Child Soldiers

"What?" I groan as I turn in my sleep. I feel someone shaking me, but I don't register what it means. I'm sleeping at a different saftey building tonight-yesterday and today we walked fifteen hours to get to this town, because last week was hell. I didn't know it could get worse.1

Last Monday, Karwana and I were walking to our safety house, just yards from our hut, and they attacked. It all happened too fast-the rumbling sound of the cars, shots ringing out, cries and screams coming from fellow mates...and then the worst, "Watch out!". I turned and ducked just in time. But Karwana didn't hear the warning. He was trying to help a girl who had already been hit.2

The girl and I watched in horror as Karwana died in front of our eyes in a matter of seconds. I saw the fear in her tremors, and the blood running down her leg. I was stronger than Karwana, so I picked up the girl and started running. 3

It was chaos all around me. Children and adults falling from bullets, women being dragged on the ground to a comfortable place for them to be "joined" with the attackers, the huts being ransacked and destroyed, and children (who weren't being killed by the guns) being forced to go with them and be a part of their group.4

Not many of us kids got away, and I don't know what happened to my parents. I learned that the girls name was Gwandoya, and just like I, she was now alone. She was about my age, which comforted me a bit, but she still had a bad leg which made the walking to the next town slower than it would have been.5

"Wake up, you idiot!" I'm so exhausted, but this time I open my eyes. Immediately I wake up and start grabbing what little I have. The attackers had come to this town while we were asleep. "There's no time! Come on!!!" yells Gwandoya. Everyone's running and once again in chaos.6

We start towards the door, but we get cornered. Oh, my god. They grab Gwandoya and force her down on the ground-in a pool of blood. Incidently, her leg wound opens and her own blood joins the stuff on the ground. I can't watch as they rip her legs open, but I wasn't meant to. They drag me away...7

...8

...9

...10

I'm at their camp now. Gwandoya is here, too. I'm afraid her leg might have an infection, and if that's the case, they'll kill her. Maybe that would be better than a sex slave, though. I, myself, am a soldier. They gave me a gun and everything. I have been on many missions, and have been forced to kidnap and kill more kids my age-even adults who could have been my parents or grandparents!11

All I want to know is why the world is letting this happen to me. I'm only eleven years old. Before this hell, I lived in fear my whole life. And now...I have no life. Please, America. Save me, and my country. We don't deserve this! Or maybe we do. Maybe the attackers should be killing and torturing and kidnapping us. I wouldn't really know...I am only eleven, after all.12


http://www.invisiblechildren.com13