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.
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.
過咗一排，啲細蚊仔都好癐，就喺車度瞓著咗。
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.
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.
尼亞·琴亞達打開咗禮物之後，用傳統嘅習俗祝福佢兩個孫仔。
After she opened the presents, Nyar-Kanyada blessed her grandchildren in a traditional way.
奧東哥同阿皮尤走出去玩吓，喺外便追住蝴蝶同雀仔。
Then Odongo and Apiyo went outside. They chased butterflies and birds.
佢哋仲爬樹，跳入湖水，瀄起咗好多水花。
They climbed trees and splashed in the water of the lake.
天黑咗之後，佢哋返嫲嫲屋企度食晚飯，但佢哋太癐嘞，仲未食完，就瞓著咗。
When it was dark they returned to the house for dinner. Before they could finish eating, they were falling asleep!
第二日，爹哋開車返城市，兩個細蚊仔就留俾嫲嫲照顧。
The next day, the children’s father drove back to the city leaving them with Nyar-Kanyada.
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.
尼亞·琴亞達教佢哋煮烏咖喱粟米粥，仲教佢哋點做送燒魚嘅椰子飯。
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.
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.
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.
大家收咗工之後，佢哋坐埋一齊飲奶茶，幫嫲嫲計吓今日賺到嘅錢。
At the end of the day they drank chai tea together. They helped grandmother to count the money she earned.
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.”
奧東哥同阿皮尤就緊緊抱住佢，同佢講拜拜。
Odongo and Apiyo both hugged her tightly and said goodbye.
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!
