Kimani bounced his red ball against the warm sidewalk. Thump, thump, thump. He grinned at the happy sound.
He noticed a boy sitting on a bench, watching. Kimani gave a little wave, but the boy just stayed still.
The boy walked over, hands in his pockets. 'Can I play?' Kimani shook his head and pulled the ball behind his back.
The boy's shoulders drooped. He turned and walked back to the bench. Kimani tried to bounce the ball alone.
But the ball rolled too far and splatted into a puddle. Kimani watched the red ball sink into the muddy water.
His eyes drifted to the other boy, who was shaping wet sand into a tall tower near the park edge.
Kimani walked over, holding the muddy ball out. The other boy looked up, surprised. 'Let's play,' Kimani said.
The other boy gave the ball a gentle toss. Kimani caught it and tossed it back. Their laughter rang across the sunny park.