Boy Overboard

By Jaden Nischal Abraham

Scene: Jamal’s parents are found by the Australian Navy.

Scene Chapter: Chapter 40 (Page 174/175).

Perspective: Jamal’s Dad

Plot Summary: This is the scene where Jamal’s parents are found at sea by
the Australian Navy.

The boat starts rocking violently. All people onboard were seriously seasick. It
had only been a few hours since the pirates had stripped us of our belongings,
those scoundrels. I just pray that this storm goes away. Fatima sits next to me,
afraid, just like the rest of us. A large wave dawns above us as we hold our
breath. Oh no, is this it? I will never be able to see my beautiful children again,
all ending on a boat.

The wave spawned tremendous power, wiping every soul overboard. The boat
had taken monumental damage. I desperately searched for Fatima, floating in
the cold, unforgiving waters. “Muhammed, are you alright?” Fatima yelled.
“Yes, are you?” I yell.
“I’m okay.” She responds
I grabbed her hand firmly and began trying my best to swim towards a large
piece of wood that was floating on the rocky sea. I hoist Fatima aboard the
piece of wood and she then helps me aboard. We take a gasp of breath. I
want to hop back into the frigid water and help the people, but Fatima holds
me back, preventing my adrenaline rush. People try and grab onto the piece
of wood, and we try to help them up, but powerful waves just. I see every
single person begin being pulled under by the waves, one by one, slowly
killing them. I sob inside, pain running through my veins. Out in the distance, I
see another person, he is holding onto a small piece of wood for dear life, at
least someone else survived.

Hours passed without any hope of rescue. Fatima became more and more
anxious, I just wanted to see my children. Out in the distance, a boat outline
dawned over the horizon of the now-calm ocean. I sighed, thinking that it
would just be another pirate ship, checking up on the damage. As the vessel
approached closer, the definite shape of a destroyer came to mind. As it came
towards us even closer, the Australian flag became apparent, and we were
saved. The ship started to turn towards the other direction and we began to
yell, wailing our arms. The boat couldn’t hear us or see us as they appeared to
be rescuing more survivors, but one sailor noticed us and told the boat to turn
this way, finally, saved. I just hope the kids are okay. The sailor grabbed
Fatima and me and pulled us onto the boat.

On the ride to land, the officer from the destroyer explained to us that we
illegally tried to enter Australia so we were going to Christmas Island
Detention Centre instead. I was annoyed, but at least now we were away from
the Taliban. We arrived in port at Christmas Island and immediately, I despised
the place. Barbed wire, keeping innocent people in there. Tents for people to
sleep in. As I entered the gate, tears of joy filled every crevice of my eyes.
Over in the corner of the compound, I saw Jamal and Bibi, safe and sound.
They came sprinting towards us as rivers flowed down my cheeks. “The boat
didn’t see us, but then they did.” I hugged them joyfully as Fatima came and
ripped them off me and hugged them tightly. We may not be in the best of
circumstances, but we are at least together.