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Samuel was nine
years old and lived in the country of Chad in Africa. His
parents had died from AIDS so he lived with his grandfather.
Many people die of AIDS and will take belongings, children for
slaves, food, cattle, and machinery. That’s why people plant
their gardens by hand. It’s a hard life.
Samuel had just
finished planting squash in his garden when his grandfather
called. “Samuel, you look tired. Come into the house,” he
said. Samuel went to his grandfather and sat down. He began to
read a book that a missionary gave him abut medicines and
sickness. He was reading abut cholera. “Why do you read that?”
asked Grandfather. “Someday it will be important,” said Samuel.
Then they heard
marching on the road. Soliders! “Samuel, I’m going to warn
your aunt,” said grandfather as he hurried out the door. “You
stay here and save everything you can!” Samuel looked out the
window, but his grandfather was already turning the corner. He
scanned the road for a while. Then he saw three rebel scouts
sitting under a banana tree eating bananas. The rest of the
soldiers must still be on the other side of the hill. Samuel
had an idea.
He ran up to
the nearest soldier. “Sir! Sir! Please help us!” Samuel
cried. “My grandfather is sick with cholera! It is very
contagious, so most of the villagers are gone. Please help me
find a doctor and bury the dead!” The tree soldiers looked at
Samuel in horror and in three seconds they were up and running
towards the other soliders. Samuel could hear them marching
hurriedly away.
As Samuel
walked towards the village his grandfather came up to him.
“Samuel, you have saved the village!” It was true. Samuel and
his book had saved the village. |
