Nan tan lontan, twa ti fi tal chache bwa nan yon rakbwa.
A long time ago, three girls went
out to collect wood.
Te fè cho anpil jou sa a kidonk timoun yo desann nan rivyè a pou yal benyen. Yo jwe, yo voye dlo yonn so lòt, yo naje, yo amize yo nan dlo an.
It was a hot day so they went down
to the river to swim.
They played and splashed and
swam in the water.
Briskeman, yo reyalize ke te kòmanse fè ta. Yo depeche yo tounen nan vilaj yo.
Suddenly, they realised that it was
late.
They hurried back to the village.
Lè yo prèske rive, Nozibèl pase men li nan kou li enpi li wè ke li te bliye chenn li! Li mande zanmi li yo “Tanpri tounen avè’m ‘!”. Men zanmi yo reponn ke li te twò ta.
When they were nearly home,
Nozibele put her hand to her neck.
She had forgotten her necklace!
“Please come back with me!” she
begged her friends.
But her friends said it was too late.
Se konsa Nozibèl tounen larivyè a pou kont li. Li jwenn chenn li enpi li kouri pou’l ale lakay li. Men li pèdi nan mitan wout lan paske te fè nwa anpil.
So Nozibele went back to the river
alone.
She found her necklace and hurried
home.
But she got lost in the dark.
Pi lwen, li wè yon ti limyè kap klere yon ajoupa. Li kouri nan direksyon an enpi li frape sou pòt la.
In the distance she saw light
coming from a hut.
She hurried towards it and knocked
at the door.
Li pa janm sezi konsa lè li wè se te yon chen ki louvri pòt la. Chen an mande’l “Ki sa ou bezwen?” Mwen pèdi sou wout mwen, mwen bezwen yon kote pou’m dòmi”, “Antre oswa map mòde ou!” chen an di li. Se konsa, Nozibèl antre nan ajoupa a.
To her surprise, a dog opened the
door and said, “What do you want?”
“I’m lost and I need a place to
sleep,” said Nozibele.
“Come in, or I’ll bite you!” said the
dog.
So Nozibele went in.
Apre sa a, chen an di li “kwit yon manje pou mwen!” Nozibèl reponn “Men, mwen pa janm kwit manje pou chen” “Kwit oswa map mòde ou!”. Se konsa, Nozibèl kwit manje pou chen an.
Then the dog said, “Cook for me!”
“But I’ve never cooked for a dog
before,” she answered.
“Cook, or I’ll bite you!” said the dog.
So Nozibele cooked some food for
the dog.
Apre sa a, chen an di li “Fè kabann nan pou mwen!” Nozibèl reponn, “Mwen pa janm fè kabann pou chen.” “Fè kabann lan oswa map mòde ou!”. Se konsa, Nozibèl fè kabann pou chen an.
Then the dog said, “Make the bed
for me!”
Nozibele answered, “I’ve never
made a bed for a dog.”
“Make the bed, or I’ll bite you!” the
dog said.
So Nozibele made the bed.
Chak jou Nozibèl te gen pou’l kwit manje, pou’l bale, pou’l lave pou chen an. Yon jou, chen an di Nozibèl “Nozibèl, mwen gen pou’m al wè kèk zanmi. Bale kay la, kwit manje an enpi lave bagay yo anvan mwen tounen. ”
Every day she had to cook and
sweep and wash for the dog.
Then one day the dog said,
“Nozibele, today I have to visit
some friends. Sweep the house,
cook the food and wash my things
before I come back.”
Touswit kè chen an pati, Nozibèl pran twa cheve nan tèt li. Li mete yon grenn cheve anba kabann lan, yonn dèyè pòt la, ak yon nan chodyè a. Apre sa a, li kouri al lakay li.
As soon as the dog had gone,
Nozibele took three hairs from her
head.
She put one hair under the bed, one
behind the door, and one in the
kraal.
Then she ran home as fast as she
could.
Lè chen an tounen li chache Nozibèl “Nozibèl, ki kote ou ye?” “Mwen isit anba kabann lan,” premye cheve a reponn. “Mwen isit dèyè pòt la,” dezyèm cheve an reponn. “Mwen isit nan chodyè a” twazyèm cheve an reponn.
When the dog came back, he looked
for Nozibele.
“Nozibele, where are you?” he
shouted.
“I’m here, under the bed,” said the
first hair.
“I’m here, behind the door,” said the
second hair.
“I’m here, in the kraal,” said the
third hair.
Lè sa a, chen an konprann ke Nozibèl tap pase’l nan tenten. Chen an pran kouri jis li rive nan vilaj la. Men, frè Nozibèl tap tann li ak gwo baton nan men yo. Chen an kase tèt tounen epi yo pa janm wè li ankò.
Then the dog knew that Nozibele
had tricked him.
So he ran and ran all the way to the
village.
But Nozibele’s brothers were
waiting there with big sticks.
The dog turned and ran away and
has never been seen since.
Written by: Tessa Welch
Illustrated by: Wiehan de Jager
Translated by: ACE Haiti-University of Notre Dame USA
