Noong unang panahon, may tatlong batang babae na naghanap ng panggatong.
A long time ago, three girls went
out to collect wood.
Pinawisan sila dahil sa init ng araw kaya naisipan nilang maligo sa ilog. Tuwang-tuwa sila sa paglaro, pagtampisaw at paglangoy.
It was a hot day so they went down
to the river to swim.
They played and splashed and
swam in the water.
Bigla nilang naalala na malapit na gumabi. Kaya dali-dali silang bumalik sa nayon.
Suddenly, they realised that it was
late.
They hurried back to the village.
Nung malapit na sila makarating sa bahay, kinapa ni Nozibele ang leeg niya. Naiwan pala niya sa may ilog ang kuwintas! “Samahan ninyo ako! Balik tayo dun!” nagmakaawa siya. Pero hindi pumayag ang mga kaibigan dahil malapit na gumabi.
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.
Mag-isang bumalik si Nozibele sa ilog. Nakita niya ang kuwintas at agad bumalik pauwi. Pero naabutan siya ng dilim at nawala siya dahil di nya makita ang daan.
So Nozibele went back to the river
alone.
She found her necklace and hurried
home.
But she got lost in the dark.
Sa di kalayuan, may nakita siyang ilaw sa isang bahay. Nilapitan niya ang kubo at kumatok sa pinto.
In the distance she saw light
coming from a hut.
She hurried towards it and knocked
at the door.
Bumukas ang pinto at nagulat siya sa nakita. Isang asong nagsasalita! “Anong kailangan mo?” “Nawawala ako at kailangan ko ng matutuluyan,” sagot ni Nozibele. “Tuloy ka at baka kita kagatin!” sabi ng aso, kaya pumasok si Nozibele.
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.
“Ipagluto mo ako!” utos ng aso. “Hindi ako marunong magluto,” sagot ni Nozibele. “Kung hindi ka magluluto, kakagatin kita!” Kaya nagluto si Nozibele ng makakain ng aso.
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.
“Ayusin mo ang kama ko!” utos ng aso. “Hindi ko alam kung paano ayusin ang kama para sa isang aso,” sagot ni Nozibele. “Kung ayaw mong ayusin ang kama ko, kakagatin kita!” banta ng aso. Kaya inayos ni Nozibele ang kama nito.
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.
Araw-araw, nagluluto, naglilinis at naglalaba si Nozibele para sa aso. “Sasaglit lang ako sa mga kaibigan ko. Pagbalik ko, dapat tapos ka na maglinis, magluto at maglaba.”
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.”
Pagkaalis ng aso, bumunot si Nozibele ng tatlong hibla ng buhok sa kanyang ulo. Nilagay niya ang sa sa ilalim ng kama, isa sa likod ng pinto at isa sa kural. Saka siya kumaripas ng takbo pauwi.
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.
Pagbalik ng aso, hinanap niya si Nozibele. “Asan ka, Nozibele?” “Andito ako sa ilalim ng kama,” sabi ng unag hibla. “Andito ako sa likod ng pinto,” sabi ng ikalawa. “Andito ako sa kural,” sabi ng ikatlo.
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.
Saka lang naisip ng aso. Naisahan siya. Tumakbo siya papunta sa nayon. Pero naghihintay sa kanya ang tatlong kapatid na lalaki ni Nozibele. May dala silang malalaking patpat kaya tumakas ang aso at hindi na uli nagpakita kailanman.
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.
