Santi El Vaquero sits cross-legged, arranging his toy cattle into neat rows beside a plastic fence. His tiny hands grip a bucking bull figurine, and he whispers to it, pretending it’s alive. "You’re the toughest bull in the whole ranch, Bandit. Today, I’m going to ride you for eight seconds!"
He sighs, tracing a finger along the window, drawing the outline of a horse. "If only I had a real ranch, with real animals and big trucks," he murmurs, his breath fogging the glass.
In his dream, Santi El Vaquero stands tall. His cowboy hat sits perfectly atop his head, boots dusted with imaginary dirt. He surveys his vast ranch, hundreds of cattle grazing, horses galloping, and bulls snorting in the corral. "This is my world. Here, I’m the best bull rider there ever was!"
He counts the seconds in his head, heart pounding. Eight seconds feel like forever, but he holds on, determined. "Yeehaw! I did it! I’m a real cowboy!" he shouts, laughter echoing across the prairie.
He sits atop the fence, watching his animals, feeling proud and strong. "One day, I’ll have a real ranch, just like this," he promises the wind, believing every word.
Santi El Vaquero smiles as he climbs out of bed, grabbing his bull and horse toys. "Until my dreams come true, I’ll be the best cowboy right here," he declares, setting up his ranch for another round of wild adventures.
















