A Country of Refuge by Lucy Popescu

Author:Lucy Popescu [Popescu, Lucy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781783522699
Barnesnoble:
Publisher: Unbound
Published: 2016-06-02T00:00:00+00:00

Tim Finch

A REFUGEE’S STORY

This is the story of a policy analyst, a campaigner, and a journalist. They all worked on refugee issues. The policy analyst said, what’s the solution? The campaigner said, what’s the message? The journalist said, what’s the story?

It is also the story of a writer.

The writer said, what’s the story?

That’s what I said, said the journalist.

So you did, said the writer. What I should have said is, what’s her story?

Her story? said the campaigner and the policy analyst. Who’s she?

Good question, said the writer. At this stage, I don’t know.

Tell me about it, said the journalist. I’m always asking for her story, whoever she is. Stories like hers make all the difference.

Don’t look at me, said the campaigner.

I’m looking at you because you could help me but you rarely do, said the journalist.

That’s because her story is not just a story, it’s her life, said the campaigner. It’s not for me to tell it to you.

I don’t want you to tell it to me, said the journalist. I want her to tell it to me.

And it’s not for me to tell her to tell it, said the campaigner. To you or to anyone else. If she wants to tell it, fine. But if she doesn’t…

No story, said the journalist.

You could make it up, said the writer.

No, you couldn’t, said the journalist, laughing.

Sorry? said the policy analyst.

You couldn’t make it up, said the journalist, still laughing.

Don’t look at me, said the campaigner. The journalist was looking at her again.

What I mean is, I could, said the writer. Make it up, that is.

I couldn’t, said the journalist. Could either of you? She was looking at the campaigner and the policy analyst.

No, I work with real people, true lives, said the campaigner, shaking her head.

Yes, I work with hard facts, the best evidence, said the policy analyst, nodding his head.

Four million Syrians, said the writer, that sort of thing?

Yes, that sort of thing, said the policy analyst.

And when you know that, what more needs to be said? said the campaigner to the writer.

Don’t answer, let me, said the journalist to the writer. Four million Syrians is a number not a story.

No, it’s a number that tells a story, said the campaigner.

Or begs a story, said the writer.

Tell me about it, said the journalist, laughing again.

The writer started reading from a book:

Do not misunderstand me: I would have closed my country to the likes of me if I were you. A journalist and poet of some distinction, I ask you! Do we not have enough of those already?

Your book? said the policy analyst, looking at the writer.

Yes, my book, said the writer.

But who are you to write her story in her voice? said the campaigner.

The writer of her story in her voice, that’s who, said the writer.

But unlike her you’re not a refugee, said the policy analyst.

Why would you assume, said the writer, that because I made up her story in her voice and she’s a refugee, I am not a refugee?

Well, are you? said the journalist.

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