“Four Feet, Two Sandals”
by Karen Lynn Williams and Khadra Mohammed, illustrated by Doug Chayka.
Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, Grand Rapids, Mich., 2007, 32 pages, Grades 2-4.
War is filled with death and misery. To escape the horrors of war, people are often forced to flee their birthplace and sometimes even their country.
These people become refugees and often face a grim life of trying to get food to eat and clothes to wear. Refugees usually have little power or money, which makes them vulnerable.
If we think refugees are somehow responsible for their fate, we should recall the Holy Family’s Flight into Egypt. After St. Joseph was warned, he took Mary and the Infant Jesus and left in the middle of the night. The Holy Family had done nothing wrong, but there they were in flight from Herod’s assassins.
In today’s world, millions of people are refugees because of war, drought and famine. Karen Williams has written a touching story of two refugee girls sharing all that they have in a desperate refugee camp. The name of this moving story is “Four Feet, Two Sandals.”
Lina races into the crowd when a relief truck brings much-needed clothes to the camp. All the people are fighting for the clothes and Lina was only able to get one sandal. Having been barefoot for two years, Lina wonders what happened to the other sandal.
Nearby, another young girl stands, holding the other sandal. She looks thin and weak and her cracked lips betray her recent arrival in the camp. Both girls turn and go back to their tents.
The next day, wearing one sandal, Lina walks to the stream to do the family laundry. The girl with the other sandal is also doing the laundry at the stream. She quickly takes off the sandal and gives it to Lina. She says her grandmother has told her it is stupid to only wear one sandal.
She turns quickly to leave and Lina asks her for her name. The girl replies, “I am Feroza.” Moved by Feroza’s generosity, Lina inquires to see if they might be able to share the sandals. That way each girl could wear the sandals every other day. Feroza is genuinely touched by Lina’s consideration and agrees to the plan. So every day, the girls switch sandals.
As they grow closer, both girls share their lives and the reasons they are refugees. Both have had numerous family members killed in the war. Because of the fighting, both families had to flee Afghanistan into neighboring Pakistan. Now they are both waiting to see if they can immigrate to the United States or Europe. The days pass and the girls spend their days together. Everyone is waiting for the exit visa so they could start their lives again. Finally, one of the girls is told to go to the processing center for immigration. Who has been called?
What happens during the immigration process to the girls? How does the family prepare to leave Afghanistan? How does the love between the girls express itself during this time? What is the final beautiful present the one gives to the other? To find out the answer to these and other questions, go to the library and check out this beautiful yet haunting story, “Four Feet, Two Sandals” by Karen Williams.
Pope Francis frequently urges nations to be generous to immigrants. This story tells the hard life of refugees with a lighter touch. The love the girls have for each other assists them in overcoming the hardships they encounter. In their trials, the girls develop the virtues of kindness and charity towards others. This book is a beautiful story about a very painful reality. I hope you get a chance to share it with the younger members of your family or in a classroom setting. It is a moving story.
