Tom usenda tule wamakonde apya.
Tom carries a tray of ripe bananas.
Tom uya kukisankanyi nakupotesha makonde.
Tom goes to the market to sell bananas.
Bantu babena kupota bipangwa mukisankanyi.
People at the market are buying fruit.
Bino kafwako wapotelenga makonde akwa Tom ne. Bantu bapotelengatu bipangwa kubainetu.
But no one is buying
Tom’s bananas.
They prefer to buy fruit from women.
“Muno munyaunda yetu, babakazhitu bobonkatu bapotesha bipangwa,” byobyamba bantu. “Nanchi awe ke mwanamulume wamutunduka ka?” bantu waipuzha.
“In our community, only women sell fruit,” people say. “What kind of a man is this?” people ask.
Bino Tom aye kechi wikilekele kupoteshane. Waichilenga bantu amba, “Potai makonde! Potai makonde ami aapya bulongo kabiji atobala!”
But Tom does not give up.
He calls, “Buy my bananas!
Buy my sweet ripe bananas!”
Inetu umo watolelemo makonde mutule. Wiatajishishe makonde bulongo.
One woman picks up a bunch of bananas from the tray.
She looks at the bananas carefully.
Uno inetu upota makonde.
The woman buys the bananas.
Bantu baavula beeya pakitamba kyanji. Bapota makonde akwa Tom ne kuja.
More people come to the stall.
They buy Tom’s bananas and eat them.
Makonde akwa Tom kechi abanda kupwa ne. Tom ubala mali oamwenamo.
Soon, the tray is empty.
Tom counts the money he earned.
Tom upotamo, sopo, shuka ne shinkwa. Tom usenda bintu byoapota mutule wanji.
Then Tom buys soap, sugar, and bread.
He puts the things in his tray.
Tom usenda tule wanji pamutwe saka alekelelako ne kuya kunzubo.
Tom balances the tray on his head and goes home.
