Out of Country

"Where are these people who every day are talking about democracy and good governance?" Soubiane asked. "I sacrifice my position. I sacrifice my family. I sacrifice my privilege to step up and to say [of Deby], 'This is wrong.' "

In July, Chadian presidential term limits were, indeed, scrapped.

And the new ambassador broke down the door.

* * *

The Soubianes have no income, no jobs, no legal papers, no right to leave the United States pending their asylum application. They are living in donated housing in Columbia, and the girls are worried about their safety and struggle to fit into their new schools.

To Soubiane, it seems that the only people standing with his family are the ordinary people who have learned of their plight and have stepped forward to help them.

Like Bob D'Angelis. He knows nothing of Chad, but he does know a thing or two about helping students in distress.

He is a student support official with Howard County schools and was alerted to a potential problem earlier this fall. A couple of new students at Harpers Choice Middle School were highly emotional and prone to crying. It was the Soubiane twins, Izza and Iman. They were attending Harpers Choice along with their older sister, Amina.

Iman wrote a poem that seemed to reflect her lasting fear of the men behind the door, the men who came to evict them.

How would I know who is behind the door?

How would I know what could happen?

How would I know what to do?