Grandpa and Grandma looked surprised. They hadn’t been expecting this. Grandma gave me a look
and I knew that the answer was no. “But I have too. I have to get him out of this. He is my brother!” I yelled.
Grandpa didn’t like the way I said that and he got very angry and screamed, “Enough, Li Sha! A ‘no’ is
a NO! Go to the shop and do your job!”
I didn’t want to obey but I knew I had to. I stormed out the door. I really hated the shop. It was old and
stinky and I hated being the one to make the cakes and sit there all day long. I just wanted to go and rescue my
brother! I thought, “How can I do anything else when my brother is out there somewhere building this awful
wall?”
I quickly made a decision. I grabbed my stuff and left to find my brother!
I went outside and observed some hoof prints. I decided to follow them as I knew that they belonged to
the soldier’s. I followed them for hours and hours until I saw big tents and small blocks of stones a hundred
meters in front of me!
I ran, but I tripped and saw some men going into a big hole. I decided to follow them but realized that
they were all men. I would be noticed immediately with my long hair.
I saw a pair of scissors lying near the entrance of the hole. A worker must have dropped it. I knew what
I had to do. I had to cut my hair so I would look like a boy.I grabbed my hair and starting cutting it as short as
my brother’s hair. “What are Grandpa and Grandma going to say when they see me? They will probably
strangle me!” I mumbled to myself.
Once it was done, I went into the hole. I could smell a sickness that grabbed at your throat. Everywhere
was dirty and I saw soldiers hitting workers. I thought that I was where nightmares came true.
It was late and I needed to get some sleep before I started searching for my brother. I found a quiet
corner, lay down on the thorny ground and fell asleep.
Day 3
When I woke up, I stretched and told myself that this was the day that I was going to find my brother. I
was so afraid that he would never come back to Grandpa,, Grandma and I. I shed a tear.
But then I saw that the men were all headed in the direction of a huge tent.
I went into the tent and I couldn’t believe my eyes! My brother was there in this old putrid tent. He was
helping some ill and injured men!
When he saw me, he ran to give me a hug. I was so happy to see him.
“
What are you doing?” a deep voice shouted. It was the soldier that was guarding the tent! “You are
not allowed to talk to the prisoners,” he said pointing me. Then he dragged my brother away.
I screamed! My brother tried to holler some words while the soldier was trying to take him away. I
think he said, “Good-bye! I love you!”
I felt like my heart weighed 2000 pounds. I felt a huge lump in my throat. I cried so much until there
were no more tears to cry! I was speechless. I couldn’t move at all. It felt like I was glued to the ground. His last
words repeated in my head. My brother was gone forever!
Day 4
The next day, I headed home to tell my Grandparents about everything, every move, and everyword
through out my journey. My life was useless without my brother; there was no point of living!
My grandparents and I lived in the dark for the rest of our lives.
* * *