Chapter 1
*CLASH CLASH*. Everyone hid under the tables for the normal emergency bomb alarm. Im Ayla, a Palestinian, and this is survival class. It wasnt ever in the corriculum but it was recently added since the war. I hate it though. Whats hiding under a table going to teach me! Yep, thats right, nothing, im glad im at least getting an education unlike some of those poor, needy children on the street, but this class doesnt teach me how to fight, defent myself, survi- "Well Ayla, dont want to be staying under that table for too long, do you?" Miss Salin asked me sarcastically as she walked towards the desk, eyeballing me. Why did she had to point me out like that! I crawled back up onto my desk, and everyone was staring at me, giggling and covering their smiles. I had turned so red of embarrassment. "Okay everyone! Settle down, settle down. Lunch is in 5 minutes, so I'd like you to discuss with your partners the different places to hide in case of an unexpected bomb,". Miss Salin said, examining the whole class. The class all started muttering and talking to each other. But of course out of all people i didnt have a partner. I rested my head on my hand, annoyed. Then someone lightly tapped me on my back. Im being honest, it didnt even feel like a hand at first. I turned around and saw miss Salin standing in front of me. My heart started beating fast. Will she remove me? Shout at me? Give me a bad grade? No. She just quietly said to me,"pay attention, i don't want you to fail this class," . I was surprised, but not too shocked, miss Salin was known to be a light-hearted, kind teacher in school.
"RING RING* Immediately the class started shuffling and packing up their bags. I got up then heard my best friend, Laila, behind me. "What was that?" She asked giggling as she nudged me trying to not smile. "She always points me out, its not my fault," i say as i nudge her back and lightly smile. I cant ever get mad at Laila, she was there for me when i needed it, the hardest times, and the easiest. Laila left the room and joined the lunch line with me following up behind. "They have bread!!!," Laila exclaimed squeeling from excitement and holding my hands as she jumped up and down. "Say Wallahi!" I said, not believing a word she said. "Wallahi, Wallahi!", she replied still somehow jumping. I couldn't believe it, bread. And it was warm. I cant remember the last time I've had real food. Let alone bread! As soon as the line shifted along, i grabbed the bread as fast as i could. As i put it on my tray, a thought came to my mind. What about my family? Here's me enjoying my food while there in the tent, eating.. well... Nothing! While no one was looking (or so i thought) i quickly grabbed another peice of bread and stuffed it in my inside pocket. Me and Laila went back to the table we're normally at and slammed out trays down. "I saw that you know," Laila said, quite serious and I've never seen her like that, especially to me. "Saw what?" I said. i was so confused, what did she see, ive got nothing to hide? She leaned forward and covered her mouth with her hand on the side and whispered,"the bread,". Okay, well, maybe i have got something to hide, but that's it! "Ye, ye, i know, i do feel bad, i promise i do, but i need it Lay, you know i do!" I said, my heart full of regret and sorrow. "I do too Ayla! I don't take it because i know other people need it," she said to me. I was just about to reply to her, but then i heard all the children in the hall screaming, shouting and piercing my ears. Some were running, stuffing food in their mouth, others were jumping on table, screaming like there was no tomorrow, and the teachers were panicking, gone red. Whats happening? Well, you've got to find out..
Leaving you on a cliff hanger was kinda rude, so I'll carry on. "Allah, no, i think a bomb just hit," Laila said, tears gathering up into her eyes. I took her hands and grabbed my bread, stuffing it inside my pocket. "where are we going!," She asked me as we both were potentially running for our lives. She sniffled and was about to break into tears. I ran. Fast. Not just that normal speed walking. I mean fast. We both sprinted to Miss Salil's classroom, seems as though its the only place that wont be crowded with havoc. As soon as we entered we had seen Miss Salil on the phone. How though is my question? We cant get internet here, we haven't been able to since forever. When the door had bashed open and hit the wall, she immediately turned around and slammed her phone on the her desk. What was that? I don't know, yet. But im sure she was on the phone to someone, i don't know how, or why, but she was, i saw it, i cant unsee it. She smiled and walked over to us like nothing happened. "Yes girls?" She asked us and she put her hand on my shoulder. Is she daft!? Does she not see that our entire school has most likely gotten hit my a bomb and everyone is running for their lives? "Miss do you not see whats going on out there!? Do you not see that the lives of all these children could be gone in the matter of seconds and standing here, talking to you and wasting these precious seconds does not make it any better!!". Wow. I can't believe i just said that. And to a teacher. Even i was shocked from what i said. Laila wiped her tears and even she was shocked as she stared at me with her eyes looking blood shot red from her tears. "Attitude miss Ahmed!," she shouted. Is she crazy!? There are kids dying out there and here she is shouting at me for- attitude!? This woman is out of her mind and lost it. She cant be real. "I like how you care about your peers Ayla, but there is no need to worry, someone had set off the alarm, and now we are just trying to get everyone settled, now please do not ever show me that attitude again," Miss Salil calmly said. No wonder she wasnt worried, of course she wasn't. My face had turned from red to pale in the matter of seconds after hearing that i might live another day. Or so i thought..
