Ahmad and Pierre
My name is Ahmad. My father’s name is Amir Gul. I have never been to school. But I studied religious subjects. I do not have any brother or sister. When I was one year old, my mother died and my father married again. One day my father took me out of the house but my uncle who did not have any family took me with himself. After sometime my uncle gave me to my aunt who lived in Pakistan. I was left there. When my uncle was returning to Kabul, he died in a car accident. My aunt had two young sons. My cousins and I used to make carpets. One day my cousins went to Iran and I was left alone with my aunt. My aunt got angry with me that why I also did not go to Iran. She told me that I can’t feed you and she drove me out of the house. In the middle of disappointment one of our neighbor’s boys told me that he would take me to his home in Kabul if his father accepts me. We will live there like brothers. But when I went to their home, his father became angry and did not accept me. I was left on the street. Then I spent two nights at a local ordinary guesthouse. When I run out of money, I used to spend my time at a shrine. After that I went to police and he took me to Tahia Maskan Orphanage. After spending a night there one of the teachers brought me here to Allahoddin Orphanage. I am happy here because I will be going to school in a couple of weeks and I wish to be a teacher in the future.
Bye,
Ahmad
Dear Ahmad,
My name is Pierre. My parents have been married then divorced and are now remarried. On my mom's side I have two sisters and on my dad's side I have 3 brothers and 1 sister.
I think you have lived a very hard life and I am very sorry. I would never have survived like you. You are very tough. I hope things get better and you enjoy your new school. It's amazing that you made rugs, what did they look like? What type of teacher do you want to be? What is your favorite subject in school? So far. I wish I could meet you in person. I am 11 years old and I'm in the 5th grade. My favorite subject in school is math. I play football, baseball, and basketball. I like to eat hamburgers and candy. I like to read books, most of them with humor. I like to hang out with old friends and with my new friends.
Your new friend,
Pierre
October
1, 2009
