A long time ago, three girls went
out to collect wood.
Weda hot no be small, so dem come go river go swim. Dem play and swim inside water.
It was a hot day so they went down
to the river to swim.
They played and splashed and
swam in the water.
At ones dem come see say time don go. Dem come rush go back village.
Suddenly, they realised that it was
late.
They hurried back to the village.
Wen dem don near house, Nozibele touch em neck. E come know say e don leave em chain! E beg em friends to follow am go back but dem say time don too go far.
When they were nearly home,
Nozibele put her hand to her neck.
She had forgotten her necklace!
“Please come back with me!” she
begged her friends.
But her friends said it was too late.
Na so Nozibele come go back by emsef. E see the chain na em e tuke go house. Na so e come miss road.
So Nozibele went back to the river
alone.
She found her necklace and hurried
home.
But she got lost in the dark.
E come see light dey shine for one house far far. Na so e rush go there go knock d door.
In the distance she saw light
coming from a hut.
She hurried towards it and knocked
at the door.
Shoo, na dog open door o. D dog say, “wetin you want?” “ Nozibele come say e miss road, i dey look for were to sleep,” ”come inside, or I go bite u oo! D dog tell am. Na so Nozibele enter o.
To her surprise, a dog opened the
door and said, “What do you want?”
“I’m lost and I need a place to
sleep,” said Nozibele.
“Come in, or I’ll bite you!” said the
dog.
So Nozibele went in.
Dog come say, “oya cook for me” e come ansa am say e never cook for dog before o. Dog come say, “cook, or I go bite you oo!” na so Nozibele come cook food for dog.
Then the dog said, “Cook for me!”
“But I’ve never cooked for a dog
before,” she answered.
“Cook, or I’ll bite you!” said the dog.
So Nozibele cooked some food for
the dog.
Dog come say, “do my bed!” e ansa am say e never do bed for dog before oo. Dog come say, “do my bed or I go bite you!” na so Nozibele come do bed for dog.
Then the dog said, “Make the bed
for me!”
Nozibele answered, “I’ve never
made a bed for a dog.”
“Make the bed, or I’ll bite you!” the
dog said.
So Nozibele made the bed.
Na so dog come put Nozibele for work. day by day e go cook, sweep, wash for dog. Dog come tell am one day say, “Nozibele, i wan go see my friend dem. Make you sweep d house, cook and wash cloth before i return.
Every day she had to cook and
sweep and wash for the dog.
Then one day the dog said,
“Nozibele, today I have to visit
some friends. Sweep the house,
cook the food and wash my things
before I come back.”
As dog comot, na so Nozibele comot three of her from head. E keep one under bed, another one for back of door then one for d kraal. e come skele go house with speed.
As soon as the dog had gone,
Nozibele took three hairs from her
head.
She put one hair under the bed, one
behind the door, and one in the
kraal.
Then she ran home as fast as she
could.
As Dog return, e come look e no see Nozibele. Na so e come shout “Nozibele, were u dey na?” “I dey unda d bed,” d first hair ansa. “I dey back of door,” d second hair ansa. “I dey inside kraal,” d third hair ansa.
When the dog came back, he looked
for Nozibele.
“Nozibele, where are you?” he
shouted.
“I’m here, under the bed,” said the
first hair.
“I’m here, behind the door,” said the
second hair.
“I’m here, in the kraal,” said the
third hair.
Na now d Dog come get the gist say Nozibele don do am wayo. Na so Dog come para run go reach d village. Nozibele bros dem don set dey wait am with heavy stick. Na so Dog do reverse tuke wen no one see am since.
Then the dog knew that Nozibele
had tricked him.
So he ran and ran all the way to the
village.
But Nozibele’s brothers were
waiting there with big sticks.
The dog turned and ran away and
has never been seen since.
Tessa Welch
Wiehan de Jager
Anthonia Ujene
Nigerian Pidgin
Level 3
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