Uyu ndi Khalai. Ali ndi zaka zisanu ndi ziwiri. Dzina lake litanthauza kuti “wabwino” mucilankhulo chake, Lubukusu.
This is Khalai. She is seven years old. Her name means ‘the good one’ in her language, Lubukusu.
Khalai amauka ndikukmba ndi mtengo wa malalanje. “Chonde, mtengo wamalalanje, kula 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 ayenda ku sukulu. Pa njira, akamba ndi msipu. “Chonde, kula msipu ndikukhala obiliwira 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. “Chonde, maluwa, pitilizani 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 akamba ndi mtengo pakati pa sukulu. “Chonde mtengo, khalani ndi nthambi zikulu kuti tiziwerengera pa 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 akamba ndi chitseko chakusukulu. “Chonde, kulani olimba ndiponso osalola anthu oipa kti alowe.
Khalai talks to the hedge around her school. “Please grow strong and stop bad people from coming in.”
Pamene Khalai abwelera kunyumba, ayendera mtengo walalanje. “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!”
