Uyu ni Khalai. Ali na imyaka cine-lubali. Ishina lyakwe mu lulimi lwakwe, ulwa Cilubukusu lipilibula “umusuma”.
This is Khalai. She is seven years old. Her name means ‘the good one’ in her language, Lubukusu.
Lyonse Khalai nga ashibuka alasosha icimuti ca macungwa ati: “We cimuti ca macungwa, napaapaata kula, utwaale na macungwa ayaapya ayeengi.”
Khalai wakes up and talks to the orange tree. “Please orange tree, grow big and give us lots of ripe oranges.”
Khalai nga aleenda lyonse pa kuya ku sukuulu alasosha icaani ati: “We caani, napaapaata moneka uwayemba elyo kabili wilauma.”
Khalai walks to school. On the way she talks to the grass. “Please grass, grow greener and don’t dry up.”
Khalai nga asaanga amaluba ya mpanga nayo alayeba ati: “Mwe maluba muleebalula bwino-bwino pakuti ndeswako no kubiika mu mushishi wandi.”
Khalai passes wild flowers. “Please flowers, keep blooming so I can put you in my hair.”
Khalai nga afika ku sukulu, lyonse alasosha icimuti icabeela pakati ka lubansa lwe sukulu ati: “We cimuti, napaapaata kula utwale ne misambo iyakutupeela icintelelwe icakuti tuleikalamo pa kubelenga.”
At school, Khalai talks to the tree in the middle of the compound. “Please tree, put out big branches so we can read under your shade.”
Elyo kabili, Khalai alasosha utumuti utwacingilila isukulu ati: “Mwe tumuti mube abakosa saana pakuti mulelesha ifipondo ukwingila mukati ke sukulu lyesu.”
Khalai talks to the hedge around her school. “Please grow strong and stop bad people from coming in.”
Khalai nga ainuka lyonse, alaya mu kupempula icimuti ca macungwa no kucipusha ati: “Bushe amacungwa yobe na nomba tayalapya?”
When Khalai returns home from school, she visits the orange tree. “Are your oranges ripe yet?” asks Khalai.
“Amacungwa yacili ayabishi!” efyasosa Khalai. “Nkesa kumonako mailo we mucungwa” efyasosa Khalai. Limbi lyena nkasanga naukwata icungwa ilyapya.”
“The oranges are still green,” sighs Khalai. “I will see you tomorrow orange tree,” says Khalai. “Perhaps then you will have a ripe orange for me!”
