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- Story Listed as: Fiction For Kids
- Theme: Survival / Success
- Subject: Family
- Published: 02/05/2021
NOT GOING TO GIVE UP
By Annaya Raza
I looked at my sister who was looking at me and said to myself; “Why is she staring at me, is it because the way I’m dressed or is it because she thinks she’s better than me?” After sometime even though I was trying to control myself I asked her; “Why are you staring at me and when will mom and dad be back from Paris?” She replied in a dark voice; “Come with me.” I was horrified at first and thought that she was going to kill me but then I thought that she is my sister so she cannot harm me, right? We arrived under the bridge, beside the motorway where the river was rushing by, she then handed me water and bread. I didn’t know what to do with food and asked her; “Why have we come here and what is this food for?” She replied; “I got a call from mom and dad, they said that I had to get rid of you in order for them to come back and I am tired of waiting for them to come back.” I looked at her in shock and tried to say ‘Why’ but it was like I was mute now and wasn’t able to speak. I mustered up all my courage and shouted but all she did was ignore me. She left me with a little bit of food saying "Good Luck." I thought to myself; 'That’s it? She’s leaving me like this? What bad have I done to them that they had to get rid of me? And is this how it ends?' Everything was happening so quickly. I started thinking about how I was going to survive. I only had 1 other family member. My aunt Helena was the only one who could help me, but she lived all the way in London and I was in Bangladesh. I initially thought it wasn’t that far which I was obviously wrong.
It was now like 11pm and I was getting really tried. I slept near the river. It was impossible to sleep on the cold and mushy river bank, I cried myself to sleep. The next morning, I got ready to begin my journey. I started but I didn’t have any map to guide me since I didn’t know where to walk or go, so I just explored town. People were staring at me, I for sure thought that they were looking at me because of how bad I smelled. I got tried and went inside a café, I was so hungry, the food smelled so good, but I didn’t have any money and then all of a sudden I saw my sister behind me. She sat with me and said, “I’ve been looking for you all over the town.” I replied, “Why? I thought you had to get rid of me, you said.” She responded while crying softly, “Ellie I love you but mom and dad say that you have a lot of problems. I don’t want you to give up on yourself so tell me what do you want that will help you improve yourself?” I answered, “Do you have a map?” Her eyes lit up and said, “Umm-yes, of course. I wish you a safe journey to where ever you are going. I know that you will make me proud.” Saying that she left as abruptly as she had come.
Now that I knew what was wrong with me I was committed to fix myself because I’m that type of person who always strives to improve herself and to fix problems that I make just like this one. Also, I love adventures so I was kind of excited, I took my map and started my journey. Days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months, the way I survived was normal just like any other homeless person trying to not give up on themselves. I would barley sleep and would eat food from the trees or the trash or sometimes if I were lucky left overs of peoples dishes. This may sound weird to some but I was so grateful every time I’d find or get food because some days I had no food to eat at all.
After all my hard struggles I made it to Russia. It took me four months to reach Russia. When I reached I was pretty shocked, I thought that I was dreaming but it turned out I was actually in Russia. all it really took was commitment and people smiling at me. The day I reached Russia I took a day off because it was my birthday. of course I couldn’t do anything special as I had no money and no friends. I spent the day exploring, later I found a girl sitting on the roadside, crying. She seemed to be the same age as me, looked like me and also seemed homeless. I went up to her and asked “Are you ok?” She wiped her tears and said, “Yes.” I responded, “It’s ok if something is wrong you can tell me.” I don’t know why but I felt a connection towards her. She said while crying, “It’s just that my parents died a couple days ago in a car accident and I just feel so lonely, I don’t even know how to survive like this without any financial support.” She started crying even more. I sat next to her and said, “How about you come with me to London? We can be friends and I’ll teach you how to survive. What do you say?” Her eyes started lighting up and she said “OH MY GOSH, thank you and of course I would love to.” I giggled and we had some food which a kind person had given us. We then spent the whole day getting to learn about each other. It turned out that her name was Nellie, it rhymed with my name, she also had an aunt in London and we had so many things in common. It almost seemed like we were twins, but it was probably nothing, or was it? Anyway, the next day we left for London. On the way there I told her about my story and journey, she was really impressed and said, “If your family thinks you have problems then what are they?” She asked a really good question, it was so good that I didn’t know the answer myself so I just said “I actually don’t know.” Then with sudden boost in her energy she said “What if we go to Paris first and then London?” It was a pretty good idea because we were close to reaching London and France comes just before UK. So I said yes.
After a few weeks we were close to reaching South Russia. We were so excited because we were so close, in a few more months we would be in Paris. Me and Nellie had the workout of the century every day. We were fit to stone. Even though we both barely had any food, any sleep, and walked all day we both were happy and healthy until tragedy occurred. Nellie got sick and wasn’t able to walk anymore. soon she was getting sicker and sicker day by day. On the last moment of her life she said to me in a low voice, “Ellie go on for me, you have been an amazing friend and these last days of my life together have been amazing. It is now time for me to go to my parents.” I started crying and said, “No! Don’t go! Please! You are the only one I have left. Please!” She then lastly said, “Go, and believe me if I could I would want to stay here for longe-” And just like that she left me in the cold and brutal world. I was devastated.
For a week I left the idea of going to Paris and London and was just about to give up on myself until a random woman passed by me and smiled at me. I don’t know why but she gave me a burst of energy to keep going. The next day I left for Paris, the first few weeks were hard as heck to pass by, every day I would think about Nellie. At last I reached Paris. I didn’t really understand the language so it was difficult trying to blend in. Their food was spot on, but with all jokes aside my main mission was to find my parents. After a few days I was able to find my mom in a café. I confronted my mom, “What’s wrong with me?” She looked at me in shock at first and then she figured out what I meant. She said “ Sit down sweetie we need to talk.” I sat down in a chair and then she said, “ Sweetie, me and your dad love you so much, I can’t explain anything right now, but I need you to go to London And then come back here to Paris.” I replied “Why should I believe you? What is there left to explain? And how did you know that I was going to Paris?” She answered “I promise you that I will explain everything after you do this task, and the reason I knew that you were going to Paris is because you knew that Aunt Helena was your only other family member to go to to and I’m your mother so of course I can tell with my mind what you are doing and about to do. Now please go and here’s some money for you to pay for the boat ride there and back, also here’s some money for food.” Without letting me say another word she left. I don’t know why but I had this gut instinct that I should listen to her.
With the little money I had, I bought myself food and made my way to the dock. Once I got on the boat I was so relaxed, it was nice to take a break from everything that happened and just to unwind and relax, you know. In no time I was in UK, but this time I didn’t have to walk to London because I saved some money by bargaining with the boatman so that I could ride in a Taxi, which worked pretty well if you ask me. This sounds weird to me now but didn’t then. why was there only 1 Taxi driver there to take me? I thought that it was maybe a UK thing that I did not know about. While I was in the Taxi I couldn’t help thinking about Nellie but I didn’t know why so I just assumed that I was missing her or something. Once I reached London the Taxi driver gave me a box and didn’t want any money for the drive. I was confused but didn’t say anything. I made my way out of the car trying not to open the box there and then. once he left I opened the box and inside there was a piece of paper that said “OPEN ME FIRST” so I did as told. inside the paper it said “Go to your aunts house” with coordinates written. inside the box there was a coordinates converter. I typed the coordinates inside the converter and got an address to go to. I was 99.9 percent sure that was the address to my aunt’s house because why else would it say, “Go to your aunts house?” Soon after I reached the address which was sure enough my aunt’s house. She let me in and said, “You have to give your mom this letter BUT don’t you open it ok?” I replied “Ok and can I stay the night here for one night please?” She smiled and said “Of course”. I took a shower, I had dinner and had a goodnight sleep, which was nice to have in a really long time.
The next morning I had breakfast and got a Taxi, but this time they charged money, and I went back to the dock and got another boat. It wasn’t long before I was back in Paris. I went to the same café where I saw my mom and she was there. I gave her the letter and she read it, she then said, “Ellie, have you ever met a girl named Nellie?” I answered, “Yes and how do you know?” She replied, “You had a twin sister named Nellie. Nellie had a strange disease and it was affecting your liver somehow being twins. we didn’t want it to catch on to you so we put her up for adoption since the doctors suggested that maybe distance between the twins would save you both. Later we found out that she had only a few days to survive. your sister contacted Nellie and we made this plan. Your doctor said that if Nellie died you too would be no more. I’m sorry.” There and then I couldn’t stop myself from crying. I hugged my mom and we both cried because she was a part of both of us but I knew nothing could be done. I was happy that I had lived her last moments with her. Now I’m living happily with my family but every single day I’m thinking about Nellie, after all she was my twin and will forever be.
The End
Never going to give up(Annaya Raza)
NOT GOING TO GIVE UP
By Annaya Raza
I looked at my sister who was looking at me and said to myself; “Why is she staring at me, is it because the way I’m dressed or is it because she thinks she’s better than me?” After sometime even though I was trying to control myself I asked her; “Why are you staring at me and when will mom and dad be back from Paris?” She replied in a dark voice; “Come with me.” I was horrified at first and thought that she was going to kill me but then I thought that she is my sister so she cannot harm me, right? We arrived under the bridge, beside the motorway where the river was rushing by, she then handed me water and bread. I didn’t know what to do with food and asked her; “Why have we come here and what is this food for?” She replied; “I got a call from mom and dad, they said that I had to get rid of you in order for them to come back and I am tired of waiting for them to come back.” I looked at her in shock and tried to say ‘Why’ but it was like I was mute now and wasn’t able to speak. I mustered up all my courage and shouted but all she did was ignore me. She left me with a little bit of food saying "Good Luck." I thought to myself; 'That’s it? She’s leaving me like this? What bad have I done to them that they had to get rid of me? And is this how it ends?' Everything was happening so quickly. I started thinking about how I was going to survive. I only had 1 other family member. My aunt Helena was the only one who could help me, but she lived all the way in London and I was in Bangladesh. I initially thought it wasn’t that far which I was obviously wrong.
It was now like 11pm and I was getting really tried. I slept near the river. It was impossible to sleep on the cold and mushy river bank, I cried myself to sleep. The next morning, I got ready to begin my journey. I started but I didn’t have any map to guide me since I didn’t know where to walk or go, so I just explored town. People were staring at me, I for sure thought that they were looking at me because of how bad I smelled. I got tried and went inside a café, I was so hungry, the food smelled so good, but I didn’t have any money and then all of a sudden I saw my sister behind me. She sat with me and said, “I’ve been looking for you all over the town.” I replied, “Why? I thought you had to get rid of me, you said.” She responded while crying softly, “Ellie I love you but mom and dad say that you have a lot of problems. I don’t want you to give up on yourself so tell me what do you want that will help you improve yourself?” I answered, “Do you have a map?” Her eyes lit up and said, “Umm-yes, of course. I wish you a safe journey to where ever you are going. I know that you will make me proud.” Saying that she left as abruptly as she had come.
Now that I knew what was wrong with me I was committed to fix myself because I’m that type of person who always strives to improve herself and to fix problems that I make just like this one. Also, I love adventures so I was kind of excited, I took my map and started my journey. Days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months, the way I survived was normal just like any other homeless person trying to not give up on themselves. I would barley sleep and would eat food from the trees or the trash or sometimes if I were lucky left overs of peoples dishes. This may sound weird to some but I was so grateful every time I’d find or get food because some days I had no food to eat at all.
After all my hard struggles I made it to Russia. It took me four months to reach Russia. When I reached I was pretty shocked, I thought that I was dreaming but it turned out I was actually in Russia. all it really took was commitment and people smiling at me. The day I reached Russia I took a day off because it was my birthday. of course I couldn’t do anything special as I had no money and no friends. I spent the day exploring, later I found a girl sitting on the roadside, crying. She seemed to be the same age as me, looked like me and also seemed homeless. I went up to her and asked “Are you ok?” She wiped her tears and said, “Yes.” I responded, “It’s ok if something is wrong you can tell me.” I don’t know why but I felt a connection towards her. She said while crying, “It’s just that my parents died a couple days ago in a car accident and I just feel so lonely, I don’t even know how to survive like this without any financial support.” She started crying even more. I sat next to her and said, “How about you come with me to London? We can be friends and I’ll teach you how to survive. What do you say?” Her eyes started lighting up and she said “OH MY GOSH, thank you and of course I would love to.” I giggled and we had some food which a kind person had given us. We then spent the whole day getting to learn about each other. It turned out that her name was Nellie, it rhymed with my name, she also had an aunt in London and we had so many things in common. It almost seemed like we were twins, but it was probably nothing, or was it? Anyway, the next day we left for London. On the way there I told her about my story and journey, she was really impressed and said, “If your family thinks you have problems then what are they?” She asked a really good question, it was so good that I didn’t know the answer myself so I just said “I actually don’t know.” Then with sudden boost in her energy she said “What if we go to Paris first and then London?” It was a pretty good idea because we were close to reaching London and France comes just before UK. So I said yes.
After a few weeks we were close to reaching South Russia. We were so excited because we were so close, in a few more months we would be in Paris. Me and Nellie had the workout of the century every day. We were fit to stone. Even though we both barely had any food, any sleep, and walked all day we both were happy and healthy until tragedy occurred. Nellie got sick and wasn’t able to walk anymore. soon she was getting sicker and sicker day by day. On the last moment of her life she said to me in a low voice, “Ellie go on for me, you have been an amazing friend and these last days of my life together have been amazing. It is now time for me to go to my parents.” I started crying and said, “No! Don’t go! Please! You are the only one I have left. Please!” She then lastly said, “Go, and believe me if I could I would want to stay here for longe-” And just like that she left me in the cold and brutal world. I was devastated.
For a week I left the idea of going to Paris and London and was just about to give up on myself until a random woman passed by me and smiled at me. I don’t know why but she gave me a burst of energy to keep going. The next day I left for Paris, the first few weeks were hard as heck to pass by, every day I would think about Nellie. At last I reached Paris. I didn’t really understand the language so it was difficult trying to blend in. Their food was spot on, but with all jokes aside my main mission was to find my parents. After a few days I was able to find my mom in a café. I confronted my mom, “What’s wrong with me?” She looked at me in shock at first and then she figured out what I meant. She said “ Sit down sweetie we need to talk.” I sat down in a chair and then she said, “ Sweetie, me and your dad love you so much, I can’t explain anything right now, but I need you to go to London And then come back here to Paris.” I replied “Why should I believe you? What is there left to explain? And how did you know that I was going to Paris?” She answered “I promise you that I will explain everything after you do this task, and the reason I knew that you were going to Paris is because you knew that Aunt Helena was your only other family member to go to to and I’m your mother so of course I can tell with my mind what you are doing and about to do. Now please go and here’s some money for you to pay for the boat ride there and back, also here’s some money for food.” Without letting me say another word she left. I don’t know why but I had this gut instinct that I should listen to her.
With the little money I had, I bought myself food and made my way to the dock. Once I got on the boat I was so relaxed, it was nice to take a break from everything that happened and just to unwind and relax, you know. In no time I was in UK, but this time I didn’t have to walk to London because I saved some money by bargaining with the boatman so that I could ride in a Taxi, which worked pretty well if you ask me. This sounds weird to me now but didn’t then. why was there only 1 Taxi driver there to take me? I thought that it was maybe a UK thing that I did not know about. While I was in the Taxi I couldn’t help thinking about Nellie but I didn’t know why so I just assumed that I was missing her or something. Once I reached London the Taxi driver gave me a box and didn’t want any money for the drive. I was confused but didn’t say anything. I made my way out of the car trying not to open the box there and then. once he left I opened the box and inside there was a piece of paper that said “OPEN ME FIRST” so I did as told. inside the paper it said “Go to your aunts house” with coordinates written. inside the box there was a coordinates converter. I typed the coordinates inside the converter and got an address to go to. I was 99.9 percent sure that was the address to my aunt’s house because why else would it say, “Go to your aunts house?” Soon after I reached the address which was sure enough my aunt’s house. She let me in and said, “You have to give your mom this letter BUT don’t you open it ok?” I replied “Ok and can I stay the night here for one night please?” She smiled and said “Of course”. I took a shower, I had dinner and had a goodnight sleep, which was nice to have in a really long time.
The next morning I had breakfast and got a Taxi, but this time they charged money, and I went back to the dock and got another boat. It wasn’t long before I was back in Paris. I went to the same café where I saw my mom and she was there. I gave her the letter and she read it, she then said, “Ellie, have you ever met a girl named Nellie?” I answered, “Yes and how do you know?” She replied, “You had a twin sister named Nellie. Nellie had a strange disease and it was affecting your liver somehow being twins. we didn’t want it to catch on to you so we put her up for adoption since the doctors suggested that maybe distance between the twins would save you both. Later we found out that she had only a few days to survive. your sister contacted Nellie and we made this plan. Your doctor said that if Nellie died you too would be no more. I’m sorry.” There and then I couldn’t stop myself from crying. I hugged my mom and we both cried because she was a part of both of us but I knew nothing could be done. I was happy that I had lived her last moments with her. Now I’m living happily with my family but every single day I’m thinking about Nellie, after all she was my twin and will forever be.
The End
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BEN BROWN
02/07/2021BEN BROWN
I'm well impressed with what you've written. It has a great Charles Dickens style to it. The beginning part made me think about Oliver Twist journeying to London. The end part made me think of ET and his strong connection with Elliot. It would make a very good Dicken's like film. Well done.
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