Title: The Trenches Boy
Main Character:
Sam – 20 years old, a South Sudanese boy living in Kenya.
He grew up in poverty and now struggles to survive while attending high school. Even though life is hard, Sam is smart, strong, and never gives up.
Best Friend:
Timo – funny, loud, and always making jokes even when life is tough. He and Sam live together in a tiny rented room.
Theme of the Story
Survival
Friendship
Hard work
School life drama
Fighting against poverty
Comedy in difficult situations.
The alarm on Sam's cracked phone rang at exactly 4:30 a.m.
Before it could ring again, Sam quickly grabbed it and turned it off.
The small iron-sheet room he shared with Timo was still dark. The only light came from a weak street lamp outside that slipped through the window.
Sam sat up slowly on the thin mattress.
Another day.
Another fight to survive.
On the other side of the room, Timo was still sleeping like a log, his blanket halfway on the floor.
"Timo," Sam whispered.
No response.
"Timo."
Still nothing.
Sam grabbed a rolled-up sock from the floor and threw it.
Pah!
"Ouch!" Timo jumped up suddenly. "Who threw a rock at me?!"
"It's a sock," Sam said calmly.
Timo squinted at him. "Bro… it's still dark outside. Why are you attacking me at this hour?"
"Because we need to work."
Timo looked at the time on Sam's phone.
4:31 a.m.
He fell back onto the mattress dramatically.
"Sam… even chickens are still sleeping."
Sam chuckled softly while putting on his old jacket.
"If we don't reach the market early, someone else will take the loading jobs."
That sentence woke Timo up immediately.
"Say no more."
Five minutes later, the two boys were already outside walking through the cold streets.
The city was quiet, but the market district was slowly coming alive.
Trucks were arriving.
Vendors were shouting.
Workers were running around carrying sacks of vegetables, rice, and flour.
Sam walked straight to one of the trucks.
"Boss, need help unloading?" he asked.
The driver looked at him.
"You again?"
Sam nodded.
The driver laughed.
"You never get tired, do you?"
Sam shrugged.
"Being poor doesn't allow you to get tired."
The driver pointed to the back of the truck.
"Fine. Carry those sacks."
Before the man finished speaking, Sam had already lifted one onto his shoulder.
Timo stared at him.
"Bro… sometimes I forget you're human."
Sam smirked.
"Less talking. More lifting."
For the next hour, the two boys carried heavy sacks across the market.
By the time the sun started rising, both of them were sweating.
The driver finally handed Sam some money.
"Good work."
Sam looked at the small amount in his hand.
It wasn't much.
But it was enough for breakfast and bus fare to school.
Timo stretched his back dramatically.
"I swear," he groaned, "if we become rich one day, I'm never carrying a sack again."
Sam laughed.
"When we become rich."
Timo pointed at him.
"See? That's why I follow you, bro. Your brain believes crazy things."
Sam looked toward the rising sun over the city.
His eyes were calm but determined.
"One day," he said quietly, "we're getting out of the trenches."
Timo looked at him for a moment.
Then he smiled.
"Alright then… future rich man."
He slapped Sam on the shoulder.
"But first…"
"Yeah?"
"We're late for school."
Sam's eyes widened.
They both looked at each other.
Then they ran.