when ever he can and only says anything to him when he absolutely has to, and he says things that children aren't supposed to know." Protested the mother. "Like what, what does he say?" "He tells Maria about violence and things in the world that I do not want her to know about, and she does what ever David does and she goes where ever David goes and she likes and dis-likes everything David does. He speaks like an adult and his eyes they do not belong on a child. Have you seen his eyes?" "Maybe your right I will check it out in the morning, ask him some questions." confessed the man.

Worried and panicked I ran to the other end of the house and sat on a window sill; I was thinking over and over about what the woman said. I took out my pencil and paper and rote a note 'Dear parents, I was out side and heard what you said about me last night and I wanted to thank you for letting me stay with you, but I also wanted to apologize for being a bad influence on the children but it is the way I am, I told Maria about those things because she has the right to know about the bad things in the world as much as the good things. Believe me it is hard to say good bye but I can not stay here, I should have never come. Can you say god bye to everyone for me and I hope that one day you will forgive me. Thank you for the experience and I hope to see you again. I can not tell you why I have to go but please try to understand. David'

I snuck back into my room, laid the note down and started to gather my things when I turned around and Maria was standing in the door way. "What are you doing David? You’re leaving?"  "I have to get out of here Maria." "But why, I thought you liked staying here with us, with me."

I explained the whole story to her and she did not bother me any more about leaving; when I got my bundle all ready I faced her and she looked at me with a tear in her eye. "Promise me you will come back." she said softly. "I can not promise you that, but if I have the opportunity to come back I will." I answered in a low voice. "Hold me one last time David." she requested and I hugged her and for a moment I wanted to stop time at that moment and be with her forever but I had to let go as if we were ripped away.

 "Good bye Maria." I said quickly. "Good bye David." Maria said back with despair and I walked out of the door she did not follow me, she did not call to me, she just stood there and watched me leave.

a song that reminds me of being taken away from something that you don't want to be: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGuHCTwV5ms&feature=fvsr

My heart torn two ways.

My notepad that I wrote my letter in.

The other side of me (4)

When I woke up I was felling peaceful, out by the coast of the sea; I was walking through the woods enjoying my freedom and for some reason I was in a really good mood. I heard something in the distance, it sounded really nice, like everything bad in the world had disappeared. When I got closer I found out it was music, sweet and sad music; standing there I felt happy until a deep angry voice cut in.

 "Hey, you. You little thief; get away." There was a little boy standing there looking at me, he came right up to me. "Put your fist up." He was making a sing to fight. "Come on put up your fists." he threw a punch. I fell down but got up instantly. "Fight like a man." he said, "No I will not fight, but if you want to fight me you will have to catch me first." and I ran away. Running but with no purpose I heard him call back to me, “CAWARD”, he yelled. But I did not care, violence means that you have no respect for other people and that you were no better than them.

I came across a river and decided to have a bath. When I was done I was going to have a nap while my clothing dried; I woke up to some voices. There were two little boys and a little girl, I couldn't help stare at the little girl; she was older than the boys, my age I think, she had long black hair and a beautiful face, she wore a red dress that moved swiftly with her, she reminded me of a flower.

I watched them instead of running away because they were going to play and I have always wanted to know how to play. The little boys were the bad guys and they would tie her up in a shed and go away for about 30 seconds then they would come back and pretend they were the good guys and untie her and bring her to safety. But when they were bad guys they accidentally set the shed on fire "I hope she doesn't burn!" they kept repeating. It was then that I realized that they were talking about the girl, not the shed; she was still tied up inside the shed.

Something inside of me popped and I needed to go save her. I scrambled to my feet, grabbed my clothes and threw them in the lake again, I got them out and started to run towards the shed 'God of the green pastures and still waters please don't help me to save this girl, I know you don't want her to die so I will save her for you, I am David Amen.'

I dashed into the shed without even looking at the two boys and put my shirt over my mouth so I would not breathe in the smoke.

There she was sitting there in the middle of the room; some pieces of the shed were starting to fall, I made my way to middle of the room and put my pants over her mouth. I undid the knots on the chair and she stood up and looked at me, but that was the last thing she did all of a sudden she fainted into my arms. I picked her up and looked for the door but when I caught sight of the door way all I could see was flames; 'I have to get out' I told myself. I backed up toward the back wall and ran for the door and through the flames.

When I opened my eyes I was out side with the girl sitting on the grass looking down at her. I felt happy inside as if I have never even seen a concentration camp and I found myself smiling at her. I was actually smiling but I could not control it; maybe smiling was something people just do when they are extremely happy, when they feel their best not when they want to but I just could not stop.

Then a man grabbed my shoulder and said "Young man you just saved my daughters life, how can I ever thank you. You were very brave risking your own life for hers." I looked up at him, he had a nice face comforting and kind; then from behind me I heard a familiar voice "And I called him a coward." A voice said in a disappointed voice.

I stopped smiling and turned, I saw the boy who had punched me, "You saved my sister, Maria, and for that I am very thankful. ‘It couldn't be possible. How could someone so violent and harsh be in the same family as someone so delicate and nice?’

I returned to Maria and started smiling again. Their father picked Maria up and started to walk to their vehicle, I was following, "What are you called?" She said to me. "I am David." I answered in a soft southing voice. "David," she said over again "my David." she said smiling.

Her father put her in the car and asked me if I had anywhere to stay, I answered no but I was just passing through,

 "Oh would you please come and stay with us, just until your burns are gone. Only a few days." "I don't want to be a bother." I said "Don't be silly! Having you in our house would be an honor."; the two little boys were dancing around me with my clothes and they wouldn't give them back until I said yes; I was getting sort of annoyed when I looked up at Maria and she said to me "Please stay with us David." It was then when I said to the man that I would stay with them but only for a few days.

The boys shouted with excitement and gave me my clothes back. "Boys go and get, David, the robe in the back." the boys opened the trunk and gave me a beautiful soft robe I did not want to put it on I thought I was going to ruin it. But I put it on and got inside the car, I sat next to Maria, she grabbed my arm and cuddled into me like a lost puppy just found its mother.

When we pulled up in front of their house I could not believe my eyes. The house was so beautiful and majestic from the front; but as I was walking up the steps toward the front door I felt more and more nervous, for I knew that people were dangerous. I took one step into the house and I was stunned. Never in my life have I seen something so magnificent as this house.

I walked through the hall to the dining room and saw their mother, their father was just finishing saying to her that I had saved Maria, she jumped up and hugged and kissed me while she was thanking me and saying "My boy!" I did not like it very much but it was a sing of respect.

Maria was still with me when the woman took me upstairs into a bedroom; "This is where you can stay. Now I will go call a doctor while you rest I will be right back." and she disappeared through the door.

I looked at the bed and sat down on it, it was like sitting on a cloud; I sunk into it and could not believe that things could be this comfy. Maria sat next to me and just smiled.

In a few moments the doctor came in and checked me out "His burns aren’t that bad but he should get some rest. Here put this on his burns." he handed the woman a little jar of cream. The doctor left and the woman put the cream on me,

 "Now go to sleep you will need your rest." she said; she got up "Come along Maria leave him to sleep." I fell asleep almost instantly on the bed.

When I woke up I was actually surprised to see myself in he house I thought it was all a dream. I went down stairs and saw the mother making supper, then I saw the table and my breath was taken away, I have never seen a table so beautiful, a white cloth and fine silver wear, the food was delicious much better than the food at the camp.

Had also learned a lot about the world for they had a ball on a stand and you could spin it to see all of it and it had the globe on it. I found out were Denmark was and were I should stop to get bread...

I was at the house now for about a month and had almost become one of their children but the days were growing colder and I had to get moving quickly before the winter came. But I did not want to leave Maria I did not know how to say good bye to her.
the music I heard:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4kTei0XrCs&feature=related

Their house.

The beautiful dinner table

The globe.

Oh God! (3)

 I  was walking north and I was a little bit happyer when the sun started to come up, I was not used to traveling by night. But I decided to travel durring the day when I was far enough. Travelling by night was exhausting enough without sleeping but on a terrain that everywhere you steped you would trip over a rock sticking out of the ground or a tree root jumping out of the ground and sailing back into it, like a sea serpent. I waited untill it was light enough to see houses in the distance and found a bush to sleep in for and hour or two; But when I woke up it was still light outside and I fiound mysalf looking out to sea. I looked at my compass and thought it was broken `Stupid thing!` I thought but noticed the needele was pointing as it should. Then I thought that I had to be on a peice of land that sticks out of it`s country, with water on both sides of it. `Yes that had to be it! I scrambeled to my feet and ran to the coastline and saw that I was right! I looked out into the ditance to where the sea, sky and land meet and twirl into the some shade of blue. 'Well, what now?' I had to go northwards where the man had told him, this was the first time I had thought of the man calmly in Italy. He had told me to go northwards untill I reached Denmark. But why should I listen to the man, I was my own ruler, I did what I wanted to do, not what the man wanted me to do, I am David. When he was in the camp he had to listen to the man, but there is no need to listen to him now, is there? There had been the bundle under the tree like the man had told him; and when I went south I did come to Salonica; and there was a ship sailing for Italy, so there really is no reason not to trust him. 'I dont need to worry, if it does stick out into the sea, like I thought, than I would just go a little more to the east.' In the town I had to cross a road, my eyes were fixed on the ground, I was looking for an orange because I didnt have much food left, and I didnt, I found a whole tree full! I didnt know they grew on trees, I thought they came from the ground. The road was not bussy so I started to climb the tree, the lowest branch was within reach and easy to climb. I picked two so that I could eat one now and save one for later; there was a nice flat rock further down where I sat and had my breackfast, a little peice of bread, some water, not the mucky and dirty water like in the camp, and to finish a nice juici orange. But I ate quickly, if they had started to look for me they would be here soon; I had to get away I wanted to stay free, forever. When I stood up and tried to dash away I had stumbled on a loose rock and the compass went flying out of my hands and over the edge of the coast. I tryed so hard to reach for it but I was too late; when I looked over the edge I could just see the tiny splash that it had made and then it disapeared into the blue. I stared, at the spot where it had dissapeared, and then worry fell over me. 'Now I will just run arownd in circles and come back to the same spot over and over again. And they would find me.' I had nothing now, the little that I had to defend my freedom was gone. Then I thought, 'God!' 'Oh God!' But I didnt know why; some of the prisonners said that when they were out of luck or had just had something bad happen to them. But I had no God; I decided that I would need to choose a God for something to defend my precious freedom. Only, with one to choose, it had to be the right one that would help you most when you needed it. Then I remembered what Johannes had told me long ago about someone also named David, he lived a long time ago, he had a God; I had to dig into my memory and I tryed to remember the words he had told me, the words were long and amussed me, I enjoy finding what new words meant. "He maketh me lie down in green pastures, He leadethme beside the still waters." That's the one! The one I would choose, God of the green pastures and still waters. I was nervious and Looked arrownd to see if anyone could overhear what I was about to say. "God of the green pastures and the still waters, I am David and I choose you as my God! But you must please understand that I can't do anything for you, because I've always been in a wicked place where no one could think or learn or get to know anything, and I know nothing about what people ought to do for their Gods. But the David Johannes used to talk about knew that even if he couldn't see you, you were there and were stronger than any men. I pray you will help me so that they won't catch me again. Then perhaps I can gradually find out about you so that I can do something in return. And if you know where Johannes is now, will you please thank him for going with me to Salonica, and tell him that now I'm free I can think about him again. I am David. Amen." I dont know why I said Amen but I heared other prisoners say that, they said it when they were praying and they said it was a holy word. It was nice to know that I can go living on now, it was a smart decition to have a god and a god is better than a compass; althout it would be nice to have both. But I did not want to be greedy for Johannes told me that greedy people never have anything good comming to them. I knew how to tell what time it is but looking at the sun and I know that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. It was a good day I had come to a town and found one of the water taps that people drank from  and I hadnt run in to any of them; perhaps there wasn't them in every town. I haven't seen any sing of them in anywhere and I thought I was going to stay free for a long while; the only problem was food. I came to towns that had people who would leave food lying arrownd without even noticing it, orange or tomatos but no bread, and if you didn't have bread you would not survive. I was lying by a road when I saw a car that had stopped, a man came out and looked like he was looking for something he had lost. when I was surtain he wasn't one of them I got up and asked him if he needed help with something. He turned in surprise and said "Oh, yes please, it's not very good looking for your spectacels when you havent got them on, is it!" He spoke in english not italian. I answered 'no' in a polite manor and started to look for them, on the side of the road, untill I found them. When I looked up I saw him talking to someone inside the car. Was he one of them after all? Can I escape? untill he turned arrownd and said "did you find them? If you can't my wife will drive." I steped forwards and presented the glasses to him, "here you are... Sir." The man put them on and had a new look upon him; he smiled and I knew was not one of them. He reached into his pocket and took out a small coin, "Here, you must have something for your trouble." "No" I answered quickly. "I mean, no thank you." The man seemed a little discuraged so I accepted his thanks. The man asked me if I wanted to say hello to his wife. I did not really want to because I felt sort of nervous arownd other people. But he insisted so I walked to the car with him, the woman inside was not as beutiful as the women in Italy but there smile could not compare to hers. I said good evening to her, after the man started speaking to her in french. He asked her if she had ever seen a little Italian tramp who spoke english with an oxford accent and was ofended when he was offered money. I was about to say that I hadn`t been affended but I decided not to say that I understood french and english or they might start asking questions. They asked what I was called and were I came from, I said that my name was David and that I was on my way to join a circus further north. They didn`t have much intrest in my story and taking the hint that I left in how short my answer was. Now it was thier turn, they told me that they were actualy from England and they were just visiting and would have to go soon. The woman, who was still in the car sugested that they have `sandwiches` they turnned out to be food. Two slices of bread with something in between them. They asked me if I wanted one and I accepted politelly and I sat with the english strangers. The strangers seemed surprised and delited that I accepted their offer and seemed as if they would answer a question if I asked them. "Is there a king in Engand?" I asked. The man instantly said "There is a queen, but no king because the king before had no sons, only daughters. But she is a good queen and takes care of the land."  I had finished the last of my sandwitch and said "I'm finished Sir, can I go now?"  The woman leaned close to me and said "Of course you can but, David, I would like to see you smile." I felt really awkward and looked at the woman who was waiting axoisly, I just said "I...I don't know how..." I truned arownd to face the man and asked "Can I go now Sir?" Rapidly in french the woman inturupted and said to the man "We can't just let him go, he is about the same age as our boys and we don't know he might be english, and besides he is no ordinary tramp, not with those eyes... do you not see his eyes." "Yes we have to, he is frightened, the longer we keep him here the more frightened he gets, Alice, and I am sure he is not english." He turned to me and asked "You are not english are you David?" "No Sir but there was a man in the...circus who was english." 'Camp' was about to slip out but I kept it in. "Can I go now, I didn't take your food without asking first?" "Of course you may go David" for a moment he sounded like Johannes "But if there was anything we could help you with you would tell us right David." "Yes Sir, there isn't, thank you. Good-bye." I got up and sliped away before they could stop me again; I layed down into the ditch beside the road out of their sight. It was a while before the car started moving again. It was gettong dark now so I set off towards the sea to find a spot to sleep. As I was lying down to sleep I was thinking about the english strangers and how they lived in a free country; then I thought about what the woman said, `have you seen his eyes?, David would you smile for me.` I need to find a mirror to see if I ccould fix my eyes and learn how to smile. I was almoat asleep when boom I sat up, the most important idea just hit me, the englishman was about to give me money, so people give you money when you do a good deed for someone else without beeing asked to do it, as a reward. I found out that if I helped other people then I would make money and could buy bread every day, I could not avoid people but I would take that risk. Now only if I could find a mirror, and I did; the next two days passed and I was in a town called Naples. A woman was walking daown the street, she had a mirror in her hand but droped it on the ground and a corner broke off and she gave it a look of discust. I picked it up and sat on a bench, I was excited I was finaly going to figure out what is wrong with my eyes. I held up the mirror and saw myself, I didn`t think that I looked un-normal, but when I tryed to smile I just didn`t look normal. I had to work on it but agter a while I got frustarted, so put it down and started walking to find a tourist to help to get money to buy bread, sine I was in a town. I found it worked better with tourist because they might needed to know what something was in Italian or what someone was saying to them. When I had enough money to buy bread I went on; the day was getting shorter, it was alost night, I found somewhere to sleep and ate my supper; bread and the last of my orange. It took me a while to fall asleep I was emplty minded and didn`t know what to think about. The next day I was walking by the road and saw a man standing by his car arguing with his wife; I couldn`t really hear what they were saying but I fell to my stomach. They couldn`t see me; I didn`t move till I heard that they were speaking english, their voices were raising as time went on. I rose to my feet and walked cautiously towards them, they did not take any notice to me untill I spoke, "Do you need help with something Sir?" I barely spit the words out of my mouth. The man and woman trunned and looked at me, the man looked at his wife then back to me; "Our car is out of gas." said the man in a frustarted voice. "I thing there is a gas station just up the road, if you give me your bucket I can ga fetch some for you." The woman cut straight in and said "Don`t give it to him, he will take it and walk along and we shal never see him again!" The man said "It will be every heavy and you will probably have to get someone to drive down." "But it is sunday and I do not know if someone would want to, but I will ask; I will only go if you keep my bundle safe." The woman had a face of doubt but the man gave me the money for the gas, and I was off. I came back in a car with their gas, and they said "Here, something for your help." the man offered me money, even though I needed it I sayed no, politely, and started walking away with my bundle. The amaericans started asking me to come back but I kept walking; it was upper time and as I opened my bundle I noticed there was a little strange box in it. I opened the little thing and saw money! 2000 Lier! There was a note saying `they thought that I would not accept his money so they slipted some in to his bundle, they were sorry that they suspected him but not all strange boys are honest.` At first I was soo excited to get a letter, I had never gotten a letter before, but this one was hard to read because it was in hand writing and I had never tryed to read english before. I thought of all the posibilitys of what I could buy. A comb, a bar of soap, a pad of paper and a pencil, and bread every day! I was to excited to fall asleep that night I could finally go days without worrying about my food. But the next day was not very exciting; I had come up with a plan to take a ride in a semi-truck, but I didn`t have enough courage to do it. Then I thought `God can help me!' While no one was looking I said to myself "God of the green pasures and till waters, I need help with my courage, I can not do my perfect plan and I would be going alot faster in a veihicle. So can you please let the next semi-truck driver be nice but not to souspicouss. Thank you God, I am David, Amen." I got up from the side of the road when I heard the next semi-truck coming along. I walked casualy beside the road with my thumb out, but my heart was racing inside my chest, as the truck stopped and rolled down it's window I couldn't even hear my heart beating, it stopped when the truck stopped. The man looked at me and asked me where I was heading; I could bearly hear the mans voice over the loud roar of the engine. But I think the reason why I didn't answer right away was because I was frozen in terror. But I answered him before he could ask me again "Demark." I shouted, he nodded and said "Hop in." I was terified but excited to expirience this. I hopped up the giant steps and sat in the seat. It wasn't the most comfortable seat but more comforeble than the ground I had to sleep on every night. We were moving when the driver asked me who I was and what was I doing all the way out here if I wanted to go to Denmark, I answered "I am David. I was going to Denmark to join a circus." The man said that's interesting, but also added, "you aren't running away from your pearents are you." With a strike of wonder I said "No I am not running away." By the shortness of my answers the man said that he was in sort of a situation, "There is this girl where I live and I really love her but my father wants me to mary this other girl, she is very nice and beautiful, but I do not love her." He sobed "What do you think I should do?" He asked  me. "Well I don't know what you should do but this is what you should not do, you should not let someone else make decitions for you, I think you should do what your heart tells you to do." The man wass thinking about what I said, he was nice but stupid, he sort of reminded me of the sailor. He shared his dinner with me and we drove on.

the music that I heard :http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4kTei0XrCs&feature=related

My compass.

The church that I saw.

What Maria reminds me of.

Intro!

My name is David, I am not like other boys, and I have no family, no house, and no freedom. I was born and raised in this concentration camp. I am 12 years old and I do not know anything about the real world. All I knew was death and that I did not belong anywhere. Nowhere, until that night; that night that everything changed...

The decision of your life could be made in 30 seconds (1)

CAUTION! Book spoiler ALERT!

 Okay, so for the last few days I haven't been able to stop thinking `why the man let me go that night He told me that there was everything I needed in a little package next to a tree for the road once I was out. He said "When you see a match strike, the electrical current will be off and you will escape to the other side. You will have half a minute, 30 seconds, to get to the other side of the fence. You’ll have a few days to get to a harbor in Salonica, find the ship that’s headed to Italy, once you get there go to a town called Denmark; you’ll be safe there." 

Tonight is silent as I lay there and think of everything that has happened. First the man let’s me out; it's crazy how a lifetime of suffering can all change in half a minute and just like that I was off.

After I was over the fence I was running like a maniac and I thought to myself I’m going to die anyway, there is no way they couldn’t catch me! So I stopped running and started walking thinking `Ha! I’m not scared of you!!` I felt so proud but at the same time nervous!!

Then I found the package and was on my way, then that night my compass told me to go through a thorn bush I tried to go around it and couldn’t I dared not disobey it and I got all kind of scrapes and scratches, my arms still have the scars. 

A few nights later I’m running low on food and water; but to my luck I fell upon a field of sheep and I found their pale of water and there was some left over soup that the shepherds had not eaten.

I continue on and when I’m resting for the rest of the day; I hear people coming my way, my heart was pounding so loud I thought that they were going to hear it. I thought that they were here to capture me and bring me back to the camp. No. They were only hanging out! They had come to have a smoke; I was so relived that I couldn't even concentrate on what they were saying. The voices were different from the guard's but after a while I could tell the people apart.

I over heard one of the men say "I will only go to Salonica with the van and that's as far as I'm going." and I thought 'YES! If I can sneak in to that van I have a ride!'

When the men leave I quickly follow behind. The van pull's off and I'm racing with the wind to catch up, my heart pounding through my chest I jump on and find a place where I wont be noticed. As I step inside I can't see a thing, blinded by darkness, I come to realize that the van is filled with boxes. I'm trying to find a place to squeeze into and then I find the perfect spot.

I settled down trying to catch my breath. I try so hard not to fall asleep but even with the roaring of the engine and the violent swaying of the van I manage to fall asleep. I was awakened, it took me a few seconds to realize that I was still in the van but the van is motionless, I hadn’t realized that how long I was asleep for. I tried to make my way to the exit, still alone in the dark I fell around when suddenly I trip and land hard on the hard, cold floor.

Feeling discouraged, I lay there in silence as I hear a voice. 'Could it be one of the drivers?' I thought but to my surprise I come to realize that it's the voice of Johannes; Johannes had died in the camp he was like a father to me, he told me everything I needed to know about anything! But as I was watched his body laid there everything changed, from that moment on I had to defend myself. 'Get up, you have to keep going, you can't give up now you’re so close.' I thought he said. "Will you come with me?" 'No I won't, you can do this on your own!'  I got up and felt the need to continue on; I find my way to the door and hop out of the van.

I made my way to the dock and found the ship that said 'Italy'. 'I should come back at night and sneak on when no one can see me'. The night was cold and dark but I felt my way was lit by the moon; I found the ship I was looking at earlier that day and sunk on.

I went down to the storage part of the ship and found the perfect spot to hide where no one could find me even if they did go into the storage room. With my but as cold as the floor it was on I was surrounded by darkness once again and running low on food and water again. But I spot something that looks like a bottle with a little bit of liquid in it. I reach out for it and then took a sip; it tasted sweet but kind of sour and bitter. I kept drinking it, quenching my roaring thirst, it felt so good on the way down and by the time I was quenched, I started felling dizzy and light headed and fell asleep. 

Once again with everything was dark when I work up, I didn’t know if it was day or night I had lost track of that as soon as I found my hiding spot. I got up to stretch and all of a sudden I hear foot steps coming my way, my heart was pounding as I heard the noise get louder and louder and then frozen in terror I saw a figure appear in the black.

 "Mama Mia!!" He said. It was one of the sailors. "What are you doing here!?" more of a statement than a question, with his funny accent. "Have you been drinking my wine?" He asked with disappointment and frustration in his voice. "Yes. Thank you." I said sort of sheepishly. "Ha first this child sneaks on to our ship and now he's thanking me for steeling my wine! Mama Mia!" He said.

We stood there looking at each other me with worry in my eyes, him with wonder and sadness. Finally he says "Okay, I will help you, I can not let you be seen so when we are a few yards away from the shore I will lower you off the side of the ship and give you a life belt and then you swim to shore, after that your not my problem anymore!" "I...I don't know how to swim." "Mama Mia!!" he shouted once more.

He showed me what to do with my arms and my legs. The time was near; he snuck me up to the deck and put the life belt around me and a rope to it. He lowered me down the side of the ship and when me feet touch the water cold shoot's up my legs and right through my body and my body was numb by the time I was all the way in the water. I start swimming and I think 'This is harder than it sounds!'

Exhausted and numb I finally get on the shore and my legs almost refuse to go any farther but I push them up the little hill, when I reach the top I open my eyes and see the most beautiful thing I have ever seen in entire life. A red flower on a valley, with a river and a mountain in the background fading in to the sunset. 

My stomach started to twirl and twist and I come to realize that I am crying for such beauty. I smile and finally realize...life is worth living! 

my arm now!                                                                                                                the ship I was on!

 life's meanning, pure beauty!