Awe Khalai. Uji namwaka yakusemwa itanu naisatu. Mumulaka wanji wa Lubukusu, jizhina janji jalumbulula buwame.
This is Khalai. She is seven years old. Her name means ‘the good one’ in her language, Lubukusu.
Khalai ubuuka ne kwisamba na bichi bya maolengi. “Nakupopwelapo obe kichi kya maolengi, komanga bukiji witupenga maolengi aavula aapya.”
Khalai wakes up and talks to the orange tree. “Please orange tree, grow big and give us lots of ripe oranges.”
Khalai wenda kuya kusukuulu. Mujishinda wisamba na nsono.” Nemipopwela aneba nsono, komainga bulongo mubunzhamatamba kabiji kumangane.”
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, “Nemupopwelapo aneba maluba, twajijilai nakulala buluba pa kuuba amba nemubikenga munsuki yami.”
Khalai passes wild flowers. “Please flowers, keep blooming so I can put you in my hair.”
Kusukuulu, Khalai wisamba nakichi kiji pakachi kalubanzha. “Nakupopwelapo obe kichi, sapukanga namisampi pa kuuba amba tutangilengamo munshi mukimfutele 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 pasukuulu, “Nakupopwelapo koma saka wakosa pa kuuba uvimbile sukuulu wetu nekukanya bantu batama babulenga kutwela mukachi.”
Khalai talks to the hedge around her school. “Please grow strong and stop bad people from coming in.”
Khalai inge wabwela kufuma kusukuulu, upempula kichi kya maolengi.” Maolengi obe apyanyi?” Khalai waipwizhe.
When Khalai returns home from school, she visits the orange tree. “Are your oranges ripe yet?” asks Khalai.
“Maolengi akiji abishi,” Khalai wijizhañanya Kyawama nkeya kesha,” Khalai waambile amba.” Kampepo ukekalapo najiolengi japya jakumpa!”
“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!”
