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Oshikunino shaMeekulu osha li shikumwifa, osha li shi yadi oilyavala,omapungu, nomidika. Ashike osho sha li shiwa shi dule aishe okwa li omabanana. Nanande Meekulu okwa li e na ovatekulu vahapu, onda kala ndi sh shii kutya aame ohole yaye. Okwa li ha ifana nge luhapu keumbo laye. Okwa li ha lombwela nge yo imwe yomoiholekwa yaye. Ashike opa li oshiholekwa shimwe ine shi lombwela nge: onhele opo ha pifile omabanana.
Grandma’s garden was wonderful, full of sorghum, millet, and cassava.
But best of all were the bananas.
Although Grandma had many grandchildren, I secretly knew that I was her favourite. She invited me often to her house. She also told me little secrets.
But there was one secret she did not share with me: where she ripened bananas.
Efiku limwe onda mona oshimbaba shakula sha tungwa nomanenge shi li pomutenya pondje yeumbo lameekulu. Eshi nda pula kutya osha shike, enyamukulo eli nda mona ola ti, “Osho oshimbaba shange shoumhulile.” Polwamba loshimbaba, opa li omafo omabanana oo Meekulu a li te a angaula efimbo nefimbo. Onda li nda kwatwa kokatalekonawa. “Omafo oto a longifa shike, Meekulu?” osho nda pula. Enyamukulo olo nda pewa ola li, “Oo omafo ange oumhulile.”
One day I saw a big straw basket placed in the sun outside Grandma’s house. When I asked what it was for, the only answer I got was, “It’s my magic basket.”
Next to the basket, there were several banana leaves that Grandma turned from time to time. I was curious. “What are the leaves for, Grandma?” I asked. The only answer I got was, “They are my magic leaves.”
Osha li shihokwifa neenghono okutala Meekulu, omabanana, omafo omabanana noshimbaba shakula sha tungwa momanenge. Ashike Meekulu okwa tu mange kumeme ndi ye ndi ka tale sha. “Meekulu, kwafe nge alikana ndi tale nhumbi to longekida…” “Kaanaave ino kala omunamanganga, ninga ngaashi to lombwelwa,” Meekulu osho a popya nomufindo. Ame onda ya nokutondoka.
It was so interesting watching Grandma, the bananas, the banana leaves and the big straw basket. But Grandma sent me off to my mother on an errand.
“Grandma, please, let me watch as you prepare…”
“Don’t be stubborn, child, do as you are told,” she insisted. I took off running.
Eshi nda aluka, Meekulu onda hanga e li omutumba pondje ashike oshimbaba nomabanana kae po. “Meekulu, oshimbaba oshi li peni, nomabanana aeshe okwa ya peni nopeni…” Enyamukulo nda pewa ola li, “Oi li monhele yange youmhulile.” Okwa li tashi udifa nai neenghono!
When I returned, Grandma was sitting outside but with neither the basket nor the bananas.
“Grandma, where is the basket, where are all the bananas, and where…”
But the only answer I got was, “They are in my magic place.” It was so disappointing!
Konima yomafiku avali, Meekulu okwa tuma nge ndi mu etele onhondje yaye konduda yaye kokunangala. Eshi ngaho nda yeulula omuvelo, onda kundwa kedimba liwa lomabanana a pya. Mokalimba ke li meni londuda omwa li oshimbaba shakula shoumhulile sha tungwa nomanenge . Osha li sha holekwa nawa sha uvikila ekumbafa la kulupa. Onda tuula ko ndele handi udu mo edimba li nyika nawa kamana.
Two days later, Grandma sent me to fetch her walking stick from her bedroom.
As soon as I opened the door, I was welcomed by the strong smell of ripening bananas. In the inner room was grandma’s big magic straw basket. It was well hidden by an old blanket. I lifted it and sniffed that glorious smell.
Ewi lameekulu ola halula nge eshi a ifana nge, “Oto ningi shike? Endelela u ete onhondje yange.” Onda endelela ndi twale ondibo yaye. “Oto limemesha shike?” Meekulu ta pula. Epulo laye ola dimbulukifa nge kutya onda li handi limemesha eshi nda mona onhele yaye youmhulile.
Grandma’s voice startled me when she called, “What are you doing? Hurry up and bring me the stick.”
I hurried out with her walking stick. “What are you smiling about?” Grandma asked.
Her question made me realise that I was still smiling at the discovery of her magic place.
Efiku la shikula eshi Meekulu e uya okutalela po meme, onda lotokela keumbo laye ndi ka tale vali omabanana. Okwa li pe na okapandi kamwe kamwe ka pya nawa. Onda kufa ko limwe ndele handi liholeke moshikutu shange. Onda ya konima yeumbo ndele handi li li po divadiva. Ebanana okwa li na ounyenye inandi u mona nale.
The following day when grandma came to visit my mother, I rushed to her house to check the bananas once more.
There was a bunch of very ripe ones. I picked one and hid it in my dress. After covering the basket again, I went behind the house and quickly ate it. It was the sweetest banana I had ever tasted.
Efiku la shikula, manga Meekulu a li moshikunino ta likola oihape, onde livakela mo monduda ame handi tale natango momabanana. Konyala aeshe okwa li a pya. Onda kwatwa kemakelo nonda kufa mo okapandi komabanana e li ane. Fimbo handi linyovaeke nda yuka komuvelo, onda uda Meekulu a kolola pondje. Onda dula okuholeka omabanana moshikutu ndele handi piti puye.
The following day, when grandma was in the garden picking vegetables, I sneaked in and peered at the bananas.
Nearly all were ripe. I couldn’t help taking a bunch of four.
As I tiptoed towards the door, I heard grandma coughing outside. I just managed to hide the bananas under my dress and walked past her.
Efiku la shikula ola li efiku lomalandifilo. Meekulu okwa penduka ongula inene. Alushe oha kufa omabanana a pya nomudika a ka landife komalandifilo. Efiku olo inandi ya ko nande diva kuye. Ashike inandi dula oku mu lidimbika efimbo lile.
The following day was market day. Grandma woke up early. She always took ripe bananas and cassava to sell at the market.
I did not hurry to visit her that day. But I could not avoid her for long.
Konguloshi onda ifanwa kutate nameme, osho yo Meekulu. Onda li nda dimbulukwa nale kutya omolwashike. Onguloshi oyo eshi nda ka nangala, onda mona kutya nghi na vali efiku ndi ka vake tuu nande, kutya nee oinima yaMeekulu, oyovakulunhu vange ile ngaho yovanhu vamwe ve lili.
Later that evening I was called by my mother and father, and Grandma. I knew why.
That night as I lay down to sleep, I knew I could never steal again, not from grandma, not from my parents, and certainly not from anyone else.
