Odongo na Apiyo vatwamine mu mbaka na tata yavo. Vahandaminyinenga vihwimo. Nge mashikola apwilenga akusoka kahako, wunonyi momo vayile nakutambukila kaka yavo wapwevo. Atwaminenga mulimbo lyaku lovela kwakamwihi na kalwiji kakanene.
Odongo and Apiyo lived in the city with their father.
They looked forward to the holidays. Not just because school was closed, but because they went to visit their grandmother. She lived in a fishing village near a large lake.
Odongo and Apiyo were excited because it was time to visit their grandmother again.
The night before, they packed their bags and got ready for the long journey to her village. They could not sleep and talked the whole night about the holiday.
Chimenemene chakavanga, vaputukileko wungeji namotoka ya tata yavo. Vendesele kuhambakana mapili, tunyama na mitondo ya tiyi. Valavile mamotoka kaha bembile myaso cheka.
Early the next morning, they left for the village in their father’s car.
They drove past mountains, wild animals and tea plantations. They counted cars and sang songs.
After a while, the children were tired and fell asleep.
Tata yavo ahindwile Odongo na Apiyo omu vahetele kwimbo. Vawanyine Nya-kanyada, khaka pwevo wavo, kuhwima hachisalo mwishi lyamutondo. Nyar-kanyada muchitundu cha luo, ‘chalumbunuka mwana pwevo wa vathu vaku kanyada’. Apwile wakujikiza na pwevo wamwaza.
Father woke up Odongo and Apiyo as they arrived in the village.
They found Nyar-Kanyada, their grandmother, resting on a mat under a tree.
Nyar-Kanyada in Luo, means ‘daughter of the people of Kanyada’. She was a strong and beautiful woman.
Nyar-Kanyada welcomed them into the house and danced around the room singing with joy.
Her grandchildren were excited to give her the presents they brought from the city.
“First open my gift,” said Odongo.
“No, my gift first!” said Apiyo.
Omu asokolwele vyawana kana,Nyar-kanyada akisulwile vezukulu vyenyi mu chisemwa.
After she opened the presents, Nyar-Kanyada blessed her grandchildren in a traditional way.
Shikaho Odongo na Apiyo vayile haweluka. Vachinyishile tujila natu wuyawuya.
Then Odongo and Apiyo went outside. They chased butterflies and birds.
Vanyinyine mitondo, nakulichila meya amukalwiji.
They climbed trees and splashed in the water of the lake.
Omu kwalavile vahilukile kuzuvo nakulya vyakulya vya chingoloshi. Shimbu kanda vamanyise kulya, valezumukile mutulo.
When it was dark they returned to the house for dinner. Before they could finish eating, they were falling asleep!
Likumbi lya kavanga, tata yavana akindulukile kumbaka kuvaseva vana na Nyar-kanyada.
The next day, the children’s father drove back to the city leaving them with Nyar-Kanyada.
Odongo na Apiyo vakafwile khaka yavo wapwevo na milimo vyamu zuvo. Vaswichile meya na jikunyi. Vambachile mawulu kufuma kuli tusumbi nakumba mafo mu wande.
Odongo and Apiyo helped their grandmother with household chores. They fetched water and firewood. They collected eggs from the chickens and picked greens from the garden.
Nyar-Kanyada taught her grandchildren to make soft ugali to eat with stew. She showed them how to make coconut rice to eat with roast fish.
Chimene chimwe, Odongo ambachile vangonbe va khaka pwevo yenyi nakuvalisa mwila. Vatuchililile muwande wa muthu vali hata nenyi. Njimi asulakanyine Odongo. Evwishile woma ngwenyi mwalama vangombe vaze momo vanamulila mbuto jenyi. Halutwe lwa lize Likumbi, kanyike azachile nangolo mangana vangombe kanda navalingisa muwukaluko.
One morning, Odongo took his grandmother’s cows to graze. They ran onto a neighbour’s farm.
The farmer was angry with Odongo. He threatened to keep the cows for eating his crops. After that day, the boy made sure that the cows did not get into trouble again.
Halikunbi likwavo, vanyike vayile kwakulanjishila na Nyar- kanyada. Apwilenga nakatambo hakulanjishila mafo, Shuga na sopo. Apiyo azangile kulweka vathu mitengo ya vyuma. Odongo apwilenga nakulongejeka vyuma vize vathu vapwilenga nakulanda.
On another day, the children went to the marketplace with Nyar-Kanyada. She had a stall selling vegetables, sugar and soap.
Apiyo liked to tell customers the price of items. Odongo would pack the items that customers bought.
Hakukuma cha Likumbi vanwine tiyi ya chai hamwe. Vakafwile khaka pwevo kulava mbongo valanjishileko.
At the end of the day they drank chai tea together. They helped grandmother to count the money she earned.
But too soon the holidays were over and the children had to go back to the city.
Nyar-Kanyada gave Odongo a cap and Apiyo a sweater. She packed food for their journey.
Omu tata yavo ejile nakuvambata, kavazangileko kukinduluka kwimbo, vana valambililile Nyar-kanyada mangana ayenga navo ku mbaka. Shikaho akemwine nakuhanjika, “Ngwakolo chikuma Nakuya ku mbaka. Nakamihandamina mukeze kuno kwimbo Cheka.”
When their father came to fetch them, they did not want to leave. The children begged Nyar-Kanyada to go with them to the city.
She smiled and said, “I am too old for the city. I will be waiting for you to come to my village again.”
Odongo na Apiyo vose vavali vamukumbachililile nakusalisa.
Odongo and Apiyo both hugged her tightly and said goodbye.
Omu Odongo na Apiyo vahilukile kushikola vashimutwililile vakwavo chiyoyelo chakwimbo. Vanyike vamwe vashinganyekele ngwavo chiyoyelo cha Mumbaka chapwile chamwaza. Unonyi chatete, vosena vetavile ngwavo Odongo na Apiyo vapwile na khaka pwevo wavo wamwaza!
When Odongo and Apiyo went back to school they told their friends about life in the village. Some children felt that life in the city was good. Others felt that the village was better.
But most of all, everyone agreed that Odongo and Apiyo had a wonderful grandmother!
