Sakiima did liv wid im pierens dem an im fuor iez uol sista. Dem did liv pan wahn rich man lan. Dem tach ous did de a di en a wahn lain a chrii.
Sakima lived with his parents and his four year old sister.
They lived on a rich man’s land.
Their grass-thatched hut was at the end of a row of trees.
Wen Sakiima a did chrii iez uol, im get sik an im get blain. Sakiima a did wahn talentid bwaai pikni.
When Sakima was three years old, he fell sick and lost his sight.
Sakima was a talented boy.
Sakiima du uoliip a tingz we ada siks iez uol bwaai pikni kudn du. Far instans, im kuda siddong wid di uol piipl dem fram di vilij an taak bout impuotant mattaz.
Sakima did many things that other six year old boys did not do.
For example, he could sit with older members of the village and discuss important matters.
Sakiima pierens dem did wok a di rich man yaad. Dem lef out orli inna di maanin an kom bak liet inna di iivlin. Sakiima stie wid im likl sista.
The parents of Sakima worked at the rich man’s house.
They left home early in the morning and returned late in the evening.
Sakima was left with his little sister.
Sakiima did lov fi sing sang. Wan die im mada aks im se, “A we yu lorn dem song de fram, Sakiima?”
Sakima loved to sing songs.
One day his mother asked him, “Where do you learn these songs from, Sakima?”
Sakiima ansa se, “Dem jos kom tu mi, mama. Mi ier dem inna mi ed an den mi sing dem.”
Sakima answered, “They just come, mother. I hear them in my head and then I sing.”
Sakiima laik wen im sing fi im likl sista, espeshali, ef shi did fiil onggri. Im sista uda lisn tu im a sing im fievarit sang. Shi wuda tek taim rak tu di myuuzik an it wuda mek shi kaam dong.
Sakima liked to sing for his little sister, especially, if she felt hungry.
His sister would listen to him singing his favourite song.
She would sway to the soothing tune.
“Sing it agen an agen, Sakiima,” im sista wuda beg im se. Sakiima wuda du it an sing it uova an uova agen.
“Can you sing it again and again, Sakima,” his sister would beg him.
Sakima would accept and sing it over and over again.
Wan iivlin wen im pierens dem kom bak uom, dem did kwaiyat-kwaiyat. Sakiima did nuo se sopm did rang.
One evening when his parents returned home, they were very quiet.
Sakima knew that there was something wrong.
“A wa rang mama, papa?” Sakiima aks dem se. Sakiima fain out se di rich man son misn. Di man did fiil bad an laik im neva av nobadi.
“What is wrong, mother, father?” Sakima asked.
Sakima learned that the rich man’s son was missing.
The man was very sad and lonely.
“Mi kyan sing fiim. Im mait fiil api agen,” Sakiima tel im pierens dem se. Bot im pierens dem neva pie im no main. “Im a wahn rich-rich man. Yu a jos wahn blain bwaai pikni. Yu tingk se yu sang kyan elp im?”
“I can sing for him. He might be happy again,” Sakima told his parents.
But his parents dismissed him.
“He is very rich. You are only a blind boy. Do you think your song will help him?”
Bot Sakiima neva stap. Im likl sista bak im. Shi se, “Sakiima sang dem mek mi fiil beta wen mi onggri. Dem wi mek di rich man fiil beta tu.”
However, Sakima did not give up.
His little sister supported him.
She said, “Sakima’s songs soothe me when I am hungry. They will soothe the rich man too.”
Di neks die, Sakiima aks im likl sista fi kyari im go a di rich man yaad.
The following day, Sakima asked his little sister to lead him to the rich man’s house.
Im stan op anda wahn big winda an staat fi sing im fievarit sang. Likl bai likl yu kuda si di rich man ed staat shuo chuu di big winda.
He stood below one big window and began to sing his favourite song.
Slowly, the head of the rich man began to show through the big window.
Di woka dem stap we dem a du. Dem lisn tu Sakiima nais sang. Bot wan man se, “Nobadi kudn komfat di baas. Da blain bwaai pikni ya tingk se im kyan komfat im?”
The workers stopped what they were doing. They listened to Sakima’s beautiful song.
But one man said, “Nobody has been able to console the boss. Does this blind boy think he will console him?”
Sakiima di don sing im sang an ton roun fi lef. Bot di rich man ori op an se, “Du sing agen.”
Sakima finished singing his song and turned to leave.
But the rich man rushed out and said, “Please sing again.”
Siem taim, tuu man kom a kyari sumadi pan wahn schrecha. Dem di fain di rich man son biit op an lef a ruod said.
At that very moment, two men came carrying someone on a stretcher.
They had found the rich man’s son beaten up and left on the side of the road.
Di rich man did api so til fi siim son agen. Im gi Sakiima a prezent kaaz im did komfat im. Im kyari im son an Sakiima go a aaspital so Sakiima kuda get bak im sait.
The rich man was so happy to see his son again.
He rewarded Sakima for consoling him.
He took his son and Sakima to hospital so Sakima could regain his sight.
Ursula Nafula
Peris Wachuka
Georgette McGlashen
Jamaican Creole
Level 3
The audio for this story is currently not available.
