Iwu diyi Khalai. Wukweti yaaka yitanu nayiyedi. Izhina dindi dalumbuluka ‘wakusakulewa’ mumuchidi windi wa, Lubukusu.
This is Khalai. She is seven years old. Her name means ‘the good one’ in her language, Lubukusu.
Khalai wahindukan’ga nakuhosha na mutondu wamalalanji. “Nalembi eyi mutondu wamalalanji, kuulaku muneni nawa twinka malalanji akwiha’.”
Khalai wakes up and talks to the orange tree. “Please orange tree, grow big and give us lots of ripe oranges.”
Khalai wendan’ga nakuya ku shikola. Munzhila hakuya wahoshan’ga namatahu.”Nalembi matahu, kuulaku nawuluya wa mafu amatamba kaha nawa kanda wumaaku.”
Khalai walks to school. On the way she talks to the grass. “Please grass, grow greener and don’t dry up.”
Khalai wahambakanan’ga zhimbutu zhampata. “nalembi zhimbutu, twalekenuhu kuukula chiwahi kulonda nikanyishi mumutu.
Khalai passes wild flowers. “Please flowers, keep blooming so I can put you in my hair.”
Ha shikola, Khalai wahoshang’a na mutondu wekala hakachi.”Nalembi eyi mutondu kuula nyitayi kulonda tutan’gili mwishina deyi.
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 wahoshan’ga nachenzelu chakwing’ilila ku shikola. “Nalembi koolaku kulonda wukan’geshi antu atama kwin’gila.
Khalai talks to the hedge around her school. “Please grow strong and stop bad people from coming in.”
Neyi Khalai nafunti kwitala kufuma kushikola, wahempulan’ga mutondu wamalalanji. “Malalanji eyi anahi dehi tahi?” Khalai ehula
When Khalai returns home from school, she visits the orange tree. “Are your oranges ripe yet?” asks Khalai.
“Malalanji achidi amesu,” kuhumikizha Khalai.”Nakakumona kumadiki mutondu wamalalanji, “nindi Khalai. Hekwawu wukekala na malalanji akwiha anami!”
“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!”
