Alomito Odongo, Apiyo ka apakech lotaun loapolon. Edarito kechi ng’irwa lu egolere esukul. Meere kotere akigol tu esukul, nakaneni asakete akilakin atakech. Alomit atakech nadakar na ayei lokwaas anam ni echemiere ng’ikolia.
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.
Ataparachu keng, torotokis nadakar ka atakech edokito amotoka naka apakech. Kitoro kiding ng’imoru, ng’itiang ka emanikor lo emejen. Kimara ng’amotokae toeos.
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.
Ani enang’i apak ache, tobur kechi sodi tojotooros.
After a while, the children were tired and fell asleep.
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.
Kipeyou Nyar-Kanyada kechi kai dio kidong’ak alotooma akai elakara. Alakara ng’itatae ng’ulu ainunito atakech ng’iboro lu etaun. “Tang’aa nakang mono,” tolimu Odongo. “Mam! Nakang eking’aren!” Tatachu 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.
Arumoret ang’aar ng’iboro, abu Nyar-Kanyada topia ng’itatae keng.
After she opened the presents, Nyar-Kanyada blessed her grandchildren in a traditional way.
Sodi topudosi Odongo ka Apiyo kalapatan. Tolomasi akireng’it ng’abeerei ka ng’ikieny.
Then Odongo and Apiyo went outside. They chased butterflies and birds.
Todoka ng’ikito, kipakanakinos ng’akipi anam.
They climbed trees and splashed in the water of the lake.
When it was dark they returned to the house for dinner. Before they could finish eating, they were falling asleep!
Akwaar nache tobong’o apakech lotaun kimiek kechi ka atakech Nyar-Kanyada.
The next day, the children’s father drove back to the city leaving them with Nyar-Kanyada.
Eng’arakinito Odongo ka Apiyo atakech etich lo awi. Aokete ng’akipi ka akikeyen ng’akito. Achunete ng’abeyei ang’ikukui ka akiger ng’akuui alomana.
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.
Abu Nyar-kanyada kitatam ng’itatae keng akipore atap ka akinyam ka ng’apoko. Kidodik akipore emuchele ka ekolia lo epeitoe.
Nyar-Kanyada taught her grandchildren to make soft ugali to eat with stew. She showed them how to make coconut rice to eat with roast fish.
Ataparachu apei, totwar Odongo ng’atuk naka atakeng lonyia. Apotu ng’atuk tolomasi mana ekudunyet. Abu ilope amana tong’oik Odongo. Kitubul ng’esi tama awounia ng’atuk na anyamete amana keng. Anyoun akwaar ng’ina, abu edia ng’olo tochoik ng’atuk nyeyaut ng’ichan nabo.
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.
Ache kwaar, kirukosi ng’ide ka Nyar-Kanyada lomaket. Ayakar ng’esi epem lo agialanaria ng’akuui, esukari ka esabuni. Ajoikinit Apiyo alimonokin ng’ikagialak ng’aropiyae ang’iboro. Aeni Odongo ng’iboro lu egieli ekagialan.
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.
Na abong’unio apakech arikor kechi, awounito ng’ide alosit. Kimaimaa ng’ide Nyar-Kanyada kirukosi ka kechi lotaun. Tamaisam ng’esi tama, “Amojong’it ayong. Kedarouni ayong eesi ibong’unete nadakar kang nabo.”
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.”
Tonuakis Odongo ka Apiyo atakech lokojokon dio torotokis.
Odongo and Apiyo both hugged her tightly and said goodbye.
Abong’oret Odongo ka Apiyo losukul, kisisakis ng’ipaalon ng’akiro adakar ka atakech. Atamito ng’ide ng’iche ajokis akiboi alotaun, atamito luche nabo atamar ejok akiboi anadakarin. Kang’una kadaang, achamunito atamar erai atakech kata Odongo ka Apiyo ituan ni ajokon!
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!
