Odongo gi Apiyo jobedo gi ba jo i tindi madwoŋ. Jo bedo ka jo kiyo akiya ywomirok. Ki rupir sikulu i lacego, to rupir jowanya kidho lyewo adha jo. Go bedo yoloka pa jokitoga ger gi nam madwoŋ.
Odongo and Apiyo lived in the city with their father.
They looked forward to the holidays. Not just because school was closed, but because they went to visit their grandmother. She lived in a fishing village near a large lake.
Odongo gi Apiyo jo sangala swa rupir hongo otundo ma kidho lyewo adha jo kendo. Wor m’otelo jo tweyo migugu pa jo to jo yikere ma woth ma kidho loka p’adha jo. Nindo kumako waŋ jo aka jo luwo kwoŋ lyewo adha jo wor gi pi.
Odongo and Apiyo were excited because it was time to visit their grandmother again.
The night before, they packed their bags and got ready for the long journey to her village. They could not sleep and talked the whole night about the holiday.
Jo mondo yawere mere kadho p’adha jo i mutoka pa ba jo. Ogwey gi jo motoka kalo gote, ogwange ma dudi gi ndelin majan. Jo kwano motokin aka jowero.
Early the next morning, they left for the village in their father’s car.
They drove past mountains, wild animals and tea plantations. They counted cars and sang songs.
Rumacen nyithindho jo ol to jo podho nindo.
After a while, the children were tired and fell asleep.
Ba jo ocewo jo munyo jo tundo loka ago. Jo nwaŋo adha jo, Nyajaruya, ywomere i tyendi yath i par.
Father woke up Odongo and Apiyo as they arrived in the village.
They found Nyar-Kanyada, their grandmother, resting on a mat under a tree.
Nyar-Kanyada in Luo, means ‘daughter of the people of Kanyada’. She was a strong and beautiful woman.
Nyajaruwa osangala gi jo, orwako jo i ot to mielo thoko dier ot. Nyikwaye jo miyo go mic ma jo kelo wok i tindi madwoŋ. Odongo owaco ni, “Tel yawo mic paran.” Apiyo bende owaco ni, “Be, tel g’aparan ayino!”
Nyar-Kanyada welcomed them into the house and danced around the room singing with joy.
Her grandchildren were excited to give her the presents they brought from the city.
“First open my gift,” said Odongo.
“No, my gift first!” said Apiyo.
Munyo Nyajaruwa ocowo yawo mic je, omiyo nyikwaye silwany i kula ma nyanono pa jo.
After she opened the presents, Nyar-Kanyada blessed her grandchildren in a traditional way.
Odongo gi Apiyo to jowok kadho tuko. Jo riemo ombutuku gi winyin.
Then Odongo and Apiyo went outside. They chased butterflies and birds.
Jo idho yen to jo tuko i pi ma nam.
They climbed trees and splashed in the water of the lake.
Munyo piny oyutho jo dok peco cemo m’othieno. Jo podho nindo mafodi jo kucowo kada cemo!
When it was dark they returned to the house for dinner. Before they could finish eating, they were falling asleep!
Yawere mere ba nyithindho no ogweyo mutoka pere dok i tindi madwoŋ to weyo jo gi adha jo.
The next day, the children’s father drove back to the city leaving them with Nyar-Kanyada.
Odongo gi Apiyo jo konyo adha jo gi tic ma peco. Jo kulo pi to jo dimo yen. Jo coko toŋgwendi to joŋweto fufa.
Odongo and Apiyo helped their grandmother with household chores. They fetched water and firewood. They collected eggs from the chickens and picked greens from the garden.
Nyajaruwa ofonjo nyikwaye guro kwon mayom macamere gi fufa. Onyutho jo kite matedo micere gi cak nazi ma camera gi rec abula.
Nyar-Kanyada taught her grandchildren to make soft ugali to eat with stew. She showed them how to make coconut rice to eat with roast fish.
Odikini acel Odongo okidho kwayo dhok p’adhamere. Jo donjo i ndelo pa jager. Won ndelo omako nge gi Odongo. Obwoko go ni ladoŋ gi dhoki rupir jo camo cemo pere. Wok ndelo no Odongo ogwoko dhoki timo banja kendo.
One morning, Odongo took his grandmother’s cows to graze. They ran onto a neighbour’s farm.
The farmer was angry with Odongo. He threatened to keep the cows for eating his crops. After that day, the boy made sure that the cows did not get into trouble again.
Ndelo man nyithindho jokidho i kisiya gi adha jo. Go oyido nitie gi kitandilo m’atana iye fufa, sukari gi sabuni. Apiyo omaro waco ri jonyew welo ma gigipiny. Odongo oyido tweyo gigipiny m’otiek nyewo.
On another day, the children went to the marketplace with Nyar-Kanyada. She had a stall selling vegetables, sugar and soap.
Apiyo liked to tell customers the price of items. Odongo would pack the items that customers bought.
I cowe mere jo madho cai kanyacel. Jo konyo adha jo gi kwano pesa m’olimo.
At the end of the day they drank chai tea together. They helped grandmother to count the money she earned.
Mayot yot ywomirok orumo aka oripo ni nyithindho no jo wodoki i tindi pa jo. Nyajaruwa omiyo Odongo junga to miyo Apiyo sweta. Otweyo ri jo kit cemo ma camo iyo.
But too soon the holidays were over and the children had to go back to the city.
Nyar-Kanyada gave Odongo a cap and Apiyo a sweater. She packed food for their journey.
Munyo ba jo obino omo jo, oyido jo kumito dok. Nyithindho jo kwayo adha jo dok gi jo i tindi madwoŋ. Obwonjo to waco ni, “Aasa ti ma kidho i tindi madwoŋ. Alabedo ka akur win bino thurin kendo.”
When their father came to fetch them, they did not want to leave. The children begged Nyar-Kanyada to go with them to the city.
She smiled and said, “I am too old for the city. I will be waiting for you to come to my village again.”
Odongo gi Apiyo jopodho i kor adha jo ma joridho matek aka jo sewila go.
Odongo and Apiyo both hugged her tightly and said goodbye.
Munyo Odongo gi Apiyo jo dok i sikulu jo lyesa ri wadi gin kwoŋ kwo ma calo. Nyithindho megi jo paro ni kwo ma tindi ber. Megi jo paro ni calo ber loyo. To m’oloyo aloya swa kis dhano oyeyo ni Odongo gi Apiyo jo nitie gi adha jo maber m’oasere!
When Odongo and Apiyo went back to school they told their friends about life in the village. Some children felt that life in the city was good. Others felt that the village was better.
But most of all, everyone agreed that Odongo and Apiyo had a wonderful grandmother!
Violet Otieno
Catherine Groenewald
Owino Ogot, Athieno Gertrude
Dhopadhola
Level 4
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