The Morning Surprise

Tim bounced on his bed, crumbs from his breakfast cookies scattered across the sheets. "Mom! I want the new Super Speed Robot I saw on TV!" he called out, his voice echoing through their large house.

His mother appeared in the doorway, car keys jangling in her hand. "Tim, get dressed. We're going somewhere today."

"Can we stop at the toy store first?" Tim asked, pulling on his favorite striped shirt. "The robot has laser sounds and everything!"

"Not today," his mother said firmly. "We're visiting a place called Poor Village."

Tim wrinkled his nose. "That sounds boring. What's there to see?"

His mother's expression grew serious. "You'll understand when we get there. Pack some of your snacks in a bag."

Tim grabbed three bags of chips and two candy bars, stuffing them into his backpack alongside his handheld game. "How long will this take? I have important playing to do."

"Just come on," his mother said, leading him toward the car.

The Puddle Drinkers

The car pulled into Poor Village as Tim pressed buttons on his handheld game. "Mom, the battery's dying," he complained, looking up from the screen.

His mother parked near a small marketplace where a woman with short gray hair sat mending shoes on a wooden stool. Children gathered around her, their clothes patched and faded.

"Welcome to Poor Village," his mother said quietly.

Tim stepped out and immediately noticed puddles everywhere from recent rain. A sparrow splashed in one nearby puddle, shaking droplets from its feathers. Three small children crouched beside another puddle, cupping water in their hands to drink.

"Why are they drinking from puddles?" Tim asked, wrinkling his nose.

"Because they don't have clean water at home," his mother explained.

The shoemaker looked up and smiled at them. "Good morning! Are you visiting our village?"

Tim's mother nodded. "I wanted my son to see how different people live."

Tim watched one boy about his age press his face against a bakery window, staring at bread he couldn't afford. The boy's stomach made a loud rumbling sound.

Tim's own backpack felt suddenly heavy with his snacks.