Tani waa Kalaay. Waxay jirtaa toddoba sano. Magaceeda macnihiisa waa “midda wanaagsan” luqaddeeda, Lubukusu.
This is Khalai.
She is seven years old.
Her name means ‘the
good one’ in her
language, Lubukusu.
Kalaay way soo toostaa waxeyna lahadashaa geedka liinta ah. “Fadlan geedka liinta ahoow, weynoow oo na sii liin badan oo bissil.”
Khalai wakes up and
talks to the orange tree.
“Please orange tree,
grow big and give us
lots of ripe oranges.”
Kalaay waxay aadaa dugsiga. Jidka waxay kula hadashaa cawska. “Fadlan caws, weynoow cagaaro oo ha qallalin.”
Khalai walks to school.
On the way she talks to
the grass. “Please
grass, grow greener
and don’t dry up.”
Kalaay waxay soo martaa ubaxyo duureed. “Fadlan ubaxyo, sii magoola, si aan timaheyga idiin saarto.”
Khalai passes wild
flowers. “Please
flowers, keep blooming
so I can put you in my
hair.”
Iskuulka, Kalaay waxay la hadashaa geedka dhexda xerada ku yaallo. “Fadlan geed, so saar laamo waaweyn si aan ugu akhrisano hooskaada.”
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.”
Kalaay waxay la hadashaa bowdka ku wareegsan dugsigeeda. “Fadlan u kora si awoodleh oo joojiya soogallida dadka xun.”
Khalai talks to the
hedge around her school.
“Please grow strong
and stop bad people
from coming in.”
Markay Kalaay guriga ku laabato, waxay booqataa geedka liinta.” Miyay bislaadeen midhahaada wali?” Ayey weydisaa Khalaay.
When Khalai returns
home from school, she
visits the orange tree.
“Are your oranges ripe
yet?” asks Khalai.
“Liinta weli waa cagaar,” ayay ku neef tuurtay Kalaay “Waxaan ku arki doonaa berrito geedka liintaw,” ayay tidhi Khalaay. “Malaha markaas baad ii yeelan doonto midho liin ah oo bislaaday!”
“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!”
