When Two Worlds Collide

Chapter 4

Bilal 2002 - Final Destination

Bilal jumped up when he felt the lorry grind to a halt. He uncurled himself a little from the foetus like position he had been sleeping in. He heard a tapping coming from somewhere and popped his head out from under the hood of the lorry. “Were in London now” the lorry driver called up to him. Bilal did not fully understand what the lorry driver had said to him, but he did recognize the word London and realized that he must have finally reached his destination. He came out from underneath the hood of the lorry and stretched. Then he began to slowly and carefully make his way down from the top of the lorry. When his feet touched the ground he quickly walked over to the driver’s window “ssshank you” he said handing the driver a wad of cash. The lorry driver took the money and started the engine “no problem mate, take it easy out there”. The lorry driver drove off, leaving Bilal standing in the middle of the road somewhere in London. The first thing Bilal knew he had to do was find a phone. He started walking in the direction of where the lorry had gone. Bilal looked around him as he walked, and was disappointed by what he saw. There were no trees or beautiful views like he had back home. All he saw were big ugly buildings that were in need of a good cleaning. Occasionally a double decker bus came hurtling past, scaring him half to death, and from what he saw had no door! He vowed never to ride on such a thing, deeming it unsafe. Bilal thought of the sunshine, beautiful views and his driver that he had back home, and started to wonder if his decision to come to London had been worth it. After what seemed like hours, Bilal came to a phone box. It looked pretty much the same as the ones back home, so figured it must use the same functions to work it. He put some coins in and dialled the number he had written down for his cousin Sam who lives in North London. His cousin groggily answered after the fifth ring “hello” Bilal pressed the receiver to his ear as another bus rattled past “hallo, choni”  he replied “Choni bashi, my cousin has arrived” Sam shouted down the phone. Bilal smiled at the sound of a familiar voice and listened to the instructions his cousin gave him in his native Kurdish language of how to get to the home office. Bilal hung up the phone feeling a bit more confident and started walking in the direction his cousin had told him to find the home office.

Bilal was the first in line when the home office opened its doors. Bilal walked over to the reception desk “I nid ssstay’ he said to the receptionist. “Name?” she asked “Bilal Bazaar” he replied. On hearing his voice the receptionist looked up at him “how old are you?” her voice was softer now and her face showed signs of concern “ssseventin” Bilal answered “ok, go and sit down over there honey” she said giving him a ticket and pointing to a row of chairs.

After hours of being interviewed Bilal was tired again and hungry. He left the home office with a card that had his name, photo and some other personal information on it. He also had instructions written in Arabic directing him to the social services office somewhere in a place called Lowsharmingham, who were holding a room for him at their hostel. He followed the directions oblivious to the odd looks and stares he was receiving as he passed people by. After a while he found himself standing at a bus stop then got more than a little bit worried after the realisation that he would have to get on a bus.