Uyu ndi Khalai. Ali ndi zaka zisanu ndi ziwiri. Dzina lake litanthauza kuti “wabwino” mucirankhulo cake, Lubukusu.
This is Khalai. She is seven years old. Her name means ‘the good one’ in her language, Lubukusu.
Khalai amauka ndikhulaku mtengo wa malalanje. “Conde mtengo wamalalanje, kula msinkhu ndipo utipatse malalanje ambiri akupsya.”
Khalai wakes up and talks to the orange tree. “Please orange tree, grow big and give us lots of ripe oranges.”
Khali apita ku sukulu. Pa njira, alankhula ku msipu. “Condemsipu, khalani obiriwira ndipo musaume.”
Khalai walks to school. On the way she talks to the grass. “Please grass, grow greener and don’t dry up.”
Khalai apita pa maluwa amthengo. “Conde, maluwa, pitirizani kukula kuti ndikuikeni mu tsitsi langa.”
Khalai passes wild flowers. “Please flowers, keep blooming so I can put you in my hair.”
Ku sukulu, Khalai alankhula ku mtengo pakati pa sukulu. “Conde mtengo, khalani ndi nthambi zikulu kuti tiziwerengera pansi pa mtengo.
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 alankhula ku maluwa ozungulirasukulu. “Conde, khalani olimba ndiponso letsani anthu oipa kulowa.”
Khalai talks to the hedge around her school. “Please grow strong and stop bad people from coming in.”
Pamene Khalai abwelera kunyumba kucokera kusukulu, ayendera mtengo wa malalanje. “Kodi malalanje ako apsya kale?” Afunsa Khalai.
When Khalai returns home from school, she visits the orange tree. “Are your oranges ripe yet?” asks Khalai.
Malalanje akalibe kupya,” anena Khalai. “Mwina, uzandikhalira ndi lalanje lakupya!”
“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!”
