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.
Kanaafu Noziibelen gara laggati deebite. Amaarti ishee argatee jennan gara mana dafte galatee. Garu dukkanni ishee karairra dhoske.
So Nozibele went back to the river
alone.
She found her necklace and hurried
home.
But she got lost in the dark.
Fageenyati ifaa mana kessa argite. daftee gara manichaa deemte balbalaa isaani rukkute.
In the distance she saw light
coming from a hut.
She hurried towards it and knocked
at the door.
Akka ajaa’iba sareen mana bantee akkan jetten, “Mal barbaadee?” Karaan bade lafa cisuun barbaadaa jeteen, Noziibelen. “Seeni yookeen anii ciniina,” jetten sareen. Kanafu Noziibelen gara manaa sente.
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.
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.
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.
Guyyaa hundaa sareef nyaatafi mana qopheesu qabdi. Gaftokko sareen akkan jette, “Noziibele, ani hardha hiriyoota kiyyan gaafachu dhaqaa mana kana tolchi, nyaata qophesi, otto ani hindebi’in dura wantoota kiyyaa nafqulqulessi.”
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.”
Akkuam sareenn gara imala deemiteen, Noziibelen rifeensa sadi ofira luqistee. Rifeensa tokko siree jala, tokko immo balbala duuba, fi isaa kan immo kiraala kessa goote. Eegasi gara mana ishee dadftee figde.
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.
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.
Sanaa booda Noziibelen akka isaa goyyomsite bare. Dafee garaa ganda isheeti figee. Garuu obbolegni Noziibele olee gurguddaa qabatanii eegachaa jiru. Sareenis gara mana isaa figee debi’ee lammata gandaa sanatti hinmuldhanne.
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.
