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Odongo na Apiyo adin’ga nakushakama mumbaka na Tata yawu. Adin’ga nakuken’ga impinji yakunoka. Bayi mulon’ga wakwenzela cha shikola hohuku ilan’ga aken’gelen’ga Kuya nakumona nkaka yawu wamubanda. Wadin’ga nakushakama mwilun’ga datufuta twanshi kwakwihi na kalon’ga.
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.
Chiyashikili intetemena anyamukili mumotoka ya Tata yawu nakuya kumukala. Endesheli kuhita muzhimpidi, tunyama na matempa amaneni. Achindilen’ga nyotoka na kwimba tumina.
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.
Chiyahitili impinji anyana azeyeli nakukama.
After a while, the children were tired and fell asleep.
Tata yawu wayihindwishili a Odongo na Apiyo chashikiliwu mumukala. Aweni Nyar-Kanyada nkaka yawu nakunoma hachisalu mwishina da mutondu. Nyar-Kanyada mumuchidi wa Luo kwalumbuluka, ‘mwana wamubanda wa wantu zha Kanyada’ wadin’ga wan’govu mukamama wamuwahi nawa.
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 wayishikizhili mwitala kaha nawa wembili na kuhanga kamina kalumwen’gu. Ezhikulu zhindi atiyili chachiwahi kumwinka ma wana afumini nawu kumbaka. “Chatachi, enzununaki wana wami,” nindi Odongo. Inehi wana chata kwenzununa wikali wami!” nindi Apiyo.
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.
Henohu Kanda enzununi ma wana indi, Nyar-Kanyada wayikiswilili ezhima wawu muchisemwa.
After she opened the presents, Nyar-Kanyada blessed her grandchildren in a traditional way.
Nawa Odongo na Apiyo ayili hanzhi. Adin’ga nakuhan’ga Tuzhil natunzwanzwa.
Then Odongo and Apiyo went outside. They chased butterflies and birds.
They climbed trees and splashed in the water of the lake.
Chikweyilili afuntili kwitala nakunda kuda kwa melela. Henohu Kanda amanishi kuda, atachikili kukama!
When it was dark they returned to the house for dinner. Before they could finish eating, they were falling asleep!
Ifuku dasinsilihu, Tata yawu wafuntili chen’gi ku mbaka nakuyishiya na Nyar-Kanyada.
The next day, the children’s father drove back to the city leaving them with Nyar-Kanyada.
Odongo na Apiyo adin’ga nakukwasha nkaka yawu nyidimu yahetala. Adin’ga na kukotola inchawa na kutaha menzhi. Adin’ga nakusenda matete kufuma kudi tusumbi nakuwayisha mafu I mwitempa.
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.
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.
Ifuku dikwawu anyana adin’ga nakuya ku chisankanu na Nyar-Kanyada. Wadin’ga nakachitamba hadin’ga nakuladishilayi tu suga na sopu. Apiyo waken’geli kulezha akastoma nyitengu yayuma. Odongo wadin’ga na kulon’ga yuma yalandilen’gawu akastoma.
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.
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.
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 amukumbatili nakumushika nawu washalan’gahu.
Odongo and Apiyo both hugged her tightly and said goodbye.
Chiyafuntiliwu Odongo na Apiyo kushikola, ayilezhelimu akwawu chihandilu cha kumukala. Anyana amu amweni neyi chihandilu cha mumbaka chachiwahi. Amakwawu nawu kumukala kwakuwahi. Ilan’ga ezhima wawu etezheli nawa Odongo na Apiyo akweti nkaka yawu wamubanda wamuwahi!
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!
