Fidgety in the fingers, I told the story of my time on the run from the LRA or Lord?s Resistance Army who attacked my village one day about 4 months ago. He was a reporter for some magazine; I was guessing a popular one in the United States of America.
I am now staying in the Rachele center in Lira, Northern Uganda, safe. Right now, I miss Lizzi, the Dutch humanitarian worker who helped me along the way. And it was because of her that I am still here today. The man jot down what I was saying quickly but in clear, although tied together letters that I couldn?t comprehend. But, why did he chose me? Wouldn?t he be more interested in the kid who doesn?t have a leg, or the one who?s face is scribbled in scars?
How could this hell on earth be forgotten from the rest of the world? Everyone cares about what happens in Iraq and other stuff in the Middle East region. I was forced to bludgeon people to death when the LRA caught me, and all anybody cares about is when a roadside bomb happens in a remote country they haven?t even heard of.
But what happened in the past month was one of the most adventurous any person couldn?t dream of and more frightening than in the worst nightmares. Although I have a story to tell, I guess nobody cares, but I hope they do. This is a lot to tell, but I?m going to.
Before you move on to read any further, be prepared to be taken on a journey beyond your wildest dreams; beyond that wild Iraq propaganda because this, my friends, is reality. One most northern Ugandans face daily.
?Hey Nick,? I shouted to my 9-year-old brother, ?let?s go fetch some water.?
?Awe, do I have to?? he whined back ,?You know it?s expensive and rare in Uganda. Most suffer from dehydration.?
?Yeah, well I don?t plan to anytime soon.?
We walked down to the stream and washed our faces. The hot summer day didn?t help my thirst. I the feel of the nice cold water in my mouth quenched my thirst.
?See, here?s some water. The stream isn?t going to run dry in the near future? I said to him as I washed my hands. Our village was lucky enough to be on a stream for our water. I loved to take a dive in there quite often and the cool water is a wonderful treat on a scorching day when most of the village kids try to seek refuge under one of the region?s few trees. Uganda is generally on savannah and there?s not many trees to seek shelter under.
