It’s hot. It’s really, really hot. And dry. So dry that your skin cracks and bleeds and your hair falls out in clumps. You’re always thirsty, but there’s never any water to drink. Just sand – endless, merciless sand. That’s what it’s like to live in a desert. It’s like being in a furnace. Your throat is so dry that it feels like it’s on fire, and your tongue is swollen and sticky. You can’t think about anything else but water – cool, refreshing water. But no matter how much you drink, you can never quench your thirst. You’re desperate, and you’ll do anything to get your hands on some water. My son has never had a glass of water and he’s about ready to take The Test. The man in the picture is me. I am a business man from San Diego. We are now in our 4th year

The boy wakes up from bed, anxious about the test he has to take today. He gets dressed and heads downstairs, where his mother is already making breakfast. She can tell he’s nervous, so she tries to encourage him with a smile and a few words of wisdom. “You’ll do great,” she says. “Just relax and do your best.” He nods, but he can’t help feeling a little bit scared. He knows this test is important, and he doesn’t want to fail. He eats a quick breakfast and then heads off for the steam train. The train station is a busy place, with people coming and going all the time. There’s the sound of the trains arriving and departing, and the chatter of people as they hurry to their next destination. The boy takes a deep breath and tries to relax. He knows he can’t change the outcome of the