Afar with Saffi and Layla

Saffi looked at her friend, Layla, and asked, "Do you think we'll survive this?"

"Of course! We've been through worse. Just last month we went hiking in the jungle and there were wild animals everywhere. We had to climb up trees just to get away."

"I know, but it's so cold here. I'm worried we won't find any food."

"We'll just have to work together," said Layla, smiling reassuringly.

They continued walking until they came to a small town. It was very dark by now. They walked along the deserted streets. No one was around.

"That's strange," said Layla, "where is everyone?"

"I don't know. Maybe they've evacuated because of the ice age," said Saffi.

"Maybe, but why leave all this food behind?" said Layla, pointing to a shop.

"Shall we try the door?" asked Saffi.

"All right," said Layla.

They walked over to the door and tried the handle. It was unlocked.

"Should we go in?" asked Layla.

"I think so. It's getting pretty late and we haven't eaten anything since lunch. We need food."

"Okay, let's do it."

They opened the door slowly and walked in. There was one shelf with a few cans on it.

"This isn't enough for both of us," said Saffi sadly.

"I'm hungry too. We'll just have to share from these cans."

"Okay, let's see what we can find."

They each took a can and opened them.

"Wasn't there more than this?" asked Layla.

"I think so. I don't know. It's hard to remember everything that happened last month. I'm so tired."

"Me too. Let's eat and go home. We'll search for more tomorrow."

"Okay." Saffi found a can opener and opened the can she had chosen.

"Shall we eat together?" asked Layla.

"Sure!" said Saffi.

They sat down and opened their cans.

"Oh no!" said Saffi, "this isn't food. This is bubble gum!"

"Mine too!"

They tasted it. It was bubble gum, but it tasted like chicken. They finished their gum, but they were still hungry. Layla found a jar of sauce.

"It says spaghetti sauce," said Layla, "shall we try it?"

"Sure," said Saffi.

They each grabbed a spoon and took some sauce.

"Oh no, this isn't spaghetti sauce, it's toothpaste!"

"And mine is peanut butter," said Layla.

They each ate some of the toothpaste and peanut butter.

"It tastes like pizza," said Saffi.

"Yeah, and mine tastes like hamburgers," said Layla.

They finished their toothpaste and peanut butter and were still hungry. Layla found some chocolate bars.

"Let's try these," said Layla.

They each took a bite of a chocolate bar and were shocked.

"These taste like watermelon!"

"Yes, and mine tastes like tacos!"

"What are we eating? It's not food."

"Maybe we should try to go to sleep, we're both so tired."

"You're right," said Saffi.

They went to sleep in the corner of the store. The next morning, they woke up and ate the gum again. They were disappointed because it was still gum.

"Let's visit the library," said Layla.

"That sounds like a good idea," said Saffi.

They got up and headed to the library. They entered the building and saw something on the floor.

"Look at all the people lying on the floor," said Saffi, "what's wrong with them?"

"I don't know," said Layla.

They went over to see if they could help, but Saffi tripped over a man and fell.

"Oh no!"

"Don't worry, Saffi, we'll be fine," said Layla.

They both stood up and continued walking. They reached the library and went inside. They looked all over for books.

"Oh no! All the books are gone! And the librarian too."

"I don't understand. Where are all the books?" asked Saffi.

"I don't know, but I'm hungry again. Let's go home and eat the gum."

"Okay."

They went home and ate the gum. It was still gum. They put it in the jar and went to sleep. In the morning, they went to the store to see if they could find some food.

"Look, Layla, here's some gum on the floor!"

"Let's try it!"

They each took some gum and ate it.

"Oh no, this isn't gum!"

"It's not food!"

They dropped the gum and pushed it into the corner of the room.

"I'm so hungry!" said Layla.

"Me too," said Saffi.

They went home and ate the gum again. They went to sleep. In the morning, they went to the library and found a bunch of people lying on the floor. They went over to see if they could help.

"Oh no, these people are dead!" said Saffi.

"We have to do something!" said Layla.

They ran outside. A group of men were staring at them.

"Run, Layla!"

"Come back here, girls!"

"No, no, no!" said Saffi.

They ran for hours. They stopped to rest. They couldn't stop crying.

"There's no hope for us," said Saffi. "The ice age is taking over, and we're stranded in the wilderness alone."

"I don't want to die," said Layla.

They hugged each other and cried. They lay there until they died.