5. To Get Three Photographs of Myself

An Identity Card

I walked to the Ministry of the Interior. I waited in another queue.

I spoke to another official. I asked for an Identity Card.

"Fill in this application form," the official said. "And bring the form and three photographs of yourself and two pounds. Come back tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" I said. "Can I have an Identity Card today, please? I live in Minta. I live five hours' journey from Darpur. I'm an old man."

"Yes, come back tomorrow." And the official turned away.

I walked away from the Ministry of the Interior.

I walked to the market.

At the market I looked at everyone.

I was looking for a man from my village.

But I could not find a villager.

So then I walked to the shop of Rick.

I spoke to Rick. "I want an Identity Card," I told him. "But I need three photographs of myself."

"I see. You need some photographs."

And he showed me the way to a photographer.

I found the house. The photographer was asleep but he came to me quickly.

The man's clothes were dirty and he looked tired.

"I need an Identity Card," I said. "I want three photographs of myself."

"Yes, you want three photographs of yourself," the photographer replied. "And I take very good photographs. Come and see my camera."

We walked into his room. In the middle of the room was a large camera.

"This is the best camera in Darpur. This camera is very, very good," the photographer said proudly.

"I've never seen a camera," I said. "I don't know about cameras. Hurry up and take a photograph of me."

"Please do not hurry me, old man," the photographer said. "I am an artist."

                                ——《百词斩爱阅读》