Short Story: A Hero's War

John’s village was completely unprepared for the attack which resulted in many deaths. As the attack came to an end, John couldn't find his family in the dawn. John and Abraham, one of the older members of his tribe, fled from the soldiers. They would escape death many times. John later concluded he had lost all of his family. They had several enemies including the kill squads. They were very hungry and very thirsty and that was more of a concern to them than the predators, and they went on trying to find their way to a safe haven. They sneaked around so that they wouldn't be seen by anyone. For John it became a matter of wondering how far they could get without falling to the hands of death. He kept going forward for his own safety and
But soon they began the many miles walk to what they hoped would be safety. Still too small to carry her sister on her shoulders as the adults could do Martha always kept her in her sights and walked nearby. As far as she was concerned she was Tabitha’s mother now and responsible for her safety and she wasn't going to let anyone harm her or her sister.

John and Martha were trying to go to the same place a refugee camp but it would be years before they would finally be safe. This is one of their very difficult lives and is full of hope and courage in the face of starvation, bombs and crocodile-infested rivers. But they are up for it just to make sure they got to somewhere that they trusted and felt safe again.

As John writes in an early chapter about the rules a Dinka child learns from his elders “First they never ever give up no matter what odds are against them. And second like lions they work together.” Part of John’s story is also told in the prize-winning God Grew Tired of Us. But Lost Boy, Lost Girl gives a more complete story of how these two lost children found each other and began a new life together. I liked it because it was a heart warming story and it had great. Meaning. to