<P> Mohamed: Ishmael's best friend from his home village, whom Ishmael is reunited with at the UNICEF rehabilitation center where Ishmael has already been for several months . Mohamed was meant to go with Ishmael to the talent show in the beginning of the story, but had to stay behind to help his father work . </P> <P> The book starts with Ishmael Beah, his older brother Junior, and their friend Talloi traveling from their village of Mogbwemo to Mattru Jong in order to perform in a talent show . Ishmael, Junior, and their friend dance and sing rap music . Thinking they would return the following day, they tell no one of they're leaving . </P> <P> During their stay in Mattru Jong with Gibrilla, Khalilou, and Kaloko, the RUF attacks . The three are able to flee the village without the rebels following them . They decide to head back home . On the way, it turns out that their village was also captured by the RUF . According to an old man who was sitting outside the village, most of the people had fled to a village on the Sierra Leone coast . </P> <P> Ishmael, Junior, and their friend decide to travel there in order to locate their families . On their way, they encounter multiple other villages . They are accepted into another village on the grounds that they help with the farming . After months, the village is attacked . Caught by surprise, Ishmael, Junior, and their friend split up and run into the swamps . </P>

Who are the rebels in a long way gone