Awe Khalai.Uji namwaka itanu naisatu. Jizhina janji jalumbulula buwame mumulaka wanji, Lubukusu.
This is Khalai. She is seven years old. Her name means ‘the good one’ in her language, Lubukusu.
Khalai ubuka ne kwamba nama orange ku kichi.”Nakupopwela obe kuchi kwama orange, koma bukiji witupeko ma orange apya avula.
Khalai wakes up and talks to the orange tree. “Please orange tree, grow big and give us lots of ripe oranges.”
Khalai wenda nama ulu pakuya kusukulu. Mujishinda wamba na nsono.” Nakupopwela obe nsono koma wafititukila kabiji kukooma ne”.
Khalai walks to school. On the way she talks to the grass. “Please grass, grow greener and don’t dry up.”
Khalai upita paji maluba amungye, “Nakupopwela sapukayi pakwamba nkemubike munsuki yami”.
Khalai passes wild flowers. “Please flowers, keep blooming so I can put you in my hair.”
Ku sukulu, Khalai wamba nakichi kiji pakachi ka muzhi. “Nakupopwela obe kichi, lupula misampi pakwamba mba tutangilengamo mu kimfutele kyobe.”
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 wamba naluvimba lwa pasukulu ,”Nakupopwela koma wakosa uvimbile sukulu pakwambamba bantu batama babule kutwela.”
Khalai talks to the hedge around her school. “Please grow strong and stop bad people from coming in.”
Khalai inge wabwela kufuma kusukulu, upempula kichi kwama orange.” Ma orange yobe yapyanyi?” Khalai waipuzha.
When Khalai returns home from school, she visits the orange tree. “Are your oranges ripe yet?” asks Khalai.
“Ma orange akiji abishi,” Khalai wijizhang’anya. 2Nkeya nakwimimona kesha,” Khalai waamba.” Kampe katana kwapya yami imo!”
“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!”
