One Day the Soldiers Came - Charles London [119]
I owe all of my interviews and in more than one case, my life, to the many guides and translators I had along the way: Augustin, Eric, Nelson, Daisy, Mohammed, Arber, Ilir, Dada, Florim, and Simon. Additionally, countless staff members from UNHCR and various non-governmental organizations lent me their time and resources in the field. The Women’s Commission, Christian Outreach and Development, Doctors Without Borders, and Save the Children were particularly helpful.
I am grateful to Sterling Lord, who saw fit to bring this project into his esteemed literary agency and to the amazing agent extraordinaire, Robert Guinsler, a true friend who believed in me and in this work even when I thought it impossible. Without Robert’s guidance, patience, and tenacity, through times when lesser agents would have cut and run, the stories of these young people would never have seen the light of day. I thank you.
Sarah Durand’s editorial guidance added immensely to the strength of this book and her insight and hard work on its behalf was an inspiration. Her assistant, Emily Krump, made the whole process completely painless, and for that I am in her debt. I am also grateful to Ilene Smith and Professor Leslie Woodard for gracing me with their valuable time and insightful comments. Additionally, Robert Coles has been an inspiration to this project from a very early stage, putting his faith in an unknown twenty-three-year-old, imparting a fraction of his tremendous wisdom, and lending his effort with amazing humility.
For the initial spark that sent me on my way to that first soccer game in the dirt, I want to thank Julia Hart. And for endless writerly advice, I am eternally indebted to James V. Hart. My dear friends Clea, Alan, Amanda, Brett, Matty, and Michelle listened patiently and encouraged me constantly as this project evolved. Natalie Robin acted as my first line of defense on draft after draft of the manuscript and Victor D’Avella pushed me from day one. James Jayo lit a fire under me and made me believe that indeed people did want to hear these stories.
I cannot give enough thanks to my parents, Anne and Andy, and to my sister, Mandy, for putting up with countless sleepless nights while I was abroad. I am sure they would have preferred I stay home where there were no foreign bacteria, surly militiamen, or active volcanoes. In spite of their fears, they always encouraged me to keep going. And of course, Tim Jones, my North, my South, my East, my West, who quite simply makes all things possible.
Lastly, I cannot name all the children to whom I spoke, but I owe them the greatest debt of gratitude. They gave me their time, their stories, their energy, and their friendship; they shared their fears, their hopes, and the fabric of their lives with a stranger. I pray that one day they will have a chance to read this book and may see the best of themselves in its pages and can, perhaps, tell their own stories, to fill in where my words have inevitably fallen short. They each remain, as ever, in my thoughts. It is for them this work began and it is with them that it ends.
About the Author
CHARLES LONDON is a former research associate with Refugees International. His work has appeared in National Geographic, the Baltimore Times, New Voices, and ReliefWeb. In 1999 he was the recipient of the Rolling Stone College Journalism Award. He works with young adults for the New York Public Library in Harlem, and he lives in Brooklyn, New York.
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