First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers by Loung Ung

Author:Loung Ung
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Political atrocities, Historical, Political, Cambodia - Social conditions, Southeast Asia, Personal Memoirs, Asia, General, Cambodia - Politics and government - 1975-1979, Loung, Cambodia, Political Science, Ung, Biography & Autobiography, Women, Political atrocities - Cambodia, History
ISBN: 9780060856267
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2006-03-23T05:10:19+00:00

child soldiers

August 1977

The months pass and the government continues to increase our food ration, allowing me to grow a little stronger. It has been three months since we left Ro Leap and last saw Kim, Ma, and Geak. I think about them every day and wonder how they are. At night when all the other children are fast asleep, Chou and I whisper to each other about Ma and Geak. I hope that Meng, Khouy, and Kim are able to visit Ma and make sure she is well. My heart lifts a little knowing that Ma has Geak to keep her from being too lonely.

The other children have stopped picking on me because I am a fighter. While I have also improved my reputation as a worker, because she is weak, Chou has been taken out of the garden and demoted to a cook. She actually likes it better because she no longer has to associate with the other children.

But since I am strong, it was only after three months of being at the camp when Met Bong told me she had some “good news.”

“You are the youngest girl here, but you work harder than everyone else. The Angkar needs people like you,” she says and smiles. “It’s really too bad you are not a boy,” she adds. When she sees that I am not jumping with joy at the news, her face scowls. “Your number one duty is to the Angkar and no one else. You should be happy with yourself. This camp is for the weaklings. The camp you are going to is for the bigger, stronger children. There you will be trained as a soldier so you can soon help fight the war. You will learn many more things there than the children here.” Her face beams with pride when she finishes.

“Yes, Met Bong, I am happy to go,” I lie. I don’t understand Met Bong’s elation. I do not want to sacrifice for the country that killed my pa.

At the break of dawn, I pack my clothes and my food bowl. Chou stands beside me with her head down. I do not want to leave Chou behind, but I cannot refuse the reassignment. Hooking our elbows together, we walk to the gate to meet Met Bong.

“Chou, you’re older than me, stop being so weak,” I whisper as we hug, our arms wrapped tightly around each other. “We will always be sisters even though you were found in a trashcan.” Chou cries harder, her tears wetting my hair. Met Bong breaks our bond and tells me it’s time to go. Chou refuses to let go of my hand. With all my strength, I pull it from her grasp and run away. Though my heart aches, I do not look back.

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