Jim Howes

Illustrated by Vasja Koman

Everything’sWonderful…

Not

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Chapter 1 Journals ........................................... 4

Chapter 2 January 31 ....................................... 6

Chapter 3 February 1 ...................................... 10

Chapter 4 February 5 ..................................... 18

Chapter 5 February 7 ..................................... 24

Chapter 6 February 8 ..................................... 34

Chapter 7 February 9 ..................................... 41

Chapter 8 February 12 .................................... 45

Chapter 9 February 13 ................................... 49

Chapter 10 February 15 .................................... 51

Chapter 11 February 17 ..................................... 53

Chapter 12 February 19 ..................................... 55

CoNtENts

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4

Katie

This is the journal that we are meant to keep for the whole year in school. We don’t start for another couple of days yet but I have decided to start my journal before we go back to school because, well, just because. It’s my journal and I don’t need

a reason. I just lost my best friend ever because her dad took a job half a world away and I need to talk to somebody, even if it’s just myself.

The teacher told us at the end of last year that we would be given time every day to write in this journal but we could write more often if we wanted to. He said that nobody would ever read them unless we wanted to share them with someone. Not likely for yours truly.

So, this is Book 1, the first volume of the journal of Katie McPherson.

Name: Katie McPherson

Class: English

Teacher: Mr Campbell

Born: Pembroke, Australia,

Southern Hemisphere,

Earth

School: Pembroke

Title: Journal Book One

(TOP SECrET – KEEP OuT)

1. Journals

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5

Maadi

This is the first part of my journal since coming to this country. It is part of my schoolwork. The teacher told us that we would be writing in it every day at school. He also said to write more often if we wanted to say anything more.

I have a lot to write about. There are many things that have happened to me and my family because of the trouble in my homeland of Sudan and I will put them in this journal. I will talk to myself in this journal, talking as though I am talking to a friend, even though I have no friend yet in this country.

Even though we do not start school for another two days, I am going to start writing in my journal before – because I want to write things down.

Our teacher said that what we write is personal and private. He said that no one can read it without our permission.

I do not plan to give my permission to anyone.

Name: Maadi DengClass: English

TeaCher: Mr CampbellsChool: Pembroke BorN: Village of Agwok, Sudan in Eastern Africa

TiTle: My Journal, Part One

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6

Katie

School starts tomorrow and we have to keep this journal for the whole year. Mine won’t be long enough to last the year. I reckon I’ll go through about ten of these. Because everything’s so wonderful…not.

I can’t decide whether I’m glad to be going back to school or not. On the one side it’s always nice to have new books and new things to study. On the other hand it means no more hanging around and doing whatever I feel like.

I just hope I get a seat by myself and not next to some deadhead kid who wants to be best friends or wants to share work and talk about pop stars or TV soapies or other rubbish. I’m just not into that stuff. They can have it.

Should I decorate the pages of my journal or is that too over-the-top? Probably. Better to leave them plain. Does the teacher expect to read this stuff? I hope not. That’s not one of the rules, is it? I mean,

2. January 31

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7

isn’t one of the rules about journal writing that it’s personal and private and not for anybody else’s eyes? I’d better make absolutely sure before I write what I really think. I don’t even want the teacher to read mine.

I could always keep two journals – one full of secrets and the hidden truths of what I see and feel, and the other a bland bunch of writing that sounds like the cool observations of a school girl – something an average teacher would appreciate. I know what teachers like to read in their students’ work – things about personal feelings, poetic stuff and anything where you come to a realisation about what school is really all about. Teachers eat that stuff up.

Yes, I could do that easily if I had to.

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8

Maadi

Dear Journal, you will be the ears that I will speak to this year. It will be to you that I tell my story. I have not had a book like you before, so thick and fine with a shiny black cover, and faint lines on the page that you do not see at first but they are there to guide your writing when you look closely – like the stories of me and my family.

This school I am to go to tomorrow is an old one but people say it is a good one. My sponsors tell me that I should be happy. They have a good integration program there and I will meet other Sudanese children at this school. I am not sure I want to meet other Sudanese children. Perhaps I want to forget Sudan for a while.

Australia. ‘Awsstraalyah.’ It is such a long word and such a long way from my homeland that I wonder if I am on the same planet as I walk along the streets of this town with my new family.

Gerald and Mary have been very kind in taking me into their home. They are from southern Sudan like me and their journey here was a long and difficult one, like mine. We speak English at their house. They have two young girls and I help to look after them and help with the housework, to show my gratitude. But Mary and Gerald tell me I must not neglect my studies. They tell me that

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9

I must do my studies first and then help with the work around the house if there is time. By doing this, they tell me, I will reward their efforts better than simply by doing housework.

I hope that I get a seat alone and by myself tomorrow when I start school. I do not want to be sitting next to a stranger to begin with. Perhaps Gerald or Mary could ask the teacher if that could be arranged? No. That is too much trouble to put on them. I will wear my Sudanese clothing tomorrow. That should make people leave me a seat by myself. I doubt if they will want to sit next to a girl wearing unusual clothes and beads in her hair. They will think it is strange and will leave me alone.

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