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The other night I dreamt that two children

were playing on top of a hill in the Gaza Strip

I walked up the hill. I wanted to hear what the

children were talking about. I tiptoed as close as I could

and here is what I heard;

"Hey Mohamed, let’s build a city with mud!"

"Yes Joshua, I like your idea. I’ll go look for water."

"In the meantime I’ll draw a plan with a stick." Said Joshua.

When Mohamed arrived with the water, together,

they prepared the mix.

"Where are we going to start?" Asked Mohamed.

"I can build my house, and you?" Asked Joshua.

"I can build mine too."

While they played, the mud got in their faces

and clothes, but they never stopped talking.

"Are we going to have a temple?" Asked Mohamed.

"We can have one, but my mom use to say

that there is only one God and that it was everywhere

so, why do we need a temple?

We can build a school instead." said Joshua.

"And my mom use to say that God was

a man and a woman in the same body" replied Mohamed.

"Where is your mom Joshua?"

"My mom, my dad, my sister and my brother were

killed by the Palestinians. That is why I ran to the mountains.

And where is your mom Mohamed?" asked Joshua.

"My mom, my dad, my sister and my brother were

killed by the Israelis. That is why I ran to the mountains,

but in our city nobody is going to hurt anybody"

"Do you hate the Israelis?" Asked Joshua.

"No because hate is not going to bring back my mom" said Mohamed.

"What are we going to have in our city Mohamed?"

"We are going to have a hospital, a fire house,

a farm, a grocery store, a pharmacy, two schools

and many houses for our visitors."

"Who are going to be our visitors?" Asked Joshua.

"Only children are allowed in our city because

when we fight for a toy we always make up.

Do you like my idea? "

"That is cool Mohammed the grownups spoil everything! "

Suddenly, Joshua stopped working and sat with his arms

folded over his knees and started to weep. Mohamed sat

next to him and put his arm around Joshua’s shoulders.

Then, Joshua sobbing said, "I miss my mom,

I feel very lonely. The world is empty without her."

"I miss my mom too" said Mohamed.

"I feel very lonely. The world is empty without her."

"My father used to tell me, "If you are going to take revenge

prepare two graves." Now, I understand what he meant."

The other night I dreamt that two children

were playing on the top of a hill in the Gaza strip.

In front of the children a giant rainbow smiled.

The sunset caressed the two boys with a mantle

of healing light, while hundreds of white doves were passing by…

© 2005 Josie Peralta Woodstock, NY