Editor's Note: Ms. Freitag's class at Monroe Middle School recently studied the story of the "Lost Boys of Sudan." Students wrote stories and poems about their studies, and Ms. Freitag chose the following story as one to submit for publication in the Times.
Chad woke up and saw his mother being held down by three older men. She was screaming, "Chad, help me!" Chad didn't know what to do, so he bit, kicked, and punched the men, pleading them to let his mother go. Then a man pulled him off, and that was the last time he ever saw his mom. ...
Chad was thrown in a reddish/brownish pick up truck. His ankle was in a chain, so he couldn't break loose. Chad watched as he pulled away from his house. Tears strolled down his face when he saw his dad running after the truck. Chad noticed the truck pulling into a little village. He noticed many kids there. The weird thing is they all had guns in their hands.
Chad was unchained and taken to a little room. Chad was so frightened because he had no idea what was going on. What do they want from me, thought Chad. Then Chad was blindfolded; all of a sudden he felt a heavy weight laying in his arms. Then a man screamed, "Shoot!" Chad didn't know what he was talking about, so just sat there. The gun was ripped out of his hands, and Chad was thrown to the ground. A man in a green wrap called two kids in. He screamed in their ears, "Beat him!" The kids started to beat him.
Later that day, the men gave him a gun. They told him he must shoot, or die. Chad knew his parents would be ashamed, but he shot the gun. A few weeks went by in the horrible village. While Chad went to the bathroom, he remembered the story of his grandfather. All Chad's mother told him was that the Janjaweed militia took him to a camp. He was forced to do many things no child should be put through. Later that evening, Chad asked one of the children if they knew where they were; no one knew. Chad was brave, and asked a man. The man hit him with his gun and said, "You are part of our Army, the Janjaweed Militia." Chad's knee started to shake; he knew everything, it was all coming at him so fast. Chad then had a blackout.
Five minutes later, Chad woke up and was in pain all over. He looked around and there were about 10 boys around him. One young boy came up and bit Chad in the leg. The next boy grabbed him by the hair and punched him. They went on, each taking one turn and beating Chad. Later that day, Chad and five other boys made a plan to escape. When it was the exact moment for them to start running, they all looked at each other. Chad ran, and soon after the other boys were running, too. Chad climbed over the fence. He took a deep breath. "I am free!"
Tears and joy rushed into his body. Chad kept running. He wanted to get far away from the militia. He slowed down, and run out of breath. He sat beside a tree. Tears began to cry out for poor Chad. Chad was a lost boy, a lost boy of the Sudan.
Chad woke up and saw his mother being held down by three older men. She was screaming, "Chad, help me!" Chad didn't know what to do, so he bit, kicked, and punched the men, pleading them to let his mother go. Then a man pulled him off, and that was the last time he ever saw his mom. ...
Chad was thrown in a reddish/brownish pick up truck. His ankle was in a chain, so he couldn't break loose. Chad watched as he pulled away from his house. Tears strolled down his face when he saw his dad running after the truck. Chad noticed the truck pulling into a little village. He noticed many kids there. The weird thing is they all had guns in their hands.
Chad was unchained and taken to a little room. Chad was so frightened because he had no idea what was going on. What do they want from me, thought Chad. Then Chad was blindfolded; all of a sudden he felt a heavy weight laying in his arms. Then a man screamed, "Shoot!" Chad didn't know what he was talking about, so just sat there. The gun was ripped out of his hands, and Chad was thrown to the ground. A man in a green wrap called two kids in. He screamed in their ears, "Beat him!" The kids started to beat him.
Later that day, the men gave him a gun. They told him he must shoot, or die. Chad knew his parents would be ashamed, but he shot the gun. A few weeks went by in the horrible village. While Chad went to the bathroom, he remembered the story of his grandfather. All Chad's mother told him was that the Janjaweed militia took him to a camp. He was forced to do many things no child should be put through. Later that evening, Chad asked one of the children if they knew where they were; no one knew. Chad was brave, and asked a man. The man hit him with his gun and said, "You are part of our Army, the Janjaweed Militia." Chad's knee started to shake; he knew everything, it was all coming at him so fast. Chad then had a blackout.
Five minutes later, Chad woke up and was in pain all over. He looked around and there were about 10 boys around him. One young boy came up and bit Chad in the leg. The next boy grabbed him by the hair and punched him. They went on, each taking one turn and beating Chad. Later that day, Chad and five other boys made a plan to escape. When it was the exact moment for them to start running, they all looked at each other. Chad ran, and soon after the other boys were running, too. Chad climbed over the fence. He took a deep breath. "I am free!"
Tears and joy rushed into his body. Chad kept running. He wanted to get far away from the militia. He slowed down, and run out of breath. He sat beside a tree. Tears began to cry out for poor Chad. Chad was a lost boy, a lost boy of the Sudan.