Ti fi sa a rele Khalai. Li gen sèt lane. Nan lang li, Lubukusu, Non li vle di ‘sa ki bon an’.
This is Khalai. She is seven years old. Her name means ‘the good one’ in her language, Lubukusu.
Nan maten, lè Khalai leve li pale ak pye zoranj lan. “Tanpri pye zoranj, vin byen gwo pou’w bannou anpil zoranj mi.”
Khalai wakes up and talks to the orange tree. “Please orange tree, grow big and give us lots of ripe oranges.”
Sou wout li lè li pral lekòl li pale ak zèb yo “Tanpri grandi, vin pi vèt epi pa mouri.”
Khalai walks to school. On the way she talks to the grass. “Please grass, grow greener and don’t dry up.”
Sou wout li lè li pral lekòl li pale ak zèb yo “Tanpri grandi, vin pi vèt epi pa mouri.”
Khalai passes wild flowers. “Please flowers, keep blooming so I can put you in my hair.”
Nan lekòl la, Khalai pale ak pye bwa a ki nan mitan lakou a. “Tanpri pyebwa, blaye bèl branch ou yo pou nou ka chita anba lonbraj ou.”
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.”
Khalai pale ak lantiraj lekòl la. “Tanpri grandi ak fòs pou’w anpeche move moun rantre nan lakou lekòl la.”
Khalai talks to the hedge around her school. “Please grow strong and stop bad people from coming in.”
Lè Khalai tounen lakay li apre lekòl, l ale wè pyebwa zoranj la. “Èske zoranj ou yo mi?” Khalai mande li.
When Khalai returns home from school, she visits the orange tree. “Are your oranges ripe yet?” asks Khalai.
Khalai te byen kontrarye men li di pye zoranj lan “Zoranj ou yo vèt toujou. Men map tounen wè ou demen nan maten…petèt wa gen zoranj mi pou mwen!”
“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!”
