Group+5E

=EXPOSITION/INCITING INCIDENT= I was strolling down the old, bumpy street that I walked down every day after school with my best friend, Bota. We talked about the worry of the war in Cambodia because of the change in government.There was tension in the air because we knew that any day now, Khmer Rouge could go looking for us because my dad was a doctor, and they wanted everyone who was "educated" to die. All of the people who were educated had some control over the town, and Khmer Rouge didn't want anyone else having any type of control over the town. Then they would put us in these horrible concentration camps, where they would torture us and make us work in the fields. Also, Bota's dad was going to the war, so we were all worried about him. But the topic then ceased and we started talking about just things that had happened at school today, and all of the projects that the teachers were assigning this year. We had just started going to seventh grade this year, and Bota had just turned 13. The world seemed happy again, and I noticed the beautiful day surrounding me. The sunlight was filtering through the canopy of the autumn-colored trees lining the sidewalk. Bota was laughing at her own imitation of one of our teachers, and her contagious laugh made me collapse to the ground in laughter. As we entered my brown, small house, my mom greeted us with a gracious smile and some snacks. My mom had long, black hair that mirrored my own. Her eyes were sparkling with happiness, although her eyes had care lines around them. That day was so normal, so familiar, that I wouldn't believe what would happen even if someone told us ahead of time. The next morning when I woke up in my small, cramped bedroom, I heard my mom's anxious voice talking to my dad. His reassuring, deep voice contrasted deeply to my mom's shrill, worried voice. As I walked downstairs to get some breakfast, my mom told me that there was no school today, because of some worries about Khmer Rouge coming and destroying everything in their path. The Khmer Rouge is a group that is taking over Cambodia and has taken and illed many people already.Then all of a sudden we heard a boom and a bang. My parents ran to the door twisted the knob tight and saw many men with weapons and stomping around the town breaking into houses. My dad picked me off my feet, grabbed my mom's hand and ran down to the basement. We hid in a tight, small corner covered with blankets and old rags. His face was white with fear, but the defiant look on his face told me that he wasn't going to let our family be taken away. My dad held me close to his chest. We could hear loud stomps from the up stairs. My heart skipped a beat. Thump, thump, thump-thump. Suddenly the door to the basement burst open. Loud footsteps walked down the stairs into the musty, semi-dark room. "Keep quiet ,don't move!" my dad whispered. "I'm scared, Daddy!" I cried. "They're coming. Stop It!" He yelled softly pulling me closer to him. The footsteps creeped closer and closer until they stopped right in front of the place where we were hiding. "Hey, come look," called a deep voice, probably belonging to a Khmer Rouge soldier. "I think we have something here," it said cruelly. Then a hand lifted up the blanket covering my dad's face, and we were all exposed. He kicked my dad to his feet carrying me and my mom with him. The solider picked us up and dragged us to the giant chunky trucks waiting outside. I was crying so hard that my eyes hurt. We were drivin away with many other people, squished into the truck. Knowing not where we were going we closed our eyes and slept.

=RISING ACTION=

"Mom, where are we going ?" I whispered " I have no idea. Just remember that no matter where we are, even if we're seperated, I will always be thinking of you," Mother cried. All too soon, we arrived at the camps. My parents and I were separated into different buildings. I was shocked to see my high school with a Khmer Rouge soldier. When they separated us I thought I would never see my parents again. I had chills running up and down my spine. I was confused and didn't know what to do and where I was. My tears flowed like a river flowing intosa the ocean. Away from its homeland. Away from all of the familiar people, the familiar places. "Mom! Don't leave!" I cried. "Don't leave me all alone! Help me!" But my mom couldn't hear me. I watched her form leave my life. I looked at the room surrounding me. Filled with people who had just had the same situation happen to them. There were women of all ages. Across there were men. We were seperated metal bars. Climbing it would have been pointless, because the poles went through the ceiling. I wondered what would happen to you if you tried to climb it. Questions ran through my mind. Why was I here? Where was my family? What were they doing with us? Where were we going? My thoughts were interrupted by a young man. He was frantically looking around the room. He had dark, thick hair. He was as tall as my father, but much thinner. It was as if he hadn't eaten for a week. His skin was olive colored, and his face looked hollow. I sneaked a closer look by walking toward the bars. He caught my eye and scowled, "It's not polite to stare." This statement was so odd for this type of situation that I almost laughed out loud. He saw my suprised face and smiled for the first time. "I'm Sokha," I introduced myself. "I'm Atith," he replied. At that moment, some guards came around, and we quieted down immediately. Nothing happened, though. They were just coming to check on the prisoners. Once they left, we continued with our introductions. He asked, "Where did you come from?" "Kampackea," I answered, "I came here with my parents and best friend, Bota." At this, tears started rolling down my cheeks. "I don't know where my parents or Bota are. We got seperated." He looked startled at my sudden outburst of tears, as if he had never seen them before.

=CLIMAX=

=FALLING ACTION=

=RESOLUTION=