I woke up again this morning you know. Even though i wish i didn't, i still woke up. but this isn't my bed, and this isn't my house.

This

place is strange to me. I didn't want to come here but i had to. I had to because papa had to come here. He had to come here to see

the old man in red. papa said the old man in red wanted to see me, so i had to come here. I walk out of my room now, out to this

strange place. even though this place is strange to me, I like it much better than where I used to be. There, people used to call me

hurtful things. The children used to run whenever i came near, but its not like that here. Here, i can play with the children and they

don't run. Here, I am sheltered from there hurtful things. This place is not like there. I like it here.

I love to play outside here. I love to see the big red building in the center of town, and i love to look at the big faces in the rocks. I like

to climb all the trees that are here. There are no trees over there. Its all sandy and dusty. i like here much better than there. Here is

almost perfect, exept...for the sand. The sand still follows me everywhere i go. Why didn't it stay in that place like the rest of the

sand? I cant seem to get rid of this sand. The sand is a painful reminder of there. I dont want to go back there! I never want to go

back to all those hurful things again! I run away and hide on a rooftop. They cant make me leave this place. I don't want to ever

leave this place. I like it here.

But now i'm hearing more hurtful things! how did they find me here? I thought i was safe here! I turn aruound and see that they

are not saying those hurtful things to me. They are saying them to that boy over there. He looks different to me but...some how

we are the same. I don't know how but we are. They are still saying hutful things to him. Why wont they stop? Can't they see that

he's crying? Can't they see that they're hurting him? The boy is running away now. he's running far away where they can't get him.

He turned a corner. Hes climbing on to the roof that i am on. He didn't see me here. I should go before he sees me...Its too late

now, he saw me. Hes looking at me, and I'm looking at him, his eyes tell a story. He's just like me.

We stare at each other for moments on end. But i have to go now, big sister is calling me. I go to her. She says that papa is going

back tomorrow, so I have to go too. but i don't want to go! I want to stay here with the birds and the trees and the boy! I don't want

to leave! I never want to leave! I float to the top of the big rocks with my sand. The sky is orange now. The day is nearly over!

I dont want to leave tomorrow! no! id rather just end it all. I walk to the edge of the rocks. this is it for me, but i know its best.

I squeeze my eyes shut and step of the end. this is it. its over...but wait, something is wrong. Something is stopping me. i open

my eyes. and i see whats stopping me. Its the boy! he's holding my hand. He won't let me fall. He pulls me back up, and picks me up

off the ground. my eyes meet his. and then...he smiles at me. I don't believe it. He smiles at me. all i can do is smile back.

I still cant believe it! There is hope after all.

I woke up again this morning you know. Im back in the sandy dusty place again, but i dont mind it any more, because now, when

ever people say hurtful things to me, i remember that boy and i smile, just like i smiled on that day. I'm happier now because, now i

have

a friend.