NEWSLETTER

So when you were at school were you ever scared that you were going to be bombed?

Dani: Of course. We know in Baghdad that when we leave the house there is a big chance we won’t return home alive.

Sara: A few bombs have blown up near my school.

What happened?

Sara: Two were car bombs. The other was a huge explosion on an office block near by.

Was anyone harmed at your school?

Sara: The last explosion caused all the windows to shatter and fall in on us. It was so loud and powerful that it made the building we were in shake. Everyone was screaming, crying, and jumping under their desks. But I was laughing.

Why?

Sara: Because it was exciting. I couldn’t help it. I was screaming but not like the rest of them. It was fun. I was jumping around after it happened. Everyone was crying.

So it’s fun to get bombed?

Sara: No, I don’t mean it like that. It was fun like when you go on a roller coaster.

Have you ever even been on a roller coaster?

Sara: No. I’ve seen it on film. I would really like to go on a roller coaster. I think it’s probably the same feeling as the bomb. I want to do a bungee jump as well. My uncle did it in England a few years ago and gave me a tape of it.

Dani, have you ever been close to an explosion?

Dani: Yes, lots of times.

What happened?

Dani: A month ago I was very lucky I wasn’t injured. I was at my friend Hassan’s house. The Americans were outside on the streets standing around. Hassan’s older cousin told us to take some drinks out to them because it was so hot. Earlier on that day, Hassan and I climbed a tree and were throwing unripe dates at two of the soldiers. It was so funny because it took them so long to work out where it was coming from. It was our fault we got caught. We couldn’t stop laughing and one of them heard us as we scrambled down the trunk.

What did he do?

Dani: He ran after us.

For throwing dates at them?

Dani: He was just playing. It doesn’t matter. That’s not the story anyway. When we took the drinks out to them, Hassan and I wanted to take his cousin’s dog out with us. Then there was a loud bang where six Americans were standing down the road from us. One was on the ground. Hassan and I ran toward the house. At this point grenades were falling behind us. That was scary as hell and I really thought I was going to die. I wanted to scream but something just came over me, and we just ran. I was surprisingly calm. I’d never run so fast before that, but I have since. These attacks are getting closer and closer. As we ran we heard a car bomb go off. The militia had surrounded the Americans with the car bomb and the grenades. The fighting lasted for an hour.

So now that you don’t go to school, what do you do all day?

Sara: I still have to study like I would if I were at school. My mum and dad make me.

Dani: Yeah, me too. I study and maybe have a nap in the afternoon because it gets so hot. Sometimes I play football.

When was the last time you guys went to a party or something?

Sara: I can’t remember. It’s been so long since I’ve seen my school friends, let alone gone to a party.

Dani: I went to a party a month ago. It was a girl in my class’s 14th birthday. I only went because my friend likes her. It wasn’t a real party though. There was some music and a bit of dancing, but not like before. You can tell all the parents are on edge and really scared. They all stayed at the house with us because they were too frightened to leave their children.

What were parties in Baghdad like before the war?

Dani: Not all of the parents would stay, and you could do what you wanted. We would put on loud music and have water fights and run around the streets.

Sara: Birthday parties used to be really special occasions. Everyone would get dressed up in their best clothes and go to a restaurant and then maybe do karaoke.

So are you guys going to stay in Iraq?

Sara: No. We are leaving Iraq. This situation is death. Every day a neighbour or someone we know is forced to leave their homes by the militia. It will probably happen to us if we stay.

Dani: I’m really sad to leave, but there is no other choice.

INTERVIEWED BY ZEENA ZAKARIA


LITTLE IRAQ | 1 | 2 |

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