Pure Water Boy

Between the cars, in the burning sun,
a boy runs with water on his head,
little bags sealed in clear plastic,
shouting to be heard over the engines.

After school, he weaves through traffic.
The sun burns, his shirt sticks to his skin,
and his legs ache.

One driver shouts, another looks away,
a kind one buys and says keep the change.

He smiles through the pain,
because each sale brings his dream closer.

He wants a phone, not for games,
but to learn a digital skill.

At night, under a street light,
he counts his earnings,
exhausted yet proud.
The work was his,
nothing was given for free.

Tomorrow, he returns to the road,
with his head held high.
Small boys with big dreams never stop.

Photo: My prompt/AI Image