Time Limit

Dear Mother,

Life is brutal here. The general is mean and the elder men tease and
bully Peter and I. We shouldn't be here.

I remeber when I was small. Peter couldn't walk. I watched this English
programme about the 2nd World war. I remember thinking. How awful!
Thinking about the happy, wonderful life i led then and about the
childrens lives back then. I felt like crying. I now hope in years to
come. Some English bloke will make a documentry about this war and some
kid will feel like crying over me and Peter. It is dirty times that we
live in.

Please bless Tinolaam and Baby Nardie. Don't tell them that we are
worried and scared. Tell them that we are brave and killing of those
brutal enemies. On that note bless the whole family.

I don't know why we are fighting. Saddam Hussain may have illegal
weapons. Even I don't know. I know that the older men know and I don't
know because I could easily be a spy for the British or Americans. But
I'm not. What if Saddam did have them. Would I be killed? It's not my
fault I'm fighting for the idiot. I was forced. Papa knows. I know he
does. I over heard him talking with the other men. I was sent to go
fetch some more beer before I could hear anything. Dad's been drinking
lots. He gets drunk every night. He's not in a fit state to fight. He
hits me and Peter. He's changed.

Recently Peter has been shaking and having fits. No-one takes any
notice of us. And I daren't tell anyone. Mother, what should I do? He
recovers from them easily. But I should be doing more.

I must tell you this. Before someone else does. Peter has seen the
English. They wore heavy clothing and hard helmets. He says they could
have killed him if they had saw him. It was a dare. Father made it.
Then when he came back he had a massive one of those fits. His first
one. How can just people have that effect on a tiny 12 year old
boy?

I'm not really allowed to send you this. But a kind man that equipped
us says he knows Maman. Grandmother. So he'll give it to her to give to
you.

Mother. Please don't cry. I don't want to make you sad. But If we don't
get out of this, please can you make a gravestone outside of the chapel
along with all of my belongings. Get Granpapa to engrave:
MOHAMMED KIFONA
1987- 2003
AGED 16
HE DIED FOR HIS COUNTRY.

Peter says he would like this:
PETER KIFONA
1991-2003
AGED 12
HE DIED IN THE GULF. HIS DEATH WAS A MARK OF THE WAR.

I hope that you'll reply.

Ask Maman to send to that man. DOn't worry he can be trusted.

I hope I'll see you shortly.

Mohammed.

AND
PETER
X